MINING NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 437, 15 January 1890, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

(by telegraph—own correspondent. ) Thames, January 9. Crawford’s G. M. Co.—This mine, which consists of 83 acres, was until recently held by a syndicate composed of several Auckland, Thames, and Sydney gentlemen, but it has now been floated into a company, the head office of which is located in Sydney. Since operations were first commenced upon-the property, I have on numerous occasions visited and inspected it, and as the result of my observations I am satisfied that with the judicious expenditure of .a reasonable amount of capital, the investment will eventually prove a source of profit to shareholders. Towards the end of November last a start was made to drive upon the course of two reefs on the northern side of the main crosscut at the Nana level, and for the first 40 feet small parcels of picked stone were obtained, while, during the whole distance driven upon the lode, colours of gold have been observed in the quartz every time a breaking-down has taken place. The drive has been carried along on the hangingwall side of the reef, which is a nice strong body of stone, containing minerals of the most favourable description. The reef is of large size, and would average some three or four feet in thickness, and as the quartz is easily broken out and can be forwarded to Mr Bull’s battery at a comparatively trifling cost, it will readily be seen how excellent are the prospects of the Company. Then, again, the stopes which are being brought along over this drive are also producing quartz of very fair grade, all of which the manager is sending bo the battery for treatment, arid at the present moment thirteen head of stampers are kept constantly engaged crushing it. In consequence of the large size of the reef and the facilities that exist for getting the quartz to the battery, a very small yield would prove remunerative, and the manager has therefore engaged an additional stall of men to operate upon the reef, so as to keep the battery going if possible a week or two more before cleaning up and retorting the amalgam on hand. The fact of picked stone having been obtained at the Nana level is a matter of some importance, as at this point there are backs available to a height ot 115 feet , and there are hundreds of feet still ahead to be driven, while as the best gold was seen in the floor of the level, there is every prospect of the reef under foot being more valuable than at the Nana level. The only other work that has been done upon the property is the sinking of a shaft to a depth of 100 feet, but it is probable that another contract will be let at an early date. Taken altogether, the prospects of the Company are decidedly encouraging, and warrant the assertion that the mine will at no distant date become a gold producer of some importance. Norfolk.— Quartz is now being carted down from the mine to the battery, and crushing will be commenced in a day or two.

N ew Moanataiart.— I visited this mine to-day, and was particularly pleased with the prospects being met with in sinking the winze or the Reuben Parr reef, there being some nice blotches of gold now showing in two or three places - in the hangingwall reef in the side of the winze. Everything is now in readiness for commencing the work of extending the main tunnel ahead by means of the rock drill, and operations will be started in a day or two. The country in the face is hard, but it i 3 thought that it will soon be passed through, and a good channel of sandstone entered. The various other workings in bho mine do nob present auy change to report. New Alburnia.— This Company have secured the New Devon holding, which comprises four acres 1 rood and 26 perches, at the upset price of one guinea, the claim having recently been forfeited. Saxon. —The winze that has been started on the main No. 1 reef hillward of No. 1 break has attained a depth of 3 feet. The reef averages from 3 to 4 feet in thickness, and about 101 b of picked stone have been selected from the quartz broken. The winze on No. 2 reef west of the shaft is down 18 feet. Lone Hand. —The leader recently cub in the low level is still being stripped, and no breaking clown has yet taken place. Onslow Gold Saving Company. — Mr Heighway has been appointed manager of the Onslow Gold Saving Compapy’s Works, vice, Mr Ralph resigned. New Moanataiari.— ln the reef on the Reuben Parr reef a pound or two of picked stone is being obtained every breaking down. The lode in the western end of the winze has narrowed in to about a foot in thickness and is rather/more mullocky, but on the eastern end it continues much the same size, being the full width of the winze.

New Mandkad.— ln No. 4 level in driving along the slide to the boundary a cross or ioobvvall leader has been met with. It is 6 inches wide and looks fairly well, bub no gold has been seen in it as yet. Coromandel, January 9. Royal Oak.— The manager is still sinking on the winze and expects another parcel of'picked stone to-morrow or Monday. In addition to the 60lb obtained on Monday, some few stones have been bagged, and good gold is still showing. The mine manager reports as follows :—Work was resumed in the mine on Monday last, with good success. The first breaking down in the winze yesterday brought to light about 601 b of fair picked stone, leaving gold showing going down. I have pub two more men on to work in a new place, where No. 2 cross reef crosses the tribute proper, which seems to be the right branch. The first shot showed spots of gold. This is a new feature in the mine, which will open up a new block of ground. There is nothing new to report from the tribute.— Peter Reid.