PUHIPUHI SHYER FIELD.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 462, 12 April 1890, Page 5

PUHIPUHI SHYER FIELD.

PROPOSED COMPANY TO PURCHASE CRUSHING PLANT. (From the “Northern Advocate.”) The various Pahipuhi companies, whose applications for licensed holdings and the surveys of whose mines are now nearly completed, have this week started mining operations with great vigour and determination, aud some rich results may, therefore, be expected to shortly come to hand. At a general meeting of the shareholders of the Kamo Silver Mining Association, on Saturday night, it was reported that all opposition had been withdrawn to their application for a licensed holding. Arrangements wero made in connection with the water - race and proposed machine site, and instructions were given the prospectors to commence mining operations without further delay, with the object of breaking out five or ten tons of quartz to be sent away for treatment to the best reducing works that are within easy reach. A full equipment of mining tools and appliances were sent out to the mine during the week. No less than eight reefs havo been uncovered, and the stuff for crushing will be broken out from the most promising of these. Mr John Fraser (late working manager of the No. 1 Prospectors’ Company) has just been appointed mine manager of the Tupono Company, and on Monday last he left for the field along with two assistants in order to start upon a low-level tunnel to cut the big seven foot reef (distinct from No. 2 Company’s seven foot lode), which the Maoris themselves discovered some timo since. An assay of the surface stone from it, made by Mr D. R. Shirreff Galbraith, of Auckland, has yielded at the rate of 18oz 3dwb of silver per ton. Mr Fraser intends to broak out five tons (or ten tons if the weather will permit), in order to sond away for propertreatment. Two other reofs have been uncovered in the Company’s ground. The Comstock No. 3 Company, whoso ground lies between that of the Tupono and No, 2 (all these mines lying between the Prospectors’ northern boundary and the Taumatahinau block), started on Monday last to cut one of the three reefs which have been found on tlroir property. Silver has been seen in the stone, and five or ten tons will be got out for crushing. Mr James Mclnerney, of Kamo, an old and experienced Thames miner, has been appointed mine manager. No opposition is threatened to this Company’s application. The Jubilee Company adjoins the No. 3 Company on the Wairiki, and all the No. 3 Company’s reefs are said to run through its ground. From a stringer on the top of the biggest of them named the “ Postmaster General,” Mr D. R. Shirreff Galbraith, of Auckland, has made an assay yielding both gold and silver. Mr Nicholas Murphy (the manager) started work on Monday last along with two men to put in a drive 200 feet down the face to cut the big reef at that level. Mr J. P. Ward arrived from the Puhipuhi on Sunday night, bringing with him specimens from two new reefs which he has just discovered very near a hitherto neglected tableland, midway between the Prospector’s mine and the Wairiki creek. One of the specimens which was shown us was heavily veined with crimson bands suggestive of ruby silver, while the other, of much lighter character, seemed to contain silver glance. Mr Ward says that he has also obtained colours of gold from the darker stone. A party with which he is acting intend to take up the ground. Specimens of gold-bearing stone have been found near the Taumatahinau block, and on Monday night Messrs J. O’Brien, of Kamo, and others wero met hurrying out to peg off claims. A project is on foot to secure the cooperation of the shareholders of all established mines in the Puhipuhi district for the formation of a company to purchase suitable quartz-reducing machinery, croct it on a central position on the field and work it. So far, it meets with great favour, and as all the mines would be directly benefited by it there should be no difficulty in floating the affair. The revenue from the Puhipuhi up till Wednesday last amounts to £839, of which Whangarel County contributes no less than £749 and the Bay of Islands County £9O. The surveyors should make a rich haul, as out of every £4O deposited with the application for a 30 acre licensed holding about £2O will have to go to them. The Comstock Hotel at Puhipuhi bids fair to speedily raise an imposing front to the grateful eyes of thirsty travellers to the silver-field. Seven tenders have been received tor the sawing of about 10,000 ft of timber at Puhipuhi and on Saturday last that of Messrs Spiers and Co., was accpted, the contract time being six weeks. Messrs Holman and Wolf have already secured the contract for the erection of the hotel, which is to consist of a single story main building 50ft x 40ft, roofed with iron, and with half-a-dozen bedrooms detached so that all possible comfort and privacy may be afforded. the boarders. The site is the flat just abovo the Prospectors’ Camp popularly known as O’Brien’s Peak.

A meeting of the directors of No. 1 Prospectors Company was held on Monday last, the 31st insb. The working manager (Mr C. E. Smith) was present and presented a report of the past week’s operations, which stated that he had put in and carried for a distance of 50 feet a drive to cut the winze on the No. 3 roef, which is now down to a depth of 50 feet. He expected to reach the winze this week. He had also further opened up the Mary reef, which is seven feet wide and shewing very fair stone, but of course nqt so good as that in No, 3. In answer to a question, he said he would guarantee his ability, were adequate labour provided, to get out from 800 to 1,000 tons of stuff per month for crushing. The quantity of stone available was practically unlimited. One or two other reefs in addition to those mentioned above had been partly opened and were looking well. Two owb. of stone from tho winze on No. 3 reef had been despatched on Wednesday the 26th ult., from Russell by the U.S.S. Company’s Wairarapa for treatment at Sydney and a rich return was anticipated. After some discussion it was rqsolved to make a call at the rate of 6d per orjginal scrip, which will amount to q levy of £2 IQs on original shares pf 100 scrip and of £5 193 on original shares of 238 scrip. The cases of overlapping on tho southern side of tho No. 1 Puhpuhi Prospecting Company havo been narrowed down to a coratest between tho Ophir and Christy’s Company, which is expected to come before the Warden’s Court for decision on the 23rd insb.

Mr Gallagher, a gentleman who has had considerable silver - mining experience in Nevada, U.S., paid a visit to Puhipupi this week and inspected the Prospectors’ and No. 2 Company’s mines. ‘ He”was greatly prepossessed in favour of the N°2 Company's property.' He went back'to AUhkldnd'*on‘Wednesday, but intends to return'shortly and do some prospecting on his own account, and he has a high opinion of Puhipuhi generally. ' ' ” ‘ '