MAHARAHARA COPPER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9083, 7 May 1908, Page 7

MAHARAHARA COPPER.

MEETING OP SHAREHOLDERS,

Sharehldera \in the Maharahara Copper Company met at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, on May 2nd, for the purpose of having submitted to them a report by Professor .Black, M.A.., D.S., Professor of Chemistry at the University of Otago, and the Otago University School of Mines. He states in the report that the country rock of the part of the Ruahine range where the property is situated, is of the same geological character and age as that of the Reefton district, in the South Island. In the stream called Copper Cretk, running through the property, are large quantities of copper, bearing boulders evidently shed from large reefs traversing the country rock above. The property is high up the range, and although . tne workings are 400 feet above tne valley, there are still hundreds of feet above which should enable tie company to work for many years without sinking. The ore bearing reef appears to be inter-stratified with the country rock, and therefore ot varying width, dip, and course, as well as richness of ore deposit?. The copp°r ore occuis through the lodes in form of wedge shaped and lenticu'ar masses, rounded boulders, and pockets, not continuous, but at regular intervals. Rich wedges are sometimes side by side, or overlap, and at other times occur end to end. The outcrop at the old shaft 42011 above eei Lvel, is 15ft wide. The ore occurs in large slabs from 2- to 3ft in thickness, of varying length, with denticles and boulder," of quite massive size in some places. Samples assayed as follows per cent ci copper, 6.5 percent., 4.1 percent., 7.4 percent., 9.7 per cent., special piece of vornite selected by the Professor, 32 per cent., hand sorted from best part of reef, 6ft wide, 17.3 per cent. The estimate of ihe best 10ft is 6 to 7 per cent, of copper. The outcrop No. 1 level, life wide, assayed 4.9 per cent, 5.1 percent.; several pieces from a vertical slag 3.8 per cent, sample of bornite 18.2 per cent. By hand sorting and rejecting about half the' matrix the value would be about 7 or 7* per cent, of copper. In 'Nc< 1, or the upper level, the lode gave assays as follows—Face, sft wide, 0.8 per cent.; trjtn lhin block in the stopes, a fine sample of borni>e, assayed 35.7 per cent, yellow pyrnes li> per cent., average of 15 pieces 15 percent., reef 10ft wide 7 per cm:., overhead at face (poor) 0.3 per cent. average estimate assay for 5 to lift is about 4to 5 per cent. Low level reef, 33ft wide, gave assays a3 follow: Best sample of Lornite 36.7 per cent., best sample pyrites 18 per cent, sample representing 9001b3 14.5 per cent. There is an ex:ellent site available at the present camp, with plenty of water, where an up-to-date pyritic smeiter would command all the ore in the district. Professor Black considers the success attending operations warrants energetic development as the ores are large, and there is great probability of other large formations being cut. He estimated that a smelter suitable for the mine would cost £3,000 to J84,000, but freight and cost of*erection would require to be added. Professor Black considers the property is a valuable one, amply justifying the expenditure advispd above. The chairman (Mr N. A. Nathan) said that they had come to the end of their capital, but before deciding to ask the shareholders whether they would provide more money to carry on, the directors thought it advisable to get a professional report, which they now had before 1 them. After the report had been read, Mr Nathan said the directors thought that, the state of the market considered, it would be better tn leave matters' for a time. The property was undoubtedly a valuable one, and protection had been applied for. The opinion was expressed that the directors' action in seeking protection was a wise one,' and a motion was carried accordingly, approving of the action which had been taken.