53
C—2
of 400 ft. The crosscut was driven a distance of 110 ft. and cut the reef. The lode proved to be low grade, and after some distance was driven along the strike in both directions the mine was shut down. No further work has been done, and the water has been allowed to accumulate in the shaft-workings. The battery is now removed, and is in course of erection at the Maritana Claim, Macrae's Flat. No quartz was mined during the year. Three men were employed on surface and ten underground. Mount Highlay Gold and Scheelile Mining Company, Hyde (Fink and Party; J. H. Evans, minemanager).—Some work had previously been done on this property before it was acquired by the present owners. The battery is now located about three miles from the mine, and connected by a horse-tram line. A suspension bridge spans the gorge, over which the tramway is carried to connect with the mine. The reefs are very flat and ill denned, the quartz appearing to occur in bunches. Adit levels Nos. 1 and 3 have been driven in more or less quartz. The main battery supply was drawn from No. 3 level. What was supposed to be a new reef discovery was opened up, being driven on for some distance. This section is called the Lady Annie. The mine has not been worked for the last few months of the year, pending reconstruction of the company. Quartz crushed, about 400 tons ; average number of men employed, 19. Highlay Tungsten-mine, Mount Highlay (The Gold and Scheelite Proprietary Company (Limited), late Donaldson Bros., owners; D. B. Waters, mine-manager).—This property changed hands during the year, the company now in possession having purchased from Donaldson Bros. The ore required to keep the mill—ten stamps —going has been mainly procured from the surface cut on the outcrop. This supply is, however, becoming exhausted, and the present company are expeditiously prosecuting underground work necessary to create new supplies for the mill. The adit known as the tramway level is being driven to connect with a winze sunk from the level above preparatory to stoping out the block. The ore then available will be a block 100 ft. long, 40 ft. deep, and average reef-formation (quartz and mullock veins) of 20 ft. The ground is heavy, and requires to be securely timbered. Fourteen men employed on the average. Macrae's. Maritana Mining Company (Gold and Scheelite; D. B. Waters, mine-manager). —This company was floated during the year, and commenced operations on the property adjoining the Golden Point Mine. The outcrop of the lode was stripped for some distance, and then a level, No. 1, 50 ft. lower down, was driven 150 It. and connected with the surface. No. 2 level was started 60 ft. below No. 1, driven 260 ft., and connected with No. 1. The lode-formation varies in width, assuming in some parts extensive dimensions. The company have purchased the Barewood battery, which is in course of erection. Four men are employed underground. Golden Point Quartz-mine (The Gold and Scheelite Proprietary Company (Limited), owners ; D. B. Waters, mine-manager). —A change has taken place in the ownership of this mine, the present holders having purchased from Donaldson Brothers. A considerable amount of driving has been done on the property, extending over many years of work. There are three known reefs in the ground, all running very flat, and separated by 40 ft. to 60 ft. of rock. All of these lodes have been more or less worked for ore of gold and scheelite, the main supply coming from No. 3 reef, where three stopes are in progress ; and a large extent of blocked-out ground exists. Owing to a large proportion of pyrites, some difficulty is experienced in recovering the scheelite in a marketable state, owing to the almost equal specific gravities of the two. The ore is reduced, and treated in a ten-stamp battery and cyanide plant at the mine. The battery motive power is a gas-engine, the supply of gas being generated by a Cambridge gas-producer fed with lignite coals. The mining and treatment costs being low, due to cheap power and transport, and cvi ry advantage being taken of the natural facilities available, it is found possible to mine and treat ore of an exceptionally low grade. The quantity of auriferous scheelite-ore dealt with for the year was 4,798 tons, for a return of £2,340 18s. lid., an average value of 10s. per ton. About thirty men find regular employment at this mine. Goldfinch Quartz-mine (White and Party). —This syndicate, consisting of some six working-men, took up this property and did some prospecting on a reef 2 ft. thick. Two winzes were sunk on the reef to a depth of 30 ft. The prospects were so encouraging that mining ceased, and the whole efforts of the party centred on the construction of a mill to treat the stone. A ten-stamp mill driven by a Cambridge gas-producing plant has been installed, and just at the close of the year commenced treating the stone grassed by the preliminary prospecting operations. It is intended to recommence mining as soon as the reduction-works are in good running-order. The values are mainly gold. Golden Bar Quartz-mine. —A company is supposed to be formed to open up this property, which is located six miles from Macrae's Township. Two men are employed making a road. Coronation Reef (Thomas and Orr, owners). —This reef, discovered by Thomas and Orr, is located three miles from Mount Highlay. The outcrop has been stripped in places for a mile along its strike, and shows an average width of 2 ft. Two trial crushings were made, the ore being treated at Donaldson's Golden Point battery. The first, of 18 tons, gave a return of gold £3 7s. 6d. per ton, and scheelite £1 Is. per ton. The second, of 50 tons, taken from three different places extending over half a mile of the course of the outcrop, gave a return of gold equal to £2 6s. 6d. per ton. No development-work has yet been undertaken. Fraser and Gaytan Scheelite-mine. —Four men are employed prospecting on a series of small leaders, 1 in. to 6 in. thick, carrying a high percentage of scheelite. The battery of six stamps at Golden Point is run at intervals. The ore is carted from the mine to battery. Waipoei. Canton Reef, Mitchell's Flat (R. J. Cotton, owner). —This property purchased by E. J. Cotton from the original owners, adjoins the O.P.Q. lease. The shaft is down 180 ft., and is unwatered by a
Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.
By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.
Your session has expired.