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Eastern section : During tho yoar 1927 a total of 22,169$ long dry tons —mostly broken ore from shrinkage stopes— was wound up Junction Co.'s main shaft and treated at Waihi Gold-mining Co.'s battory at Waikino. This supply of ore approaching exhaustion. 274 ft. was driven on the Royal lode, tho oro from this work being also sent up Junction shaft. The Waihi Gold-mining Co., operating from its Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 levels, also carried out a largo amount of prospecting-work within this eastern section in search of branches of tho main reefs and remnants of ore blocks. Tho total footage in drives and rises was 1,738 ft. A total of 6,164J tons of good-grade oro was won from this work. It was wound up Waihi Co.'s shafts and treated at Waikino. Western section : Junction Co.'s western section was not actually penetrated by Waihi Co., during the year, but tho drive westward on the west reef met with in Shark crosscut at Waihi Co.'s No. 10 level was continued to tho 125$ ft. from the crosscut. The reef consists in a broken mixture of quartz and country about 5 ft. wide and of low value. Work is being continued at this point. Output: The total output for tho year was—Fine gold, 9,662-20 oz. ; fine silver, 28,436-32 oz. Tho surface equipment has remained under the care of Junction Co., and has been maintained in good order. The electric-power plant was sold during the year to the Public Works Department, which is operating it as a standby plant. Rising Sun. Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Owharoa. —This mine has boon hold under protection during the yoar, but I am informod that a new company has been registered and sufficient capital subscribed, and as soon as tho shares are allotted work will be resumed. New Zealand Crown Mines, Karangahake. —The area held by this company was forfcitod by the Warden .early in July. Imperial Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Karangahake. —During the year further exploration work was done in Howard's evel, adjacent to tho Crown boundary, but as nothing encouraging was found tho directors decided to prospect in the portion of tho claim known as tho Ballroom area. Considerable work has been carriod out in this locality without disclosing anything of a payable character. Earl of Glasgow Claim, Karangahake (J. B. Morris, manager). —A five-head stamp mill, one berdan and wilfry table were orected during the year, and. 81 tons of ore treated yielded 97 oz. 4 dwt., valuod at £144 14s. 7d. The oro treated is of a refractory nature and the return by amalgamation process has not boon satisfactory. Tho values in the lode from which this ore was obtained occur in pockets, and a picked sample of 1 ton treated at the Thames School of Mines yiolded bullion valued at £19 4s. Id., included in the total. Macwall Claim, Karangahake (J. Smith, Manager).—This syndicate has been formed with tho object of endeavouring to locate tho continuation of a lode carrying high values discovered in a slip in the early days of the Karangahake Goldfiolds. It is ostimated that 250 ft. of driving should intercept this lodo. Work is now in progress. Maoriland Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Waitekauri (G. Waite, Manager).—Tho No. 4 level has boon repaired into the reef a distance of 1,280 ft. Two crosscuts were also driven off this levol—ono for 20 ft., and the other for 154 ft. A stope was carriod along for a longth of 50 ft. bolow No. 3 lovel, but so far tho results mot with have proved disappointing. Majestic Gold-mining Co., Maratolo (J. A. J. McLaren, Manager).—The drive south on tho United lode at the lowest levol was extondod 414 ft., making a total of 2,642 ft. from tho main crosscut. Tho object of this work was to provo whether secondary enrichment had takon place at a depth of 140 ft. below tho low-grade ore exposed in the United section. Operations disclosed that the sulphide zone had not been reached, and that probably from 200 ft. to 300 ft. of sinking would bo necessitated before secondary onrichment could be expected. Over £40,000 was spent in development work and plant during tho last fivo years. As tho funds were exhausted, the company decided to go into voluntary liquidation. Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, Ltd., Maratolo (A. McGruor, Managor).—During tho year work has been concentrated upon tho dovolopmont of the Camoola roof at No. 3 level, approximately 400 ft. from the surface and at a point 457 ft. abovo sea-level. Tho drive south was carried along 88 ft., making a total of 309 ft. from No. 6 crosscut or 2,224 ft. from the Silverstroam crosscut. Ore of payable grade was carried for the greater portion of the distanco on the reef, and crosscuts will bo put out to determine the full width and valuo. A triple-compartment rise was commenced at a point 80 ft. south of No. 6 crosscut, and connected with No. 2 levol at a height of 186 ft. Payable ore was carried for nearly the full distanco risen, and a stoping block 130 ft. in longth southward was made available, which provides adequate Ventilation. A drive north of No. 6 crosscut has boon commenced and carriod along 42 ft. through payable ore. A crosscut 96 ft. south of No. 6 crosscut exposed 38 ft. of oro. In tho north section the drive is 732 ft. from the main crosscut, 564 ft. having been driven during the period under review. At 572 ft. a vein of high-grade ore was encountered. This is showing in the present face, and a junction with the Queen reef should be reached in another 130 ft. of driving. Operations have been hampered by dependence on water-power, and after considerable delay the installation of a 11,000-volt transmission line by the Thames Valloy Power Board has been completed ; also a more powerful air-compressor plant has been purchasod and installed, capable of supplying power to work four rock-drills. Tho company owns a twonty-head stamp mill, and it is proposed to remodel the treatment plant during the ensuing year to make it capablo of an output of 100 tons daily. Ilauraki-Alaska Gold-mining Co., Ltd. (A. Bird, Manager).—This property is situated at Noavesville, about twelve miles from Puriri, and the doposit it is proposed to operate is estimated to contain 100,000,000 tons, consisting of pyroclastic matorial, all moro or less auriferous. In order to demonstrate that this deposit can bo profitably mined and troated, a ten-head stamper mill is now in tho course of erection. New W.aiotahi Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Thames. —During tho year mining operations have been directed towards endeavouring to locate the Waiotahi Cambria reef hillward of the break. Tho faco of the drive has now reached tho estimated position of the reef, which is expected to be struck at any time now. Tho country penetrated has been a hard grey andesite bar, which mado progress slow. Alburnia Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Thames (T. Gillon, Manager).—The principal work carried out.in this mine during tho year has been tho oxtension of tho drive on tho Orlando lodo and cross-cutting to intersect tho Sons of Freedom reef. At 424 ft. in the crosscut driven from tho Orlando lode, a reef 15 in. wide was intersected, which has since ptovod to be a dropper out of the Sons of Freedom reef. At 457 ft. the Sons of Freodom reef was intorsectod. Driving is now in progress on both these lodos, tho object boing to get under points where rich bonanzas woro obtained in the upper levels. Nonpareil Gold-mining Co., Thames. —The drive on the Shamrock reef was advanced 70 ft. north and 40 ft. south ; tho drive on the Liverpool Boy reef was also extended 35 ft. The results proved most disappointing, and tho claim is now under protection pending tho raising of further capital. Galedonia-Kuranui-Moanatairi Gold-mining Co., Ltd. (J. H. Benney, Manager).—Tho reef intersectod at 670 ft. in the south crosscut has boen driven on for a distance of 150 ft. from the tunnel levol, showing an average width of 4 ft., and gold has boen freely seen in tho quartz broken out. Two winzes havo also been sunk on this roef to a depth of 35 ft., and drives extended on the reef from the bottom of these winzes for a distance of 180 ft. Gold has beeii seen in the ore, and occasionally a few pounds of picked stono were got; 258 tons treated yielded gold valuod at £643 3s. 4d. Kuranui Gold-mining Co., Thames. —Work in this mine has been confined to driving on tho Ross and Barry's lodes from the battery levol, and although a considerable amount of work has been done the results met with havo proved most disappointing. Occidental-Una-United Gold-mining Co., Ltd. —No. 4 level has boen cleaned out and retimbered for a distance of 1,500 ft. A small pumping plant and electric winding-hoist havo been installed over what is known as Bruoe's winze, and this winze retimbered down to No. 5 level, a distance of 70 ft. Work has beon confined to driving and rising on the toot-wall dropper and opening up a stoping-block for a length of 150 ft. on No. 1 Occidental reef. Tho quartz won from both these lodes shows gold freely, and a few pounds of good specimen stone havo been got.

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