GOLDFIELD'S REPORT.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1276, 27 July 1883, Page 2

GOLDFIELD'S REPORT.

We take the following from the report just issued from the Minister oi Mines-D epartment: — \ Inangahua. This is a district remarkably rich in mineral resources, and will take years before it is properly developed. There is a mineral belt of country, that is known to contain rich gold-bearing quartz, coal, and antimony, between Big River and the Mokihinui Eiver, a distance of about fifty miles, and extends for about one mile in width ; but the almost inaccessable nature of the country, and the cost of making roads to get supplies and machinery to work the quartz- mines, are so great that a long time must elapse before this part of the country gets opened out. At Eeefton, Devil's Creek, and Boatman's the quartz mines are bein^ successfully worked, and fresh reefs are being discovered. There is a good deal of new crushing machinery in course of erection, and the principal mines are getting compressed-air machinery for working rock-borers, diamond drills, and winding machinery. One of the most complete mining plants in the colony is erected at the Golden Fleece Extended Company's mine at Reefton. It consists of one of Ford's wet-compressors, for working two rock-borers, and one dry-couipros-sor, made by the Despatch Foundry Company at Grey mouth, for working an underground drill and air-winch for winding from a winze that is being sunk from their No. 6 Level, which is (540 feet below the surface. This winze is down 100 feet below this level, thus making the total depth that the reef has , been tested to be 740 foet. The compressed-air machinery was first introduced into this

field by Mr John Trennery, the managing director of the Golden Fleece Extended Company, who, be- . fore "doing so, visited all the principal quartz-mines in "Victoria in ovdoi to . gain an insight into the modern sys- } tern of working- tlmm, and he found that compressed -air machinery was • greatly in use there, and that they 3 could take out the quartz much more cheaply than by the ordinary I- method of hand-boring. The cost of this machinery in Melbourne is about f "as follows: Naylor and Thornton's rock borers, including one pole and the f principle duplicate parts, £90 each; ' Ford's wet-compressor, capable of working two rock-drills, £'345 ; under- , ground diamond drill, including three bits and two tangye pumps, cabahle of boring from 500 to 600 feet at any angle, £460; and a dry-rompressor, as made in Greyniouth, without rer ceiver, ready to connect on to the ; engine, about £120. Mr J. Trennery, who is agent in this colony for Naylor . and Thornton's rock-borers, has supplied the Keep-it Dark, Welcome, and > Eureka companies with them and corn- ' pressed-air machinery, and they all : give great satisfaction. The deep . level tunnel between Black's Point and the Waitahu River is now constructed for nearly 1100 feet, and two quartz I Jjeade,rs Jtavebeen jcut through containing gold, tut "~not of Ta— payable character for working. In order to encourage this enterprise the tunnel | has, so far, been subsidized to the extent of £ for £by Government. There . is likewise another deep tunnel in course of construction at Boatman's, which is wholly a work of private ■ enterprise, to test the reefs at the deep levels in that locality. , . Lyell. There has been a good deal of pros- ■ pecting done here during the last year, which is carried on from tunnels '< driven in from the sides of the steep ranges which occur everywhere in this district. The Government are constructing a road from the junction oi T the Lyell Road and Zala Town Track I to the United Italy Company's mining ; lease, which, when completed, will give > the several mining cqmpauies in the • vicinity of the Eight Mile an oppor- | tunity of getting machinery on to their ' claims. - Some of the reefs here have . not turned out this year as expected, but .here has been a deal of dead work ' done, which will tend to increase the • returns for next year. The number of 1 crushing plants in the Inangahua and 1 Lyell Districts is 16, comprising 228 \ head of stamps and 23 berdans, five of which are worked with steam and 11 • with water of an aggregate power equal i to about 250 horse. In addition to these there are 3 tailings plants, con- ; sisting of 22 berdans and two percussion tables, all worked with water- '•. power. There are likewise 8 winding plants, 5 of which are worked with steam and three with_waier^_equal in the aggregate- to about 25 horsepower.