C—3a
26
quently expressed himself desirous of a Government inquiry, but it is difficult to conceive what purpose could be served by such, unless the workings were reopened at great expense, and the whole question gone into exhaustively. For ordinary purposes Mr. Kilgour is just as capable of inquiring as anybody else. Some prospecting was done in a winze sunk from the old Welcome No. 9 level, now connected with the level from the bottom of the Eureka incline, and from which all work is now carried on, but this was abandoned. Prospecting is now going on from the No. 10 level, which is worked from a blind shaft 240 ft. deep from the level at the foot of the Eureka incline. The winding is done by an air- winch, which is worked by Mr. McKinney, the manager, who does not hold an engine-driver's certificate. Notified Mr. Fenton as to the requirements of the Act. At the above date, the No. 10 level face was following the track of a reef with quartz leaders in rather promising country. Air not too strong. Two shifts of three men each ; seven men in all employed. Three men were also getting out the machinery from the old Homeward Bound tunnel. Lyell. United Alpine Quartz-mine. —(20/9/93) : Beport duly kept. Plan up to position of workings three weeks ago, but undated. Some sets of timber in No. 7 level require to be secured. An inclined shaft is being sunk at an angle of about 45° with the course of the lode. Levels have been driven from it at 90ft. below No. 7to the ends of the block of quartz, which is 235 ft. long. The average width is about 10ft. Eight men per shift are stoping in this section. Air sufficient, but pipes requiring to be taken nearer face. A horse of mullock has divided the lode at the face of the incline, there being only about Ift. of clean stone and 2ft. of bunchy quartz on foot-wall. The stone on the hanging-wall has not been fully cut through, but it is over 9ft. wide. In the south block two men are usually stoping, but they were off to-day filling in. From the No. 4 level a pass is being put up for filling, which is to be got from a new face that ought to be much safer, for some time at least. (5/12/93) :In No. 7 level the timbering I drew attention to at last visit has been seen to. Drew Mr. Wilcox's attention to some pieces of the wall-rock, which he promised to have either taken down or secured. The incline is now down 270 ft., three men working per shift, one being required for baling. No "devil" on truck; Mr. Wilcox will have one put on by the end of the week. A fairly good current of air is led down incline in 6in. pipes. A new airwinch has been obtained, and is to be fitted up shortly. Fifty-eight men in all are employed by this mine. Prospects good. United Italy Quartz-mine. — (21/9/93): One stope working to north, just above No. 3 level. There is stone overhead for twelve stopes, but the leader has nearly pinched out at the northern end. To the south it has pinched out about 50ft. from the Tyrconnel boundary, but it is intended to drive a few sets further, to see if it makes again. The length of the block is 200 ft. in the No. 2 and 100 ft. in the No. 3 level. Two stopes are working to the south, about 40ft. above the level. The leader, which usually lies on the foot-wall, is here about 18in. away from it. Air good. During the year the company got some repairs done to a lower level with a view to starting work, but operations have not been gone on with. It was also intended to let the old levels, on the further side of the creek, on tribute, but, so far, they have not made a start. Tyrconnel Quartz-mine. —(21/9/93): The No. 5 level, where work was recently carried on, has now stopped, as the stone, though living underfoot, gave out in strike. The length of the leader worked was 230 ft.; so it would appear that these thin veins are not more continuous in their line of strike than the other lodes on the Coast. The high returns obtained —some 13oz. gold to the ton —have induced the owners to have a line surveyed for a lower level, which will require to be I,looft. long to cut the leader, and a start with which is just being made. Croesus Quartz-mine. —(22/9/93) : No. 1 level runs in a northerly direction about 200 ft. About 80ft. below this an intermediate level is being driven to south on )2in. of quartz, which lives down to No. 2, a further distance of 70ft. This is the only work doing. 20 tons were taken out of the north end of the intermediate level, giving a return of about 6dwt. to the ton. Air good. Drew Mr. Byrne's attention to some of the timbering, and this is to be seen to. Three men in all were working in this mine on tribute, but they have given it up since the above date, as it did not pay. Lyell Creek Low-level Tunnel. —(l 9/9/93): Driving is still being continued on contract, employing three shifts of two men each. The country recently has been hard sandstone, but a band of dark slate was now being cut. Air not too strong, but larger pipes are on the way. Some of the joints are leaking, a few sets of old timbering requiring to be removed. Mr. Byan informs me that these have been attended to. Boss. Donnelly's Creek Quartz-mine. —(15/12/93): This mine is owned by Mr. Yorwarth, and is worked on tribute. No. 3 level, after striking the lode, which runs a little west of north, and underlies to east, has been driven on it about 120 ft. In the level face there are two small leaders, each about 2in. in thickness, with a foot of country between, and occasional bunches of quartz. In addition to the level, two stopes are working. Timber right; air good. Wall-rock fairly strong, but does not stand the air well. As the stoping-sets measure 6ft. 6in. by 2ft. over all, more is taken down than is required for filling. No work is doing in No. 2 level, but it is connected with No. 3 for air. The length of the block in No. 2 level was 230 ft., and it lives underfoot in the lower level as far as they have gone. No copy of the Act; so I notified the owner to provide one. Dbedging. Alexandra Dredge, Fern Flat. —(24/4/93) : Not working at this date, as improvements are being made to the gold-saving appliances, the inefficiency of which was pointed out by Mr. Gordon in last year's report. The tables are being altered similar to those oi the North Beach dredge at
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.