C.—2

20

ANNEXURE A.

SUMMARY OF REPORTS' BY INSPECTORS OF MINES. Northern Inspection District (Mr. M. Paul, Inspector of Mines). Quartz-mining. Waihi Gold-mining Company {Limited), (J. L. Gilmour, Manager). —No. IS Level (I,BBOJ ft. below collar of No. 4 shaft) : A crosscut north from the shaft was driven 131 ft. through soft heavy country containing several carbonaceous seams. A south crosscut was commenced from the east side of the north chamber and advanced 152 ft. At 66 ft. a vein of quartz 12 in. wide was intersected, dipping lin 3 north, value low. At 69 ft. there is a fault-fissure crossing the level from which water at the rate of 400 gallons' per minute is issuing. A carbonaceous seam 2 ft. wide and dipping north is exposed on the south side of the fault, and from this point to the face the country is bedded. No. 14 Level (1,752 ft). —-On the north section of Martha lode a total of 726 ft. has been driven. About 420 ft. of this length is payable, the average width being 7 ft. At 200 ft. east a connection to the south section drive was effected by a crosscut, the distance between the two drives being about 90 ft. A crosscut at 118 ft. west was driven 6 ft. south and 54 ft, north in unfavourable country. On the south section of Martha lode a total of 587 J ft. has been driven —i.e., 311£ ft. east and 276 ft. west. A length of 52 ft. eastward is payable, the remainder being low grade. No. 13 Level.—Martha Lode : The drive east was resumed and carried to within 31 ft. of the boundary. The quartz was not payable. In the Dreadnought west crosscut driving west oil the Empire lode was done for 90 ft., the width of quartz varying from 1 ft. to 5 ft. of low value. A crosscut was driven west from this point, and at 142 ft. a section of the Martha lode 13 ft. wide was intersected, value unpayable. At 159 ft. another section 8 ft. wide was cut, assay value low. Driving west oil the course of the Martha lode was continued to 136 ft., the value being low throughout. From this point the drive was carried in the foot-wall country, where a small low-grade vein was intersected and followed for 126 ft. The crosscut was then diverted to the south, and after driving 21 ft. the west section of Edward lode was intersected, width 12 ft., value low. At 16 ft. further the east section of lode was intersected, width 39 ft., average assay value 275. 3d. per ton. Driving south-west was done on this section for 82 ft., where a connection was effected to Trout winze. The average assay value for this distance was about 30s. per ton. No. 12 Level. —At a point 244 ft. in the crosscut from Nos. 2 to 4 shafts driving was commenced along the foot wall of the Martha lode ; at 244 ft. the drive was diverted diagonally across the lode, the width of quartz being 75 ft. ; the last 16 ft. of which is sulphide ore of an average assay value of 235. 4d. per ton. Driving was commenced east on this latter section, and at 3854 ft. connected with the west face of the old drive. The level has been widened to an average of 22 ft. from 300 ft. to 330 ft., the average assay value being 395. 4d. per ton. Driving west near the south wall from the widening was done in ore from a distance of 121 ft., the assay value being 455. lOd. per toil. No. 11 Level. —Edward lode : Driving south was continued to 808 ft. in quartz of low value, varying in width from 18 in. to a width greater than the drive. No. 10 Level. —Edward lode : The south drive was continued to 1,815 ft. The reef pinches out at 1,790 ft. At 1,813 ft. crosscutting was done for 8 ft. east and 13 ft. west in disturbed country. Driving is suspended. At 1,388 ft. a winze was sunk 102 ft. At 100 ft. down a crosscut proved the full width of lode to be 11 ft., average assay value 15s. 3d. per ton. No. 9 Level. —Edward lode : The south drive was continued to 1,438 ft. Good-grade ore exists to 1,356 ft., the width of the reef varying from 15 ft. to 21 ft. From this point onwards the width gradually decreases and at face is 6 in. wide. Driving is suspended. No. 8 Level.—Edward lode : The south drive was advanced to 512 ft. From 290 ft. to 475 ft. the average width is about 7 ft., and the average assay value 51s. 4d. per ton. At the face the width of quartz is about 18 in., and driving is suspended. Surprise lode : At 42 ft. up Thornton rise a crosscut proved a width of 25 ft. of payable ore. No. 7 Level. —Surprise lode : A good deal of exploratory work was done which shows about 20,000 tons of ore of an average assay value of 695. between Nos. 6 and 7 levels. At a point 144 ft. east of No. 2 shaft, north-west crosscut in the Martha foot-wall gangway, driving was done north-north-east for 94 ft. on a vein of ore. The average assay value for this distance is about 40s. per ton, and width of quartz varied from 3 ft. to a width greater than the drive. At Nos. 7 and 8 levels a considerable amount of driving was carried out on the nortli section of Martha lode in the east end of the mine. The assay value was payable. On the Regina section of the Martha lode at No. 8 level a block of good-grade ore was discovered about 30 ft. above the level, and shrinkage stoping is in operation here. Above No. 8 level on the Martha lode, near the east end, several crosscuts have been driven across the arch, and it is anticipated that a good tonnage of ore will be available. Above No. 7 level, on No. 2 reef, gangways are being run at three different points and several crosscuts driven across the ore that was left formerly. On the Martha lode a good deal of ore was won. Only a small quantity now remains in the western part. At No. 6 level on the North lode a stoping block of about 6,000 tons of payable ore has been opened up. At No. 5 level on the North lode another block containing 9,000 tons has been proved. Workings on West Side of Martha Hill.—During the year a considerable amount of work, consisting of driving and stoping, was carried out and produced a steady supply of quartz for the mill. An incline or dip 19 degrees from the horizontal was driven a length of 88 ft. and a large air-winch installed. This will enable the company to open a new level about 30 ft. below the Smithy level, from which all the lodes in the west end of the mine that have any ore left under the Lower Smithy level can be worked. A good deal of ore was won from the open cut and dip near Bull's pass. No. 4 shaft was sunk a further 122J ft., making 158jft. below No. 14 level, or l,9lojft. from the surface. It was intended to open No. 15 level at 148 ft. below No. 14 level, but owing to the country being soft and unsuitable the level was opened at 128Jft., or l,BBo£ft. from the surface. A total of 213,517 short tons were crushed and treated. The ore was obtained in the following quantities from the undermentioned reefs: —Martha, 71,003 tons; Edward, 30,052 tons; Royal, 29,531 tons; Empire, 19,320 tons; Jellicoe, 12,687 tons; Martha, North branch, 11,536 tons ; No. 2 reef, 10,930 tons; Alexandra, 7,956 tons; Dreadnought, 6,186 tons ; North, 3,457 tons; Empire, north section, 3,217 tons ; Surprise, 2,435 tons ; Bell, 1,921 tons ; Victoria, 1,038 tons ; Martha, south branch, 822 tons ; Albert, 455 tons ; Bates, 243 tons ; Cross, 238 tons ; Regina, 232 tons ; Welcome, 231 tons; Welcome, south branch, 27 tons; total, 213,517 tons. The total footage for the year amounted to 12,587^. Water pumped to the surface from Nos. 14 and 15 levels amounted to 424,516,000 gallons. Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company (A. J. Walker, Manager).—Development; A total footage of 673 ft. was accomplished, chiefly by driving.