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TN 122.N56A4 1906

The New Zealand mining handbook (with ma

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The NEW ZEALAND

Mining Handbook

(With Maps and Illustrations).

Issued under-the Authority of the Hon. JAMES McGOWAN,
'Minister of Mines.

WELLINGTON.
BY authority: JOHN MACKAY, GOVERNMENT PRINTER.

1906.

T HE

NEW ZEALAND

MINING HANDBOOK

(WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS).

Issued under the Authority of the Hon, JAMES McGOWAH,
Minister of Mines,

1'jDited by p. GALVIN, Sbckbtary Mimini; Bukkat,

Editor of " The Handbook of New Zealand SHnes, L^H?."

WELLINGTON,
nv authority: .tohx mackay, govehnmkxt pkinthk.

1906.

MINES DEPARTMENT.

MINISTBE OF MINES: HON. JAMBS McGOWAN.
Private Secretary ; C. B. Matthews.

Under-Secretary for Mines : T. H. Hamee.
Inspecting Engineer : Feank Eeed, M.I.M.E.
Government Geologist : A. McKay, F.G.S.
Chief Clerk: H. E. Radcliffe.
Secretary Mining Bureau : P. Galvin.

INSPECTORS OF MINES.

Northern Mining District : Jambs Coutts, Thames ; Assist-
ant, Boyd Bbnnib, Waihi.

Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast : E. Tennbnt,
Westport ; Assistant, A. H. Eichards.

Southern Mining District: E. R. Geeen, Dunedin ; Assist-
ant, E. McIntosh.

STATE COAL-MINES.
Managing Agent : A. MacDougall, Wellington.
Chief Depot Agent : W. C. Gasquoinb.
Manager Point Elizabeth State Colliery : J. Bishop,

M.I.M.E.
Manager Seddonville State Coal-mine : T. Mueeay.
Consulting Engineer: H. A. Goedon, A.M.I.C.E.

COLONIAL ANALYST BRANCH.
Colonial Analyst: J. S. Maclauein, D.Sc, F.C.S.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BRANCH.
Director: J. Mackintosh Bell, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.G.S.

PEEFACE.

Some twenty years having elapsed since the pub-
lication of " The Handbook of New Zealand
Mines," it has been deemed fitting at the present
time, when New Zealand is embarking on the
largest Exhibition of her industries in the history
of the colony, to give a review of its metalliferous
and mineral resources.

The writers who have contributed to this
Handbook are principally men who have had a
long and intimate association with the mining
industry, and whose sole aim is to present a
truthful picture of what has been accomplished
in the past, and to denote where combinations of
capital, labour, professional skill, and business
capacity may secure the rewards of enterprise
in the future.

There is no desire to create what is generally
termed a " mining boom," for nothing has been
more disastrous to mining as an industrial under-
taking than the undue inflation of shares in
limited and no-liability companies on the Stock
Exchanges. But as long as gold-mining is car-
ried out on the same lines as coal or iron mining,
woollen or cotton manufacturing, it is just as

legitimate an enterprise, and far more likely than
most other undertaK:] ngs to give an adequate re-
turn on the capital expended.

It is often asserted that every ounce of gold
extracted from alluvial or river workings, or
quartz-mines, while intrinsically worth about £4,
costs at least double that amount. That, however,
is a very superficial way of looking at the matter,
and is far from being borne out by actual facts.
It is the manipulation of the share-market, at
periods of undue excitement and inflation, that
adds to the cost of the ounce of gold; the extra
cost, where it does occur, is due to " mining " on
the kerbstone or on an office-stool, not to the miner
who works underground, or to the millman or
cyanide-worker on the surface.

A perusal of this work will, I feel assured,
tend to dissipate the idea that the extraction of
gold means a loss, instead of a gain, to the colony.
Four companies in the Hauraki Mining District
paid upwards of £400,000 in dividends during the
past year, and one company (the Waihi) has dis-
bursed upwards of £2,000,000 in dividends. The
group of mines worked under the management of
the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand, at
Reefton, have paid £125,487 in dividends, as
against a subscribed capital of £242,378; while
the Progress Mines of New Zealand — an offshoot
of the Consolidated Goldfields — has disbursed in
dividends £226,875, against a working-capital of
£50,000. The Keep-it-Dark Mine, Reefton, has

paid £145,666 in dividends, or at the rate of
£7 5s. 8d. per share, while only £6,208, or at the
rate of 6s. 2^d. per share, has been called up.
These results have been attained by skilful min-
ing, combined with the highest metallurgical and
mechanical skill in the treatment of the ore and
tailings.

Gold-dredging has suffered much in public
estimation owing to the undue inflation of shares;
yet during the past 5'ear the companies listed on
the Dunedin Stock Exchange paid £102,446 in
dividends, and some of the companies have re-
turned to 'their shareholders phenomenal divi-
dends as compared with the capital invested.
The Electric Company paid £116,360, against
a paid - up capital of £26,000 ; the Hartlev
and Riley Company, £79,625, against £6,300 m
calls; the Manuherikia, £26,700, against £6,000;
the Golden Gate, £23,250, against £2,500; the
Moa, £22,700, against £6,000; the Pactolus,
£20,937, against £8,125; the Matau, £15,225,
against £6,200; the Perseverance, £13,600,
against £1,500; the Otago, £11,876, against
£2,000. Altogether, sixty-eight gold-dredging
companies and parties which furnished infor-
mation for the Mining Handbook paid in divi-
dends £528,322, against a called-up capital of
£332,490. But many of the most prosperous
dredges are privately owned, and the proprietors
in some instances preferred not to supply the
desired information as to dividends, whilst not

generally objecting to state the amount of capital
expended on dredging plant and claim.

Turning to the early days of gold-mining, it
reads more like a romance than an actual state-
ment of facts. The Thames was the first j&eld on
which limited-liability companies operated, and
therefore some of the dividends paid are avail-
able. Hunt's Shotover Claim gave £40,000 apiece
to the four original discoverers, and afterwards
paid £15,120 to the shareholders in the company
that purchased it; the Long Drive Company dis-
bursed £82,000 in a few years; the Golden Crown
Company paid £141,904, irrespective of a large
amount divided by the original shareholders; the
Caledonian Company paid £553,440 during the
first year of its existence; the Cambria Company
paid in one year £48,825; the Moanataiari Com-
pany disbursed £117,993; the Nonpareil Com-
pany, £14,670; the Kuranui Company, £41,277;
the All Nations Company, £41,445; the Cure Com-
pany, £17,000; the Manukau Company, £15,750;
the Old Whau Company, £11,650. In later years
the New Prince Imperial Company paid £60,750
in dividends in three years from a mine that
was sold for £800. Jiven as late as last year the
Waiotahi Company, which has been a consistent
dividend-paying company during the past thirty
years, disbursed £51,000 in dividends.

In Otago it is currently stated that the Bendicro
Mine, near Cromwell, paid £70,000 apiece to the
five original owners; and a perusal of the papers

devoted to quartz-mining in that portion of the
•colony tends to show that this branch of mining
is deserving of more attention than has been
bestowed upon it of late years.

In the Inangahua District, the records of
which have been admirably kept at the Warden's
Office, the dividends paid by quartz-mining com-
panies from 1881 to 1905, inclusive, amounted to
£734,200, as against £486,220 capital called up.

Statistics as to alluvial mines are not so readily
available, the bulk of the claims being in private
hands; but from the returns furnished to the
Department by eighteen companies or parties it
has been shown that £134,329 was paid in divi-
dends, against £175,059 actually called up. Some
of these companies or parties own valuable plants
and water-races, and their claims will last for a
very considerable time.

One fact stands out prominently in connection
with this branch of mining — namely, the abnor-
mally low value of auriferous gravels that can be
made to pay. The same remarks will apply to
quartz-mining in the Ohinemuri and Reefton
Districts.

I have dealt at some length with this branch
of the mining industry, because of its stimulating
effect on coal and lignite mining, and its indirect
results to the farmer, the carrier, the artisan, and
the business man.

Coal-mining has developed to a great extent
during the past twenty j^ears. In 1885 the coal

raised in the colony was 511,063 tons; in 1895,
726,654 tons; and in 1905, 1,585,756 tons; so
that within a comparatively short period the
coal-output has trebled. The wide distribution
of coal and lignite is a material aid to other
industries, and, if the experiments now going on
with regard to the utilisation of lignite for
producer-gas plants and for the generation of
electricity should turn out as successful as anti-
cipated, New Zealand is destined to become the
great manufacturing centre of the Pacific. An-
thracite coal, which is at present principally used
for gas-producer plants, is likely, at no very dis-
tant date, to be a marketable commodity in this
colony.

The papers on the auriferous ironsands show
their great importance as an undeveloped asset
to the colony. These sands still await the intro-
duction of a machine for their economic treat-
ment, and ^vhen that is forthcoming the annual
yield of gold will receive a material addition, and
hundreds of men should find profitable emjDloyment
on the West Coast. I might here call attention
to the vast undeveloped resources of that part of
the colony, and wou^d refer the reader to the
various papers on the subject.

The deposits of hasmatite iron at Parapara, in
the Nelson District, and the close proximity of
coal and limestone, have attracted much attention
of late years, and the people of New Zealand may
look forward to seeing iron-manufacture included

amongst the leading industries of the colony
within the next few years. The manufacture of
the magnetic ironsands which abound on the west
coast of the North and South Islands into the
best tool-steel, for which it has been shown by
analysis to be peculiarly well suited, is also
amongst the possibilities of the near future.

There are other minerals awaiting capital for
their development, such as copper, antimony,
cinnabar, manganese, mica, and asbestos; while
limestone is distributed over a wide area, and
lithographic limestone occurs in the Auckland
District and on the West Coast. Scheelite is now
regularly exported from Otago, and lately from
Marlborough; fullers' earth and haematite paint
from the Thames; hsematite paint and powder
from Parapara; while there is a variety of
grinding and polishing materials iu Otago and
different parts of the colony.

There are many other points that might well
be touched upon, but the reader will find the in-
formation he requires in a compact form under
the various headings into which the Mining Hand-
book is divided. I can with every confidence refer
him to that branch of mining in which he is
most interested. Where the matter has not been
written by gentlemen specially cognisant with the
industry, it has been compiled from information
supplied by those intrusted with the legal or
mining management of the numerous under-
takings that are chronicled in its pages. These

would have been considerably added to had all
the other mining companies and parties re
sponded to the invitation sent to them to furnish
information.

The aim has been to give the general reader a
bird's-eye view of the mining industry as carried
on over a very long and wide stretch of country,
from the Great Barrier Island in the north to
Stewart Island in the south; and I think it will
be admitted that the Editor and his various
coadjutors have admirably succeeded, though at
short notice, in carrying out the duties intrusted

to them.

JAMES McGOWAN,

Minister of Mines.
Mines Depaxtment,

Wellington, New Zealand,

31st October, 1906.

CONTENTS.

Pages

A Sketch of the Economic Geology of New Zealand . . . . 1-6

The Rise and Progress of the Gold-mining Industry . . . . 7-38

Hauraki Mining District . . . . . . . . . . 39-51

The Coromandel Goldfield . . . . . . . . . . 52-55

Hauraki AVarden's District . . . . . . . . . . 56-58

Tamanga Warden's District . . . . . , . . 59-60

The Mokau District, Taranaki . . . . . . . . 61-65

Marlborough Mining District . . . . . . . . 66-69

The Nelson Goldfields . . . . . . . . . . 70-81

Nelson, Karamea, and West Coast . . . . . . . . 82-106

Greymouth Warden's District .. .. .. .. 107-115

Westland Warden's District .. .. .. .. 115-121

Black-sand Beaches on the West Coast . . . . . . 122- 123

Gold-mining in South Westland . . . . . . . . 123-128

Wataroa Eiver, South Westland . . . . . . . . 128-129

Mining Possibilities in South Westland . . . . . . 129-132

South Westland as a Gold and Mineral Country . . . . 133-137

The Gold and Mineral Wealth of the West Coast . . . . 137-139

Waitaha River to Big Bay : Metals and Minerals occurring in .. 139-141

Gold-dredging on the West Coast . . . . . . ^ . . 141-148

Otago and Southland : Quartz-mining Operations . . . . 149-187

Mount Ida Warden's District . . . . . . . . 187-190

Naseby District . . . . . . . . . . . . 191-192

Mining at Little Kyebiu?n . . . . . . . . . . 192-193

Gold and ScheeUte Mining at Macrae's Flat . . . . . . 193-196

The Li\dngstone Goldfield . . . . . . . . . . 196-197

Mining at Waikaia . . . . . . . . . . 197-198

Gold-dredging in the Waikaka VaUey . . . . . . 198

Otago as a Mining District . . . . . . . . . . 199-203

HydrauUc Mining from its Inception to the Present Day . . 203-211

Hydraulic Sluicing and Alluvial Mining in Otago . . . . 211-239

Metals and Minerals found in Sluicing Claims . . . . 240-241

The Gold-dredging Industry inOtago and Southland . . . . 242-319

The Utilisation of Dredged and Sluiced Ground for Agricultural,

Pastoral, and other Purposes . . . . . . . . 320-323

Minerals occurring in Otago
The Auriferous Ironsands of New Zealand
Auriferous Ironsands on the West Coast
Treatment of Auriferous Black Sands
Quartz-mining in Xew Zealand
Fineness and Value of New Zealand Gold
Coal-deposits of New Zealand
Goal-mining in New Zealand
Nelson and West Coast Coal-mints . .
Canterbury Goal- mines
Otago and Southland Goal-mines
The State Goal-mines
A Few Leading Coal-mines (Westpovt, Blackball, Kaitangata, and
Nightcaps)

Analyses of New Zealand Coals

Timber for Jlining Purposes

Coal-miners' Relief Fund

Coal Harbours of the West Coast

.Manufacture of Portland Cement in New Zealand

Iron Ores and Sands of New Zealand

The Parapara Haematite Deposits

Taranaki Ironsand, llokau Coal, Clay, &c.

Copper-deposits of New Zealand

Jlinerals of New Zealand

Petroleum in New Zealand and America

Petroleum in Taranaki

Petroleum in Western North America

Limestones in New Zealand

Lithographic Limestones, Hokianga and Bay of Islands

Schools of Mines . .

Otago University School of Mines

Thames School of Mines

Waihi School of Mines

Goromandel School of Mines

Nelson School of Mines

Westport School of Mines . .

Pages
:;2-l'331, 415

332-335

335-344

345

346-377
377-378
379-382
383-396
396-408
408-410
411-414
415-433

434-451
451-452
453-454
454-457
458-460
461-465
466-472
471-485
486-496
497-499
500-519
520-525
525-536
536-546
547-548
549-651
552-573
554-559
560- .363
564-565
566-568
569-571
572-573

NEW ZEALAND

MINING HANDBOOK.

Minerals occurring in Otago
The Auriferous Ironsands of New Zealand
Aiiriferons Ironsands on the West Coast
Treatment of Auriferous Black Sands
Quartz- mining in Xew Zealand
Fineness and Value of New Zealand Gold
Coal -deposits of New Zealand
Coal- mining in New Zealand
Nelson and West Coast Coal-mines . .
Canterbury Coal-mines
Otago and Southland Coal-mines
The State Coal-mines
A Pew Leading Coal-mines (Westport, Blackball, Kaitangata, and
Nightcaps)

Analyses of New Zealand Coals

Timber for Mining Purposes

Coal-miners' Belief Fund

Coal Harbours of the West Coast

Manufacture of Portland Cement in New Zealand

Iron Ores and Sands of New Zealand

The Parapara Hfematite Deposits

Taranaki Ironsand, Mokau Coal, Clay, &c.

Copper-deposits of New Zealand

Minerals of New Zealand

Petroleum in New Zealand aad America

Petroleum in Taranaki

Petroleum in Western North America

Limestones in New Zealand

Lithographic Limestones, Hokianga and Bay of Islands

Schools of Mines . .

Otago University School of Mines

Thames School of Mines

Waihi School of Mines . . . .

Coromandel School of Mines

Nelson School of Mines

Westport School of Mines . .

Pages
32-1-331, 415

332-335
335-344

345
340-377
377-378
379-382
383-396
396-408
408-410
411-414
415-433

434-451
451-452
453-454
454-457
458-460
461-465
466-472
471-485
486-496
497-499
500-519
520-525
525-536
536-546
547-548
549-551
552-573
554-559
560-563
564-565
566-568
569-571
572-573

NEW ZEALAND

MINING HANDBOOK,

A SKETCH OF THE ECONOMIC GEO-
LOGY OF NEW ZEALAND.

By James Mackintosh Bell, M.A., Ph.D., Director of the New Zealand
Geological Survey.

1. Introduction.

2. Resume of the stratigraphical geology of New Zealand.

3. The principal geological fields of present economic interest :-

(a.) The distribution of coal.

(b.) The great Hauraki goldfields.

(c.) The Kaipara Copper-belt.

(d.) The quartz veins of Otago.

(e.) The possibilities of Stewart Island.

{/.) The CoUingwood area.

(a.) The Nelson area.

(h.) The Westland area.

1. Introduction.

In travelling about New Zealand one frequently hears the
statement that, since the strata composing our Islands have
in general undergone so much faulting, due to seismic ac-
tivity, continued through long ages, large deposits of minerals
of commercial importance need be expected only under unusual
circumstances. A somewhat hasty consideration of the mineral
resources of New Zealand, as compared with those of other
countries formerly more familar to me, has given the con-
viction that this sweeping assertion, made about a land-area
as large as the British Isles, is partly incorrect. As far as
metalliferous veins are concerned, the converse of the state-
ment is more exact, and, in fact, in no part of the world are
deposits of this nature certainly known to exist, excepting
where fissuring of the earth's crust has allowed the exit of
mineral-bearing solutions issuing from profound depths be-
neath the surface. Dislocation of the strata subsequent to the
formation of the metalliferous veins may have a detrimental

1 — Mining Handbonk.

A NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

effect by breaking the continuity of the lode, or a beneficial
one by bringing new mineral-bearing solutions which give
enrichment of the lode along the line of fault. Faulting of
bedded deposits, such as coal-seams, must be considered
always an objectionable feature.

Another statement often made regarding ore-deposits in
New Zealand is that they are generally very small and patchy.
In this respect New Zealand is not unlike any other country
in which mineral deposits are found- — the small ore-body is
the rule; the large deposit the exception.

I shall endeavour in a brief paper to show the wide dis-
tribution and varied mineralogical range of the mineral
deposits of New Zealand.

2. Resume of the Stratigraphical Geology of New
Zealand.

The oldest rocks in the North Island are stratified Palaeo-
zoic sediments, which compose the main massif of the mountain
chains. Overlying these in places are Mesozoic and Tertiary
sediments — in the western part of the Wellington Province,
in the Wairarapa, near Auckland, around Whangarei, and
elsewhere. Much of the northern and central parts of the
Island is composed of volcanic rocks — lavas and tufa — of
Tertiary and possibly Pleistocene age.

In the South Island, the heart of the Alps exhibits ancient
crystalline schists, which are flanked by younger Palaeozoic
and Mesozoic strata. Much of the country bordering the
coast on either side is underlain by Tertiary strata, sur-
mounted by gravel debris of varied origin. Relatively, only
a small portion of the rocks of the South Island consists of
igneous rocks, which are prominent, however, near Dunedin,
in Banks Peninsula, in the granitic buttress of the south-
western corner of the Island, and in the granitic ridge extend-
ing northward from this area through Westland into Nelson.

The geological phenomena which are exhibited in New
Zealand are many, and of unique interest. In the South
Island the rugged chain of the Alps rivals in beauty and charm
the other great mountain chains of the world. Ami-d the Alps

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 3,

are spacious permanent snowfields, from which emanate great
glaciers, one of which is longer and wider than any single.
glacier in that famed glacial area, Switzerland. In addition,,
there are the wonderful fiords, the numerous lakes, and many-
other features.

In the North Island, the hot-lakes district exhibits a great
variety of hydrothermal phenomena — hot springs, geysers,
fumaroles, and other evidences of expiring vulcanism which
give it a very remarkable interest. One feature discovered in
connection with some of the hot springs near Eotorua has an
especial bearing on this paper : this is the occurrence ot
gold and silver in solution and in the sinter deposited froms
the springs. Thus may be seen the unique phenomena of gold
and silver lodes actually forming.

3. The Principal Geological Fields of Present Economic

Interest.

The Distbibution of Coal.

Perhaps in no country in the world is coal more generally
distributed than it is in this colony, as it occurs in almost
every part- — a fact which makes up for the narrowness of the
coal-seams and the inextensiveness of the basins in which they
lie as compared with coal-deposits in other parts of the world.
The coal varies considerably in quality, both in regard to the
amount of ash and in the state of carbonation.

The coals of Kaitangata, Shag Point, and Nightcaps, used
in Dunedin and Invercargill, are lignites, often of high
quality. The coal-seams which are so widely distributed on ■■
the Canterbury Plains are all lignites, but not generally so
highly carbonised as are the southern coals. The coals of
Greymouth, Brunnerton, Westport, and Puponga are bitu-
minous coals of varying degrees of purity. The northern,
coals, in the Waikato, near Whangarei, and elsewhere are in,.
general intermediate in state of carbonation between the bitu-^
minous coals and lignites.

No extensive seams of true anthracite have as yet been ex-
ploited in New Zealand. Small deposits occur near Cabbage

4 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Bay in the North Island, and near White Cliffs in the South
Island, produced in both cases by the heat of intrusion of
igneous rocks. Anthracite has been reported from Fox's
River, near Charleston, on the West Coast, and from a pro-
perty recently taken up on the Paparoa Range.

The Great Haueaki Goldfields.

The goldfields of the Hauraki Peninsula have yielded large
quantities of the precious metal in the past, and are still
very productive owing to the immense output of the great
Waihi Mine. Mining in the Thames has recently been re-
juvenated by the development of the rich pay-streak dis-
oovered in the deep levels of the Waiotahi Mine. At
Thames enormous bonanzas were worked in the past, and
there seems every reason to hope, from the evidence given
by the Waiotahi, that others will be discovered in the future.
In Coromandel, also, new discoveries may naturally be antici-
pated, the area having given very rich bonanzas in the past.

The goldfields at Waihi, Thames, Coromandel, and else-
where in the Hauraki Peninsula occur for the most part in
andesites, often much decomposed. This gold-bearing horizon
is of extensive distribution, and so there is great reason to
hope for the discovery of lodes in parts of the district other
than near the present centres of mining activity. In fact,
detailed prospecting may be said to have been limited up to
the present to the mining centres. Elsewhere the surface has
been examined in a very cursory manner, and investigation
is in many parts of the district precluded by the dense growth
of luxuriant vegetation which clothes the hills and lowlands.

The Kai^ra Copper-belt.
Recently considerable excitement has been aroused by the
discovery of a mineralised horizon containing native copper,
malachite, and other ores of copper in the Kaipara district.
The present high price of copper makes the discovery a very
important one. The horizon is said to extend for many miles
ia longitudinal direction across country from the Kaipara
Harbour towards Whangarei. Since much of this northern

Bridge over Shotover B,;VEr„ at SFi^'i'i'.ns- Otago.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 5

country is but little explored, new developments may be ex-
pected in the future.

The Quartz Veins of Otaqo.
In Central Otago the alluvial goldfields which gave such
wealth in the " sixties " are still very important, though
naturally the returns are not nearly so great as in the early
days of the gold "rush." Reefing is being carried on at a
number of places — Barewood, Skipper's, <tc. Careful pro-
specting may bring to light new reefs, since much of the
wilderness of western Otago is still but little known.

The Possibilities of Stewart Island.

The occurrence of ores of tin in Stewart Island has long
been known, and desultory attempts have been made to work
the deposits. The island, covered for the most part with a
dense forest, is difficult of exploration, but much may be done
in this line when it is opened up.

The Collingwood Area.

No part of New Zealand is more interesting from an
economic mineral standpoint than the peninsula lying west
of Golden Bay, and on which is situated the Township of
Collingwood. There are the auriferous reefs of Taitapu, the
great iron-deposit of Parapara, and the coalfields of Puponga.

The Parapara iron-deposit, which is composed of hydrous
haematites, is a most remarkable one, and bears a striking
resemblance, both in its large proportions and its mode of
origin, to the great " soft-ore " deposits of the Lake Superior
region in America. It is rare, however, in that part of the
world to find deposits of such size actually occurring on the
surface.

A mineral-bearing country is said to stretch southward
from the much-mineralised area around Paparoa to and
beyond the Karamea River. Most of the country has been
explored only in a very rough manner, but it is thought that
much mineral wealth may lie concealed in that rugged part of
the colony.

b new zealand mining handbook.

The Nelson Abba.

Near Nelson, in the Aniseed Valley, and north-eastward
towards D'Urville Island, are a number of small deposits of
copper-ores, which have been exploited to some slight degree.
The ores consist generally of cupriferous iron-sulphides, locally
oxidized to native copper cuprite and the carbonates of copper,
and lie in small, disconnected, and generally parallel lenses,
disposed along the planes of stratification of the argillites
which contain them.

The discovery of a quartz vein carrying gold in bonanza
richness at Blackwater, about twenty miles from Reefton, has
given an impetus to prospecting in that relatively old mining
locality, and has shown that there may be many rich veins as
yet undiscovered even near the centres of mining activity.

The Westland Area.

The recent explorations of a detailed character carried out
in the Hokitika sheet of North Westland — an area of about
five hundred square miles, stretching from the Town of
Hokitika to the Alpine divide — ^has shown the advantages
which may be expected to result from a detailed geological
investigation. In the Hokitika sheet have been discovered,
among other features, considerable deposits of the valuable
greenstone, and both auriferous and platiniferous veins. The
Westland Reefs area, situated near Browning's Pass, shows
several very promising prospects.

Much of the mountainous hinterland of Westland is un-
explored, and the southern portion of this interesting pro-
vince is in great part still a wild terra incognita. The dis-
coveries which have been already made during the conduction
of investigations in North* Westland seem to warrant the
expectation that much mineral wealth may yet be brought to
light in this rugged belt of country lying to the south. In
fact, the casual investigations conducted by the few prospectors
who have penetrated into the interior have shown the occur-
rence of many minerals of economic value — ores of copper,
antimony, iron, and manganese. It yet remains to be seen
whether or not these occur in sufficient quantities to be put
to commercial use.

THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE
GOLD-MINING INDUSTRY.

By H. A. GoEDON, F.G.S., Consulting Mining Engineer, Auckland; late
Inspecting Engineer, Mines Department, Kf.Z.

EARLY GOLD DISCOVERIES.

In every country where mining is carried on great strides
have been made in its progress and prosperity. In regard
to lode- and coal-mining, which are the permanent classes
of mining in any country, they are generally carried on in
a rough, hilly, or mountainous part of the country, where the
soil is not suitable for cultivation ; and, even where mining
is carried on in the plains, the surface of the ground is very
little affected by the operations. Mining also gives an im-
petus to other industries, and is a great factor in settling
people in the back country on the land. In this respect the
mining industry has been one of the principal factors in the
development of this country. When gold was first discovered
ia the Collingwood district in 1857 the European population
in the North and South Islands was only about 50,000; in
1861, when the Otago goldfields were first discovered, the
population rose to 99,000 — an increase of 49,000 in four years.
In 1864, when mining was in full swing at Tuapeka, Wether-
stone's, Waitahuna, Waipori, Dunstan, and Shotover, the
population increased to 172,000 — an increase of 73,000 in
three years. During the next three periods of three years
the average increase was close on 42,000 for each of the three
periods. In 1901 the population was, in round numbers,
773,000, and at the present time we may calculate on a popu-
lation of about 880,000, exclusive of Maoris and half-castes.

Mining has been the means of greatly facilitating the
settlement of the people on the land in New Zealand. Be-
fore the goldfields were discovered there was very little culti-
vation carried on ; the country was held in large holdings

a NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

for purelj- pastoral pursuits, the revenue from -which was very
small. There was no inducement for industries to be esta-
blished, nor for small holdings to be taken up for cultivation,
unless in the vicinity of the largest centres of population.
Now what a change has come ! There is a demand on all sides
for more land for settlement, and the supply is not equal to the
demand. Large estates were acquired in the early days for
comparatively little, the governing bodies being glad to part
with the heritage of future generations for what money they
could obtain in order to open up the interior of the country.
These estates are now being rapidly acquired, and as soon as
they are cut up into small sections they are readily applied
for and taken up.

It may be asked. What has this to do with mining? The
answer is : it was mining that brought the majority of the
yeoman class into this country. Had it not been for mining
New Zealand would, in all probability, at the present day
be a pastoral country, and this industry could not give em-
ployment to a large labouring population. Mining is a bigger
industry than many suppose. It is the means at the present
day of supporting one-tenth of the European population of
the colony; therefore it forms a great element in the progress
of this country.

Mining also had a great eSect on the settlement of Aus-
tralia. When gold was discovered in New South Wales and
Victoria the progress in these colonies proceeded by leaps and
bounds. No other industry but mining could have caused
such an influx of people from every part of the world.

Otago.

The progress made in mming, and the system of conducting
mining operations, has also made great strides. In the early
days of the Otago goldfields mining operations were almost con-
fined to shallow alluvial drifts, which required very little
capital to procure an outfit to carry on mining operations with
success. The great factor in separating the gold from the
auriferous drifts is a good supply of water to enable the drifts
to be box-sluiced, or, when sufficient water was not available,
the use of a tom (or rocker) had to be resorted to. Although

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NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 9

Collingwood was the first field in the Middle Island where gold
was discovered, the area was not of any great extent where
gold could be readily obtained from shallow drifts. It was
not until after the discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully, near
the present Town of Lawrence, in Otago, that the large influx
of population set in. This gully contained very rich auri-
ferous deposits. The whole of the ground was soon taken
up in ordinary claims, and as the population increased other
gullies and creeks in the neighbourhood got prospected, with
satisfactory results. Munro's, Wether stone's, and Waitahuna
Gullies yielded up sufficient of the precious metal to give
several holders of claims, if not a competency, a good start
in life. Waipori field, although not so rich in gold as the
former gullies, afforded profitable employment to a consider-
able population. Men of every calling and profession, fellows
of universities, doctors, and even clergymen, could not resist
the temptation, the novelty, and the desire to acquire wealth
by manual labour.

In 1862 the news of a fresh discovery of gold by Messrs.
Hartley and Kiley, on the Clutha River, caused a large rush to
that locality. Men left rich claims in Gabriel's and elsewhere
to try their fortunes at this new El Dorado. Horses, drays,
wagons, and all conveyances were in great demand; fabulous
prices were paid by those who wished to leave quickly; car-
riage of goods went up to £120 a ton from Dunedin to the
Dunstan. The first wagon -load of flour that went up was
stopped at what was known as Sheehan's station and quickly
emptied, the miners paying 2s. 6d. for every pint-pannikinful
of flour. There was no grumbling at the price; the difficulty
was to get a sufficient quantity of it at that rate. Empty
gin-cases sold at £5 each, and some of the first drays that
reached Dunstan Flat were stripped of every piece of board
used in their construction. The country in this locality being
destitute of timber, it had to be brought from Dunedin, and
fabulous prices were paid for it; wagon-loads of timber sold
at 15s. per superficial foot, and in some instances at a much
higher rate. The beaches of the river in places were literally
strewn with golden sands. Every one who possessed a rocker,
shovel, and tin dish was getting more gold than ever he

10 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

anticipated. It was looked on as the richest field that had
been discovered.

By this time a large population had gathered to the place;
townships, at what are now known as Clyde and Alexandra,
were formed ; large stores were being erected, all of canvas
covering ; hotels were being built, and an extensive assortment
of goods of every class was in transit between Dunedin and the
new El Dorado.

This was, however, of short duration. The melting snow
from the mountains caused the water in the river to rise very
rapidly and cover the whole of the beaches where the gold was
found. The sudden rising of the river threw nearly every one-
out of their previous employment. Merchants were bewailing
their fate at having large consignments of goods in transit, the
lowest rate for carriage being £100 per ton. The mining
population then began to scatter about through the country,
prospecting the different creeks and gullies in the locality.
Conroy's, Bannockburn, Dunstan Creek, Hogburn, Hamilton,
and Hyde all gave good results. Townships sprang up at all
those places, most of the new arrivals being satisfied that the-
goldfields of Otago were of a large extent. Attention was
directed to the difierent streams that were capable of supply-
ing water for sluicing purposes. Small water-races were
constructed, and before long all the available water was
applied for that could command the ground to be worked.
Prospecting was still being carried on. Fox's (now known as-
Arrowtown), the Shotover Eiver, Moke Creek, and the Twelve-
mile, on the side of Lake Wakatipu, were opened up. The
Township of Queenstown also sprang into existence, and is now
one of the most delightful spots in New Zealand. The beds of
the Shotover and Arrow Elvers yielded large quantities of
gold ; and, although over forty years have gone by since these
gold-bearing rivers were first opened up, there are still num-
bers of men who obtain a livelihood by washing the auriferous
alluvial drifts.

As time went on attention was given to auriferous-quartz-
lodes. The Achilles reef, at Skipper's; the O.P.Q., at Wai-
pori ; and the Cromwell reef, at Bendigo, were opened up and'
found to contain highly payable ore. This class of mining:

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. H

required far more capital to be invested than was necessary in
the alluvial workings, and for many years only a few persons
persevered in the development of lode-mining.

"West Coast.

In 1865 gold was found at Greenstone Creek, and this led
to the west coast of the Middle Island being prospected.
Kanieri, Ross, Donoghue's, Waimea, and the different fields
in the Grey Valley were opened up. Extensive water-races
were constructed, and the ground principally worked by
hydraulic sluicing. Amongst the latest fields opened up on
the West Coast was Kumara, from which gold to the value of
■over £1,000,000 has been extracted, all by hydraulic sluicing.
There are two large water-races on this field — one constructed
by Government, having a carrying-capacity of 120 sluice-heads,
the other constructed by the late Hon. Mr. Holmes. These
races have been the means of the whole of the gold being
obtained from this field, with the exception of a small quan-
tity obtained in shallow ground on the face of the terrace.
There is still a considerable number of men employed on
this field, but the ground is not nearly so rich as formerly.
It is only by using a large supply of water and washing away
Jiuge quantities of material that men are now able to earn a
sufficient livelihood. Kumara is a field where hydraulic
sluicing is conducted on a larger scale than anywhere else
in the colony. There are five long tail-races extending back
into the flat from the Teremakau River at various points.
These fail-races are from 2 ft. 6 in. to 3 ft. wide, paved with
wooden blocks to a depth, in some oases, of 12 in. The tailings
from the different claims in the vicinity of these tail-races
are discharged into them, the maintenance and repairs to
the main tail-race being borne conjointly by all those using it.
The ground in the Kumara field contains a very large per-
centage of big stones; the removal of these stones occupies
about one-half of the worlunen's time each shift, so that if
hydraulic sluicing is carried on for four hours it takes another
four hours to remove the stones before the water can be used
.again.

12 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

The expense of hydraulic-sluicing ground, where there is
a considerable overburden containing large stones, is very-
considerable. Before a claim is equipped with pipes, tail-
races, boxes, blocks, water-wheels for hauling up the stones, and
all appliances, it would cost fully, on such a field as Kumara,
from £2,000 to £3,000. This does not include head-races or
dams, as the water on this field is supplied from the water-race
constructed by the Government, which charges 10s. per sluice-
head per week of eight hours per day. As the tail-races are
now constructed on low gradients, it requires ten to twelve
sluice-heads of water to work the ground.

The general method of working the alluvial auriferous-
drifts in New Zealand is by hydraulic sluicing and by the
employment of dredges. The only place where the alluvial
drifts have been worked from deep shafts is Ross. The
ground has been worked at this place to a depth of over
300 ft. without reaching the rook bottom. In this depth there
are eight separate layers or beds of auriferous gravel, some
of which were very rich in the precious metal. These deep
workings have been suspended for many years, not on account
of the lack of gold, but through the water that flows into the
old workings from Jones's Creek. Before work in the deep
ground can ever be resumed, Jones's Creek will have to be
diverted and the water prevented from getting on to the
surface of the flat where the deep auriferous drifts lie. In
the early days of this field the shallow auriferous beds of
gravel were worked ; also other beds down to such a depth
as could be drained by a tail-race constructed from near the-
mouth of the Totara River to what was then known as Jones's
Flat. A timber flume was constructed to convey the water-
in Jones's Creek from the Head of the flat to Donnelly's Creek,
but this flume was not of sufficient capacity to take the whole
of the water in flood-time. The claim-holders on the flat, to-
gether with the residents, subscribed sufficient capital to place
a drainage-engine on the flat, which worked two pumps 14 in.
in diameter, but these were not of sufficient capacity to con-
tend with the influx of water percolating through the ground.
An effort was then made to get more capital, but this proved
a failure; the claim - holders got disheartened, abandoned'

v**i

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 13

their claims, and disposed of all their plants. After a lapse
of about four years Mr. Patrick Commisky induced London
gentlemen to embark in the venture; sufficient capital was
subscribed; a water-race which belonged to the Jones's Creek
Company was purchased; a tail-race from near the ocean-
beach was constructed to drain the water to a depth of nearly
100 ft. below the surface; a hydraulic pumping-engine was
erected, which worked four draw-lift pumps of 14 in. diameter
to a depth of 200 ft. below the level of the tail-race. This
plant was capable of contending with the water so long as
there was a solid barrier left between the old workings and
the shaft, but as soon as the old workings were broken into
the mine was flooded to such an extent that it was hopeless to
attempt working it again before a further expenditure was
incurred in entirely diverting all streams from getting into
the old workings. The company's capital being at this time
expended, all operations were suspended.

Several attempts have been made to form a company to
work this flat since its abandonment, but without success.
Reports have been obtained from mining engineers, who have
favourably reported upon it as an investment. They recom-
mended that an electrical installation plant should be erected
near the Mikonui River, where a plentiful supply of water
could be had, and from that place to convey the current to
Ross Flat — a distance of three miles — by cable, and by
this means use electricity as a motive power to work the
pumping and winding plants. This scheme was so favour-
ably considered that the Government offered, or agreed to
give, a subsidy of £16,000 to any company with sufficient
capital to erect machinery, sink shafts, and make all pro-
vision to work the ground in a systematic manner. No
company, however, has so far been found to undertake the
work. The ground still remains as waste lands of the Crown,
but there is little doubt that the time will come when this
area will be opened up and its hidden treasure extracted.
Gold to the value of about £300,000 has been taken out of
the shallowest portions of Ross Flat; but in carrying on the
workings towards the ocean the auriferous layers or beds of
gravel dipped on an inclination in that direction, until the

14 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

water could not be overcome with the machinery then em-
ployed.

Geologically, this portion of the Middle Island is most
interesting. The auriferous beds have been worked down to
a, depth of 200 ft. below sea-level without any indication of
A rock bottom being reached. The upper gravels belong to
the Pliocene and Pleistocene periods, but the lower gravels
belong to the Miocene. These lower gravels are found for
about ten miles to the south of Ross, where they disappear, or
are overlain by the gravels of the more recent periods. The
Miocene gravels can be traced over the top of Mount Green-
land, 3,000 ft. above sea-level, through Ross, where they are
covered with more recent drifts. They are again seen at
Rimu, the Blue Spur, Waimea, Callaghan's, Maori Creek,
Maori Gully, No Town, Nelson Creek, Ahaura, and thence
-on to Soldier's Creek, near Reefton. The line of these gravels
passes at the back of Reefton on to Coal Creek, where it comes
-against a granite intrusion. These gravels are not seen again
until near the Hope Saddle, but from there they can be traced
on the surface into Golden Bay, near Nelson. The course of
these gravels indicates that at some prior period a large river
from the West Coast flowed across what is now the backbone
of the country and discharged its waters into the ocean at
Golden Bay. It also indicates that the land at one time was,
in all probability, fully seventy miles further to the westward
than Bold Head, and perhaps considerably further. A great
convulsion must have taken place, causing a submersion of the
-land. This is referred to by Dr. Ferdinand von Hochstetter
in his work on " New Zealand : its Physical Geography,
"Geology, and Natural History." He states, in regard to the
-absence of passes in the ftntral chain of mountains, " The
olue to this system of ravines and ridges is to be found in the
if act that the Palaeozoic rocks forming the main range have been
<it a very early period subjected to intensive pressure, the ef-
fect of which has been to crumple them up into huge folds."
He shows by a map on page 484 that the grinding or folding
radiated from one common centre, situated about fifty miles
north of Mount Darwin in the sea near Cliffy Head. Mr.
McKay, F.G.S., Government Geologist, in his report in 1890

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 15

made an examination of the difierent earthquake rents in the
colony, and states that " one of these rents runs out on the sea-
coast near the mouth of the Flags River, and is traceable across
the south-east spur of Benmore into the lower course of the Ben-
more Stream. The same rent is clearly traceable from the
western end of Hanmer Plains along the Waiau-ua and Hope
Valleys, and the trend line runs out on the West Coast a little
to the south of Hokitika." He also shows by map an earth-
quake rent from Castle Point, on the east coast of the North
Island, crossing Cook Strait and running out into the ocean
a little to the southward of Hokitika. There are shown on
his map no less than seven earthquake rents across the Island,
converging in a somewhat similar direction to that indicated
by Dr. Hochstetter.*

The auriferous gravel-beds worked at Ross under the sea-
level, dipping towards the ocean, indicate the existence of high
land at one time a long distance out of what is now the ocean -
It clearly shows that a great submersion of the land has taken
place, and that other portions have been folded up and raised
above the water. About 60 chains inland from Ross Flat,
at an elevation of about 200 ft. above sea-level, the skeleton of
a whale was discovered, and it is now in the Colonial Museum,
Wellington. Great changes are taking place in the crust of
the earth from time to timej and the earth is most unstable in
its movements. Nevertheless, we go on from day to day,^
fancying that we are perfectly secure so long as we are oa
terra firma.

Ocean-beaches.

A great deal of gold has been got on the ocean-beaches and
in sea-beach leads now inland. The richest portions of these-
beach leads lie between Karamea, on the west coast of the-
Middle Island, and Jackson's Bay. In regard to the ocean-
beaches, at times they are covered with loose shingle, while at
other times the shingle is removed and carried onward by the
currents of the ocean, leaving the beach bare of all shingle and
covered with black sand (magnetite) thickly diffused with fine-

* See Geological Transactions, 1890, p. 1.

16 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

particles of gold. Some claims have been constantly worked
— when not covered with shingle — for upwards of twenty-five
years, and are still giving the shareholders a livelihood for
■working them. The Shetlanders' Beach, about a mile and a
half north of Charleston, may be instanced as an example.
The plant required to work these beaches is very simple and
inexpensive. The whole appliances are fixed on a barrow,
which is wheeled back and forward on the beach as the tide
ebbs and flows. It consists of a hopper to separate the rough
from the fine particles of sand. The fine sand is washed over
a system of inclined copper plates coated with quicksilver ;
in some instances it is run over inclined tables covered with
plush or cocoanut matting; while the water for washing is
either supplied by a hand-pump or taken by a flexible hose
from a flume placed above high-water mark. The sand is
skimmed oS the top of the beach and filled into the hopper;
the latter, being set on an inclination, is self-discharging.

Some of the richest of these ocean-beaches in the early days
were south of Okarito. The Three-mile and Five-mile beaches
were exceptionally rich when they were first discovered. Quite
recently gold to the value of £2,500 was stated to have been
taken from a small area near Okarito in the course of a few
months. At low tides they presented the appearance of a cloth
of gold. Gillespie's, Hunt's, and different beaches along the
ooast-line afiorded profitable employment for many years to
those who were working on them. Prospecting was carried on
a little inland from high-water mark, where deeper auriferous
beds of sand were met with. Water-wheels were constructed
to work Californian pumps wherever water was available for
power to drain the ground. By this means these deep leads
-were worked,' and gave in many instances famous returns to
those engaged in the pursuiFof the precious metal.

These beach leads in places show a sinking of the land,
•while in other places they indicate that the land has been raised
considerably. Near the mouth of the Totara River, between
Charleston and Westport, workings are carried on below sea-
level, or at least below high-water mark; while two miles
inland sea-beach leads are worked at a considerable elevation
at Charleston, Brighton, Cronanville, and Addison's Flat.

j'^M

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 17

In these localities there are large quantities of cemented
■auriferous sand, which have been for many years, and are
still, worked by crushing the sand in a stamp-battery; the
gold is recovered by being run over cocoanut matting with a
stream of water.

At Addison's Flat there is a considerable number of men
employed working the beach leads, where a large expenditure
is in many instances incurred in procuring plants, construct-
ing head and tail races, and opening out claims, the under-
ground tail-races being in some instances a mile in length.
The ground is worked by hydraulic-sluicing the whole of the
overburden ; the material is carried by water on to a hopper,
which separates the stones and large shingle from the fine
stufij the latter passes down the tail-races, whilst the stones
are hauled up on an inclined tramway by a water -balance
and deposited on the worked-out ground. Some of these
•claims have yielded large returns to their shareholders, and
still give handsome profits for working them.

QUARTZ-MINING.

Coromandel.

The quartz-mining centres are Coromandel, Thames, Kara-
ngahake, Waihi, and Te Aroha, in the North Island; and
Eeefton, on the west coast of the Middle Island. Coromandel
was the first field opened for working auriferous quartz.
Gold-specimens were found in creek-beds, and in tracing up
these creeks it led to the discovery of rich auriferous lodes at
Kapanga, Tokatea, Tiki, and other localities. The richest
portions of the lodes are in the stringers and veins running
through both lodes and the country rock, the latter being
of an altered volcanic formation. • In some of these narrow
stringers — as, for instance, in the Success Claim — the gold
■was found in a thin sheet. The lodes in this field vary greatly
in regard to value; the lodes may continue, but the gold will
disappear ; a thin clay-vein across the lode will cut it ofi as
though it had been completely severed with a knife, and the
eold will make again quite as suddenly as it cut out. The
lodes are what the miner terms " very patchy," and in general

18 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

very small, but often extremely rich. A few years ago a rich-
shoot of gold was found in the Hauraki Claim, where shattere(J
quartz was literally held together with strings of gold, and a.
somewhat similar discovery was made in the Kapanga Mine.
A commencement was made to work the auriferous-quartz lodes;
in this district in the latter part of 1858.

Thames.

The Thames field was opened in 1867. A rich auriferous
lode was found at Shellback Creek by Messrs. Hunt, Copley,
and others. When the lode was opened out it showed amazing^
richness, and this led to a rush of miners from difierent parts
of the colony to the field, and claims were taken up in every
direction, but verj' little gold was found to the north of
Shellback Creek, while to the southward every claim con-
tained rich auriferous stone between Shellback and Karaka.
Creeks. The claims known as the Kuranui, Long Tunnel,.
Moanataiari, Caledonian, Cambria, Waitotahi, Prince Im-
perial, Saxon, and Queen of Beauty all proved good invest-
ments for the shareholders. In the Caledonian Claim the-
quantity of gold in the lode was astounding, and in some-
instances the gold had to be cut out of the lode with a chisel.
Within twelve months dividends amounting to over £550,000
were paid to the shareholders. Shares went up to fabulous-
prices, as no one expected that the gold would cut out of the-
lode as soon as it did. This claim was looked on as a safe,
permanent investment, but these hopes were doomed to dis-
appointment. The shoot of rich stone proved only a patch ;-
at the same time, it was a large one.

The Moanataiari, Prince Imperial, and Queen of Beauty-
Claims contained rich shoots of ore, which gave the share-
holders good returns for their investments. Recently a dis-
covery of rich ore in the Waiotahi Claim, in which mining-
operations have been carried on for the last thirty years, has-
caused renewed interest to be taken in mining ventures at
the Thames. Before the discovery of this rich shoot of ore-
there were 6,000 shares in the company, some of which were-
selling at 7s. 6d. per share, making the value of the property
about £2,250; but after this late discovery of rich ore, or

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 19

stringers, the stock was watered; every shareholder got ten
.shares for each share previously held, making 60,000 shares,
iiaving a present value of about £7 per share. Taking the
-share-value as a basis, within twelve months the value of this
.property, on which mining operations have been steadily
carried on for at least thirty years, Jumped up in a short time
from £2,250 to over £420,000. Quartz, or lode, mining is
-entirely different from alluvial. In dealing with auriferous-
-gravel deposits, we know when the claim is worked down to the
rock the whole of the deposit has been taken out ; but no one
•can tell in lode-mining when the whole of the gold has been
taken out. There is a certain fascination and attractiveness
in connection with auriferous-quartz mining that induces men
"to invest their money in this industry. There is always a
chance of a rich shoot of ore being discovered which will repay
tenfold the money invested. No mining engineer, whatever
his experience or ability may be, can tell with certainty what
"lies hidden in the bowels of the earth. He may deduce from
-observations of the nature of the lode, and the formation in
which the lode is enclosed, that there is a fair prospect of
good ore being obtained, or that the continuity of the lode has
-fco a certain extent been ascertained ; but beyond this the ques-
tion of value at depths not penetrated, or in places below the
surface where the eye of man cannot behold it, is still a blank.

Karangahake.

Quartz-mining has been carried on here for about thirty-
,four years, but no rich deposits of ore have ever been found,
such as was the case at Thames and Coromandel. The ore in
this field is far more refractory, and requires a different
method of treatment from that on the other fields mentioned.

It was on this field that cyanide of potassium was first used
-for the extraction of fine gold from the pulverised ore; it was
iiere that experiments were made to perfect the process ; it was
to this place that the MacArthur-Forrest Company sent Mr.
John McConnell to treat the first ore with cyanide-solutions.
The appliances and plant sent out from Glasgow proved that
the question of successful treatment was one in which only a

20 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

crude knowledge had been obtained. It was left to those
engaged in quartz-mining in this colony to perfect the process,
which has been the means of claims being successfully worked
that were, before this process was introduced, perfectly value-
less. A large number of claims have been taken up on this
field, worked for a short period, and abandoned; still the
New Zealand Crown Mines and the Talisman Consolidated
continue to carry on mining operations with success. Both
these companies have erected expensive plants of the most
modern design, and have expert workmen employed in all
branches. Nothing is done, as in former days, by rule-of-
thumb. The ore, when it comes out of the mine, is carefully
assayed, and the percentage of metals extracted is accurately
ascertained. The ore at Karangahake contains a large per-
centage of silver, and in some instances copper, which makes
the value of the bullion extracted only a little more than £1
per ounce. All the ore treated is calculated on the value of
the bullion it contains, and not on the weight of the gold in
the ore, as was originally the case.

Waihi.

This is one of the greatest quartz-mining districts there is
in the colony. The lodes are of enormous width, in some
places fully 200 ft. from wall to wall ; and over 50 ft. of this
width is taken out and put through the difierent processes of
treatment. Quartz - mining has been carried on here since
1882. The Martha Company took up a large claim on the
Martha Lode, erected a crushing-battery with the ordinary
quicksilver-tables and a plant of berdans — the only appliances
used at that time for the treatment of ore. Portions of the
lode were quarried from th^top of the Martha Hill and put
through the battery. This went on for several years, but,
although it was supposed that only the richest portion of the
lode was taken, it could not be made to return a value to do
more than cover the actual expenses of working. An adjoining
claim was taken up by the Waihi Company, which commenced
operations on a different lode from the Martha. Shafts were
sunk, levels constructed, Globe mills erected, with amal-
gamating machinery; but as these mills proved a failure they

"S H

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 21

were removed, and sixty heads of stamps used instead. Kilns
were constructed for roasting the ore as it came from the mine
before putting it through the battery, but the lode the com-
pany was working did not give returns for the large outlay
the company had made — indeed, it seemed at one time that
liquidation was not far distant.

The whole credit for the existence and success of this
company is due to Mr. Henry Russell, who came out from
England with no experience in mining, but on his arrival here
he spent some time in gaining a little knowledge of assaying.
He went to Waihi and watched the method used in the treat-
ment of the ore; he was so bent on obtaining a knowledge of
the different processes of working that he almost lived in the
battery while it was at work. At that time a system of dry-
crushing had been established, which caused the building to
be full of fine dry dust, highly injurious to those employed in
it. This began to impair Mr. Russell's health, but he still
continued to watch the experiments that were being made, not
only with the view of reducing the cost of treatment, but also to
obtain a larger percentage of the bullion contents. The lode
the company was then working was a comparatively small
one, and there was little hope at that time of the opera-
tions being extensively carried on with much success. The
system of treatment — namely, pan-amalgamation — did not
extract a large percentage of the gold in the ore, and less than
50 per cent, of the silver. The cyanide process was then in its
infancy; Messrs. McConnell and Napier were making experi-
ments with it at the New Zealand Crown Mines at Karanga-
hake, while the Waihi Company was stacking the tailings,
awaiting the results of that process. Mr. Russell, in the
meantime, had been occasionally visiting the Martha Com-
pany's workings, with the view of seeing the nature of the
lode and the manner of working it, and took samples of the
ore for analysis, until he was satisfied that it was a valuable
property. The shareholders in the Martha Company were so
disheartened at working the mine for years and not meeting
with success that they sold it to Mr. Russell for a very small
amount. After the purchase was completed a sample of
the ore was sent to the Crown Company's works to be treated

Nf)W ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

by the cyanide process, and it gave results far exceeding
expectations. It is from this period onwards that success
attended tlie Waihi Company's operations.

The Waihi Company now possesses one of the finest mining
properties in the world. It is the premier gold-mining com-
pany in New Zealand, and indeed in Australasia, at the
present time. There are very few mining companies in the
world equal to it when the number of lodes and dimensions
come to be considered. The company holds several mining
claims, all contiguous to each other, on lease from the Crown.
In these claims there are no fewer than sixteen distinct lodes
passing through them, and six of them are big lodes carrying
highly payable ore. The largest of these is the Martha Lode,
which on some of the levels is 200 ft. in width from wall to
wall; but the whole of this width is not broken out and sent
to the mill. The width of pay-ore varies in this lode from
25 ft. to 70 ft. In order to give an idea of the enormous
ore-body in this mine, the returns for the year 1904 are
herewith given, showing the quantity of ore taken from each
lode, with its value : —

Name of Lode.

Tons.

Name of Lode.

Tons.

Martha . . .

... 98,339

Victoria

5,735

Empire ...

... 50,161

4,204

Welcome ...

... 41,746

... 3,682

Regina ...

... 13,684

No. 2 ...

.. 2,553

Royal

... 12,125

1,819

Albert . . .

... 11,652

Surprise ...

743

Magazine

6,753

Princess ...

... 6,731

Total

259,978

From this quantity of ore bullion was produced to the
value of £683,882 3s. lOd.^equal to an average yield of £2
4s. lid. per ton; while dividends for that year, amounting
to 10s. per share, were paid, and also a bonus of 2s. per share,
making a total of £297,554 4s. The comparative proportions
of the value of the gold and silver in the bullion, as valued at
the mine, were: Gold, £594,243 3s. 4d. ; silver, £78,858 5s.;
making the value at the mine £673,101 8s. 4d. This how-
ever, realised in London £683,882 3s. lOd. The total value
of bullion taken from this mine during a period of sixteen

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 23

years amounted to £4,5-19,334, out of which £1,877,896 has
been paid in dividends to the shareholders. During the year
1905 298,531 tons of ore was crushed for 1,192,046 oz. of
bullion, valued at £751,233 (including value of concentrates
and slags tailings shipped for treatment), and dividends were
paid amounting to £322,339 lis.

To show the magnitude of this company's operations, it
may be stated that six shafts are sunk to considerable depths,
one of which is the pumping and drainage shaft, intended to
drain a large area of the field. One of the largest pumping
condensing engines in Australasia is erected at this shaft.
The low-pressure cylinder is 11 ft. in diameter and 12 ft. in
length, having a weight of about 21 tons. This engine and
all its connections are of beautiful workmanship, every joint
being accurately fitted as though it were a piece of mechanism
belonging to a chronometer. This huge machine is placed on
a concrete foundation, which had to be carried down to a
great, depth before a solid rock-bed was reached. No one
except a wealthy individual or corporation could have gone to
the expense of providing for the drainage of so large an area
of this field as the Waihi Company is now capable of draining.
The number of steam-engines this company has at work for
winding, driving air-compressing machinery, haulage, and
working electric plants, and in various capacities, together
with the buildings, poppet-heads, workshops, laboratories,
&c., gives the place the appearance of an immense factory,
covering over 100 acres of ground. Mining stores, tools,
implements, and modern appliances of every description are
handy on the ground when required. To the workshops a
foundry has recently been added, so that all repairs, and even
a great deal of new work, can now be undertaken by the
company's workmen.

The ore from the mine is treated at three distinct crushing-
batteries — the Union Mill, alongside the Ohinemuri River,
with forty heads of stamps; the Waihi Mill, near the mine,
with ninety heads; and the Waikino Mill, about six miles
from the mine, with 200 heads; making a total of 330 heads
of stamps, which are worked continuously day and night,
Sundays excepted. The machinery is all driven by water-

24 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

power when water is available, but steam-power is provided
if the water runs short. There is an immense number of
cyanide-vats, sumps, solution-tanks, zinc extractors, montejus,
filter-presses, tube mills, concentrators, and a railway with
locomotive engines to bring the ore from the mine to the
Waikino Mill. Mark the prosperity this company has hither-
to enjoyed and the ore-reserves in sight in, its mine. Not-
withstanding the large tonnage daily treated, it will take
years to exhaust the ore, while there is no diminution in the
size and value of the ore, as far as can be seen, underfoot.

What a difference this place now presents from that which
it presented at the time of my first visit. In 1884 it appeared
to be a barren desert plain, with a bare knoll, and one public-
house; bleak and uninviting, a traveller was glad to reach
that solitary habitation. No formed road, nothing but wheel-
ruts to indicate the direction of the house and show one that
this was the only highway leading from Ohinemuri through
Mr. Vesey Stewart's celebrated settlement (Katikati) to Tau-
ranga. On the top of this bald hill was to be seen a large
lode of quartz, which was taken up as a claim by the Martha
Company, the late Mr. Adam Porter, of Auckland, being
one of that company's promoters and afterwards one of
the directors. A few huts began to be built at this locality,
and a battery of forty heads of stamps was erected, which was
driven by water-power from the Ohinemuri River. For years
this company kept struggling on, hoping that better ore would
be met with, until it got disheartened at not seeing any signs
of meeting with success, and it finally disposed of the property.
Years have gone by since then ; the property was developed,
and far exceeded in value the most sanguine expectations.
The share-value — that is, what shares were being disposed of
in open market — at the time^f purchasing the Martha Com-
pany's property was not over £22,500, and to-day it is about
£4,500,000. Several hundred thousands of pounds have
been expended in machinery and development- work. About
fourteen hundred men are employed by this company. A
flourishing town has sprung into existence; good roads and
streets have been constructed; large, commodious buildings
have been erected; orchards and gardens give a cheerful as-

CO
o

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 25

pect to the place, where now resides over 5,000 of a population.
Compare that with a solitary publichouse in the year 1884,
and note the gigantic strides due to the mining industry.

The success attending the efforts of the Waihi Company has
induced other mining companies to take up claims in this
locality, but so far none of them has met with great success.
The Waihi Grand Junction Company has been for the last
ten years prospecting for the Martha Lode, but owing to the
large influx of water met with it was unable for a long time
to get down a sufficient depth to strike the lode. The diffi-
culties encountered have now been overcome ; the lode has been
cut, levels are being opened out, and there is every prospect
of this company reaping a rich reward for its labours. The
Waihi Extended Company has also done a considerable amount
of dead-work. It has cut lodes in its claim, but the present
machinery and appliances belonging to this company are in-
adequate to carry on mining operations successfully at such
depths. The Waihi field has a great future before it. The
enormous auriferous lodes which exist, as far as have been yet
tested, are not likely to out out until a great depth is reached.
Gold has been found in lodes on the Bendigo field, in Aus-
tralia, to a depth of over 4,000 ft., but these lodes were only
comparatively small in comparison with the Martha Lode
at Waihi. One of the pleasing features in connection with
the Martha Lode is that its value continues as it goes down,
which in a measure indicates that the lode, with its bullion
contents, is likely to go down to a great depth. Mining, on
this field is still only in its infancy. Very little work has yet
been done, beyond scratching the surface, by other companies,
irrespective of those already mentioned ; and even in the Waihi
Company's mine, where the most work has been done, it is
comparatively little compared with what will yet be done
before it is exhausted. Another century may pass away, and
still see lode-mining an important industry in this locality.

Te Aroha.

Te Aroha was opened in 1882, but no ore was crushed until
November, 1883. Several mining companies were formed to
work claims on this field, amongst which were the New Find,

26 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Colonist, Premier, Werahiko, and Waitoko; in all, there were
about thirty registered companies having claims. These claims
were situated from one to nearly three miles up Waiorongomai
Creek, from the place where it debouched into the Thames
Valley. Messrs. Firth and Clark erected a crushing-battery,
consisting of forty heads of stamps, and a plant of berdans
on the flat, at the entrance of the gorge of the Waiorongomai
Creek, to crush the ore from the different claims. The County
Council constructed a tramway, a subsidy being obtained from
the Government, to connect the different mines with the
•crushing-battery, at a cost of about £18,000. A monster lode
traverses the country for a long distance, and rich specimens
of ore were obtained. From this lode several smaller lodes
branch ofi, as well as cross-lodes, which have no apparent con-
nection with the main lode.

When the claims referred to were first opened and the lodes
<;ut they showed a good class of ore. Veins containing rich
specimens were found traversing the lodes, showing gold in
•extremely fine particles disseminated through the quartz. The
results from the crushing of the oxidized ore near the outcrop
of the lodes were highly satisfactory, but on sinking the ore
became refractory, and the process of treatment at the battery
was not of such a nature that the bullion could be recovered.
The ore in many instances, although containing a high value,
was so complex that by the recognised method of treatment —
■crushing and amalgamation — very little of its valuable con-
tents could be recovered. The ore contained in some instances
gold, silver, copper, zinc, arsenic, and antimony, principally
as sulphides. The result was that the valuable plant, which
was said at that time to have cost £20,000, was found to be
of little service, and company after company abandoned their
claims. One of the proprretors of the crushing-battery (Mr.
J. C. Firth) took his battery-manager to America to visit
some of the mining centres there, to see if there was any
system adopted in that country for the treatment of similar
ores to that found at Te Aroha. On returning to this colony
they chanced to be fellow-passengers with the late Mr. W. K.
Wilson, who was connected with the Broken Hill Mines, in
New South Wales. Mr. Wilson visited the Te Aroha field,

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 27

and from what he observed, and from the reports that he
obtained, purchased the crushing-battery and took up some of
the abandoned claims. A mining engineer and metallurgist
of considerable experience came from America to take charge
of the undertaking. A smelting and also a roasting furnace
was erected, and the ore crushed and concentrated. The con-
centrates were first roasted, made into briquettes, and smelted;
but this process did not give good results. It was far too
costly a process to deal with any ore unless it was of an ex-
ceptionally high grade. Mr. Wilson abandoned the under-
taking, and sold the plant and claims to Messrs. Adams and
Wicks.

About this time the cyanide process was being experimented
with by Messrs. John McConnell and James Napier at the
Crown Company's mine, Karangahake. Mr. Adams, after
again experimenting with the ore by the amalgamation pro-
cess, erected a cyanide plant, and employed Mr. James Napier
to work it. It was found, however, that the percentage of
copper-sulphides in the ore was too great to permit it to be
treated economically by the cyanide process, and the consump-
tion of cyanide was too great. Possibly, the cyanide process
of treatment was not then sufficiently understood to apply it in
the proper manner. The outcome was that the claims were
again abandoned, the plant sold in parts, and the field once
more deserted for a time.

There are large lodes of complex ores on this field, which
on assay show a high value; but some cheap method of treat-
ment is required to deal with refractory ore of this class.
Improvements in mining machinery, appliances, and chemical
methods of treating these complex ores will, no doubt, from
time to time be made. Lower-grade ores will then be worked
than at present, and when that time comes Te Aroha will be a
field capable of supporting a large mining population.

Reefton.

The auriferous lodes in the Reefton district were first
opened in 1870. Amongst the claims then taken up were the
Aiax and Golden Fleece. In both claims rich ore was obtained.
They were situated on a steep hill, about 1,400 ft. above the

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

level of the flat. Machinery had to be erected before the
claims could be worked. There were no formed roads, and
even the pack-tracks were in their native state. The share-
holders of the Ajax Mine had to get steam machinery before
they could get any return from their mine. Any portion
which could be conveyed on pack-horses was a simple matter,
but a steam-boiler was required of sufficient capacity to supply
steam for an engine to drive ten heads of stamps, with ber-
dans, and also supply steam for a winding-engine. To get
this boiler on the ground was a herculean undertaking. It
was conve3'ed up the Buller River on a punt, and up the
Inangahua River to the place where the Township of Black's
Point is now situated. From there it was taken up the face
of a steep hill by constructing capstans at different points and
parbuckling the boiler to the top of the range; thence along
the top for one mile to its destination. Miners in those days
had difficulties to surmount that almost seemed incredible,
and hardships to undergo which the rising generation have
little conception of. In this portion of the colony men had to
carry all their belongings on their backs for a considerable
time after gold was discovered; they had to climb steep
ranges, cross flooded rivers, and in many instances pass the
night in front of a fire in wet clothes, with no other covering
from the inclemency of the weather than the canopy of heaven .
Other claims were rapidly taken up — the Wealth of Na-
tions, Energetic, Keep-it-Dark, Inkerman, and many others
which have been abandoned years ago. Quartz lodes were
prospected in every direction. Specimen Hill and the Wel-
come, at Boatman's, were opened up. The Globe, Progress,
and Big River Claims have yielded a large quantity of gold,
whilst their shareholders have received handsome dividends.
Up to the end of 1904 there were 1,083,575 tons of quartz
treated, from which 603,169 Bz. of gold was obtained, repre-
senting a value of £2,382,208, and out 'of this amount
£694,356 was paid in dividends to the shareholders, while
the calls amounted to £482,340. In the early days of this
field claims were taken up, and companies were floated which
expended all their capital without getting scarcely any gold,
and it was considered ruinous by a great number of people

^XR

itfeir!^

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 29

to invest money in mining property in this district. This
led me in 1887 to prepare a table of all the quartz-mining
companies which had up to that time been carrying on opera-
tions in the Reefton district, which showed that the actual
cash paid in calls into mining companies was £163,015 5s. Td.,
while the dividends paid to the shareholders amounted to
£210,306 8s. 2d., thus showing a balance of £47,291 3s. Id.
to the credit of profits. No doubt, a large sum was lost in
purchasing shares far above their nominal value, but, to take
the industry on the whole, it gave a handsome profit.

About eleven years ago Mr. David Ziman came to this
colonj- and purchased the Globe, Progress, Wealth of Nations,
«nd Golden Fleece Mines, and formed a company in London
which is known as the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand.
Since then that company has purchased the Welcome and
other mines at Boatman's. It also formed the Globe and
Progress Mines into a separate company, which has been
carrying on mining operations successfully since its forma-
tion. The workings of the Globe and Progress Mines are
now down to a depth of over 1,300 ft., where good ore is still
being met with. This company has a crushing plant of sixty-
five heads of stamps, which are kept running continuously,
unless stopped for repairs; large concentrating, cyanide, and
chlorination plants are erected ; also a long series of slime-
tables, covered with light canvas, which saves very fine con-
centrates. This product is roasted in a reverberatory furnace
and chlorinated.

Operations are steadily carried on at the Golden Fleece,
Wealth of Nations, and the Energetic Mines, belonging to the
Consolidated Goldfields Company, with satisfactory results.
The workings in the Golden Fleece are down to a depth of
•over 1,300 ft. below the surface, but the ore at this depth is
«aid to be decreasing in value. The workings in the Ener-
igetic Mine are down to a depth of over 1,500 ft. below the
surface, but so far the results have been disappointing.

The Keep-it-Dark Mine has been constantly worked for
the last thirty years. It has given the best return of any mine
in the district for the capital expended in opening it out. Up
to the end of 1905 the actual paid-up capital was £6,208.

3U NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

The value of the gold won was £380,430, out of which £145, 667"
was paid in dividends to shareholders, while there was paid in-
wages and other expenses £251,293. The only other mine in?
this district that returned large dividends to shareholders is-
the Welcome, which now belongs to the Consolidated Goldfields-
Company. The actual paid-up capital of this company was
£8,609 17s. 6d., while the dividends paid to its original'
shareholders amounted to £110,250. The Big River Com-
pany has returned £47,366 in dividends to its shareholders,,
whilst the paid-up capital of the company is only £11,475.

An interesting discovery in recent years was made, ini
1898, on the Victoria Range by Mr. Kirwan, at an ele-
vation of 4,000 ft. above sea - level. The surface of the-
range ■ for a considerable distance was strewn with quartz:
containing gold, and some remarkably rich specimens were-
obtained. The character of the quartz which contained the-
gold was of a pure-white sugary appearance and of a very-
friable nature. Wherever this class of quartz was found it.
contained gold. A great deal of prospecting was done with
the view of finding a lode, and several tunnels were driven into
the range without success. A shaft was sunk in Saw-pit Gully,
which revealed about 4 ft. of rich auriferous stone, but all of"
a loose character. The surface material, wherever the quartz-
containing gold lay on the surface, gave good prospects. The-
company erected a crushing-battery near the Waitahu River,-
and an aerial tramway connecting the claim with the battery ,.
and has since been putting all the surface material down to a;'
great depth through the battery, with the result that it has
returned over £14,700 in dividends to its shareholders, while-
the actual paid-up capital was only £3,092.

Reefton is a very extensive district for auriferous lodes.-
The gold is of a high value,^and the ore free-milling. No-
complex ore is mined here of the same character as that found'
in the Auckland goldfields. The lodes, although not so rich-
as at Coromandel and Thames, are more regular in value, but
it is difficult to get machinery and plant on the ground oni
account of the rough, rugged nature of the country, full of
deep ravines and steep declivities. It is a district that will
take years to properly prospect. Only recently a rich dis-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 31

•covery of an auriferous lode has been made at Blackwater, the
■extent of which is not yet known. The whole of the country
•being covered with timber and dense undergrowth makes pro-
specting a difficult undertaking; trenches have to be cut
'before one can tell whether a lode exists or not, and unless the
.prospecting operations are in the locality of a known lode,
it is only by mere chance that a surface outcrop is seen. If
■the line of a lode is once ascertained, trenches can be cut
-across that line with some prospect of finding it; but when
.prospecting is carried on a long distance from the line of
'known lodes it is only by the merest chance that an outcrop
lis found.

Otago.

Quartz-mining in Otago has not yielded the quantity of
;gold that has been obtained in other quartz-mining districts.
The lodes at Skipper's Creek were opened in the early days of
the goldfields, and, although there was rich ore near the out-
■orop of the reef, the value of the ore decreased rapidly as the
lode went down. Messrs. G. and F. Bullen carried on opera-
"tions on this lode for a number of years with comparatively
little success; indeed, up to the time that they sold the mine
"to an English company the total value of the gold won did not
■exceed the amount paid in dividends to the shareholders in
"the Keep-it-Dark Mine, in the Keefton district, and since then
rthe returns have not given any interest on the capital invested.
(Rich lodes may be found in the mountains, but they are diffi-
■cult of access, and it is only during a few months in summer
■that prospecting can be carried on. There are several lodes in
'this district and in the vicinity of Macetown, where rich auri-
ferous ore has been found at comparatively shallow depths
"below the surface which gave good returns ; but, generally, in
^11 the mines opened up in the same rock formation as there
■is in this district the value of the ore decreased in depth.

The most successful quartz-mining company in the Otago
'District was the Cromwell Company, at Bendigo. It got
•exceedingly rich ore down to a depth of 200 ft., but below this
depth the ore rapidly decreased in value. A new shaft was
sunk to a depth of 400 ft. a little to the northward of the old
^workings; it cut the lode, which had a width of from 9 in. to

32 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

12 in., but did not contain gold of a value to work. This is
a part of the country and a lode worthy of being prospected.
The lode is well defined, and there is a great probability of
a shoot of rich ore being discovered along the line of lode,
both in northerly and southerly directions. The dividends
paid by the Cromwell Company cannot be accurately ascer-
tained, but from my knowledge of what was paid to some of
the shareholders they must have amounted in the aggregate to-
something like £100,000. Small lodes have been opened up
in other parts of Otago — as, for instance, the Carrick Range-
and Waipori — but the same characteristics prevailed : the ore-
did not carry down its value to any great depth, although
very rich quartz was obtained near the surface.

Quartz-mining at Great Depths.

It may be asked. Do the lodes retain their value as
the lodes go down 1 or what reason can be given for suggest-
ing the probability of rich lodes not being found in great
depths in Otago? It is difficult to answer this satisfac-
torily. No one can tell what lies hidden from the eyes of
man below the surface; one can only deduce from what
can be seen and the character of the country rock. The-
Otago rocks are of a very old quartzose schist ; probably
it may be classed as Archroan schist, older than Silurian,
a? no fossils have been obtained in it, so that its age-
can not be determined. The mountains in Otago have at
some period been at a much greater height above the sea
than at present. These rooks at high elevation, owing to-
intense frost and atmospheric action, have been greatly de-
nuded, and time after time disintegrated and decomposed.
The material has been washtd down these steep slopes by
heavy rains, and the mineral contents concentrated by flowing
streams. The large deposits of quartz-gravel drifts in dif-
ferent parts of Otago are due to erosion and the ravages of
time. The disintegrated materials have been carried into-
lakes and still water ; the heavy particles have settled on the-
bottom, and the fine sediment has gradually settled down and
formed into a sedimentary-rock substance, as can be seen

•V vi-,-

'-1

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Q

f-^

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 3S

in recent hydraulic workings at Vinegar Hill, in the valley
of the Manuherikia. It is, however, worthy of note that in
none of this quartz drift has any gold been discovered in the
solid stone, but gold has been found in the schist rock in th&
Achilles Mine, at Skipper's.

As to the depth at which gold is likely to be found in lodes
in any formation, that is a question not yet determined. It is
known to exist in the Garden Gully Lode on Bendigo, in
Victoria, to a depth of over 4,000 ft., but even in this lode the
value of the ore decreased in depth, and probably will be
found to do so in the New Zealand lodes in whatever for-
mation they may occur. The circumstances connected with
the New Chum Railway Mine, Bendigo, call for special notice.
In a recent report on this mine Mr. Dunn, F.G.S., the Vic-
torian Geological Director, writes as follows : "A develop-
ment fraught with importance is that at a depth of 4,156 ft.
in this mine, and 800 ft. below the last body of quartz of a
payable nature, excellent-looking quartz of great size and in
centre country (the anticline) has been sunk through in the
winze. The slate and sandstone are highly mineralised. The
quartz also carries sulphides and, what is more important,
gold. In no part of the mine have the appearances for gold
been more favourable than in the bottom of the winze. The
quartz resembles a broken saddle reef, and is in centre country,
and the winze passed through over 20 ft. of quartz, and what
appeared to be a spurry country leg occurs in the western side.
Further work is necessary to definitely settle the nature of the
quartz-body, and also to prospect it so as to determine whether
there is sufficient gold present to be payable ; even at this great
depth 7 dwt. of gold per ton is considered worth working.
Should this body of quartz prove payably auriferous, it adds
enormously to the proved resources in gold of this State, and
it is certain to exert a powerful influence in the further de-
velopment of the Bendigo Goldfield. Then, as to the possibility
of working at such depths, it is to be noted that in the bottom
of the winze, 4,156 ft. from the surface, the rocks are cool and
the water cool, while the supply of air is excellent. The rocks
and the water are cooler at the bottom of the winze than at the
bottom of the shaft, 3,900 ft. deep. There appears to be no
2 — Mining Handbook.

34 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

reason why the shaft should not be continued to 5,000 ft., or
more, in depth, and the conditions there, as regards tem-
perature, should be such that mining can be carried on satis-
factorily and without undue distress to the miner. With the
cheapened methods of producing ice the air might be cooled
and filtered that would be sent below."

GOLD-DREDGING.

The use and employment of dredges in connection with
working alluvial drifts has revolutionised the system of ob-
taining gold out of the beds of rivers. Spoon-dredges were
used in this and other countries for many years, but the
■employment of bucket-dredges to work the auriferous gravels
in the beds of rivers was first introduced in New Zealand.
The introduction of these bucket-dredges was due to the rich
■auriferous gravel that was known to exist in the bed of the
•Clutha River. Gold was first discovered on the beaches in
1862 by Messrs. Hartley and Riley. The water in the river
at that time being very low, some of these beaches were literally
strewn with golden sands. The melting of snow on the moun-
tains soon after this discovery was made known caused the
water in the river-bed to rise in a few hours to a vertical
height of about 16 ft., carrying away rockers and tools that
had been left on the beaches. After using spoon-dredges,
which proved successful in lifting the gravel from the river-
bed and showing that it was rich in gold, current-wheel bucket-
dredges were constructed and placed on the river. These were
found to give far better results than spoon-dredges, but they
had the disadvantage of not being able to work the beaches
where there was not a swift current ; also, in eddies they
were of no service.

Several years passed on, ^nd steam bucket-dredges were
introduced. The first of these was constructed by Messrs.
Kincaid and McQueen, of Dunedin. This dredge lifted a
very large quantity of gravel, but sufl&cient washing appliances
were not provided. Experiments were made from time to
time with the view of arriving at the best class of dredge to
deal successfully and most economically with the auriferous
drifts from river-beds. Mr. Welman constructed a suction

JSTEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 35

dredge, which was expected to supersede the bucket, as it
would suck up the sand from the bed-rock much cleaner than
could possibly be done by the bucket-dredge. This dredge was
only of small proportions, and after it was launched into
the Clutha River it was capsized in a flood; but before being-
submerged its trial proved that it was not capable of dealing
with the large stones met with in the gravel-drift. It was far
too small for the work it was intended to perform on such a
swift-flowing stream as the Clutha. As dredging appliances
progressed, some of the dredges gave phenomenal returns,
which led to a boom taking place in this class of mining.
Claims were taken up in every fiat and river where there was
any prospect of gold being obtained; companies were formed,
and dredges were constructed that in many instances were
incapable of working the ground ; the ladders were in many
cases too short to dredge to the rock-bottom, or the washing
appliances were defective. From one cause and another many
of the dredging companies went into liquidation. The share-
holders lost their money — not, in many instances, owing to
the claims taken up being valueless, but rather on account of
the incompetency of those who had charge of directing the
affairs and operations of the company. Contracts were let
for dredges whose ladders were not sufficiently long to reach
the bottom; any description of a dredge was deemed good
enough, so long as it did not cost more than £3,500 or £4,000.
The most of the dredges first placed on the Clutha, between
the Beaumont River and the Township of Clyde, proved suc-
cessful in their operations, and as time went on dredges were
placed on the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers. A company
known as Sew Hoy's ha-d three dredges constructed, and for
some years, in dredging the place known as the Big Beach,
on the Shotover River, a large quantity of gold was obtained
by these dredges; but their washing appliances were very
defective. Some of the ground was dredged over three times,
and there was as much gold got the third time as there was
at the first working.

Dredges were placed on the Shotover, at its junction with
the Kawarau, but the ladders of these dredges were not
nearly sufficiently long to reach the bottom of the gravel-drift.

3f> NEW ZBALAl^ID MINING HANDBOOK.

So confident were some of the shareholders as to the success
of the dredges in this locality that they put in all the little
earnings they had saved, and lost the whole of them.

Claims were taken up in the Kawarau River, between the
mouth of the gorge and Cromwell. Dredges were placed on
these claims, but the first of them failed to reach the bottom.
Several attempts were made to successfully dredge this portion
of the river before it was accomplished, and yet verj' rich
auriferous wash-drift was found when it could be dredged to
the rock bottom. The Electric Company's dredge, which gave
phenomenal returns, obtained the gold by working in this
portion of the river.

A claim was taken up in the Clutha River, including the
Hartley and Riley Beach, where such rich returns were ob-
tained in the early days; but the river at this place was full
of rocks and of so uninviting an appearance that a con-
siderable time elapsed before a company could be formed to
finH suflicient capital to construct a dredge. After this dredge
commenced to work as much as 1,100 oz. of gold was obtained
in one week, and shares of n face value of £1 changed hands
freely at £20 to £25 each. One of the shareholders in this
dredge who held a good appointment in a Government De-
partment was, it is said, so satisfied with the prospects of this
company and his chance of obtaining a competency for life
that he threw up his appointment, and blossomed forth as a
mining expert with no other experieUDe than being one of
the fortunate shareholders in the Hartley and Riley Company !
The success of this company gave a great impetus to the
dredging industry. Claims were taken up in all rivers where
prospects of gold were obtained on the beaches. Flats and
shallow alluvial ground, where water was available, were
taken up in claims to be workid by dredges, and the dredging
industry still continues to be carried on successfully in Otago.
It has been the means of a large quantity of gold being ob-
tained in that part of New Zealand which could not have been
got by any other known system. The quantity of gold obtained
by dredging operations for the past seven years has been
533,668 oz., representing £2,134,674. Taking the quantity
of gold obtained by fifty of the dividend-paying dredging

p
o

o
■<

H
J

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 37

Companies in Otago, for four years ending 1904 it amounted
tf> -£920,019, out of which £319,268 was paid in dividends.
The capital of these companies amounted in the aggregate to
£393,272, which shows that gold-dredging is a fairly profit-
able industry.

West Coast.

Dredging on the West Coast has not been carried on so
extensively as in Otago, nor have dredges been used for the
same period. The nature of the river-beds on the West Coast
is different from that of the river-beds in Otago. The rivers
flow through a densely timbered country, and in their beds
are large quantities of submerged timber ; in addition to
this, there are huge stones among the gravel-drift. This
necessitates much stronger dredges than were at first em-
ployed. When dredging commenced on the West Coast some
of the small dredges from Otago were purchased, and for a
considerable time only small dredges were constructed, which
resulted in many failures. These dredges were practically use-
less for the operations they were intended to perform, but the
dredges latterly constructed have worked with considerable
.success.

Taking the three years ending the 31st December, 1905,
twelve dredges obtained gold to the value of £314,054. The
total value of gold obtained by dredges on the West Coast is
approximately about £650,000, out of which about £80,000
has been paid in dividends.

Conclusion.

The dredging industry in the colony has given employ-
ment to a large population, and has been the means of gold
to the value of £2,784,674 being obtained which otherwise
could not have been got. It has given fresh impetus also to
mining in parts of the colony where the population was
turning its attention to the finding of employment in other
channels. Dredges applied to mining are machines which can
be profitably employed in working the beds of rivers and
swamps, which they drain and render cultivable ; but in work-
ing flats and alluvial ground, where water is available or

38 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

can be brought on for hydraulic elevating and sluicing, their
use is not commendable. The reason of this is apparent. In
working ground by hydraulic elevating the bottom is laid bare
on the bed-rock; the crevices can be completely cleaned out,
and all the gold obtained. This cannot be done by dredging,
especially if the rock bottom is hard and jointy; dredges
cannot avoid leaving a deal of gold on the bottom. Stationary
washing and gold-saving appliances, where the inclination of
boxes and tables is completely steady, are far more effective for
saving gold than when they are subjected to the vibrations of
a dredge. Dredges are capable of lifting large quantities of
gravel-drift, but they are very defective in appliances for
saving the gold. Many improvements have already been made
in the gold-saving appliances on dredges; the difficulty lies in
the character of the gold found in river-beds, being in many
instances in very finely divided particles, requiring a much
greater width of tables to save a large percentage of it than
can be constructed on a dredge. The fine material requires
to be carried by water in a thin film over the tables, and this
cannot be done on dredges raising a large quantity of auri-
ferous drift.

HAURAKI MINING DISTRICT.

By James Coutts, Inspector of Mines

The Hauraki Goldfields extend from the Great Barrier Island,
north of Auckland, to Te Puke, twenty-five miles south of
Tauranga, a distance of two hundred miles. The discovery of
gold was first made in 1852 by a settler named Charles Ring,
who asserted that he had found gold upon Cape Colville
Peninsula, forty miles east of Auckland, in the vicinity of
Coromandel Harbour, and in the Kapanga Stream (now known
as the Driving Creek). The specimens produced by Mr. Ring
were pieces of auriferous quartz and some fine gold obtained
by washings from the gravel in the creek. A reward com-
mittee having been formed in Auckland, a reward of £500
was promised to the discoverer of a payable goldfield in the
northern district of New Zealand, and as Mr. Ring put in a
claim for the reward, commissioners were sent to investigate
the matter, and confirmed the existence of gold, but left it
doubtful as to whether there was a goldfield extensive and rich
enough to pay for working. The excitement in Auckland at
this time was intense, and nearly all work was suspended, the
general conversation being about the rich discovery of gold,
all being eager to make a bid for fortune. The greater
number of the male population, including three thousand
miners, flocked to the scene of the discovery; but, as at all
new finds, most of them were greatly disappointed in not
getting gold without much labour. The land upon which the
gold was found belonged to the Natives; therefore an agree-
ment had to be made with them, resulting in an exemp-
tion being given for the first two months, £1 10s. to be then
paid by each for a digger's license. The diggers obtained good
prospects in the Kapanga Stream and Matawai Creek, but as

40 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

nothing of a payable or permanent character was met with,
and difficulties again arose with the Natives, the place was
practically abandoned within six months. The general verdict
was that the field was too poor, and the promised reward of
£500 was withheld from the discoverer. The whole produce
of the goldfield was about £11,000. The largest nugget found
was a round piece of quartz about l|^in. in diameter, which
contained gold to the value of £10. In October, 1861, Coro-
mandel again attracted attention, and in April of the follow-
ing year about two hundred and fifty diggers assembled on
the field. Owing probably to a better knowledge of sluicing
for gold than the diggers had at the previous rush, better
results were obtained. On the 28th June, 1862, Coromandel
was proclaimed a goldfield, and Mr. H. H. Turton was ap-
pointed Commissioner. On the Matawai and Tiki Creeks
pieces of quartz weighing from 30 oz. to 40 oz. and one piece of
11 lb. in weight were found, containing, it was supposed, 50
to 60 per cent, of gold. A party who began to work a quartz
reef on the Kapanga is said to have obtained from one ton of
quartz, by crushing and washing, 2^ oz. of gold. From this
time the development of the quartz lodes commenced in this
locality, and from 1864 to 1867 (the year the Thames Goldfield
was opened) the Kapanga Mine was worked in a systematic
manner under the able management of Mr. Reeves, and a large
quantity of gold was produced, some of the specimens obtained
yielding from 1 oz. to 6 oz. of gold to the pound of stone.
With the rush to the Thames at this time Coromandel was again
almost deserted. Then rich gold was found on the Tokatea
Hill, when a reaction took place, and, as new finds were dis-
covered from time to time, mining has been carried on con-
tinuously ever since, although there have been depressions at
times, as is the case at present. There are still great pro-
babilities of the prospects of Coromandel improving, more
especially as there is a large block of country unprospected,
extending from the Manaia to the Mata Stream, and from the
Thames-Coromandel Main Road, on the western side of the
range, to the foot of the hills on the eastern side. This
portion of the district seems to have been neglected in the

<^ 5:

I •-

^ ^ .

• iJ

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 41

past, no doubt on account of it being heavily covered with
bush, and owing to the rough, broken nature of the country.

In 1866 it was rumoured that gold had been discovered at
the Thames, two men having reported the circumstance to a
gentleman connected with the Herald (Auckland), and several
specimens were exhibited which were said to have been found
in the Karaka Creek. The find was reported to the Super-
intendent of the Auckland Province (Mr. Robert Graham), but,
owing to troubles and disagreements with the Natives, the
matter stood in abeyance until the dispute was partially
settled. In 1867, through the influence of the Hon. Dr. Pollen,
aided by Mr. James Mackay's thorough knowledge of the Maori
language and manners, the Natives consented to open up that
block of land between the Kuranui and Karaka Creeks for
gold-mining, on condition that the miners would give to the
Natives £1 for each miner's right issued for the block and
£1 5s. for each kauri-tree used by them. The first batch of
diggers that arrived on the field directed their attention to
finding alluvial gold in and at the lower end of the Karaka
Creek. Shafts were sunk to a depth of over 100 ft. through
gravel and boulders, but without finding a bottom, the water
being heavy to contend with, necessitating constant baling;
and, although gold was found in washing the gravel, it was
not in sufficient quantities to pay. On the 10th August, Hunt,
White, Clarkson, and Cobley discovered a gold-bearing leader
in the Kuranui Creek under a small stream of water that was
running over a waterfall about 12 ft. in height. Owing to the
gold being of a light colour, due to a fair percentage of silver,
a number of the miners who had been on the diggings on the
west coast of New Zealand and Australia had doubts as to
whether it was gold or not, but this was soon proved by a
parcel of the ore that was treated in Auckland. A rush im-
mediately set in, and claims were pegged ofi in every direction,
and in a number of them, especially in the Kuranui Hill, gold
was found in the leaders cropping out on the surface. The
country being a soft tufaceous rock, requiring little timbering,
mining was carried on without much danger, even by those
unaccustomed to this kind of work; and, as specimens could

42 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

be treated at small expense, in a very short time after the
field was opened it was as good as an alluvial diggings for
a number of miners. The importance of the discovery and
opening-up of the Thames Goldfield can be gathered from the
fact that, between August, 1867, and 30th June, 1869, duty
was paid in Auckland on 129,211 oz. of gold, the value of
which was estimated at £264,425.

When it was found that the Thames was so rich there was
a great clamour for the opening-up of the Ohinemuri district,
but on account of the opposition shown by the Natives it was
not until the early part of 1875 that this portion of the
country was declared a goldfield. In April of that year gold
in payable quantities was found at Tairua. In August, 1880,
traces of gold were again found at Te Aroha, and three months
later the district was thrown open for prospecting and for the
location of claims.

The gold in the Thames portion of the district is more or
less patchy as a rule, and the subsequent annual production
of the Thames Goldfield has fluctuated considerably. The
highest point was reached in 1871, when the value of gold
entered for export amounted to £1,188,708. This was due
principally to the rich shoot of ore discovered in the Golden
Crown Company's property and followed into the old Cale-
donian Company's mine, which enabled the latter to pay in
dividends £553,440 within twelve months. After this the pro-
duction greatly diminished, and for the year ending the 31st
March, 1895, only 22,810 oz. were returned from what is
termed the Thames Goldfield — the lowest production since the
field was first opened. The claims overlooking Grahamstown,
with few exceptions, have been continuously worked since 1867,
although some of them have changed their names. Every
claim from the Kuranui to the Karaka Creek has produced
large quantities of gold and paid handsome dividends to the
shareholders; and not later than eighteen months ago a rich
shoot of ore was discovered in the Waiotahi Company's mine
at the No. 4 level, in what is termed the " Big Reef," from
which the magnificent sum of £51,000 was paid in dividends
to the shareholders during last year. There are 60,000 shares
in the company, and it is fully expected suflScient gold will be

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 43

■obtained to enable the directors to declare a dividend of 5s.
per share every month during the present year. This has
given great encouragement to the other companies holding the
adjacent mines, and, although nothing of importance has been
discovered in any of the other mines for some time past, yet
some shareholders are still sanguine that rich finds may be
got at any time.

There is a large tract of country unprospected between the
mines worked at the Thames and the east coast, where gold
may yet be found in payable quantities. Tairua Broken Hills
Mine continues to employ a number of men, and the Golden
Belt Company's battery at Neavesville, comprising forty heads
•of stamps, with all the necessary amalgamating and cyanide
appliances, is to be started at an early date, when it is ex-
pected payable returns will be obtained from the company's
ground, which includes several of the mines that were worked
in the early days and which produced a large quantity of gold.
The Auckland (late Mananu) and the Waimangu mines, at
Whangamata, are employing a number of men, the former
producing gold in payable quantities from the upper levels.

The Ohinemuri district, when it was opened, proved very
disappointing. The Karangahake Gorge was rushed, and the
ground pegged out for miles around, but as the gold-bearing
quartz was different from that found in Thames and Coro-
mandel, and as no quartz could be treated for some time, a
number of the claims were soon abandoned. A small battery
was erected, and, although some of the quartz treated con-
tained gold in payable quantities, the mode of treatment being
by amalgamation, a large percentage of the gold was not
recovered, and in consequence the claims did not pay. This
was some time prior to the cyanide process being discovered,
and little systematic mining was carried out in this locality
for some years afterwards.

At Waitekauri mining for a time was more successful, as
rich gold was found in the Waitekauri Claim, in which Messrs.
Bleazard and Brown had an interest. They erected a forty-
stamp mill, a large water-wheel to drive the machinery, and
a ground tramway over a mile in length connecting the mine
with the battery, costing several thousands of pounds. After

44 NEW ZKALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

working the mine for something like two years, the rich shoot
of ore not continuing down and the ore from the other parts
of the mine not paying working-expenses, the mine was closed
down. After this little was done in that locality for several
years. The same may be said about this as Karangahake :
a large percentage of gold was lost in the treatment at the
battery.

There were very few left in Waitekauri after this, as
there was no employment for labour, but Mr. John McCombie
and Mr. Robert Lee, who were prospecting in the district, de-
cided, in the month of February, 1878, on trying the country
eastward ; this led them in the direction of what is now known
as the Waihi Mine, and before reaching the place they could see
the outcrop of the lode on a rounded spur rising above the
plain. They then made for the place, and no time was lost in
breaking out samples of the quartz and crushing it with the
head of their picks and then washing it oft, with the result that
fair dish prospects were obtained, and on examining the lode
they found it to be about 20 ft. in width, running in a
northerly direction, and dipping towards the east. As the
ore appeared to be richest at the northern end of the outcrop,
they determined to test the lode there at a depth of 60 ft.
below the surface by driving a crosscut from the western side of
the spur. The crosscut required to be driven 200 ft. to inter-
sect the lode. This was accomplished in about four months,
when the footwall branch of the lode was cut through and
found to be 17 ft. in width, good prospects of gold and silver
being obtained from any part of it. A trial lot of 2 tons
was conveyed to Owharoa, where it was treated in the Smile
of Fortune battery for a return of 1 oz. 3 dwt. of bullion,
value £2 17s. 6d. per ounce. But previous to this samples
were assayed at the Bank of New Zealand, Thames, that gave
assay values as high as £4 6s. per ton, which showed that a
large percentage of the bullion was lost in the treatment of the
2 tons by the usual amalgamation process then in general use.
The prospectors tried their best to induce others to find money
to develop this property, and several mining experts examined
the lode from time to time, but in every case it was unfavour-
ably reported upon.

o ^

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 45

While waiting for something to turn up, gold was dis-
covered by Hone Werahiko at Te Aroha, and Messrs. McCombie
and Lee left for the new find. During their absence a pro-
spector from Coromandel, named W. Nicholl, inspected the
workings, and was so well pleased with the prospects he
obtained from the lode that he induced some of his friends
to peg out and apply for several claims on the strike of what
is now known as the " Martha Lode." As there was no person
on the claim at the time Nicholl went there, he had no difficulty
in getting it forfeited, and was put in possession of the
ground. Through the influence of Mr. Adam Porter he
succeeded in forming a company in Auckland, and soon got
two batteries erected. One of these was kept going for a
number of years, and something like 18,000 tons of ore was
treated for about an average of 4 dwt. to the ton. As the
Waihi Company has since worked out the blocks of ground on
the lode that were left both above and below the old workings
for returns varying from £2 to £3 per ton, it shows that the
loss of gold by the mode of treatment in use at that time was
something incredible. As the mine was not paying operations
were suspended, and it was let on tribute to Mr. Hollis and
party. Mr. J. W. Walker and others, holders of the Union and
Rosemont Mines, induced Mr. Thomas Russell to form a com-
pany in London to work those claims, which are situated in
the lower ground and nearer the river than the Martha Mine.
The Waihi Company was registered in 1887, but in 1895 it
was again known as the Union-Waihi Gold-mining Company
(Limited). There were two reefs in this ground — the Union
reef and the Amaranth reef — both of considerable size, be-
sides several smaller reefs, and upwards of £33,000 was
obtained from the Union lode in the earlier years of the
company. This did not prove a payable concern, although
the company had expended a large amount of money in
erecting machinery. In 1890 the company purchased th&
Martha Special Claim, and from 1891 the Martha ore and
that won from the Union ground was all crushed together up
to 1893. The quantity of ore treated that year was 19,805
tons, for £61,900 10s. lid. From this time on the returns;
have steadily increased, till in 1905 no less than 298,531 toes
of ore was crushed and treated for 1,192,046 oz. of bullion.

46 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

value £751,233 8s. 4d.,* and dividends amounting t»
£322,339 lls.f were paid to the shareholders during the year.
To enable this large quantity of ore to be treated the ma-
chinery and appliances, both at the mine and batteries, had
to be increased proportionately at considerable cost, and great
credit is due to the management for the substantial and satis-
factory manner in which everj'thing has been carried out.
The Martha Mine, being situated on rising ground, gave an
opportunity of constructing the tramways on an easy grade for
conveying the ore from the mine to the three crushing-mills,
which consist of 330 stamps, tube mills, &c., which are all
•erected as low and near the river as possible, so as to take
advantage of the available water in the river and streams to
be used as motive power. In the mine there are also great
natural advantages. The lodes in most cases have only a
slight underlie, being sometimes nearly vertical, and on this
account the pressure on the timber in the workings is com-
paratively light. The surface of the hill being of a soft,
friable nature, and easily broken, is sent down the passes for
filling into the stopes, where the ore is broken out at com-
paratively little cost. There are numerous lodes opened up
and worked in the mine, varying in places from 3 ft. to 87 ft.
in width, to a depth of 700 ft. The prospects at the lowest
level are promising and exceedingly encouraging, as is borne
out by the recent large monthly returns.

The Grand Junction Company's mine, which adjoins the
Waihi Company's mine on the eastern side of the Martha
Hill, continues to be vigorously exploited by sinking, driving,
and opening up blocks of ground on the lode between Nos. 1
and 2 levels preparatory to commencing crushing. The pro-
spects met with at No. 2 level are said to be very satisfactory.
The company being evidently w^l satisfied, a large crushing
plant, consisting of forty stamps, together with all up-to-date
machinery and appliances for the treatment of the ore, is in
course of erection and completion.

The Waihi Extended Company, Waihi Consolidated, and
others are carrying on prospecting operations, but beyond

* Including values of concentrates and tailings slags shipped; also
treated at Waikino.

t Also bonus ; making total of £346,22S 10s. 3d. for year.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 4-7

assays there has been very little ore treated outside of the
Waihi Company's mine for some time past.

During the last ten years a number of men have been
constantly employed at Karangahake in the New Zealand
Crown and the Talisman Consolidated Mines. Although the
Crown Mine has not been as successful for the last two years
as formerly, the prospects are again more encouraging,
and it is expected that better returns will soon be forth-
coming. 17,541 tons of ore was treated during the year 1905
for £36,516 8s. lOd. On the other hand, a great improvement
has taken place in the Talisman Consolidated Mine, 44,725
tons of ore being treated for the splendid return of £129,088
8s. lOd., which, after all expenses were paid, left a profit en-
abling the directors to pay dividends amounting to £30,000.

The Komata Reefs Mine has been steadily worked, and,
although no rich runs of ore have been met with to cause any
excitement, the returns of gold have been maintained. 16,820
tons of ore was treated last year for a value of £42,432 17s.
8d. Through careful and economical management, dividends
amounting to £13,333 6s. 8d. were paid to the shareholders.

The Golden Cross Mine, which was discovered by Lowrie
brothers in the latter end of 1893, and afterwards purchased
by Mr. T. H. Russell, and called the Waitekauri Company,
has been closed down for the last two years. This mine at
first bade fair to be better than even the Waihi Mine, as the
first crushing of 600 tons of ore treated yielded 7,600 pounds'
worth of bullion. A large quantity of valuable ore was
extracted from the mine, but the gold did not go down, and
prospecting at the deepest level, as well as boring, failed to
give the company any encouragement to do further work.

The Te Aroha and Waiorongomai mines, which gave pro-
mise at times of turning out successfully, have proved very
disappointing, as Hardy's company has stopped all opera-
tions, owing to the mine not paying, and pending the con-
struction of a new company. This is the most southerly mine
in which gold has been obtained in this district in payable
quantities; but gold has been found on the eastern side of
the range, in the Eliza Claim near Katikati, and also on what
is termed Fleming^'s Freehold, at Te Puke, twenty-five miles
south of Tauranga.

48 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

To the north of Auckland, on the Great Barrier Island,
there are two mines working — the Barrier Reefs and the
Sunbeam Gold-mining Companies. The Barrier Reefs Com-
pany, although in liquidation, have seven men employed in
the mine and two men at the battery treating tailings, which
xiontain gold in payable quantities. The Sunbeam Company,
which has been prospecting its mine for some considerable
time, is well satisfied with the results obtained, and has
erected a five-stamp battery, with the necessary gold-saving
appliances, and intends to commence crushing operations at
an early date.

Copper, Antimony, Manganese, and Galena Lodes.

Something like forty years ago a copper-mine was worked
on Great Barrier Island, which gave employment to a number
of men, under the management of Captain Higgins; but, as
the ore was all shipped to England for treatment and the
freight at that time was something like £1 per ton, and
high wages had to be paid to the miners, these factors had
a good deal to do with the mine not paying and with its
abandonment.

A copnpr-mine was worked on the Kawau Island nearly
fifty j'e .. Here they had a smelting-furnace, &c., but

for similar reasons to those given in connection with the Great
Barrier Mine the venture did not pay.

Antimony, manganese, and galena lodes have also been
found on Kawau, varyixig from 1 ft. to 5 ft. in width, but
little work has been done on them to prove their value.

Prospectors have lately discovered copper-ore near Kaeo
and Whangaroa, which is said to contain from 15 to 90 per
cent, of copper, and, as further developments are proceeding,
a discovery of importance may jpe heard of here at any time.

The Puhipuhi district, north of Whangarei, was first
opened in 1875. A number of people rushed to the place
in anticipation that a new El Dorado had been discovered,
as the ore resembled Karangahake quartz; but as it was
argentiferous ore containing little gold, and as it got into
the hands of people who had little knowledge of the treatment
of this kind of ore, and who formed companies and erected

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 49

D^achinery unsuitable for the work it had to perform, it
turned out a failure. Still, the Puhipuhi Range, which ex-
tends a distance of twenty miles in a northerly direction, is
unexplored, and an important discovery may yet be made in
this locality.

Manganese was worked for a number of years. It was
found at the following places: Bay of Islands, Purua Bay,
Mangapai, Otonga, and Waiheke. The Waiheke Island is
distant about twelve miles in an easterly direction from Auck-
land. Dr. John Storer, who reported on the manganese lodes
on what is known as the Ardrossan Estate, consisting of about
6,000 acres, says, " From the northern end of the island there
is traceable for a distance of some seven miles an intrusive
belt of rock giving abundant indications of manganese on the
surface. At two points during the past years manganese has
been worked, and some thousands of tons mined and shipped."
Mr. Dunn, the Victorian expert, said of the same estate, " On
the south side of the property water-access is furnished by
Man-of-War Bay, and a substantial jetty has been built.
From this point ore could be shipped from the southern half
of the estate. On the west side there is a small bay where
scows, &c., can be conveniently loaded, and which commands
the northerly portion of the property." Of the manganese-
deposit he says, " Manganese-ore occurs in a more massive
form than I have ever met with elsewhere, and its excellent
quality is shown by the results of two assays made by Mr.
Pond of two quantities of 30 tons each taken from difierent
portions of the estate. No. 1, metallic manganese, 56"63 per
cent. • No. 2, metallic manganese, 56'34: per cent." Ten tons
of ore was shipped from this estate about seven years ago, but
nothing has been done on it since. The lodes being bunchy
Copening out and contracting suddenly), and as the price of
manganese fell in the market, this, doubtless, had something
to do with this property not having been more vigorously
worked.

Gold-mining a Profitable Industry.
Referring to gold-mining again, it not unfrequently hap-
pens that people are heard to say gold-mining is a hazardous

50 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

thing to have anything to do with; but this is not so with
careful speculation. It has, no doubt, paid handsomely in
this district. Speculation in the rise or fall of shares in
the market, where unlucky persons buy in at a high price
and sell at a low price, or vice versa, is not mining; it is
simply gambling. But when it is considered that the sum
of £416,972 17s. 8d. has been paid in dividends from four
mines in this district during the year 1905, it will convince
most people that mining as an industry does pay. What
other industry can show such a profit as this has done to the
original shareholders of those companies? Should no unfore-
seen accident happen, the value of the output of bullion from
the mines in the Hauraki Mining District for 1906 will sur-
pass the record return for 1871, which is the largest up to the
present, being £1,188,708.

Coal-mining.

The coal-mining industry in the North Island is increas-
ing, but the coal is entirely used for house-consumption, local
industries, and the coastal steamers. The coal-seams north of
Auckland are semi-bituminous, but the coal is not adapted
for exportation, and not equal to the West Coast coal of the
Middle Island. There are only three mines working in the
Whangarei district. The Kiripaka Mine ships its coal from
Ngunguru in small coasting - boats. The Hikurangi Coal
Company and the Northern Company's mines are both at
Hikurangi. The coal is carried on the railway a distance of
fourteen miles and shipped at Whangarei. The seams of coal
in all these mines are opening up exceedingly well, and there
is no difiiculty in getting sufficient coal to supply the demand.
The seams generally vary from 5 ft. to 8 ft. in thickness.
There appears to be a large t^act of coal country between
Whangarei and Kawakawa (Bay of Islands), but in all pro-
bability it will be found at a depth, and, as Mr. Moody has
started boring operations with the diamond drill to the north
• along the railway-line from the present mines, an important
discovery may be made at any time.

In the Waikato district, south of Auckland, brown coal is
mined. The Taupiri Coal-mines (Limited) owns the principal

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 51

mine, which includes what was formerly known as the Taupiri
Reserve, Taupiri Extended, and Ralph's Taupiri; and these
are still worked in three distinct sections, no connection
having yet been made underground from one mine to the
other. The scam varies from 30 ft. to 50 ft. in thickness,
and in places is worked to a height of 24 ft. A large area
of coal has been opened up. At the Union Collieries, near
Mercer, as the mine is opened up the seam is proving to be
much better than at first anticipated. The bulk of the coal
irom this mine is purchased by the Waihi Company. The
mine is at a disadvantage compared with the other mines in
the district, as the coal has to be taken down the Maramarua
River in barges, where it has again to be loaded into the
railway - trucks, the distance by the river being something
like ten miles. The Taupiri South continues prospecting and
working a small area on the outcrop near Ralph's old mine,
■on the eastern side of the railway at Huntly, but the quantity
of coal in sight is very limited. The Drury Coal-mine has
not turned out as well as anticipated, and the company is now
directing its attention to making pipes, bricks, &c.

The Mokau Coal-mine appears to be only able to dispose
•of coal for the small coastal steamers and the local consump-
tion round Waitara. The output does not exceed 4,000 tons
a year. There is evidently a large area of coal extending
from the Mokau to the Wairoa River, south of Auckland, a
distance of a hundred miles, as the outcrop has been found
at various places.

The following is a comparison of the output of coal in the
Northern District during the past year and what it was ten

^ears ago: —

Tons.

Total output for the year 1905 ... 259,876

Total output for the year 1895 ... 135,738

Showing an increase of ••■ 124,138

52 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

THE COROMANDEIi GOLDFIELD.

By D. V. Allen, B.Sc, A.O.S.M., Director Coromandel School of Minea.-

The Coromandel Goldfield is picturesquely situated on the
western side of Cape Colville Peninsula, some forty-five miles-
east of the City of Auckland, from which it is separated by
the Hauraki Gulf. It has the honour of being the oldest-
goldfield in New Zealand, the first authenticated discovery
of gold being made in 1852 by Mr. Charles Ring, an ex-
perienced Californian digger. A rush set in, and thousands
of diggers were soon at work, but results proved disappoint-
ing, and in less than a year mining operations were discon-
tinued. Prospecting was still carried on to a limited extent,
but the work was attended with no small risk owing to the-
hostility of the Natives. The field remained in a languishing
state till 1861, when it received a fresh impetus, and mining
was carried on with great activity in the Kapanga area. The-
Kapanga Mine, which was the centre of operations, proved
very remunerative, and was the first to attract English capital.
From 1864 to 1869 it produced gold to the value of £100,000.
It was then thought that the gold had been worked out, but
subsequent discoveries proved this conclusion to be incorrect;.
the run of gold was again picked up, and the mine once more-
successfully worked. The history of this mine is but a re-
capitulation of the history of most of the Coromandel mines,
for it is a characteristic feature of the field generally that
the gold occurs in shoots or patches, often of phenomenal rich-
ness. It is therefore no criterion that, because a mine is-
apparently worked out, further developments may not prove-
it to be a veritable bonanza; and for this reason, if for none
other, the field will always be a home to the tributer and an
attraction to the speculator. None better exemplifies the
glorious uncertainty and romance of mining — a single blow of
the pick may unearth a fortune. Suffice it to say that this

H
"A

M
ft.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. OS

mine has been in operation off and on till the year 1900, the
total value of gold won from it being approximately ,£175,000
Iwo years ago it was acquired by Messrs. Cornes" and Hollis,
who have confined operations to the locating of a reputed rich
leader. Their efforts have recently been rewarded by the un-
earthing of rich specimens in the bottom of a winze. Twenty
pounds of selected specimens, some of them being half gold,
have been valued at £250. About the year 1870 gold was
first discovered on the Tokatea Range, and soon after a com-
pany that was formed worked the Tokatea reef and the No. 1
Tribute leader for about eighteen years, obtaining 55,273 oz.
of gold, valued at £159,535, and paying in dividends
£63,625. All this gold was obtained above the No. 7 level.
For several years following very little work was done. The
property then passed into the hands of an English company,
was amalgamated with an adjoining property, and subse-
quently known as the Royal Oak of Hauraki. It gave good
returns for some years, but these falling ofi the property was
eventually sold to an Auckland syndicate, who, after obtain-
ing some fair crushings, let it on tribute.

In 1872 the Green Harp shoot of gold was discovered, and
3-ielded over 40,000 pounds' worth of gold. It is comprised
in what is now known as the Union Beach section of the
Hauraki Mine. After this period the yield of gold gradually
decreased, but in 1885 a further fillip was given to mining by
the discovery of gold on the Tiki. In spite of vigorous pro-
specting the returns were rather poor.

It was left for the famous Hauraki Mine to give the
desired impetus to the field, and it maj' be said that the
phenomenally rich gold discovered in this mine was the im-
mediate forerunner of the biggest mining boom that has
occurred in connection with the Auckland Goldfields within
recent times. Under the name of the " Coromandel Gold
Company," this mine first came into existence in 1886. The
returns, however, were not very large, the quantity of ore
being little, but exceedingly rich. The commencement of the
aforesaid boom, which lasted for three years, was coincident
with the discovery of extremely rich ore in this mine in 1895

54 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

by a tributer named Legge, who with his mates took out
some thousands of ounces of gold in the course of a few months.
The excitement was of the wildest description, and very soon
the whole field became a scene of great activity. In four
years 250,000 pounds' worth of gold was raised from this
mine.

Such is a brief account of some of the leading mines. In
indicating the possibilities of future operations we must bear
in mind that the surface portions of the reefs have, for the
most part, been worked out, and that work at greater depths
can only be carried on at considerable expense. Adequate
winding machinery and powerful pumping plants would be
required. With the exception of the Kapanga, very little was
done in the way of development-work, which should have been
actively prosecuted when the mines were getting good returns.
What is now wanted is the formation of a strong company that
would undertake to unwater the mines and further sink the
present shafts. The deepest workings in the Hauraki Mine
are only 400 ft. below the surface. From a shaft sunk below
the No. 7 adit level in the Royal Oak trial crushings of over
4 oz. to the ton have been taken out, clearly indicating that
the gold is living down. In the Kapanga shaft good gold was
got at the 940 ft. level, also in a 200 ft. bore put down from
the bottom of the shaft, which is 1,000 ft. in depth.

The value of the gold varies for different localities from
£2 12s. to £'i 5s. per ounce, but is fairly constant for any
given locality. It occurs mostly in shoots in small quartz
reefs traversing decomposed andesite; where the latter is
hard and undecomposed the reefs are generally barren. As
in most goldfields, certain local indications in the country
often precede the discovery of rich quartz — e.r;., at the inter-
section of cross-reefs carrying suj^hides, the presence of native
arsenic, &c. The andesite rocks are underlain by the older
Palaeozoic slates and shales, which are mostly non -auriferous.
These sedimentary rocks have been met with in the lower levels
of the Royal Oak, but from their dip they are not likely .to bo
encountered in the other mines — at least, not until great
depth has been attained. Thus, in the Kapanga Mine there
is no sign of them at 1,200 ft. in depth.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 00

Probably no reefs could be more variable in course, dip,
and gold-content than those of the Coromandel Goldfield.
Those in the Hauraki Mine are so disturbed by repeated
faults and slides that their economical working demands
great care and experience. They ramify in all directions,
and it is almost impossible to state their general trend. The
Kapanga reef is probably the most defined. It runs north
and south, dipping to the west at 45°, and was out in the
shaft at 600 ft. Parallel to it, 100 ft. away, is Scotty's reef,
which has yielded a lot of gold. The Big Tokatea reef, or
blow, is a mass of quartz outcropping at an elevation of over
1,000 ft., striking north and south and dipping west at 50°.
It contains gold to the extent of about 2 dwt. per ton, and is
therefore unpayable to work under present methods. The
cross-reefs running east and west on the foot-wall side of the
Big reef are the most important, and from these has been de-
rived nearly all the gold from the Tokatea. The cross-reefs
on the hanging-wall side have proved profitless.

The Success Mine is further to the south, but still on the
foot-wall side of the Big reef. Its reefs are patchy in nature,
and have yielded good returns.

The New Four-in-Hand, in the Waikoromiko district, is
a mine of considerable promise, and has yielded a good deal
of gold in the past. This district presents great possibilities
for future prospecting.

From the foregoing it will be admitted, even by the most
sceptical, that the possibilities of the field are great, and there
is no reason to doubt but that the abandoned mine of to-day
is the dividend-paying mine of the future.

'56 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

HAURAKI WARDEN'S DISTRICT.

By Warden BtrsH.

Gold-mining in the Hauraki district is really in its infancy,
very little mining below 500 ft. to 600 ft. having been done.
Many portions of the goldfields have not even been prospected,
although taken up as mining claims at times when rushes are
on, to be dropped again shortly afterwards, as the holders
could not work the ground for want of capital. Large areas
were taken up and held for purely speculative purposes, in
the hope that some one might be induced to put money into
them. There are many abandoned claims about in which more
or less gold has been obtained, but as the run of gold ran out
the owners, not having means to carry on development-works,
had to abandon the claims. These, no doubt, will again be
sought after in course of time, and may then become fairly
good properties.

ISinerals other than Gold and SilireF.

On the Hauraki goldfields other minerals besides gold and
silver have from time to time been discovered, but none have
been handled on a sufficiently large-enough scale to prove
whether they will recompense extensive development. The
want of means is mainly the cause of this, very little beyond
proving their existence having been so far undertaken. The
minerals referred to are cinnabar, manganese, copper, fullers'
earth, and haematite. The latt§r is the only one that has
been worked to any extent. Opals have also been found, but
the want of means on the part of the discoverers has prevented
the value of the find being ascertained. No doubt, in the
no-distant future persons will be found to provide capital to
thoroughly test these areas where these minerals are known to
exist. Should this be done it is possible some of the ventures
may prove profitable.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 67

Opals. — Two mineral licenses to search for opals were
issued, both on Block III, Tairua Survey District, but nothing
beyond the fact of eliciting that opals existed was done on the
areas taken up.

Manganese and Copper. — A mineral license to search for
manganese and copper was taken out for a piece of ground in
the parish of Otau, Block XIV, Wairoa Survey District.
This area is still being worked, but with what result is not
ascertainable. The ground has never been protected since it
was taken up in the year 1900, and as the rents have been
paid up at fairly regular intervals it may be presumed that
the owners have some inducement, from indications known, for
retaining possession of the ground.

HcBmatite. — Some thirty years ago a miner found crude
haematite-ore in seams of various thickness at Thames, and
started roasting it in a very primitive fashion, but for want of
means he eventually gave up the task of trying to do something
with it. Later on others made an attempt to work it, which
led to its being taken up by a party, and a company was
subsequently formed to work it. The haematite has for some
years been worked by the New Zealand Varnish and Paint
Manufacturing Company (Limited), Thames. This company
employs about ten hands, and manufactures about 2 tons of
h;(?iQatite weekly. At the present time the crude haematite is
obtained from the 250 ft. and 400 ft. levels of the Kuranui-
Caledonian Mine; the ore, however, is obtainable in many
other mines at the Thames. This is an industry well worthy
the attention of investors, as very large quantities of oxide of
iron are procurable in the mines here. The Varnish and
Paint Company does not confine its operations to the produc-
tion of haematite alone, as it also manufactures some 60
gallons of varnish weekly.

Fullers' Earth. — A mineral license for 30 acres has recently
been taken up at Tararu for the purpose of mining for cimo-
lite. Several lodes, varying from 1ft. 6 in. to 16 ft., con-
taining about 80 per cent, of mineral, have been found. The
crude ore, it is claimed, is worth from £6 10s. to £11 per ton,
and when refined and boxed it fetches 6d. per pound. The

58 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

proprietors intend refining and boxing it here in 2 oz. and
8 oz. boxes. The big lode, 16 ft. thick, has been traced for
300 ft. Six hundredweight of this earth was sent to Lever
Bros., soap-manufacturers, Sydney, who have requested to
be supplied with more. This bids fair to become a thriving
industry in the no-distant future, as the refined commodity
is much in use all over the world. Probably there are other
deposits in the vicinity, which only require to be searched for
to be discovered.

Quicksilver . — At or near Ohaeawai, in the Bay of Islands,
an attempt was made some years ago to work the quicksilver-
deposits by an English syndicate, but the large volumes of
sulphuretted-hydrogen gas and the intense heat of the ground,
coupled with the limited extent of the deposits, led to the
abandonment of operations. The hot springs, better known
las Tuwhakino and Ngawha, around which the various quick-
silver-deposits are clustered, lie about two miles to the south-
east of Lake Omapere, which is situate at the foot of Putahi,
an extinct volcano. (See paper by A. P. Griffiths, who con-
ducted the prospecting operations and retorting of the quick-
silver for the syndicate, iu New Zealand Mines Record, Vol. ii,
16th March, 1899.)

Cinnabar. — Ninety-four acres up the Kauaeranga Valley
are held under license to search for cinnabar, which is known
to exist there. The area is on Block V, Thames Survey Dis-
trict. This ground has been continuously held by various
parties since 1898, but the want of capital to develop it has
prevented the extent of the deposit being ascertained. Cin-
nabar appears to be distributed over this area in several
places, but no well-defined lode has yet been discovered out-
cropping near the surface. There are, however, very good
indications for the finding of ^ lode or an occurrence of
cinnabar here sufficient to warrant systematic prospecting.
Could a well-defined lode or an occurrence be found which
would yield from 1 to 2 per cent, of mercury it would pay
handsomely.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 69

TAURANGA WARDEN'S DISTRICT.

By Warden Roberts.

The Te Puke Goldfield has received a good deal of attention in
the way of prospecting during the last ten or twelve years. It
is situate in the main range running through the country from
Waihi, and offers great inducements for capitalists and mining
men to exploit it.

In the Mines Keports for 1898 there is an exhaustive re-
port on Te Puke Goldfield from the Government Geologist, Mr.
Alexander McKay, F.G.S., who, accompanied by Mr. James
Coutts, Inspector of Mines, paid a visit of inspection to the
district. In his report Mr. McKay states that the stone
generally resembles that of the Waihi Mine.

In 1901 the Thames School of Mines reported on some Te
Puke ore sent for treatment, that 560 lb. of soft, flaky, white
quartz averaged by pan-amalgamation £26 9s. lOd. per ton,
the percentage saved being 75'6; by the cyanide process a
parcel of 4,6401b. of the same class of quartz was treated,
returning an average value of £42 9s., the percentage saved
being 96'3. Another parcel of similar stone, 6,8001b. weight,
yielded at the rate of £29 4s. 8d. per ton, the percentage saved
being 97'7. These, of course, were picked lots of stone, but
they prove beyond doubt that the ore-body is a highly auri-
ferous one.

The Te Puke Mine is a freehold of 1,100 acres, and to the
north there is a large area of auriferous country, also freehold.
To the west and south there is a considerable stretch of Crown
land that seems equally promising if properly prospected. Mr.
E. J. Dunn, Government Geologist, Victoria, reporting on the
Te Puke Mine in 1902, states, " The enormous reef at Te Puke
has a marked resemblance, both in the character of the stone
and the manner in which it projects above the general sur-
face, to the Martha Reef at Waihi." At Te Puke Mine ex-
ceptionally favourable conditions exist for mining on a large

■60 NEW zeaIjANd mining handbook.

scale and at a cheap rate. Mr. Dunn winds up by stating,
" In the whole course of m}' experience I have not met with a
gold property offering greater inducements than this does for
vigorous and extensive development." Mr. John Hicks,
mine-manager, who inspected the Te Puke Mine for Home
capitalists, states, "The reef on the top level is over 60ft.
across, and averages £2 17s. 6d. per ton. The ore could be
mined and treated for 15s. per ton, and the ore-reserves can
be worked by adit for a depth of 450 ft.," and adds, " As soon
as a battery is erected crushing operations with payable results
could be carried out." Mr. Andrew Gordon French, mining
engineer and metallurgist, reporting on the Te Puke Mine in
1901, fully confirms both the above reports, and adds, " There
are striking features of similarity to the great Mount Morgan,
in Queensland." Mr. French made exhaustive tests of the
value of Te Puke ore, and fully confirms Mr. Hicks's estimate.
Several attempts have been made without avail to get the
introduction of the necessary capital to work this reef. So far
success has not attended these efforts, owing to unforeseen and
fortuitous circumstances, and the field is at present lying idle
and languishing for the want of capital. Judging by the
favourable reports referred to, there is no doubt that, should
the necessary capital be forthcoming to prospect this portion
of the Hauraki Mining District, there is every likelihood of it
eventually developing into a profitable goldfield.

THE MOKAU DISTRICT, TARANAKI.

By A. Wellee, Journalist, New Plymouth.

Taeanaki is often called "the Garden of New Zealand,"
and, presuming that the chief characteristics of a garden are
its beauty and productiveness, Mokau is certainly deserving
of premier position in this favoured province. By sea it is
thirty-five miles northwards from New Plymouth and twenty
miles from Waitara. The river, which gives its name to the
■district, flows into the Tasman Sea between Waitara and Ka-
whia, and has at its mouth a bar, which is covered at spring
tides by 13 ft. of water, and, except in exceptionally rough
weather, vessels of 80 to 90 tons can easily negotiate the
■entrance to the port, the rise and fall of the tide being about
10 ft. On the south head (which is a high cliff) is a signal-
station with lights ; a new wharf has lately been erected on
the north side of the river adjacent to the township, which
stands on high ground, and contains the usual accommoda-
tion-houses, stores, &c., a Maori settlement occupying the
lower ground near the river, which in its tortuous course flows
mostly between high perpendicular cliffs covered with dense
-vegetation, presenting scenes of majestic grandeur and sur-
passing beauty. For twenty-four miles the river is tidal :
"beyond this, for thirty or forty miles, it is navigable by
■canoes ; then the Waireri Falls present an obstacle to further
progress. It was a recommendation of the Scenery Preserva-
tion Commission that the rougher portions of the river-
frontages, as well as the exceptionally fine reaches, should be
reserved for all time, and, though this has not j'et been done,
there is little doubt that ere long the necessary steps will be
taken to prevent the hand of the destroyer from ruthlessly
effacing some of the grandest river and forest scenery in the
■colony.

62 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Mokau is accessible both by land and sea. The two
vessels trading there at present use Waitara as a port of de-
parture, and there is a fairly regular weekly service betweea
the' two ports. By road the distance from New Plymouth to-
the ferry is 58J miles. In the summer months, when the
roads are dry, it is a very pleasant trip by land, and some-
exceptionally fine scenery en route well repays the time spent
on the journey, accommodation-houses being met with at con-
venient stages of the route. During the wet weather of
winter visitors to Mokau would do better to proceed thither
by sea — a short and safe journey for which the steamers are
suitably equipped, and passengers well catered for.

In addition to its utility as a means of transport and its
charm for scenic beauty, the river possesses enormous poten-
tialities for the generation of electricity. Possibly the time
may come when this force may be turned to good account as
the motive power for a light railway that is greatly needed to
develop the district. At all events, this valuable asset exists,
and is only waiting for orders to carry out its destiny.

Milling-timber.

It is estimated that the Mokau Valley contains at least
5,700 acres of good milling-timber, or about 17,000,000 ft.,
the Mohakatino Block alone containing about one-half of the
quantity mentioned.

The Land.

The best soil is naturally found on the river flats, where
some of the richest land in Taranaki exists. The district as
a whole is all fit for settlement, either agricultural or pastoral,
though some of the rougher portions would require to be cut
up into large holdings, and, ^bove the mines, reading would
be a matter of difiiculty. The undulating and flat portions
of this country are well adapted for dairying, the climate being
particularly favourable for stock.

On the southern side of the river is to be found the Mokau-
Mohakatino Block, of 56,000 acres, the subject of so much
litigation by Mr. Joshua Jones. As a strong efiort is being
made to induce the Crown to acquire this land for closer

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 63

settlement, a brief description of the block may be interesting.
One-fourth of this land is very rough, though available for
sheep. A similar quantity is considered suitable for sub-
division into sections of 200 to 500 acres for farming or dairy-
ing (worth, when roaded, from 12s. 6d. to £1 15s. per acre),
the remaining half being only fit for large areas up to
2,000 acres, at a minimum price of 10s. an acre. The
highest point (1,74:0 ft.) is to be found at the south-east
corner. The block is well sheltered, and contains large coal-
deposits.

On the north side of the river, stretching as far as Totoro,
there are about 36,000 acres, making altogether in the Mokau
district some 100,000 acres of land. Probably another
100,000 acres are contained in the Awakino country, which
lies to the north, and uses Mokau as its port of shipment for
wool and other produce. As a whole, the land may be de-
scribed as good, though there is a considerable quantity of
broken country. The soil is largely of limestone formation —
a, very great point in stock-rearing — some fireclay, and what
appears to be either white marble or a quartz outcrop, being
met with.

Coal.
On both sides of the river coal is to be found in abund-
ance. That on the south side has, up to the present, only
been the subject of very primitive operations. There are,
however, plenty of outcrops, the seams being from 3 ft. to
5 ft. thick in the Mokau-Mohakatino Block, where the coal
has a dip from the river of 1 in 20 to 1 in 30, but in all
probability cannot be worked as profitably as on the northern

side.

Thirteen miles and a half from the bar, on the north bank
of the river, is the Manga- Awakino Block No. 1, of 4,700
acres, which has been acquired by the Taranaki Iron Syndi-
cate for the coal and limestone it contains. There are seven
largs seams of coal outcropping at a short distance from the
river, which at this part is deep and easily worked by
steamers. As an integral part of the scheme for developing

64 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

the ironsand industry this block is extremely valuable,
especially as there is a good quantity ot red and white pine
and matai, while the land is excellently adapted for stock-rais-
ing as well as dairying.

The only sustained effort in colliery-work in this district
is at the Mangapapa Mine, the area of this holding, which is
on the north side of the river, being 13,000 acres. This mine,
which is now held on a long lease by Mr. George H. Stubbs,
of Waitara, has its entrance only 50 yards from the river-
bank at a point twenty-three miles from the heads. At the-
wharf the depth of water suffices for vessels drawing 8 ft. Ap-
parently the coal underlies the whole area of the property,
and far beyond. The seam now being worked has proved to-
be far superior to any previous output from the mine. It is
about 7 ft. 8 in. thick, separated in the middle by impure
beds of fireclay, and has an easy gradient (thus keeping the
mine dry), enabling the coal to be run out by gravitation,
while the sandstone roof reduces the usual timbering to a
minimum. The output can either be discharged direct into
the hold of steamers or tipped into the bunkers erected on the
bank of the river, thus enabling vessels to be loaded with great
despatch. For the last few years the output has been small
owing to difficulties of transport, but latterly these have been
overcome, satisfactory arrangements having been made for
the carriage and distribution of the coal. Two steamers,
carrying 40 and 80 tons respectively, are now regularly en-
gaged in the work. This service, however, only suffices for
local requirements, but it is anticipated that in the near
future, when the bar at the entrance to the river has been
improved and the river itself cleared of snags, larger steamers
will be employed and the business greatly increased. The-
coal is very popular for houlehold use, also for steam pur-
poses where large boilers are used.

In describing this coal Dr. Robertson, M.E., F.G.S., the
well-known mining engineer of Sydney, classes the upper seam
as superior lignite, and the lower as bright bituminous coal
of superior quality, both igniting easily, giving off little gas,
burning with a bright flame, and leaving a very small amount

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 65

of white pulverulent ash. He considers that the quantity is
practically inexhaustible, and that the conditions are probably
more favourable for easy and profitable working than in any
colliery he had seen in the Australasian Colonies. Other ex-
perts, such as Messrs. G. J. Snellus, F.R.S., R. Price
Williams, and Professor Stevenson MaoAdam (Edinburgh),
have reported favourably of this coal, and classed it with the
better English and Scotch coals.

As to the mine itself, the Mining Commission, when re-
porting in 1900, regarded it as being the safest, and its
natural conditions more favourable for working, than any
mine they had seen.

The Mokau as a Toukist Resort.

The surpassing beauty of the virgin forest which covers
the surface of the land in this district should make it a
favourite resort for tourists. With a good soil, supplemented
by an abundant rainfall, its settlement should add materially
to the welfare of the colony, while beneath the surface there lies
a wealth of mineral fuel which has yet to be thoroughly ex-
ploited. Mokau is unique in possessing these manifold attrac-
tions, and has a future that may well be envied by any less
favoured district. It is rare, indeed, that there is to be found
in one area such a combination of valuable assets as those
mentioned above.

MARLBOROUGH MINING DISTRICT.

Gold was first discovered in Marlborough in 1860, but the
goldfield was not proclaimed for three or four years after-
wards. Iron was found in 1870, antimony in 1876, and coal
in 1880. There are also indications of lead, silver, and
copper. The Wakamarina was, for its size, one of the richest
goldfields in the colony. Miners were attracted to it from
all parts of New Zealand, and many came from the Australian
Colonies. In June, 1864, the "City of Hobart," " Otago,''
and " Albion " shipped from Picton 3,393 oz. of gold; in July
the "Auckland" took away 2,256 oz. ; and in September the
"' Claud Hamilton " shipped 961 oz. These shipments do not
by any means represent the quantity of gold which was got
during that short period, as many of the miners went to Wel-
lington and other places, taking their gold with them. In
1864 the total export was stated at 24,838 oz., valued at nearly
£100,000; and in 1865 about 8,000 oz., valued at over
£30,000. As the alluvial ground got worked out, the miners
gradually drifted away to the West Coast and other fields ; but
some enterprising men remained in the district. The Ravens-
cliff Company, which started work in 1883 with a 12-horse
power portable engine, a set of water-elevators, an under-
shot water-wheel, and two Californian pumps, constructed
a flood-race 500 ft. in length, and a dam 65 ft. in length
by 12 ft. in depth, with^ the view of controlling the
waters of the Wakamarina, in order to work the river-bed
below it. Mr. M. Leahy spent three years in cutting a tail-
race 550 ft. in length, on which he expended £400, his yield
of gold during that time being only 12 oz. Other parties have
also expended capital and labour in endeavouring to get- at
the deeper ground. There is a large area of rough, bush-
covered mountains and gullies, showing fair indications

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 67

of auriferous reefs and alluvial country; but it cannot be
properly prospected until tracks are opened up. Gold-bearing
quartz-specimens have been picked up in several watercourses,
and alluvial gold has been found in nearly every gully on both
sides of the high ranges which divide the Wakanaarina from
the Wairau Valley.

There are indications of lead, silver, copper, and scheelite
in different parts of Marlborough, and some residents have
looked forward to the possible discovery of precious stones.

Auriferous quartz was found some years ago at Top Valley ;
several claims were pegged ofi, and reduction-works were
erected by the Jubilee Company. So far the results have not
justified anticipations. During the year 1903, 1,704 tons of
quartz gave a yield of 548 oz., and 1,100 tons of tailings
treated by the cyanide process produced 72 oz. of gold, the
total value being £2,118 17s. 3d. It was then estimated that
8 tunnel would require to be driven a distance of 1,200 ft.
in order to render available 500 ft. to 600 ft. of backs. This
mine has been let on tribute for some time past. Scheelite is
found in association with portions of the auriferous lode, and
some of it is stated to be of high quality. Recently the
tributers sent .3 tons of this mineral to Wellington, where it
was disposed of at a rather low rate, considering the prices
ruling in London and Hamburg. Scheelite is valuable for
the tungstic acid it contains, and is used in hardening the
metal for large guns.

The King Solomon Mine, Cullensville, is owned by a pri-
vate syndicate, Messrs. R. Cragg, A. Jonson, and E. Knutson
(secretary), who hold a freehold lease from W. J. Cullen, of
Cullensville. Comprised in this lease are the Golden Gate,
King Solomon, Alice Fell, and Hibernian Claims, which ex-
tend in a continuous line along the Cullensville Creek for a
distance of 3,600 ft. The two latter claims were worked to
very considerable profit previous to flooding. With the ob]ect
of following the continuation of the rich auriferous drifts,
which form a river-bed deposit of prehistx>ric age, the King
Solomon shaft was sunk and equipped with pumps to a depth
of 90 ft Havinc thus completed sinking operations, driving

^8 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

was commenced dipwards on a rich lead, which yielded £750
from the ground taken out from the last set of timber previous
to the collapse of the shaft. Stimulated by this rich find, the
Golden Gate shaft was sunk and equipped with pumps to a
depth of 1 20 ft. On commencing operations from the bottom
of this shaft driving was extended riseward with varied suc-
cess, but before a holing was effected with the King Solomon
shaft the pumps were replaced and the workings unwatered.
This connection led to a still greater inflow of water, which the
pumps in use were not able to cope with.

Dredging has been tried at Wakamarina, but the results
obtained were not commensurate with the outlay.

About twenty-five years ago the Endeavour Inlet Antimony
Company secured a lease of 500 acres of ground for a period
of thirty years, between the head of Endeavour Inlet and Port
Gore, with the view of working the antimony-lodes that were
known to exist in that locality. The antimony was first dis-
covered in loose, detached blocks on the side of the range
facing Queen Charlotte Sound, and also in the beds of the
creeks and watercourses coming out of the range ; and a lode
was afterwards discovered running in a northerly and
southerly direction across the range from the head of the Inlet
towards Port Gore. This lode has been worked near the top
of the range, which is 1,600 ft. above sea-level. About 3,000
tons of ore was taken from this lode, some of the best of which
was sent to England, and realised in its raw state £10 per
ton. A tunnel was constructed through the range 275 ft.
below the level of the crown, and the lode from this to the sur-
face was nearly all stoped out. The ore near the crown of
the range, and also for a certain distance in from the side,
occurred in the form of valentinite ; but towards the centre of
the range, and for about 100 ft. above the level of the tunnel,
the ore was in the form of stibnite. This tunnel carried the lode
right through the hill, and by continuing further along the
range the lode was proved along its lateral course, or strike,
for over 1,000 ft. At this level, where the lode was left under-
foot, it was found to be getting into settled country, and the
valentinite in the lode was to a great extent replaced by
rich stibnite ore. The company opened a drive 175 ft.

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NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 69

lower down the range, and reached the lode which, at
the point of intersection, showed very rich ore. Reduc-
tion-works were erected at Endeavour Inlet, trained men
were brought from England, and star antimony of ex-
cellent quality was produced for some time; but there was a
considerable fall in the price of antimony afterwards, and
that, coupled with the broken character of the lodes, led to the
abandonment of the mine.

At Jackson's Head, close to the company's workings, a reef
was found containing gold and antimony, and gold to the
value of £8,000 was said to have been taken from it, though
there was very little work of a systematic character done. A
tramway was constructed by the company from the tunnel
down the side of the range to the flat near the head of
Endeavour Inlet, where the dressing machinery and smelting-
works were erected. In bringing this tramway down the
range, which is very steep, there were three separate inclines,
each of which was worked by a brake constructed with two
pulleys working vertically and one horizontally. The full
truck going down brought up the empty one, the speed of the
trucks being regulated by a double-hand brake, which was
worked with a long lever.

Cement-works have been started near Picton, and the
quality of the cement is said to be equal to Portland and other
imported cements. Recently an order was received for 1,000
tons for shipment to San Francisco, and it is believed that
other large orders will follow.

THE NELSON GOLDFIELDS.

NELSON WARDEN'S DISTRICT.

By Warden Eyre-Kenny,

The Warden's District of Nelson, which includes the Counties
of Waimea, Takaka, and CoUingwood, furnishes an apt illus-
tration of the surprising vicissitudes attending gold-mining,
and indeed mining in general. Gold was first found in the
Nelson District at the Moutere and along the shores of Mas-
sacre Bay (now called Golden Bay) almost simultaneously
with the discoveries at Coromandel in 1853, but it was not
till 1856 that the discovery of gold at the Aorere gave mining
a start in the Nelson Provincial District. Mr. John Ellis and
Mr. John James claimed to have been the first to find a
payable goldfield, but their pretensions were disputed, and
it was some time before the merits of the discovery were set
at rest. The Gold - bonus Committee of Nelson, which had
offered a bonus for the discovery of a payable goldfield,
appointed referees, who after taking evidence decided that
Messrs. Ellis and James were the discoverers, but that the
credit of developing the goldfields belonged to Mr. G. W.
Lightband. Many persons were, however, satisfied that Mr.
Hough's services deserved equal recognition, and they pre
sented him with a substantial testimonial.

Although far and away the most important mining opera-
tions have been, and are, carried on in Golden Bay, the
Wangapeka portion of the Nelson District — which comprised
the valleys drained by the Wangapeka and its tributaries,
the Rolling River and Sherry, and the Tadmor and Baton
Valleys lying on either side of the Wangapeka River — was of
note in its day. This locality is now mainly occupied by
small farmers, some of whom occasionally put in their spare
time at mining. The more easily worked parts of the field

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 71

have been exhausted, and long water-races and tail-races are
iiow necessary. Some six or seven miners only are at present
working here, and none of them are earning more than a
living-wage, while the dredge on the Wangapeka is idle.
But the country is known to be auriferous, and energetic
explorations would doubtless lead to satisfactory results.
The construction of the Midland Railway, however, which
passes through this subdistrict, by attracting surplus labour
at good wages, has had the effect of keeping some men from
prospecting who might otherwise have engaged in that enter-
prise. In the years 1857 to 1859 there were at times over a
thousand men mining in Golden Bay — mainly on the Aorere
and in its vicinity. These men were all making good wages,
whilst sonie won small fortunes. According to the Nelson
Examiner, from April, 1857, to May, 1858, no less a sum
than £70,000 was obtained in the Nelson goldfields, mainly in
Golden Bay, and new houses, stores, and tents were to be
seen in all directions. Diggers were constantly coming and
going, and Collingwood especially looked very busy. But a
change came in 1859. The population and yield of gold
steadily dwindled down, and up to the present Golden Bay
has not regained its former prosperity. The Statement of
the Minister of Mines, made in the House of Representatives
in 1905, showed that twenty miners only were employed in
the County of Takaka and 149 in the County of Collingwood,
apart from those engaged in collieries. Nevertheless, there
are still large tracts of auriferous country which have scarcely
been tested, and in the opinion of expert miners quite as rich
patches yet remain to be worked as those which gave employ-
ment to such a large number of men in 1857, 1858, and 1859.
It is greatly to be desired that prospecting parties should be
organized to prospect the Quartz Ranges, the Gouland Downs,
the Heaphy, and other likely localities. This need is now
being supplied in Takaka, where the Anatoki Prospecting
Syndicate has engaged the services of Mr. C. E. Stone, a
mining engineer and geologist of considerable experience. I
am indebted to this gentleman for a report of his operations,
which so far have been confined to that portion from the
Takaka Valley on the one hand to Snow's River and Boulder
Lake on the other.

72 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

The impressions gleaned from the structure of the Takaka
Valley as far south as Mount Hoary Head were not of a
character to justify further operations in that quarter. The
rock-structure consists of limestone, granite, schists, and sand-
stone rocks. What was represented as being a large quartz-
body turned out to be, on inspection, a coarsely crystalline
metamorphic rock, which is referred to locally as " marble."

The Waituhi Mountains were next investigated, but with
unsatisfactory results. The Waingaro River and Devil's River
were not examined. Mr. Storie then proceeded through the
Anatoki Valley as far as the " Forks," and from there up Dry
Creek to the saddle overlooking Snowdon. The country passed
through in this section was much more promising, and several
reefs occur, some of which are auriferous. Above the "Forks"
a fair amount of gold is being won from the river-bed. Mr.
Storie saw about 26 oz. taken at one clean-up.

Mr. Storie made a further careful examination of the area
from Snow's River to the Boulder Lake, and found values in
this portion which induced him to apply for a prospecting
license.

The head-waters of the Anatoki, Slate, Snow, Rocky, and
Boulder Rivers were examined, and there is satisfactory evi-
dence of value in both quartz and alluvial in these places.

The Aorere watershed on the western side, beyond Mount
Olympus and Lead Hill, was casually examined, but not suf-
ficiently in detail to justify a report.

The principal difficulty in this district is the want of
suitable tracks, and whilst this drawback remains very little
legitimate prospecting can be done. The local miners con-
sider that the Anatoki River, at the head, would probably
support two hundred men if a horse-track was made so that
the miners could get their food by pack-horses. At present
it takes two days to get supjnies on the ground from Takaka,
as the men have to carry their food several miles through the
bush and up the mountain on their backs. It is understood
that the local body will soon be in a position to expend a
Government grant for this purpose. Mr. Langridge, store-
keeper, had a short time ago some really splendid samples of
gold from the Upper Anatoki.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 73

But it must not be supposed that gold-mining is dead in
the region of Golden Ba}'. The value of gold entered for
exportation for the year ending the 31st December, 1905,
reacheu the substantial figure of £25,862. This includes a
small quantity of gold from the County of Waimea. The
price of gold per ounce in the Nelson District is as follows:
Collingwood, £3 13s. 6d. to £4 Is. ; Takaka, £3 14s. 6d.

This appears to be a convenient place to refer in detail to
some of the more prominent mining privileges which are still
in existence in Golden Bay.

At Bubu, in Takaka County, the Takaka Hydraulic and
Elevating Company is getting payable gold. For the j'ear
ending December, 1905, three dividends were paid to the
shareholders of Is. per scrip in each instance. The part of
the ground the company is now working is only 8 ft. deep,
showing gold freely. On the 29th March, 1901, this company
applied for, and was granted, a right to divert fifty heads of
water from the Anatoki River, above the big bend of the
Bubu, to sluice the territory between the Anatoki and Bubu
Rivers. There are the best reasons for supposing that the
ground which this water commands is payable. The company
was fortunate in obtaining the services of a capable man, Mr.
Charles Campbell, as manager, and by the judicious utilisa-
tion of water this property, which had been worked for years
by hand-labour, making small wages only, has become a
really satisfactory concern. The claim is a very inexpensive
one, employing only ten men all told. The men work three
shifts of eight hours each. In the refuse, after washing-up, a
considerable quantity of garnets and rubies is found, too
small, however, to be of commercial value.

The West Wanganui portion of the goldfield is about
twenty - eight miles north - west by road from Collingwood.
There is also communication by sea, and vessels drawing 12 ft.
of water may enter the inlet with safety at high-water spring
tides. Gold was found here in 1868; the quality was good,
and there were some alluvial workings. E.vtensive operations
were ultimately undertaken by the Taitapu Gold Estates Com-
pany. The area of land held by this company is 79,000 acres.
A large amount of development-work has been done by the

74. NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

parent company and by the present company, and when quartz
is found, as a rule, values are good ; but the lode has been so
much distributed that it makes it very hard for the manage-
ment to keep the quartz clean.

The Golden Blocks (Taitapu), held by a subsidiary com-
pany in this locality, is the most consistent claim as regards
the gold-yield of any concern in the district, and during the
year 1905 no less than 2,320 oz. 10 dwt. of gold has been ob-
tained from 1,950 tons of stone treated. The reef, however,
is more or less patchj^, and during the last few months the
returns have been below the average, but the company's
manager, Mr. Giles, is confident that the next clean-up will
show a considerable improvement.*

Leaving West Wanganui and coming to Collingwood pro-
per, a considerable amount of prospecting-work has been
done during the last six months at the old Johnston's United
Gold-mining Company's mine at Bedstead Gully, which is held
under application by Mr. Charles Y. Fell pending completion
of survey, and hopes are entertained that the rich reef will
again be struck.

The Parapara Hydraulic Sluicing and Mining Company is
the holder of several special alluvial claims, but of late labour
has been concentrated on sluicing operations at the Hit-or-Miss
Saddle, and the returns have been fairly encouraging. The
ground is heavy and rough; the gold-bearing wash underlies
hills of considerable height, so that as the wash is removed
enormous slips from the hillsides occur, bringing down large
quantities of shattered rock, which has to be broken up and
stacked or sluiced away. The gold-bearing wash at this face
is now, however, almost exhausted, and the company is pro-
ceeding to work its freehold property, known as Appo's Flat
(so termed after a Cingalese who first got gold there). A
contract has been let to drive a tunnel 620 ft. long through
rock. This tunnel is only being driven from one end, and
will therefore take some months to complete. When finished
it will serve as a tail-race, through which the whole of the
surface or upper portion of Appo's Flat will be sluiced down

* Clean-up on 23rd July. 1906, gave 188 oz. of gold from 155 tons of
quartz crushed.

HEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 75

to a depth of 25 ft. , below which depth elevating will have to
be resorted to. The ground on Appo's Flat is very deep, and
it should be the means of providing years of profitable work.
This company's claim is generally regarded as a promising
property. About an acre at the upper end of this flat was
worked in the early days of the goldfield by the primitive
methods then in use, and it gave good returns. The quantity
of gold won by this company for the year 1905 was 769 oz.
2 dwt. 19 gr., valued at £2,985, making a total of 8,087 oz.,
value £31,088.

The Slate River Sluicing Company's operations have been
for some time considerably hampered by shortness of water,
and steps have now been taken to augment the supply, passing
it into the company's big dam at Toi-toi Flat for storage
purpose.s. A license for a dam in Bedstead Gully has been
obtained, and also a license for a water-race commencing at
the dam in Bedstead Gully and conveying the water to the big
dam in Toi-toi Flat. With the increased water-supply avail-
able when the dam and water-race mentioned are completed
the company should be able to carry on sluicing operations
with much less broken time than hitherto. It is the manager's
intention to cease work at the old face and to open up a fresh
face at the claim formerly known as Nicholas's, where good
prospects have been obtained. During the year 1905, -313 oz.
■of gold, valued at £1,179 10s., was won.

At the Quartz Ranges sluicing operations are being carried
■on by a party of tributers on the special claim held by Mr.
C Y. Fell, lately the property of the Collingwood Goldfields
Company. This tribute party has command of a splendid
water-supply, enabling operations to be carried on throughout
the whole year. The quantity of gold actually taken from
this claim during 1905 was 194 oz., valued at £769. This
however, does not represent more than seven or eight months'
working. It is confidently expected that the next run will
prove highly payable, as the ground to be attacked is known
to be rich.

The Slate River Gold-dredging Company is defunct. On
the 12th January, 1906, the shareholders passed an extra-
ordinar)' resolution to wind up the company voluntarily. The

76 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

dredge produced 459 oz. of gold, valued at £1,659 15b., during
its last year's workinp;, the cost of carrying on the operations
of the company for that period being £1,804.

The river at the point at which this company's dredge has
been engaged is narrow and confined between high banks.
The dredge was therefore subjected to considerable danger of
being carried away in times of flood, and it was on two
occasions actually left stranded on heaps of tailings over which
it had floated during flood. The working of the dredge was
also rendered difficult by the rocky nature of the bed of the
river. It is important to note that owing to these and similar
causes the failure of no less than four dredging companies,
has been brought about in this portion of the district.

Before quitting finally the subject of gold-mining, it may
be interesting to state that an aggregate area of 680 acres of
land is held under gold-mining license in various parts of
Golden Bay, over some of which alluvial mining is carried on,
and from which, taking it as a whole, fairly good returns are
being obtained.

Plumbago and Cement.

There is every indication of the existence of plumbago in
considerable quantities on the Pakawau side of the Aorere
River. Samples that have been ^obtained are undoubtedly of
high value.

At the present time Mr. French is working cement-ma-
chinery at Motupipi, near Takaka. The machinery was
started in the latter part of the month of April, 1906. Mr.
French is well satisfied that cement can be profitably manu-
factured from the materials at Motupipi, and he has put a
large amount of capital into the venture.

Silvee-l:^d Orbs.
Silver-lead ores are found in the Mount Owen district,
and they presumably extend into the Boiling River, on the
northern fall of Mount Owen, as numerous boulders of silver-
lead ores have been found by sluicers in the Rolling River,
and their contents have been assayed to over 300 oz. of silver-
to the ton. Very little, however, is known of these deposits,.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 77

but the opening-up of the railway and roads in this direction
will render the country more accessible and facilitate pro-
specting in this locality.

Coal-mining.
We now come to the all-important subject of coal. A
coal of excellent quality for domestic and steaming purposes
is found in the Collingwood subdistrict. The Puponga Coal-
and Gold-mining Company of New Zealand (Limited) is the
holder of a valuable coal-mining property, containing 1,017
acres, situated in the Onetaua Survey District, from which
the output of coal for the year ending the 31st December,
1905, was 20,156 tons; but the difficulty occasioned by the
shallowness of the water at the company's wharf in getting
the coal shipped adds seriously to the cost, and prevents the
coal from taking a still better place in the markets of the
colony. This, however, is a matter that the company intends
to remedy. When better facilities for shipping are obtained,
and vessels of larger tonnage can be safely employed, the
average freight will be greatly reduced and access to the best
markets in the colony obtained. The mine- workings at the
Puponga Mine steadily progressed during the year 1905 to the
north, or dip, of the coalfield, and are opening up well towards
the east. On the west side a band of fireclay in the centre of
the field until lately gave some trouble, but the thickening of
the lower seam of excellent coal, together with the thinning of
the band of stone between the two which formed the floor of the
main seam, will enable the two to be worked together, and
puts a very promising aspect on that part of the field, where
otherwise some considerable driving in stone could hardly have
been avoided. A larger pump than that now in use is being
obtained, and another 40-horse-power boiler has been ordered.
When these have been installed the main dip road will again
be pushed ahead and further bands broken ofi, where, in view
of recent developments, there is promise of an excellent field
of coal. A Hayes fan has been fitted up, and is working
smoothly and well, providing an ample current of air through-
out all the workings. The screens have lately been improved,
so that a rounder class of house-coal is now procured; and a

78 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

considerable extension of the nut-washing plant and new nut-
bins are now on the point of completion. The nut- washing
plant not only provides for the exclusion of small pieces of
stone and brasses, but also runs off the fine coaly mud, and a
larger size of nuts is insured. Altogether, the developments
of this coalfield, particularl}- in view of the recent thickening
of good coal in the bottom seam, have been very satisfactory.

Great hardship and inconvenience having been occasioned
to the miners working on this property, owing to the difficulty
experienced by them in securing ground for residence-sites,
the Government has set apart a portion of the surface of the
company's lease for business and residence sites respectively.
The land has been surveyed and laid out into suitable allot-
ments, reserves, and streets, so as to meet the public conveni-
ence, and the settlement, which has been named by the Survey
Department the Village of Puponga, will be the means of pro-
viding the colliers with homes, instead of holding their resi-
dences on mere sufferance. The Survey Department has also
laid out anoAer small township near the wharf.

A good deal of prospecting for coal has been done lately in
the vicinity of the West Wanganui Inlet, where the most
cursory examination reveals seams of varying dimensions.

Coal-mining operations have been commenced at West
Wanganui by Mr. G. B. Watson, of Dunedin, who during
the last few months has acquired valuable leases and options
over coal-bearing land, and, with the natural facilities that
exist at West Wanganui for the shipping of coal from the
property now being developed by him, large quantities of coal
should soon be upon the market from this region.

The Pakawau Colliery (Section 7 of Block XII, Pakawau
Survey District), lately purchased by Mr. E. G. Pilcher, of
Wellington, representative in I^w Zealand of the Greymouth-
Point Elizabeth Coal Company, is attracting the attention of
the people in the district. Already a considerable amount
of work has been done in developing the mine and preparing
for a large output of coal.

Besides the valuable coal-bearing properties just men-
tioned, this district contains other coalfields, which, in the

opinion of experts, will in time provide a means for the
profitable investment of a large amount of capital and for
the employment of many hundreds of workers.

Copper-mining in the Mineral Belt.

The Mineral Belt Copper-mining Company holds 1,200
acres of what is known as the " Mountain Mineral Belt."
The Mineral Belt is a serpentinous formation, from half a
mile to a mile in width, extending in an unbroken line from
D'Urville Island, in the north-east, to Tophouse, in the
south-west, over a length of ninety miles, and possibly, with
breaks, to Big Bay, at the south - west end of the Middle
Island. The Mineral Belt Copper-mining Company's pro-
perty lies about four miles easterly in a direct line from the
City of Nelson, but twenty-six miles distant by rail and road.
The ore-deposits, so far as is known at present, occur chiefly
along the western edge of the belt and not far from its contact
with the rocks of the Maitai series. The company has opened
out and extended old levels on the United Creek, and driven
a new level on the ore-channel for several hundred feet. The
ore found is a sulphide of copper, and it occurs in lens-shaped
bodies within a definite channel. These bodies are of no great
individual size, but they are numerous and of good grade.
A level has been driven on ore for 80 ft., and it is in one
place 12 ft. wide.

Further north of the United Creek other ore-deposits of a
rich character exist. The Saddle Lode there is stated to carry,
besides 5 per cent, of copper, from 4 dwt. to 8 dwt. of gold.
Little work has, however, been done at this end of the pro-
perty. At the south end the old Champion Copper Company
mined rich native copper and sub-sulphide ores.

Mr. Thomas A. Turnbull, M.A.I.M.E., directed operations
for the company from November, 1903, till December, 1905,
and expended some £6,000 in prospecting and development-
work. The present company has just sold its interest in the
leases to a new company for £16,000, and from date (Juue,
1906) development- work is to be pushed on rapidly.

80 new zealand mining handbook.

Iron-orb.

In close proximity to the coalfields are the extensive de-
posits of the rich iron-ore of the Parapara, the whole being
surrounded by an abundant supply of the finest limestone. A
lease of 920 acres at the Parapara has been secured by the
Public Trustee, as trustee and executor of the estate of the late
Sir Alfred Jerome Cadman, and the formation of a company in
England with a view to working the iron-deposits is stated to
be practically assured. This lease does not by any means
exhaust the iron-deposits of the Parapara, and in the event of
the Cadman Company being successful no doubt other leases
will be taken up and worked, to the great advantage of
the Township of Collingwood in particular and of the colony
in general.

There is probably no richer district in New Zealand than
the Counties of Takaka and Collingwood. A large amount
of valuable timber is exported from both counties. Consider-
able portions of the County of Takaka are limestone country,
eminently suitable for sheep-farming. At Clifton, near Wai-
tapu, a most picturesque spot, bearing in many respects a
curious resemblance to the beautiful surroundings of Wha-
ngarei, in the Far North, Mr. Ellis, who has a large sawmill,
fitted with the very latest appliances, also keeps a large flock
of Angora goats, which he finds a profitable investment. This
enterprising settler manufactures New Zealand wine on a
large scale, his cellars rarely containing less than over a
thousand barrels and hogsheads. This wine, unlike some of
the New Zealand - made wines, though possessing a fair al-
coholic strength, is unfortified by the addition of spirits of
wine.

The Township of Takaka is about fifty-three miles from
Nelson by steamer, but it can be reached overland by a coach
that runs twice a week, connecting with Newman Bros.' coach,
which runs daily between Nelson and Motueka. The Town of
Takaka, which is about three miles from its seaport, Waitapu,
IS a flourishing little place, containing several places of wor-
ship, a commodious Town Hall, and two good hotels. There
IS another excellent hotel at Waitapu.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 81

The distance from Collingwood to Takaka by road is
twenty miles; to Pakawau, eight miles; to Bedstead Gully,
ten miles ; to Rocky River, eighteen miles ; to the Quartz
Ranges, twenty miles; and to West Wanganui, twenty-eight
miles. Collingwood itself is most picturesquely situated at
the mouth of the Aorere River. In November, 1904, the
township was almost entirely destroyed by fire, but it has been
rebuilt with great improvements, and from a public point of
view, as occasionally happens, the fire has proved a blessing
in disguise. Two excellent new hotels have been erected since
the fire, and a new post-office has just been opened. Like
Takaka, Collingwood boasts of a weekly newspaper.

Collingwood is distant from Nelson by road about seventy-
five miles; by sea the distance is greater, the voyage taking
from eight to ten, or even twelve hours, according to the
weather. The steamers "Lady Barkly " and " Wairoa "
make on the average two trips each per week between Nelson
and Collingwood, calling at Takaka on the way, and those who
encounter rough weather on the voyage are able to realise
what " going down to the sea " in little ships means. Having
regard to the large passenger traffic between these places and
Nelson, the time has certainly arrived when these obsolete
steamers should be replaced by boats of a better class.

NELSON, KARAMEA, AND WEST
COAST.

By Robert Tennent, Inspector of Mines, and Akthtjk H. Richards,.
Assistant Inspector, for Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast.

CoUingisood.

In 1856 John James and John Ellis claimed the Government
bonus for the first gold-discovery in this district, and were
also awarded the same by the Gold-bonus Committee.

Judge Kenny, of Nelson, is Warden for the CoUingwood
district, and Mr. Nalder is Receiver of Goldfields Revenue and
Mining Registrar. The Warden's Court is held monthly.

Between Nelson and CoUingwood there is a weekly over-
land mail-service, calling at all intermediate post-offices, and
a daily service by steamer.

Now that the Ferntown and Rockville roads are bridged
over the Aorere River, and the Salisbury Creek bridged on the
road to the Quartz Ranges, connection between CoUingwood
and the coal and gold fields is practically assured under all
conditions of weather.

On leaving CoUingwood the road to West Wanganui via
Ferntown is eight miles to Pakawau, thence westward through
the Pakawau Bush and six miles up the Mud Flat to Munga-
rakau, near the head of the inlet, which was recently bridged
and connection made with the partly formed tracks leading to
the Golden Ridge. The West Wanganui goldfields, owned
by the Taitapu Gold Estates (l^^mited), comprise 79,000 acres,
and are situated some twenty-eight miles from CoUingwood.
Mr. N. L. Buchanan is resident attorney on the Patarau
River.

In 1868, and for several years following, lucrative em-
ployment was found in the various streams which discharge
into Lake Otuhie, and also into a branch of the sea between

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 83

the sandhills and the Anatori lliver. At Malone's and In-
dependent Creeks the alluvial was rich, resulting in some very
large finds, but, the ground being limited, it was soon worked
out.

In 1874, whilst the miners were working the auriferous
cement underlying the coal-seam at Bedstead Gully, on the
Slaty Creek, specimen gold in the alluvial drift led to the dis-
covery of a quartz reef on Friday Creek. After a few months'
■operations with a five-stamp mill of most primitive design
gold to the value of £3,000 was obtained, but what was at
first taken to be a reef proved only a slip, and work was
accordingly suspended for a time. Meantime, the Golden
Blocks Company is carr5dng out an effective system of pro-
specting, with the view of proving the geological features of
the auriferous belt at depth.

The Parapcvra Hydraulic Sluicing and Mining Company
was registered on the 18th June, 1902, and in July of same
year commenced work on an alluvial area containing 173 acres
1 rood 17 perches, situated on the Parapara River, CoUing-
wood. The called-up capital amounts to £26,210. The mine is
worked by thirteen men, covering three shifts. The material
operated on consists of crushed quartz, mixed with gravels and
large boulders, underlying a decomposed schist and clay for-
mation, the whole face being sluiced to a total depth of 50 ft.
to 150 ft. on a strongly cemented conglomerate (false) bottom.
During 1905, of 3 acres of ground exhausted, 150,000 cubic
yards of washdirt was sluiced and treated, at the rate of 3^d.
per cubic yard, for a yield of 1,118 oz., valued at £4,341
12s. lid., and from a total of 35 acres worked the yield was
7,813 oz. 12dwt., valued at £30,342 16s. 5d. (at the rate of
£3 17s. 8d. per ounce). Water is supplied direct from the
Parapara River over three miles of races, and from the pen-
stock a mile and a half from the face. Two miles of pipe-
line are employed (diameters 30 in., 27 in., 24 in., and
18 in.), from which forty heads are delivered in wet weather
through 13 in. -diameter service lines on three operative
nozzles, under a head pressure of 300 ft. The gold is a fairly
coarse sample, saved in tail-race boxes, laid with iron rails

84 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

ill longitudinal lengths, and laced in cross-sections with, iron
ripples. The tailings are deposited in the river-bed mud-
flats. Mine-manager, James Bassett; secretary, Thomas
J. C. Warren, Wellington.

Attention is noTv^being directed to developing the deeper
deposits of West's Freehold Flat, and with this end in view a
drainage-tunnel is in progress, which, when completed, is
calculated to efiect drainage to a depth of 25 ft. The present
proposal is to firstly exhaust the drained area, and finally
instal elevators capable of lifting the auriferous deposits from
a further depth of 60 ft. In carrying out this scheme on a
comprehensive scale the management anticipate that the deeper
gravels can be profitably worked to a depth of 80 ft., this,
depth being estimated to clear the marine bottom.

The Slate Biver Sluicing Company was registered in July,
1900, and in June, 1901, work commenced on an auriferous
area of 100 acres, situated on the south bank of the Aorere
River, near the confluence of the Slate River, in the Colling-
wood district. The wash operated on is a strongly cemented
deposit, varying in depth fiom 3 ft. to 20 ft., overlying a
schist formation. During the year 1905 the quantity
of gold obtained amounted to 313 oz. 17 dwt., valued at
£1,179 10s. 3d., and since the company first commenced
operations 1,152 oz. 1 dwt. 10 gr., valued at £4,431 3s. 3d.
(an average value of £3 17s. lOd. per ounce). Since registra-
tion the capital actually called up has amounted to £14,723 5s.
From date, the probable life of the claim is considered about
thirty years, but previous to the tenure of the present company
the property was a sluicing concern for over thirty years.
In connection with the water-supply the company's dams
occupy 49 acres, from which the water is conveyed over two-
miles of water-race, including€about 5 chains of fluming and
some 20 chains of 15 in., 11 in., and 9 in. pipe-lines, which
connect with three nozzles under a head pressure of about
400 ft. The gold is of a coarse character, and saved over
370 ft. of rippled boxes, the total length of tail-race being
700 ft. Owing to shortage of water-supply one shift only is
worked, which gives employment to six men. The approxi-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 85

mate value of the plant, races, dams, &c., is computed at
£14,500. Mine-manager, Gilbert O'Hara; secretary, W. E.
Pearson, Wellington.

Takaka.

The Takaka Eiver drains the auriferous areas between the
Haupiri and Pikinina Ranges. In 1854-55 the Duncan
brothers discovered gold on their Onakaka property, which^
however, led to nothing of importance, and not until gold was
discovered by a party of Natives in January, 1857, was the
district declared a goldfield. This discovery naturally led to
(i constant influx of diggers, including two hundred and fifty
Europeans and a hundred Maoris, who found profitable em-
ployment in the neighbourhood of the Anatoki Kiver ; and,
again, in 1858 gold of a very heavy character was found in the
Upper Anatoki. This state of affairs continued while the
gold was easily won, but in the event of fresh rushes breaking
out the diggers drifted elsewhere for fresh fields, the want of
proper roads being a serious drawback to Ihe district. After
a lapse of several years the Takaka Miners' Association
equipped a prospecting party about two years ago to explore
the upper reaches of this Povourable field, and after three
months' encampment they returned with a very fine sample
of gold, and reported that the discovery comprised an exten-
sive auriferous area, which would pay handsomely, provided
tracks were made so that the diggers could get back supplies.
Happily, attention has been directed to the construction of
reads, and the Government has already voted considerable
sums of money in this direction. It is reasonably anticipated
that when more favourable access is available to this goldfield
the association will avail themselves of every opportunity to
extend development in the Upper Anatoki. During the late
autumn the upper reaches of the Anatoki and Boulder
Streams have been further explored with satisfactory results.

The Takaka Sluicing Gom'pany was registered on the 28th
January, 1901 ; initiatory work commenced in May, and
sluicing in November of same year. In small ways the field
had been worked during the last fifty years, and it is notable

S6 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

that the present company is the first in the district to sluice
and elevate the auriferous drifts to a height of iO ft. by
hydraulic power. The mining-area is a freehold of 200 acres,
locally known as the Whelham's, which forms the valley of
the Wailvoromumu, a tributary of the Takaka River, and
■drains the large natural springs known as the Bubu, situated
about four miles from the port of Waitapu. The wash
operated on is a heavy river deposit, mixed with large granite
boulders, varying in depth from 4 ft. to 10 ft., overlying the
true and false bottoms. In 1905 there were 199,251 cubic
yards raised and treated, at 2d. per cubic yard, from 6 acres
oi ground, for a yield of 805 oz., valued at £3,032; and from
a total of 30 acres worked 3,283 oz. realised £12,328. The
■capital called up has amounted to £9,120, and the dividends
declared to £4,104. The water-races are two miles and a half
in length, and there is 1,222 ft. of box Burning, together with
4.680 ft. of pipe-lines, varying in diameter from 30 in. to
•9 in. ; an.d from the penstock, at a distance of 3,000 ft. from
the face, fifteen heads are available on two nozzles, at a head
pressure of 360 ft. The gold won is a fairly coarse sample,
and is readily saved over 102 ft. of specially made ripple-
boxes, the wash showing very small traces of platinum. The
approximate value of the plant, races, dams, &o., is esti-
mated at £'5,588. A useful addition to the plant is a very
•complete sawmill. The original surface of the land worked
is simply a pakihi, but around the old homestead the land
for many acres is more valuable, and is yet intact. Ten men
-employed. Mine - manager, Charles Campbell; secretary,
.1. M. Batt, Wellington.

Taitapu.

Aovaiigi Mine. — Tliis clain^ having an area of 100 acres,
is situated at Taitapu, in CoUingwood County, and is owned
by the Golden Blocks (Taitapu), Limited, an English company
having a called-up capital of £84,207. During the past year
the battery crushed 2,387 tons of ore, which yielded 2,796 oz.
of gold, value £11,108 3s. 6d., making a total of 16,352 oz.,
-value £62,827. Dividends were paid during 1905 amounting

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 8T

to £4,210, bringing the total up to £18,945. The reefs,
worked are of a varying character, from as low as 3 in. up to-
2 ft., but the average returns are satisfactory. Thirty men
are employed in mine, and four on surface. Mine-manager,
G. F. Giles; battery superintendent, C. Gapper; attorney,
C. Y. Fell, Nelson.

Golden Bidge Mine (Taitnpu Gold Estates). — A continued
series of successful prospecting was effected on the Ant-
hill and Golden Ridge sections of the property, which resulted
in suspension of operations towards the end of August, 1904.
Again, in No. 4 Block east, and south of the Golden Blocks
mining-area, prospecting was further continued with eight
men, but after driving a distance of 270 ft. only bunches of
quartz were found. Mine-manager, James Carroll; attorney,.
N. L. Buchanan.

Heaphy.

In the year 1865 Mr. James Mackay, Goldfields Warden,^
was the first to explore the Ileaphy and Karamea. At various,
times prospectors have made periodical excursions through
the Heaphy River district, and although alluvial gold has-
been reported, it is nevertheless a fact that gold in payable-
quantity has not yet been found. The inconvenience of
getting food-supplies and mining requisites has all along been
the chief source of complaint. However, it may be fair to
anticipate Dhat, when road communication is established from
Karamea up through the Heaphy and on to Collingwood, there-
will be more favourable access for the supply of mining re-
quisites.

Karamea.

Since 1865 alluvial gold has been found in the various,
streams, but, although the different terraces have been operated'
on by hydraulic sluicing, values have failed to maintain pro-
fitable operations. To want of capital and roads may be attri-
buted the chief causes of non-success.

Coal is fairly abundant, and has been worked for local
consumption, but until the settlement afiords more favourable
facilities expansion of a coal trade must await future possi-
bilities.

88 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Mokihinui River.

Alluvial mining on this river is now confined to a few
old miners. Inquiry for quartz reefs is receiving more care-
ful attention, as the returns from quartz recently crushed at
the Red Queen Mine has stimulated the prospectors to make
renewed search, and as a consequence several mining-areas
have been pegged off. The local opinion is that the reef will
increase in width northward, and on this understanding pro-
spectors are actively engaged, especially between the head-
waters of the Mokihinui and Lyell Rivers.

On the Rough-and-Tumble all work is abandoned.

Cascade Creek.

Cascade Creek is a tributary of the Buller River, and in
the earlier j'ears was a favourite resort of the gold-miner, as
coarse gold in considerable quantity had been recovered.
Whilst the miners were thus engaged some nice quartz-speci-
mens were picked up, which led to the discovery of an out-
crop showing gold. This line of reef was driven on for about
200 ft., but, owing to the great difficulty in obtaining food
and mining supplies, work was abandoned. Since then, the
Buller County Council having meantime received several
grants of money from the Mines Department, a saddle-track
Tias been well advanced, and as a matter of fact the district will
receive renewed attention.

Waimangaroa River.

There are still a few old resident miners who make a living
by tunnelling and treating the wash in long-toms in the Bed
of the river, otherwise there is nothing of importance to note.
Some years ago a small compaiw was floated with the object
of developing the reef system on the upper side of Conn's
Creek, but after a battery was erected and other preliminary
works carried out the stone crushed was proved to be prac-
tically valueless ; consequently all work was abandoned, and
still continues so. Prospectors are still, however, sanguine
ihat reefs of considerable value must exist in the upper
reaches of the river ; otherwise, they naturally inquire, Where

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 8t>

has the coarse specimen gold, which was so profitably worked
in the bed and along the bunks of the Waimangaroa River,
originated 1

Giles, Rochfort, and Christinas Terraces.

In the Giles, Kochfort, and Christmas Terraces prospect-
ing is now more sought after, and, aided by Government sub-
sidy, three low-level tunnels are in active progress, which
ofier fair promise of payable results. Valuable services have
been rendered to the prospectors by Mr. Sidney Fry, Director
of the School of Mines at Westport.

Addison's Fiat.

In comparing the mining operations of to-day with those
of 1867, when about eight thousand people were actively
engaged in the pursuit of gold, we are almost brought to the
conclusion that alluvial mining belongs to past history. The
absolute failure of the General Exploration and the Virgin
Flat companies has not tended to improve the position, while
the old Shamrock has been abandoned and flooded for several
years.

Mining on St. John's Terrace has been cariied on more or
less for the last thirty years, a scarcity of water and suitable
means of conveying mining material up to the terrace having
been the chief drawbacks ; but a suitable road is now con-
structed, and, with the increased water-supply from Back
Creek, sluicing is maintained the whole year, whilst with the
natural facilities afforded for the discharge of tailings into
the vicinity of Dirty Mary's Creek dumping ground is prac-
tically assured for all time. The gold-returns give a fair re-
muneration against the capital and labour expended by Brady
and party.

Halligan and party opened an extensive claim between the
Westport-Charleston Road and the terraces, but it is now
abandoned. Carmody and party (eight men) continue to work
with profitable results. The Long Tunnel Company (four
men), who hold an area of 19 acres and 20 perches, continue
to show favourable promise. Milligan and party have sus-
pended cement-working, and recently commenced sluicing an

90 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

alluvial section of the property. The Venture Gold-mining
Companj' formerly worked a cement claim with a ten-stamp
battery, but for reasons of their own have recently ceased
work and opened a sluicing claim on the flat.

Croninville.

With the exception of a few aged miners who fossick
around the shallow ground, mining is confined to a company
known as the Charleston Beach Gold-mining Company. This
enterprising company, after carrying out an extensive system
of prospecting by shafts, has now completed a water scheme
which permits of hydraulic - sluicing operations on a large
scale.

Charleston.

On what is locally known as the Shetland Beach quite a
number of miners find lucrative employment by treating the
black sands over movable copper-plate tables as favourable
opportunities occur with the tides. On the northern section
of the beach Messrs. Powell and Sons have incurred consider-
able expenditure to maintain an efficient water-supply. to sluice
and elevate the sands by hydraulic power, the sands being
afterwards treated over a considerable surface of copper and
plush-laid tables. In addition to the works stated, this enter-
prising syndicate now carries on similar operations further
north on a property recently purchased from the Charleston
Beach Gold-mining Company.

To the south of the district mining is almost restricted to
a limited number, who utilise the water from the Argyle
Water-race. South, as far as Deadman's Creek, alluvial
mining is much hampered, owing largely to the imperfect
s-\-stem of road communication ; but, as a matter of fact,
mining will assume a more hqjpeful aspect, both for gold and
other minerals, which are known to exist in the district, on
the completion of the Charleston-Barrytown Eoad.

Barrytown.

Messrs. A. McKay and White, of Greymouth, have ex-
pended liberally to command efficient water-supplies suitable

NEW ZEALAND MlNlNCi HANDBOOK. 91

for sluicing and elevating the deep sand deposits so favourablv
situated in the Mawhero and Barrrtown Flats. With the ex-
ception of these two large concerns, alluvial raining is prac-
tically confined to some old residents and a few beachcombers.
Improved road communication will tend much to stimulate-
mining matters in this direction, as the geographical situation
of Barrytown has long been like that of some distant place
which one has read about in "Gulliver's Travels," notwith-
standing the hidden wealth which the district commands.

NeiBf Creek, Lyell.

Prospecting operations were carried on in this isolated
region for several months on a slide formation, but as solid
country was not easily accessible work was suspended.

Prospecting in the Upper Blackwater.

For many years past quantities of specimen quartz have
been found amongst the alluvial deposits of this district, and,
with a view of prospecting the back ranges from which this
quartz has been detached, the resident miners formed a pro-
specting association, the Mines Department granting a subsidy
of £1 for £1 up to £200, the association finding the equiva-
lent in labour. On the 10th October, 1905, four men —
William Mates, Ernest Bannetz, David Ross, and James Martin
— were sent out, and after prospecting for eight weeks they
reported that a quartz reef, varying in width from 3 ft. 6 in.
to 5 ft., had been cut at various points for a distance of
12 chains, and carrying good prospects of loose gold; also
by pestle-and-mortar test the stone so crushed showed payable
prospects. These tests were verified by the Assistant In-
spector of Mines, who, on the 5th November, 1905, broke off
several samples, which were assayed by Dr. Maclanrin at the
Mines Department Laboratory, and also by Mr. Anderson at
the School of Mines, Reef ton. The following shows the assay

values of the stone thus treated : — Rate per Ton.

Oz. dwt. gr.

No. 1 sample reef, 4 ft. 6 in. wide ..144

No. 2 „ 4ft.

No. 3 „ 3 ft. 6 in. „

No. 4 „ 3 ft. 6 in. „

92 NKW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

This last sample was cut in a shaft 8 ft. deep under a
deep cover of alluvial, the reef having an eastern underlie.
On this discovery the prospectors made application for a
special claim of 100 acres, which was granted. Mr. P. N.
Kingswell, of Reefton, having satisfied himself as to the pro-
bable values of the property, entered into an agreement with
the prospectors to expend £500 during three months, and at
the end of that period either to purchase the property for
£2,000 or forfeit the deposit. At the expiration of the three
months Mr. Kingswell paid over the £2,000, and continued
driving and sinking at various points with ten men, the reef
so far developed giving favourable promise of opening up a
valuable quartz-field. Conservation of the water-supply in
the Snowy Creek has already engaged attention, and the con-
struction of roads suitable for wheel traffic has been under-
taken by the Inangahua County Council, under a vote from
the Mines Department. The Consolidated Goldfields of New
Zealand (Limited), which has the property now under option,
is carrying out extensive developments.

Some Particulars of Quartz-mines.

Ltbll.
Alpine Extended Gold-mining Company, formed in 1897,
is an amalgamation of the United Alpine and the Lyell Creek
Extended Gold-mining Companies. As the outcome of this
amalgamation operations speedily attained fresh vitality, and
with the timely addition of the cyanide installation the ac-
counts of the company were once more transferred to the credit
side of the ledger. Exhaustion, however, of the ore above
No. 10 level unhappily changed events, which necessitated
sinking from the in-bye end of No. 10, or the Lyell Creek low-
level, tunnel to No. 11. This^venture fully maintained anti-
cipations, and hope was entertained that values would improve
at depth. On this assumption sinking was further continued
to a depth of 250 ft., but as exploitations were extended north
and south on No. 12 anticipation looked more doubtful, as the
lode showed a marked tendency to thin and become patchy, with
naturally reduced values. At this juncture mining matters

Golden Fleece Mike, Reefton : Cic^-jclal "\'ie\v oe ]{atteiiy. Bridge,
Cyanide Taxk^:, etc.

Mijuiuf Ilnndhooh.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 93

had almost attained a crisis, payable stone being a thing of the
past. At the cx>mmencement of 1905 the company decided to
carry out an extensive system of prospecting, but the results
obtained proved fruitless. The funds being exhausted opera-
tions were suspended, and in May, 1906, the property and
plant were sold by auction for £500. The reduction-works
include twenty head of stamps, actuated by water-power, and
equipped with the ordinary gold-saving appliances by amal-
gamation on copper - plate tables. During the j^ear 1905
444 tons were crushed for a yield of 54 oz. 6dwt., valued at
£207 8s., and from the 6th September, 1897, to the 31st
January, 1906, the total gold produced was valued at £43,219
lis. 3d. (at an average of £3 16s. 5d. per ounce). The total
expenditure in connection with mining operations amounted
to £58,086 8s. 6d., and the capital called up to £13,229
3s. 4d. Previous to amalgamation the United Alpine called
up £31,333 6s. 8d., and paid in dividends £74,266 13s. 4d.
A deep shaft on this property may, in course of time, prove
that the gold-bearing reefs on the Lyell carry payable values
at greater depths, as has been demonstrated at Reefton by
the Consolidated Goldfields and Progress Mines.

Waimangaroa and Mokihinui.
Britannia Mine, owned by the Britannia Gold-mining
Company, has a quartz-bearing area of 99 acres, at the
head of Stony Creek, near Waimangaroa. The property is
opened by four tunnels, which comprise an aggregate driven
distance of 3,241 ft., and operate on the continuation of one
reef 3 ft. in width, while crosscutting and winze-sinking has
been effected for respective distances of 1 30 ft. and 330 ft.
There is a four-stamp mill, driven by water-power, giving an
aggregate duty of 2 tons per stamp per diem, the gold being
saved on the ordinary amalgam-tables. Reduction is further
efiected by a recent installation of three tailings-vats, 17 ft.
6 in. in diameter by 4 ft. in depth, whereby 390 tons of sands
were treated by canide for 66 oz. of melted gold. During the
year 1905, 887 tons of ore yielded 848 oz., valued at £12,286.
The total dividends paid amount to £3,341 13s. 4d., and

94 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

during 1905 shareholders received £750, while the total capital
actually called up is £1,933, and the total expenditure up to
December, 1905, was £11,131. Twelve miners and two sur-
face hands are employed.

Red Queen Qv-artz-mine has a mining-area of 25 acres,
situate at Seatonville, Mokihinui. The reef operated on is
6 in. in width, opened by five tunnels, which give an aggre-
gate length of 600 ft. The stone is crushed by a two-stamp
mill, driven by water-power, each stamp giving an average
duty of 2 tons per day, while the gold is saved on copper
plates. In 1905, 118 tons of ore yielded 281 oz. of gold, valued
at £1,099. Approximate value of mining plant, reduction-
works, &c., estimated at £1,000. Worked by a party ci
tributers. Secretary, A. W. Mills, Westport.

Rbefton.
Keep-it-Darli Mine. — The area held by the Keep-it-Dark
Quartz-mining Company comprises 118 acres and 6 perches,
situate at Crushington, about three miles east of the Town of
Reefton. The winding-shaft, 10 ft. by 4 ft., divided into
three compartments, is 1,100 ft. in depth and 245 ft. below
sea-level, the mine-water being baled in same shaft. Regard-
ing the future prospects of the mine, development has received
special and careful attention, both with respect to the surface
and underground workings, and it is satisfactory to note tBat
the efficiency of plant, &c., gives the property very excep-
tional promise. So far as explorations have been extended,
two payable reefs are exploited, which vary in width from
2 ft. to 12 ft., while the stone in sight is computed at 30,000
tons. For several years the whole output of ore has been ex-
tracted from a recent find of stone located between the shaft
and the Inangahua River, Ae reef continuing to show a
favourable increase in value at depth. The reduction-works
are fitted with twenty stamps, capable of maintaining an
average duty of 2 tons per stamp per day of twenty-four
hours. Gold-saving is eSected by amalgamation on outside
copper plates, concentration by Frue vanners, and cyanidation
of the coarse sands, the fine pyritic slimes being treated over

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 95

canvas tables. These concentrates are afterwards sold to the
smelters. The cyanide plant comprises six leaching-vats,
60 ft. in diameter by 5 ft. deep, fitted with automatic distri-
buters, &c. The ore crushed during the year 1905 was
12,730 tons, yielding 3,391 oz. of gold, valued at £13,653;
and during the whole period of operations 206,431 tons of ore
has been crushed and 58,099 tons of sands treated by cyanide,
giving a gross value of £380,429, at an average of £4 Os. 6d.
ior battery and £3 lis. per ounce for cyanide. The dividends
paid for 1905 were £6,750, and the total dividends paid to
shareholders have amounted to £145,666 13s. 4d., or £7 5s. 8d.
per share. The capital called up to date amounts to £6,208
'6s. 8d., or 6s. 2^d. per share; and in connection with mining
operations the total expenditure up to the 31st December, 1F05,
was £251,236. Average number of men employed in the mine,
thirty; reduction-works, ten; surface hands, six. Water-
power is used in all departments of the reduction-works, but
for several years past a pair of double-cylinder steam-engines
(British manufacture) has taken the place of the old winding
water-wheel, which is now a thing of the past in mining. The
approximate value of mining plant, reduction-works, (fee, is
estimated at £20,000. Mine-manager, B. Sutherland; metal-
lurgist, R. Aitken ; legal manager, W. Hindmarsh, Reefton.

Caplbston.
Italian Creek. — This old abandoned property, in the Caple-
ston district, was recently opened by John Knight and party,
who have effected considerable development in crosscutting
and driving. Of the work done 369 ft. has been driven on a
line of reef 8 in. wide, from which 74 tons were crushed, yield-
ing 36 oz. of gold, valued at £130.

MuRHAT Cheek.
Ingle wood -Victoria Mines. — The mining-areas held under
lease comprise 100 acres, situate on the Murray Creek, near
Reefton. The property is opened by three tunnels, which are
driven a total distance of 4,850 ft., and intersect three lines
of reef varying in width from 1 ft. to 5 ft., while the quantity

96 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

of ore in sight is computed at 3,000 tons. Developments com-
prise 2,050ft. of crosscuts; rising and sinking, 440ft.; and
3,250 ft. driven on course of lodes. In connection with the
reduction-works a ten-head stamp mill (steam-driven) is em-
ployed, the average duty per stamp per day of twenty-four
hours being If tons. The gold is saved by amalgamation and
cyanidation of the coarse sands, for which purpose three tail-
ings-vats, 22ft. Gin. inside diameter by 5ft. in depth, are
in use. The average number of men employed underground
is thirty-three, and on surface works nine. Since mining
operations were commenced the gross expenditure incurred up
to the 31st December, 1905, was about £16,000. Approxi-
mate value of the mining plant, reduction-works, &c., £5,000.
Owner, .P. N. Kingswell.

Painkillbe Disthict.

Ulster Mine has an area of 100 acres, situate in the Pain-
killer district, Section 13, Block X, Reefton Survey District,
and is owned by the Ulster Gold-mining Company. Works
are simply confined to prospecting, there being no permanent
buildings erected on the property. Exploitations comprise
two tunnels with an aggregate driven distance of 600 ft.,
winzes 205 ft., together with 150 ft. driven on one lode, which
maintains an average width of 1 ft., while the ore in sight is
estimated at 350 tons. Up to the 31st December, 1905, the
total expenditure incurred has amounted to £1,963 19s. 7d.,
and the capital called up to £1,948 19s. 4d. Mine-manager,
Alexander McCloy; legal manager, T. Hubert Lee, Reefton.

Merrijigs.
New Inkerman Mines (Limited). — On the 1st August, 1896,
the New Inkerman Mines |(jimited) commenced work on a
mining-area of 406 acres 2 roods 5 perches, situate between
the Rainy Creek and Merrijigs, and, after very considerable
expenditure in fruitless development, operations were sus-
pended in May, 1905. Nothing further was done on the pro-
perty until July of same year, when the Consolidated Gold-
fields of New Zealand (Limited) purchased all mining privi-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 97''

leges and plant for the sum of £750. On this change of-
ownership several test crushings were taken from various parts-
of the property, but the values thus obtained proved absolute
failures, consequently abandonment was declared, and the-
plant is being withdrawn as required at the Consolidated pro-
perties. The reducfion-works (steam-driven) comprise twenty
stamps of 950 lb. each ; three Joshua Hendy (San Francisco)
C.J. mortar-boxes, 7,0001b. each; and one C.J. mortar-box
made by J. Anderson, Christohurch ; while one 14 in. by 18 in.
Blake rock-breaker was employed. Gold-saving by amalga-
mation was effected on outside copper plates, concentration by
Frue vanners, and cyanidation of the coarse sands, while the
fine pyritic sands were treated over a series of canvas tables.
The cyanide plant comprised four white-pine leaching-vats,,
IS in. inside diameter by 6 ft. deep, fitted with automatic dis-,
tributers, slime-gates, and overflow launders, cocoanut-matting
filters, and bottom-discharge doors, 12 in. diameter. The ap-
proximate drivings amounted to 6,252 ft., and sinkings and
risings 1,313 ft. Kegarding the prospects of the property, the
late mine-manager states that, taking the whole of the stone
from the "Big Blow" to the low-level tunnel on the Rainy
Creek, and assuming that all the gold contained in the stone
was saved, it would not pay, as a large percentage of the stone
only gives an assay value of 1 J dwt. and 3J dwt. to the ton.
He further states that there is a speculative chance of success
by sinking a shaft to a greater depth west of the bottom work-
ings. The tonnage crushed during the year 1905 was 3,455
tons, yielding 549-32 oz., valued at £2,290 7s. 4d., and 1,132
tons of sands were treated by cyanide for 136 oz. 1 dwt. 18 gr.,
valued at £405 14s. lOd. ; and for the whole period of opera-
tions 18,837 tons yielded 5,633 oz. 15 dwt. 16 gr., valued at
£21 418. The London office accounts in the company's books
at Reefton show the gross expenditure by the New Inkerman
Mines (Limited) to be £80,419, including £19,960 as cost of
flotation from the Inkerman Combined to the New Inkerman
Mines Company; and debenture - holders received £1,827.
-Whilst the mine was in full work there were forty to fifty
underground hands employed ; five on the surface, including

4_Mining Handbook.

yo NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

contractors for getting coal and timber ; and nine in the reduo-
tion-works.

New Scotia Mine, covering a mining-area of 100 acres,
situate in the Merrijigs district, about ten miles by road from
the Town of Reefton, was originally opened and operated by
the Sir Francis Drake and Gallant Gold-mining Companies.
In connection with the development of the separate properties,
the Sir Francis Drake was opened by a vertical shaft, 10 ft.
by 4 ft., to a total depth of 400 ft., divided into two winding
and one ladder-way compartment, the winding being actuated
by coupled horizontal steam-engines ; and the Gallant, which
comprised the lower levels of the field, was opened by level
adits. The New Scotia Gold-mining Company, on acquiring
possession, carried out extensive exploitations on No. 1 level
eastward, oft the Sir Francis Drake shaft, which was after-
wards connected by rising on line of reef from the Gallant
adits ; but, so far as these exploratory works were efiected,
they proved the auriferous values unremunerative. At this
period of operations the winding plant was removed from the
Sir Francis Drake shaft and rebuilt at No. 1 Gallant, to sink
a shaft, 7 ft. by 4 ft., on the underlie of a reef 3 ft. in width,
which was continued to a total depth of 150 ft., from whence
driving was extended north and south on the lode for 100 ft.
Probably the most lucrative proposition in connection with
the venture was the cyanidation of an old tailings-heap, which
contained 5,350 tons of. rich auriferous sands, and yielded
1,107 oz., valued at £3,470. The cyanide plant comprised
three leaching-vats, 22 ft. 6 in. diameter by 4 ft. 6 in. deep, and
two sumps, 12 ft. diameter by 4 ft. deep. In 1905, 250 tons of
ore yielded by amalgamation 35 oz. 5 dwt., valued at £137
9s. 6d., while 150 tons of sands treated by cyanide yielded
11 oz. 10 dwt., valued at £39 13s. 6d. ; and the total ore
crushed amounted to 1,424 Tons for a yield of 303 oz., valued
at £1,164, and by cyanide 972 tons of sands yielded 113 oz.,
valued at £303. In connection with mining operations up to
the 31st December, 1905, the total expenditure amounted to
£1,406 2s. 2d., and capital called up £1,150. The property
has been abandoned, and all mining plant and reduction-works

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 99

were sold for £500. Late mine-manager, Job* McMasters;
legal manager, T. Hubert Lee, Reefton.

Big Riveh.
Big Biver Mine, owned by the Big River Gold-mining Com-
pany, covers an area of 54 acres 1 rood 6 perches, and the seat
of operations is located on the Big River, about nineteen milea
by road from the Town of Reefton. The property is opened
by a vertical shaft 1,200 ft. in depth, with a capacity of 10 ft.
by 4 ft., divided into two winding and one ladder-way com-
partment. Winding is actuated by steam-engines, having
coupled horizontal cylinders. The reefs worked vary from
2 ft. to 12 ft. in width, and according to present development
800 tons of ore is in sight. Exploitation includes 2,000 ft.
of crosscutting, 150 ft. driven on course of lodes, and winzes
120 ft. The reduction-works comprise ten head of stamps,
capable of giving an average duty per stamp per diem of
IJ tons, while the gold is saved by amalgamation on the
ordinary copper plates. During 1905, 920 tons of ore yielded
879 oz., valued at £3,514 8s. 3d., the total yield being
25,854 oz., valued at £103,940 4s. 2d., an average rate of
£4 4s. 4fd. per ounce. In connection with mining operations,
the total expenditure up to the 31st December, 1905,
amounted to £69,904 lis. 4d. ; dividends paid to share-
holders, £47,366 5s. ; and the capital actually called up,
£11,475 2s. 6d. On an average, there are twenty men em-
ployed in the mine, four in the battery, and eight in various
surface works. Winding at the mine is actuated by steam-
power. The approximate value of mining plant, reduction-
works, (fee, is computed at £3,000. Mine-manager, John H.
McMahon ; battery superintendent, P. N. Rodden ; legal
manager, T. Hubert Lee, Reefton.

Victoria Range.

Kirwan'" Reward Gold-mining Company has an area of

93 acres 2 roods 4 perches on the Victoria Range, near Caple-

ston, in the Reefton district. During 1905 the company's

fifteen-stamp mill, which is worked by water-power, crushed

100

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

7,584 tons fqf 1,683 oz. 18 dwt. 6 gr. of gold, value £6,699
13s. lid., the average duty per stamp being about IJ tons.
The total quantity crushed has been 25,956 tons, which yielded
12,171 oz. 13 dwt. of gold, valued at £48,500 18s. 2d. (at the
rate of £3 19s. 9d. per ounce for melted gold). The total ex-
penditure up to the 31st December, 1905, amounted to £32,692
lis. 6d.; total dividends paid, £18,900, including £2,100
•disbursed last year; capital actually called up, £3,091
13s. 4d. Twenty-two men employed. The peculiarity of this
property is that no true reef has yet been found. The crushed
ore is picked from a large body of loose stone lying on the sur-
face.

Paparoa Range and Ten-mile Creek.

Paparoa Range Mine was originally equipped with an
aerial tram-line and a ten-stamp mill, but, after considerable
expenditure, operations were finally abandoned, and the plant
sold two years ago.

Taffy Gold-mining Syndicate, with a called-up capital of
£100, holds an open-face auriferous area of 2 acres, situate on
the Ten-mile Creek. The formation worked is a broken irre-
gular slate, intermixed with quartz stringers, which are
crushed by a five-stamp mill, and the sands treated over the
ordinary amalgam-tables. For the year 1905 the gold won
amounted to 31 oz., valued at £120.

Some Particulars of Hydraulic Sluicing Claims.

Addison's Long Tunnel Gold-mining Company was regis-
tered and work commenced on the 24th September, 1898, in a
claim of 19 acres and 20 perches, the wash being a marine
deposit 10 ft. in thickness. The company's dams, covering an
area of 50 acres, maintain an average water-supply of eight
heads over four miles of w^er-races, 300 ft. of fluming, and
10 in. pipe-line, at an average head pressure of 20 ft. The
gold, being fine, is treated over a series of plush-laid tables,
80 ft. by 12 ft., whilst the tailings are discharged through a
tail-race a mile and a half in length. For the year 1905 the
gold won was 326 oz., valued at £1,289, and since registration
1,824 oz., valued at £7,204 (average value £3 19s. per ounce).

k>4/i^li\?^

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 101

Capital has been called up to the amount of £1,500, and
£723 14s. paid in dividends. Four men employed. Mine-
manager, P. Sullivan ; secretary, A. W. Mills, Westport.

Barrytown Sluicing and Elevating Claim has an area of
63 acres, situate on the Barrytown Flat, wliich was formerly
owned and worked by the Barrytown Company, but about
seven years ago the plant and property were purchased by
Mr. A. McKay, of Greymouth. The wash consists of sand
and gravels, which are sluiced from a false bottom to a depth
of 12 ft. and elevated 65 ft., thence distributed and treated
over a table-surface 212 ft. in length by 12 ft. in breadth.
During 1905 the yield of gold was 700 oz., valued at £2,730,
and since work first commenced 3,000 oz. has been obtained,
valued at dill, 700. The capital expended on development
has amounted to £20,000; dividends, 6 per cent, on capital;
value of property, including plant, water-races, &c., computed
at £20,000. The claim includes three miles and a half of
water-races, together with four miles of pipe-line, varying in
diameter from 7 in. to 20 in., which discharge from twelve
to twenty heads of water on two nozzles at a head pressure of
615 ft. From sixteen to twenty men are employed. Mine-
manager, W. White.

Bell Hill Sluicing Claim. — This party commenced work
in the year 1900 on an auriferous area of 50 acres, of which
4 acres have been since worked, the wash operated on consisting
of 130 ft. of heavy alluvial gravel and pug. In connection
with the water-supply the company's dams occupy 5 acres,
from which the water is passed through four miles of water-
races, three-quarters of a mile of fluraing, and 100 yards of
18 in. pipes, which maintain an average supply of 100
heads on three nozzles, under a head pressure of 150 ft. The
sample of gold is coarse, medium, and fine, and is therefore
treated over a series of twenty gold-saving tables comprising
an area of 968 square yards, together with 400 yards of tail-
race blocks. The plant, races, dams, &c., have an approxi-
mate value of £10,000. During the year 1905 the gold won
was 250 oz., valued at £968 15s., and since commencement of
operations the total gold obtained amounts to 1,000 oz., valued

102

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

at £3,875 (an average value of £3 17s. 6d. per ounce). The
amount of called-up capital is £6,000, and up to date all
profits have been absorbed in extending the water-supply.
Owners, William J. Mcllroy and party; secretary, T. E.
Byrne, Kumara.

Charleston Beach Sluicing Company holds an auriferous
area of 16 acres at Charleston. The gravels, 7 ft. in depth,
consist of sand and stony wash overlying the true bottom. In
May, 1905, the company commenced to open up the claim, and
was registered on the 13th June, 1905. The dams owned by
the company cover an area of 3 acres, from which the water is
conveyed through five miles of water-races and 600 ft. of 8 in.
and 10 in. pipes, which maintain a supply of eight heads on
one nozzle, at an average pressure of 50 ft. The gold is fine,
and saved over baize-covered tables, 57 ft. by 18 ft., and the
tailings carried over 400 ft. of tail-races, including 200 ft. of
tunnel. The capital actually called up is £445 10s. 6d., and
the approximate value of plant, races, dams, &c., £650. Five
men are employed. Mine-manager, Thomas Radford, jun. ;
secretary, Reginald A. Aickin, Auckland.

Grey River Sluicing Claim. — This claim has an alluvial
area of 30 acres, of which 4 acres have been worked since
operations were commenced. The depth of wash in the
face is about 15 ft. Water is supplied from the company's
dam (2 acres in area) by a water-race four miles in length,
together with 25 chains of fluming and 20 chains of 13 in. and
18 in. pipe-line, and the face operated on by two nozzles, under
an average supply of twenty heads, at a head pressure of 60 ft.
The gold is medium-sized, and saved on 30 chains of tail-races
paved with wooden blocks. During the year 1905 the gold
won amounted to 235 oz. 17 dwt. 20 gr., valued at £931
15s. 5d. (an average value o4 £3 19s. per ounce). Four men
employed. Owner and manager, Joseph Shrives, sen.

Horse Terrace Sluicing Company was registered on the
2nd August, 1904, and owns an alluvial area of 40 acres on
the Horse Terrace, near Murchison, employing eight men. In
1905 the yield of gold was 331 oz. 2 dwt., valued at £1,290.
The capital called up has amounted to £5,000, and the ap-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 103

proximate value of plant, races, dams, (fee, is £4,000. Mine-
ruanager, C. S. Beilby; secretary, H. Gilfillan, jun., Auck-
land.

Kiri Momona Claim. — The Walker-Maruia Gold-sluicing
Company was registered on the 31st May, 1905, and ac-
quired the mining and water rights to work the Kiri Momona
Claim, situate at Maruia, in the Burnett Survey District.
The auriferous areas now held under lease, for a period of
forty years, comprise 172 acres of crushed quartz and slate
formation, intermixed with sandstone and granite boulders,
resting on the " Old-man bottom," the wash varying in depth
from 40 ft. to 120 ft. The company having originally deter-
mined to carry out operations on systematic and profitable
lines, construction of a water-race is now in active progress,
the completed length of which will be seven miles, and will
comprise 60 chains of fluming and 100 ft. of 18 in. and 19 in.
pipes, with a capacity of sixty heads, under a head pressure
of 70 ft. Meantime, the ordinary sluice-box and plush-table
will be erected, with an operative surface of 150 ft. by 9 ft.
The approximate value of the works, &c., when completed, is
computed at £6,000. The called-up capital to date amounts
to £2, .300. The works employ twenty men, and, according
to contract, the water-race should be finished on the 31st
August, 1906. A sawmilling plant, driven by the original
water-supply, is erected to meet the requirements of the
works. Secretary, M. M. Webster, Nelson.

MacLeod's Terrace Sluicing and Water-distributing Com-
pany (registered on the 4th April, 1902) owns and works an
alluvial area of 100 acres, situated on the Mikonui River,
Westland, and employs four men. The wash consists of a
glacial sandstone deposit, overlain by a sandstone loam,
which is sluiced to a depth of 120 ft. from a false bottom,
and the gold saved over 208 ft. of tail-races, paved with
wooden blocks. Since work first commenced the total gravels
sluiced comprise an area of J acre, for a yield of 26 oz.,
valued at £101 3s. The dams have an area of IJ acres,
connected by three miles of water-r.aces, including 8 chains
of fluming and 15 in. -diameter pipe-line, which dischairge

104

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

twenty heads on one nozzle, under a head pressure of 120 ft.
The approximate value of plant, water-races, &c., is esti-
mated at £10,000, that being the amount of money expended.
Mine-manager, Fergus MacLeod; secretary, William Bell,
Wanganui.

Mitierals (Limited) commenced sluicing operations on the
13th June, 1903, on an alluvial area of 200 acres, situated
on the Blue Spur, Arahura. The wash is an auriferous
gravel, varying in depth from 1 ft. to 4 ft., and operated on
the true bottom. During the year 1905 the materials raised
and treated cost 8s. per yard, yielding 393 oz. 16 dwt. of
gold, valued at £1,535 13s. 3d., and since work first com-
menced 10 acres of wash yielded 493 oz. 15 dwt., valued at
£1,926 4s. lid. The capital called up has amounted to
£4,917 5s.; approximate value of plant, races, dams, &o.,
£2,000. There are eight miles of water-races, 3 chains of
tail-races, and ^ acre of dam, from which 6 chains of 18 in.
pipe convey one head of water on to the face. Five men
employed. Mine - manager, R. R. Morrison ; secretary,
E. Holloway, Auckland.

Mont d'Or Gold-mining and Water-race Company com-
menced work in June, 1878, on an alluvial area of 163 acres,
situate on Sailor's Gully, Ross, and was registered in July,
1882. The ground operated on is an auriferous sandstone-
drift deposit, mixed with black manganese stones, and having
a varied depth from 180 ft. to 300 ft. During 1905 the area
worked (\\ acres) yielded 789 oz. 17 dwt. 4gr., valued at
£3,080 8s. 9d., and since the claim was first taken up
28 acres worked has yielded 40,672 oz. 11 dwt. 18 gr., valued
at £158,623 6s. lOd. (a rate of £3 18s. per ounce). The
called-up capital has amounted to £10,800, and the dividends
declared to £41,400. As ooiflputed hv the company, the pro-
bable life of the mine will be twenty-five years, and from its
earliest history fifty -two years. The water-supply is con-
served in dams with an aggregate area of 7 acres, thence over
sixteen miles of races, including 1,600 ft. of 22 in. and
1,500 ft. of 15 in. pipe-lines; and the tail-races, which com-
prise a total length of one mile and a half, are paved with
blocks and stones for the purpose of saving the gold

"a
e
a

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 105

are not in use). There are three giant nozzles, operated on
by twenty heads of water, under a head pressure of 180 ft.
For maintenance of water-races the yearly cost is £416. Ap-
proximate value of plant, &c., £12,135 14s. lOd. Fourteen
men are employed. With the object of working the deeper
deposits to the true bottom, which have been proved to con-
tain high auriferous values, a low-level tail-race is now in
■course of construction. Mine-manager, John McKay; secre-
tary, T. W. Bruce, Koss.

Nine-mile Sluicing Company was registered on the 16th
May, 1904, and commenced work in August of the same year.
The seat of operations comprises an alluvial area of 69J acres,
situate on a spur 350 ft. from the Ten-mile Creek, at an
altitude of 250 ft. above sea-level. The auriferous drift is
a sea deposit 60 ft. in depth, overlying the papa-rock forma-
tion. In 1905 I acre of gravels was sluiced for 8,000 cubic
yards at ^d. per yard, yielding 7 oz. 11 dwt., valued at £30
4s. 9d. The water-supply of ten heads in wet weather and
two heads in dry is taken from the company's dam, 200 ft.
by 80 ft., over a flume three-quarters of a mile in length, and
delivered from the penstock by 12 in. -diameter pipes, at a
liead pressure of 110 ft. The approximate cost of plant,
races, dams, &c., is £3,000; incidental expenses for the year
1905, £150; and called-up capital, £566 15s. Mr. Lemuel
McNair, the late manager of the claim, states, " The nature
of the country worked was entirely of a prospecting character.
The bottom kept rising equal to the surface for 400 ft. up
the hill, when it began to dip into the hill, and dipped 13 ft.
towards the Ten-mile Creek. The dip proved very poor, and
operations had to be abandoned on the 30th December, 1905,
for want of funds. There is no reason to doubt that payable
gold might be found between the front and back reef, as the
back reef was never found. The gutter runs round the hill
over three-quarters of a mile, and can be traced by the break-
away of the wash all round the hill and faces standing in the
gullies and watercourses. It would have taken six months
more to have given the hill a fair trial."

Eepuhlic Sluicing Company. — Alluvial mining was com-
menced in Healey's Gully in 1878, but not until June, 1898,

106 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

was the Republic Sluicing Company registered as a mining
concern, the called-up capital amounting to £3,500. The
auriferous areas held under lease comprise 40 acres of
hard-cemented gravels, worked to a depth of 70 ft. from the
true marine bottom. In 1905, 224,000 cubic yards of gravel
were raised and treated from 1 acre of ground, at a cost of
l|d. per cubic yard, yielding 600 oz., valued at £2,400 (£4
per ounce), and since work was first commenced 12 acres have
been exhausted for a total yield of 5,000 oz., valued at
£20,000. The water-supply of twenty heads is taken from
the Roaring Meg, and conveyed to the penstock over two
miles of water-race, including 500 yards of flume and 19 in.
pipe-line, which maintain two operating nozzles with a pres-
sure of 260 ft. The gold won is of a coarse character, and
saved by ordinary ripples, arranged in the tail-race boxes,
one mile in length. There are six men employed, and the in-
cidental expenses amount to £300 yearly. The claim has been
worked on tribute since February last, and the whole water-
supply is sold at Government rates to private claims, and
also to the tributers. It is considered that part of the pro-
perty can be utilised after working for pastoral purposes.

Ross United Claim. — Since the year 1865 the Ross United
Claim, an alluvial area of 44 acres, situated in Jones's Flat,
had been worked continuously until the year 1905, when the
Mont d'Or Gold-mining and Water-race Company purchased
all mining privileges and plant. The dams cover an area of
2 acres, connected by five miles of races, including 4,000 ft.
of fluming and pipe-line, which varies in diameter from 11 in.
to 18 in., and carries eight heads of water at a head pressure
of 200 ft. Approximate value of plant and property esti-
mated at £10,000; yearly cost of maintenance, £350. The
old company had a capital of ^150,000, of which £37,000 was
caille-d up. The deposits, which comprise eight layers of
highly auriferous wash, were formerly proved to a depth of
392 ft. by sinkings on the Ross Flat; but, in order to develop
these deep-level deposits, drainage can only be efEected by
heavy and expensive pumping plant, at a probable cost of
£50,000. Mine-manager, John McKay; secretary, T. W.
Bruce, Ross.

THE WEST COAST.

GREYMOUTH WARDEN'S DISTRICT.

By Warden Keneick.

The Grey, Buller, and Inangaliua districts, which were worked
as separate districts for over twenty years after the first gold-
discoveries on the West Coast, are now administered by one
Warden. In dealing with this wide area of auriferous country
I shall first deal with

The Grey Subdivision.

The first discovery of gold took place at the Greenstone in
1864, and towards the close of that year at Red Jack's. Then
followed the discoveries on the sea-beaches north and south of
the Grey River at Marsden, Maori Creek, Arnold, Greymouth,
and Moonlight, the most valuable quality of gold being found
at the latter diggings. During the first fifteen to twenty
years the miners expended about £100,000 in the construction
■of water-races, tail-races, and dams in different parts of the
district. This was supplemented by an outlay of £90,000
on the part of the Government in the construction of the
Nelson Creek Water-race. The almost universal method of
mining being hydraulic and ground sluicing, a good water-
supply was indispensable.

Paroa and Ruthehglen.
These mining townships, situate a few miles from Grey-
mouth, are rather quiet, a very small amount of alluvial
workings being now carried on. A cement lead runs in a
northerly direction from the New River through Rutherglen
parallel to the coast-line as far as Nelson Creek. It is about
150 ft. above sea-level, and consists of cemented black sand,
which requires to be crushed in order to extract the gold. If
worked on a large scale payable returns might be obtained.

108 new zealand mining handbook.

Marsdbn and Dunganvillb.

This district, not many miles from Greymouth, with a
good road to it, takes in the New River Valley, and in the
early days produced very rich yields of gold. The left-hand
branch of New River and all its tributaries are worked out
towards their sources to an elevation of about 400 ft. above
sea-level.

The Eight-mile Range rises to a height of 1,200 ft., and
there is believed to be payable ground to the very summit.
This, however, cannot be worked for the want of water at such
a level. A number of miners are still working in this locality,
and those who own water-rights do fairly well.

Dredging has been tried in this district, but without any
degree of success. Notwithstanding its failure, it is the
opinion of some residents that there is payable dredging-
ground in the locality which only requires to be prospected
for.

It is believed, if a high-level race could be brought to the
Eight-mile Terrace from the Eastern Hohonu River, a dis-
tance of twelve miles, a considerable area of payable ground
could be worked by sluicing.

Maori Gully and Arnold Creek.

Rich gold was formerly obtained from Maori Gully and
the surrounding streams, but at present only a few parties
are working with catchwater dams and races.

Payable sluicing-ground has been reported on the Arnold
banks, Stillwater Creek, and Maori Gully, but it cannot be
worked until a high-level water-race is brought in, and it
would require considerable expenditure to do this.

Moonlight ^ND District.

This locality, situate on the north bank of the Grey River,
and nearly opposite the Township of Ahaura, was noted for
its rich gold in early days, and quite recently a 68 oz. nugget
was found, with several smaller ones.

The Moonlight Company has let its dredge on tribute,
and it is yielding payable returns.

-J

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 109

The Shetland Terrace Sluicing Company, in the same lo-
cality, has ceased operations for want of sufficient capital to
complete its water-race.

The Moonlight district will again undoubtedly be a large
gold-producer, but to work its quartz lodes and to bring in
water for sluicing the large areas of auriferous ground re-
quires a considerable expenditure of capital.

Most of the nuggets found in this district have quartz
attached, and it is firmly believed by all who know the locality
that rich reefs do exist. The ranges are high and rough,
making prospecting difficult.

Ahauea.

This is another district which, with the expenditure of
capital in bringing in water at higher levels, will again become
a highly payable alluvial field. Alluvial gold has been found
for miles, and large areas in the form of high terraces have,
been tested and proved to be highly payable. An attempt is
now being made by a local syndicate to bring in a water-race
from Lake Hochstetter, a distance of six miles, to work the
higher terraces.

Two dredges were constructed and worked on Ahaura
River some years ago. Both did well, one getting as much as
50 oz. of gold a week; but they were not strong enough, and
could not touch the bottom, which in some places is of more
than ordinary depth. An up-to-date powerful dredge should
pay well, judging by the results obtained by the one which
was working. It, however, only worked a small area of

ground.

Want of capital in this district, as in nearly all others,
is the only drawback to the development of a large gold-
producing area.

Reefton District.

Both alluvial and quartz gold has been found for a con-
siderable area around the mining township of Reefton. At
the present time very little alluvial work is being done, al-
though rich auriferous ground was worked in the early days.
The value of the gold obtained in this district would not be less
than £3,000,000.

J-10 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK;.

Quartz claims were taken up first near Reefton in 1870,
"and since then large dividends have been paid by various
companies, notably the Ajax, Golden Fleece, Wealth of Na-
tions, Progress, Keep-it-Dark, and many others. Mining is
fairly quiet in Reefton just now, although several mines are
still pajdng good dividends, such as the Keep-it-Dark and
Progress Mines and the Consolidated Goldfields. The ore is
now successfully treated by battery and cyanide process.

Nearly all the ranges around Reefton are auriferous.
What is urgently needed in this district is more prospecting.
It has been noticeable that wherever a little prospecting is
going on some new finds are made. Quite recently two or
three miners, after a few months' prospecting, have discovered
a payable, and what appears likely to turn out a rich, quartz
reef at Snowy River, about a day's journey from Reefton.
Considerable pegging-out has been the result, and in conse-
quence vigorous prospecting has been going on. Other reefs
have been found, but it is premature to express an opinion as
to their values. This find is about four miles from the Upper
Blackwater, where good gold has been obtained, and where
alluvial mining still continues.

Kebp-it-Dark Quartz-mining Compant, Crushington.

This company's property is situated at Crushington, two
miles and a half from the Town of Reefton, in the County of
Inangahua. The company now holds licensed holdings con-
taining 118 acres and 6 perches. The original claim, from
which the company derives its name, was pegged out as eight
men's ground under miners' rights in 1873, the company
feeing registered the following year. The extent of ground
-which each man could hold at that time was 60 ft. along the
line of reef, with a width of05Oft. on each side of the line.
The original size of the first claim held by the company was
480 ft. long by 300 ft. wide. The company has since acquired
iive or six of the original claims which were pegged out on
-the same line of reef in the vicinity.

The company has now been steadily working the claim
■for the last thirty-two years. The present depth of the main
winding-shaft is 1,100 ft., being about 400 ft. below sea-level.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. HI

Two levels of about 150 ft. each were worked from tunnels
driven into the hill before any sinking was required. Alto-
gether the company has mined 212,923 tons of quartz up to
the 1st June, 1906, which has yielded 101,04:6 oz. 18 dwt.
11 gr. of melted gold, valued at £389,689 18s. Id. Divi-
dends amounting to £150,666 13s. 4d. have been distributed,
equal to £7 10s. 8d. per share, and £158,672 7s. 3d. paid in
miners' wages and contracts.

The output of quartz for a few years was small, as the
company was not in possession of a crushing plant for some
years after operations were commenced. The plant now con-
sists of a twenty-head stamper-battery; two Wilfley improved
concentrators; cyanide plant, consisting of six leaching-vats,
each holding 60 tons, two solution-sumps, and two settling-
tanks; winding plant, one 25-horse-power double-cylinder
engine (makers, Fowler and Son, Leeds). The battery is
driven by water-power (Pelton wheel). The water is taken
from the Inangahua River, the water-race being a mile and a
quarter in length, and the supply never-failing. Water-power
was also used for winding by an overshot reversible wheel.
It was very economical, and answered admirably until the
shaft got down below the 500 ft. level. It was then found to
be too slow, and for the past eight years the winding has been
by steam-power.

The company's equipment and plant at the present time,
including the main shaft, has cost over £20,000, the greatest
part of which has been paid out of profits, as the capital
called up in cash is only £6,208 6s. 8d., equal to 6s. 2|d.
per share, the most of which was expended in prospecting
operations.

From small beginnings and by careful management the
company has been one of the most successful in the Inangahua
district, and the future of the company for a long time to
come is also assured, for, in addition to the lode which is
now being worked and on which the company has been
operating for the last eight years, there are several places
within the boundary of the company's holdings where reefs
have been profitably worked by other companies from the
surface down to 500 ft. in depth. These claims having been

112 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

purchased, the company is now in a position to prospect these
lodes at much deeper levels, and it is anticipated that payable
results will be obtained.

Lyell District.

Very little work is being done here at present. The Al-
pine Mine, which did so well for a considerable time, paying
upwards of £70,000 in dividends, has been sold, together
with the battery and plant, and it is understood that a syn-
dicate has been formed with the object of giving the mine a
further trial.

Many quartz lodes are known to exist near Lyell, but
without large capital they cannot be developed. The sur-
rounding country is very mountainous, rough, and heavily
timbered. What this district must have before the quartz-
mining industry can flourish is large capital ; it is, from its
roughness and its heavily timbered mountains, difficult to
prospect.

There are a number of miners scattered about doing a little
alluvial mining.

MURCHISON AND MaTAKITAKI.

Murchison (sometimes called Hampden) is a rising town-
ship in the Hampden Riding of the Inangahua County. A
considerable amount of sluicing has been done on the Mataki-
taki River banks and terraces, and the operations still con-
tinue. Some of the claims have done fairly well, but the
want of capital to bring in large races at high levels has
prevented wide areas of ground from being worked success-
fully.

Thompson and party are working a claim on the east side
of the Maruia River with a good deal of success, and they
are now constructing a four - mile race to work the high
terraces.

There is a considerable area of alluvial wash on the banks
of the Maruia and Matakitaki Rivers; some of it is rich, but
very rough for working.

The dredges in the district have not been a success. There
are payable patches, but generally the wash is too heavy and
too shallow to be profitably worked.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 113

A quartz reef was discovered thirty or forty miles from
l-Iurchison at Upper Matakitaki, carrying a little gold. There
are other indications of the existence of quartz lodes, but
further prospecting is required in this district.

Glenhot River.
Alluvial gold has been obtained in this river, but the
payable wash is apparently exhausted. The terraces contain
payable gold, and only await the judicious expenditure of
money in bringing in a race at a high level, when good re-
turns should be obtained.

'Westport District.

Westport is a seaport town on the Buller River. To the
north and south of it there are many fields which have yielded
very rich alluvial gold. In 1886 it was calculated that the
value of the gold obtained in the Buller district was about one-
twelfth that of the whole colony, or approximately £3,600,000;
so that at a moderate computation it may be set down at not
less than £4,000,000 to date. Some difficulty was experienced
in arriving at anything like exact figures, for, while the bulk of
the gold was exported by way of Hokitika, some of it found
an outlet from Greymouth, and other parcels went by way of
Nelson. The beaches and banks of the Buller River were very
rich in deposits of the precious metal, which was for the most
part of a flaky description, requiring little apparatus and
preliminary labour in winning it.

Charleston and Brighton, to the south of Westport, were
perhaps the largest gold-producers in the early days of the
Buller district, many thousands of miners doing well for
years in these places.

There are several good sluicing claims about Charleston
paying well; also one or two cement claims, which are yield-
ing fair profits. Although all the richer ground appears to
have been worked out, there is still a considerable ai-ea of
payable sluicing-ground to be operated on.

The sea-beaches continue to pay fair wages, although they
have been worked for forty years. The gold is very fine and
the sand heavy; therefore only a small percentage of the gold

114

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

is saved with the present crude methods. When a process is
introduced by which the fine gold can be saved these beaches
will yield excellent returns.

Brighton, some miles south of Charleston, has still a con-
siderable area of payable sluicing-ground, which, however,
cannot be worked for want of water, and to get this water it
will be necessary to expend a large sum of money.

Going north of Westport, much alluvial gold has been se-
cured in the past, and there are now many small claims
working profitably. The district about Westport, and well
to the north as far as Karamea, should be well worth pro-
specting for quartz lodes, and in the future quartz-mining will
undoubtedly play an important part in Westport's mining
industry. Within the last few weeks a large quartz lode,
carrying gold, has been discovered in very rough country
between Karamea and Little Wanganui. Quartz reefs have
been found in Rough - and - Tumble Creek, near Mokihinui.
There are several quartz claims being worked near Mokihinui,
and also at Birchfield. At the last-named place the Britannia
Company, since 1901, has won a fair amount of gold; a
cyanide plant has been erected, and it is anticipated very
much better returns will be obtained than formerly with the
battery only.

Concluding Remarks.

Westport has splendid prospects before it in regard to its
coalfields. Up to the present several large coal-mines have
been working successfully, the output for each week varying
up to 13,000 tons from them. This industry is only in its
infancy. Several large coal-areas have been taken up within
the last year, and already many splendid seams of coal have
been found. Companies have been formed with ample capital
to develop these areas, and in a very short time it is expected
that the output of coal for this district will be more than
doubled.

The coal prospects of Greymouth are also very good, and
the output of coal is rapidly increasing. Several new areas
have been taken up, and development-work is now progressing.

The West Coast is, indeed, rich in minerals, the develop-
ment of which is only as yet in its infancy. Coal can be

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 115

ifound outcropping almost all over the Coast, and much of it
is of the highest quality. There are many other minerals and
valuable stones known to exist, but no attempt has been made
to prospect for them so far.

Dredging generally has not been a success on the West
Coast, but in many instances fair returns would have been
obtained if suitable dredges had been put on. On the Buller
River a number of dredges obtained very good returns
for short periods. A few dredges have done exceedingly well
in the Grey district, and several are now paying large divi-
dends, but the greater number have ceased to work.

THE WESTLAND DISTRICT.

By Warden Acheson.

Kumara District.

All the dredging in the Kumara district is confined to
the Greenstone Creek, and in the year 1905 four dredges
worked in that locality. The Greenstone Junction dredge
averaged 11 oz. per week. During the big flood in June this
dredge sank, and a great deal of time was lost in refloating
her. She is at present being worked by tributers. The New
Greenstone Gold Syndicate's dredge averaged about 18 oz.
per week. Messrs. Cowie and Bice, who have the old Bun
Tuck dredgg, have worked to the Blackwater Creek, and
averaged 40 oz. per week. The Three-mile dredge, which is
owned by a Dunedin company, obtained on an average 20 oz.
a week during the same period. Extensive prospecting opera-
tions are now being carried on, which when successful — and
the results so far are encouraging — will give a fresh impetus
to mining in this locality, where there is a magnificent water-
supply for hydraulic sluicing. The extensive terraces lying
north of the Teremakau will undoubtedly command the atten-
tion of prospectors as soon as the roads now in course of on-
str action are completed.

116 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Alluvial. — Three prospecting shafts were sunk at Larri-
kin's during the year by a private association without any
result. At DiUmanstown three claims are working with suc-
cess — viz., McGrath's, the Long Tunnel Gold-mining Com-
pany, and Cullen and party's. The Long Tunnel Company
paid two dividends of 3d. per share. Vocasivich and party
worked at Tramway Terrace, but the ground did not turn out
to be very rich. At Cape Terrace about five sluicing claims
are working with varj'ing success. In some cases a scarcity
of water considerably affects the returns. At Hayes's Terrace
four claims have been worked by Gilbert and Tomasi, Mcllroy
and party, Evenden and A'Court, and some Chinese, with fair
average results. At the Greenstone, Chinamen have been
sluicing along Quinn's Terrace, near the Three-mile, and up
Fuchsia Creek with average success, and the same applies to
the five claims which are being worked in the same neighbour-
hood.

Stafford and Goldsborough Districts.

Dredging. — A new company was formed in the place of
the Stafford - Waimea Gold - dredging Company, which went
into liquidation in 1904. The new company was registered
on the 17th May, 1905. It commenced operations imme-
diately after that date, and worked continuously to the end
of the year for a return of 511 oz. 10 dwt. of gold, value
£1,969 4s. 6d., divisible after paying expenses among seven
shareholders.

Alluvial. — At the beginning of the year 1905 there were
.377 acres held under license. During that year 48 acres were
taken up and 133 acres surrendered. From this it might
appear that the area over which operations are being con-^
ducted has decreased, but I am quite certain that more work
has been done and a greater Quantity of gold obtained than
■during the previous year. The want of water prevents larger
and more successful operations being carried on. At Middle
Branch Flat, where there is a Government supply of water,
most of the claims have been working continuously, and with
excellent results, and the locality is regarded as a field for
mining operations for some considerable time to come,

"*-^ -V-

1^^

aHte

BucKnr I'li.ioxATOi;, Wiiket, of Foutdne Claim, Stapfohd
(KuMAHA District).

Muuii,, Ihnulh.Hil.-.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 117

especially when the holdings, several of which are at pre-
sent locked up owing to want of connection with the Waimea
Main Tail-race, become connected with the sludge-channel.
At Callaghan's the miners are now getting a supply of water
from the Government race, and are in consequence working
continuously, and with much better results than hitherto.
The Wheel of Fortune Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, which was
purchased early in the year by a local syndicate, has been
working very steadily, and the new owners are quite satisfied
with the result of the year's operations. In other parts of
the district miners have to depend _ to a large extent on the
rainfall, and this results in disaster when a dry season
occurs. German Gully, Fourth and Fifth Terraces, and
Lamplough would, I am confident, with a better supply of
water, pay handsomely, and provide employment for a large
number of men.

Hokitika District.

Dredging. — There have been only two dredges working in
this locality — the Montezuma and the Woodstock. The former
has been greatly hampered by the sea breaking into the dam,
and either sinking or silting her up. This last disaster
happened towards the end of the year, and caused operations
to be discontinued. (I may say that since then she has been
dismantled.) The Woodstock is working continuously, but,
being owned privately, it is impossible to ascertain with what
result. Certainly, the fact of constant working would lead
t-o the conclusion that the dredge must be paying the owners
well.

Alluvial. — The returns from this source during 1905 have
been up to the average of recent years. At Humphrey's
Gully the Consolidated Claim is being worked by tributers,
and the results, although not great, have been satisfactory.
At Blue Spur there are many small claims which appear to
provide their owners with a good living, while Minerals
(Limited), towards the end of the year, struck a good patch,
which realised £1,113, and enabled the company to pay off
all liabilities and place £558 to its credit at the bank. About

118 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Kanieri Forks, Woodstock, Arthurstown, and Craig's Free-
hold small parties appear to be doing fairly well, but the
main alluvial field at Woodstock suffers considerably from
want of water, which, if obtainable, would doubtless result in
far larger and more remunerative mining operations. The
various mining privileges at Back Creek, or Seddon's Terrace,
now being worked are giving good results for the money in-
vested. The subsidised tunnel of Johnson and party has
paid good wages to the workmen since completion. At pre-
sent two layers of gravel are being turned out, known respec-
tively as the " blue wash " and the " Brighton bottom."

Westland Reefs. — The Westland Reefs, on the Wilberforce
River, are about 5,000 ft. above sea-level, and in the range
dividing Canterbury and Westland. During the past year
several of the prospecting claims have been worked, with a
view to defining the quartz reefs which have been proved to
exist on all the claims excepting one. In the Wilson's Re-
ward a tunnel has been driven 100 ft. below the surface where
the outcrop appears, and the reef has been found at that
depth to be over 20 ft. wide, and greater in width than at
the outcrop. Tests made have proved the stone to be highly
payable. No work has been done on Grey's, Hyndman's,
Billett's, Mcintosh's, Hutchison's, and McClay's claims, as
most of them were only taken up at the end of the year. On
Fiddes's Reward, which contains three distinct lines of gold-
bearing reefs, a very good lode has been traced to a length
of fully 30 chains. Eleven chains of this has been carefully
prospected, and the reef proved to be of an average width of
over 2 ft. In the 1 1 chains the reef is exposed in sixteen
places, and yields prospects equal to 2oz. to the ton.
Baucke's claim has been well prospected. The reef in Fiddes's
Reward continues in this claiA, but in addition there are two
other outcrops. Samples taken from two of these reefs have
yielded from 1 oz. to 2 oz. per ton, but the ore in the other
is of lower grade. Considerable prospecting has been done
on Pfahlert and party's claim. The reef has been traced a
distance of 10 chains, and proved to be of an average thick-
ness of 3 J ft., and highly payable.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 119

Ross District.

There is not much to report as having occurred in this
district during the year. In dredging matters the Prince of
Wales and the Kohinoor went into liquidation. The former
was bought by several persons previously interested in her,
and under their management there has been a considerable
increase in the returns of gold. The Kohinoor was sold and
deported.

In sluicing matters, the evergreen Mont d'Or Claim has
continued to declare legular dividends to the fortunate shiire-
holders, and is likely to continue doing so. The MacLeod's
Terrace Company has not been so fortunate : the want of
an adequate supply of water has been a considerable handicap
to mining operations, and the blue clay, or pug, in the claim
a great obstacle.

The Possibilities of Koss Flat.
At Ross, where the Mont d'Or Sluicing Company has won
from "mother earth" 40,700 oz. of gold, and divided in pro-
fits £52,200, there exists a large flat known as the Ross Flat.
One man named Cassius obtained from this flat over
22,000 oz. of gold in two years, and at the top end, known as
Jones's Flat, over 5 tons of gold has been obtained. The old
Ross United Company, which worked the Ross Flat until
operations were stopped by water, obtained 2,500 oz., and its
big shaft (which was sunk to a depth of 392 ft.) passed
through eight distinct layers of gold-bearing wash without
finding the bottom. How many more layers or levels of pay-
able wash there are below this shaft no one can tell. That
such a marvellous deposit is not being exploited to-day is
more than remarkable, since the Government is offering the
whole of this area (100 acres) and a subsidy of £15,000 to
any person or company whose proposed method of working
is approved by the Government Engineer. That this flat
can be drained to a depth of 500 ft., if necessary, is proved
by the Beaconsfield Mine, in Tasmania, where 5,00D gallons
of water are lifted i>er minute from a shaft 2,000 ft. deep
in four lifts with plunger pumps, at a cost of £10 per annum

120 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

per horse-power. The old oompany failed because it tried
to drain this flat with water-power. With the completion of
the railway to Ross in about a year's time, coal could be
landed at the boilers on this claim for 15s. per ton, and the
flat easily drained with an outlay of £50,000.

Okarito District.

Dredging. — During the early part of the year a dredge
was worked on tribute on the Saltwater Lagoon, but as sufS-
cient gold was not obtained to pay expenses operations ceased.
The Five-mile Company attempted to place a dredge on the
Five-mile, but owing to the difficulty of landing the machinery
the attempt was abandoned.

Alluvial. — Very little work has been done. The Westland
Company and Batson, at the Waiho, have opened up a large
block of country on the south side of the Waiho River, but
it is impossible to say with what result. The company em-
ploys nine men.

Beach Gold. — In the early part of the year a great deal
of beach gold was obtained. A Mr. Gibb and his family are
credited with getting between eight hundred and a thousand
pounds' worth in a few weeks. It was reported at the end of
the year that good coarse gold, carrying quartz, had been
got at the Omoerua River. A prospecting party of two men
are working on Cook's River, but with what result is un-
known.

Other Minerals.

Large blocks of greenstone, or jade, are constantly being
unearthed at Kumara during sluicing operations. This stone
is now very much in demand in Europe, having lately be-
come very fashionable. It if known to exist in many other
localities on this coast, but it is not as yet found in any other
part of the colony, and as a consequence must in time com-
mand a high price.

The existence of coal of a very good quality has been
proved at Touchier^s Gully, close to Lake Kanieri ; at Koite-
rangi, only fifteen miles from Hokitika ; in the Lower Paringa

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 121

Valley; at BuUocky Creek, ten miles north of the Haast
Kiver; and close to Jackson's Bay.

Copper has been discovered in the Upper Hokitika Valley ;
the Upper Wanganui Valley ; at Copper Creek, in the Mata-
kitaki Range; and near Maori River, South Westland.

Iron has been found close to the terminal of the Fox
Glacier; in the Lower Paringa Valley; in the Lower Smooth-
water Valley, near Jackson's Bay; and in the Upper Cas-
cade Valley, below Jackson's Bay.

Granite exists in large quantities in the Teremakau
VaUey; the Island Hill, at the head of the Kawhaka Valley;
Mount Tuhua (Lake Kanieri) ; and in the upper valley of the
Hokitika River.

Freestone is abundant in the Otira Valley; at Koiterangi ;
at, Abbey Rocks, six miles south of the Paringa River ; an-d in
Smoothwater Valley, near Jackson's Bay.

Silver has been found at Mount Rangitoto.

Iffestland as a Mining-field.

In addition to the Westland Reefs, now in process of
development, gold-bearing quartz has been found at Kelly's
Range, and at the Cedar Creek Reefs, at the head of the
Totara Valley, near Ross.

Although dredging for gold has not been so successful in
this district as in other parts of the colony, I am convinced
that the failure to equal the records elsewhere has been caused
not by the non-existence of the gold, but because the dredges
used have not been sufficiently strong to overcome the obstacles
met with in the shape of sunken timber and large boulders,
nor been capable of dredging deep enough to obtain the pre-
cious metal, which I have no doubt exists almost everywhere
on this golden coast.

On the sea-shore, extending for hundreds of miles, are
sands laden with fine gold, and being constantlj' renewed.
A fortune awaits the inventor who will discover a process of
washing this sand or extracting the gold therefrom so that
none may be lost.

122 NKW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

BliACK-SAND BEACHES ON THE WEST

COAST.

By Robert Tennent and Aethub H. Riohakds, Inspectors of Mines.

In 1864 a party, consisting of Messrs. Alphonso Barring-
ton, Antonio Laurie, and James Farrell, made several pro-
specting trips from Queenstown towards Jackson's Bay, and
during their travels endured great privations, so much so
that when the party arrived at Constable Winter's quarters,
at the head of Lake Wakatipu, they presented the appearance
of living skeletons. Barrington stated, after their arrival
in Queenstown, that he had found some quartz reefs, and in
consequence a small vessel was built and fitted to take the
party to Jackson's Bay; but, although the Arawata (or Jack-
son's Bay) River was prospected for a distance of forty-five
miles, nothing of importance was found; and on their return
tbey washed some prospects on the beach at Jackson's Bay,
which they considered would onlj give an average return of
7s. 6d. to 10s. per day to each man. In the vicinity of the
Teremakau a man named Albert Hunt averaged £2 per ^ay
for some time, and was awarded a bonus of £200 by the Can-
terbury Provincial Government, and in December of the same
year about fifty men took up claims on the Saltwater, about
sixteen miles from Okarito, where they did remarkably well
for a time. At present there are small parties who earn a
good average living by what is known as " blacksanding,"
and between Jackson's Bay and Karamea the most favoured
beaches are Bruce Bay, Gillespie's Beach, Sandfl}' Beach,
Five- and Three-mile Beaches, Okarito, Saltwater, Paroa,
Barrytown, Brighton, ChaAeston, and Mormontown. On
the Three- and Five-mile and Sandfly Beaches, within a
radius of sixteen miles of Okarito, all available labour in the
locality has found remunerative employment during the
month of May, 1906, the tide being favourable. Probably
the most lucrative black-sand claim on the coast is Powell and
Sons' sluicing and elevating claim on the Charleston ,Beach,

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 123

the sands being treated over a series of outside copper tables.
Some years ago the Hon. the Minister of Mines offered a
bonus of £2,000 towards the discovery of a process whereby
these black-sand deposits could be profitably treated in large
quantities, but, notwithstanding that test samples of rich
auriferous black sands have been forwarded to Australia and
the Continent of Europe for scientific treatment, the solution
of the problem still demands further research.

GOLD-MINING IN SOUTH WESTLAND.

By Wm. M. Hitohin, Ross, Westland.

Beach Auriferous-sand Deposits.

Having had a long experience of black-sand workings, I
have been requested to give my impressions regarding the de-
posits and industry as far as my knowledge of the subject
goes. It is right, however, in the first instance, to state
broadly that the conditions vary very materially in different
localities. For instance, north of the Grey River, from the
Twelve-mile Creek to Razorback, the gold is made at neap
tides, which gently reduce the deposit of gold-bearing sand
washed by the spring tides among the boulders forming the
rim of the beach, while south of Ross it is the high spring
tides during iiortherly weather which comb down the beaches
and deposit the black auriferous sands.

From Hokitika northwards old beach deposits gradually
rise from the sea-level, and have been worked in many places
to great profit by sluicing. The terraces on which payable
gold exists increase in height at an apparently uniform grade
from Hokitika to Charleston, where sea-sand is said to be
found 500 ft. or 600 ft. above high-water mark. The majority
of gold-bearing terraces run from 40 ft. to 150 ft. above the
sea, but some that have proved very remunerative are at a
still greater altitude above the present ocean-beaches. From
Hokitika southward all the a,ncient deposits (if there were any)

124 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

dip at the same angle as they rise to the north — a fact which
unmistakably shows that at some remote period in the past the
Westland beach-line was uplifted to the north and corre-
spondingly depressed to the south. Thus, south of Hokitika
there are no marine deposits on higher levels beyond the exist-
ing rim of the beaches; the "terrace bottom" {i.e., gravel
wash) abuts on the lagoons. Some thirty-odd years ago the
beach proper averaged from. 5 to 7 chains in width from the
lagoon on the Waitaha South Beach (now known as Hitchin's
Beach). Since then the sea has gradually encroached, making
from time to time sand in places worth washing, until the
whole of the old beach was cut away as far back as the lagoons.
While this was progressing the " blaoksanders " reaped their
harvest, which is unlikely ever to recur, for the sea very soon
fills up the vacancy made with barren sand or shingle. What
old leads there were then were washed out in detail, and most
of the gold secured by the busy " blacksanders " in the process.

Further south different conditions exist, the beaches vary-
ing much in width and depth, while many of them are still
intact, an-d when the process of denudation by the sea takes
place in these localities there will be a rich harvest for the
'■' blaoksanders " of that day.

The accepted theory is that the gold obtained has come
down the rivers along with the heavy sand in which it is
found, and has been gradually deposited on the beaches by
the action of the tides and currents during past ages, fion-
sequently, where what is called the " maiden beach " has all
been cut away, it is hopeless to expect a repetition of the
'•good old times," as the travelling deposits are' too scanty
and poor to deserve attention. Such is the conclusion I have
arrived at with respect to those beaches that have been de-
nuded by the sea and re-formed with fresh debris, which, for
the most part, is practically barren.

Ross Flat and its Possibilities.

The auriferous alluvial deposits of the Ross Flat are per-
haps the most remarkably situated gold-bearing gravels in
New Zealand or Australasia. Consecutive layers of false
bottoms, upon which the more or less rich gravels rest, occur

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. I'i5

-one after the other eight times to a depth of 390 ft., which
is as far as the Ross United Companj-'s shaft was sunk, and

■even at that depth there appeared no indication of a real
bottom. Of course, it is apparent that tliis vast deposit of
alluvium must have been formed at a vastly higher level. It
seems as if the adjacent mountains had been forced upwards
by subterranean causes, and that the normal creeks and
terraces of ancient watersheds were sunk in successive stages
at different periods, as indicated by the many false bottoms,
to the present site, some of which have been found over 300 ft.
below sea-level. (I may say, parenthetically, that the fullest
information as to the value of the respective layers of wash
gone through by the Ross United Company's shaft are avail-
able from the books of the company.) The great cost of fuel
and the inadequacy of engine-power were the reasons that
the work so courageously undertaken by the company had to
be abandoned. Old miners who worked in the shaft say it
was sunk in the wrong place, and that further down the flat
there would be very much less trouble with water. However
that may be, there seems to be no insuperable difficulty in
working these great deposits, as many mines at Ballarat and
elsewhere, under greater difficulties, and at an equal depth,
have been successfully explored and made to yield up their
riches to the enterprising miners, to the advantage of the
country in which they occur. The use of steam-power for
haulage purposes, as generally adopted in the past, will, how-
ever, always be a source of very great expense, even when
railway communication reduces the cost of fuel to less than
one-half of what the company had to pay for firewood ; while
the cost of bringing in sufficient water-power seems impos-
sible, and would, at any rate, be prohibitive; besides, the
expense of maintenance of races is always very considerable.
It seems, therefore, feasible that, in the case of the Ross Flat,
the dynamo should be put in requisition to secure the power
running to waste in so many localities in South Westland,
and transmit it by cable to where it can be utilised to the
great and permanent advantage of the district and the colony
at large. I need scarcely point out how electricity is becom-
ing more and more a factor in the world's industries every

126 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

year — so much so that it seems destined to supersede steam-
power altogether. Associated with the late Mr. T. Perham^
Water-conservation Engineer, when he was in Eoss some years-
ago, was an electrical expert, who it was reported at the
time was well satisfied with the facilities for erecting a power-
ful dynamo at the gorge of the Mikonui River. It was tHen
said to be his opinion that a head-race, some 15 or 20 chains
in length, might be easily constructed to convey thirty-five
to forty heads of water to an almost vertical fall of 120 ft.,
sufficient, as was asserted, to generate 300-horse power, which
might be conveyed by cable along the wide river-bed, and
along the Main South Road to the point required, a distance
of only seven or eight miles. I have been informed by a well-
known electrical firm at Dunedin that the initial expense of
erecting the dynamo plant and cable is practically all the out-
lay required, as the upkeep of the plant is comparatively nil.
Given the lifting-power, many claims would speedily be taken
up on the flat on the old basis of ten to twelve working-men,
who would most willingly pay interest on the cost on the same
lines as the Kumara miners do for their water-power. How
far the deep auriferous gravels of Ross Flat extend is not
known ; the deep ground, however, is known to continue
south as far as Donoghue's, while to the north in all proba-
bility it extends beyond the Totara River — a rich gold-bear-
ing stream which must have contributed largely to enrich the
deeply buried gravels. Beside the Ross United, there were
two other shafts sunk in Ihe Ross Flat — viz., No. 2 shaft,
which utilised a horse-whim as far as such limited energy
permitted ; and the celebrated Cassius Claim, whose pro-
sperous career, before it was cut short by the inrush of water
from the older and shallower workings, has become a matter
of history in the annals of the district.

Duffer's Creek and Mount Bonar.

Duffer's Creek is situated about twenty miles south of
Ross, and is the watershed from Mount Bonar, which spreads
its broad base from the Waitaha River to Evans Creek, a
distance of some fourteen miles. This beautiful mount rears

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 127

its lofty wooded cone direct from the shore of Lake lanthe,
and greatly enhances the attractions of that picturesque sheet
•of water. The steep sides of this mount, so plainly visible
to the excursionist afloat upon the lake, are practically a
terra incognita, although so near to the Main South Road,
and in close proximity to the oft-frequented lake; the foot
•of man has seldom, if ever, climbed its bush-entangled sides —
the breeding-place, and hitherto the safe retreat, of the wild
pigeon, kaka, weka, kiwi, and many other kinds of native
birds. About 300 ft. above the road, and clinging to the side
■of the mount, are the remains of a terrace, that extends all
round as far as Evans Creek, a distance of four or five miles,
vrhich in all probability is gold-bearing, for during the con-
struction of the road gold was found by the employees in the
■debris beneath it, and a half-ounce specimen was got from the
wash of a small creek which is spanned by a bridge at the top
•of the zigzag that leads down to the shore of the lake.

Dufier's Creek, the subject of this sketch, takes its source
■from the heart of the mountain, and crosses the Main South
Road several miles to the north of the lake. Its name is a
Tflisnomer, given in the early days of the Coast by some dis-
appointed miners, who, after a hasty inspection, departed
without giving it a fair trial. Since then considerable gold
has been obtained from the upper portion, commencing a mile
or so below the road and up the stream and its tributaries
and terraces as far as the narrow rock-bound gorge of the
mount. Europeans and Chinese in turn more or less success-
fully worked the gold-deposits of the creek, and nine or ten
of the latter, on leaving, went direct home to their "flowery
land," the possessors of 101b. to 141b. of the precious metal
per man, which meant, as they stated, a moderate competence
in their own country. The district is now practically de-
serted, but while it was in work many beautiful quartz-speci-
mens were obtained, leading to the general conclusion that a
gold-bearing reef permeating the mount was the source of the
more or less rich deposits found. Personally, I am able to
confirm in some measure that opinion, as on one occasion,
while climbing the spur that divides the left branch from

128 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

the Waitaha Valley, I found a specimen of much-honey-
combed gold, weighing 1 dwt., in a small hole of the bare reef
nearly at the top of the spur. I mention the matter for the
information of any party who may think it worth their wh'ile
to give the locality a trial, which can easily be done, as the-
spur at that place is very narrow, and a short tunnel might
disclose a very important find.

The country to the south of Duffer's Creek, between the
lake and the ocean, I always considered to be well worth pro-
specting. While seeking straying stock one day I ascended;
a hill some 500 ft. to 600 ft. high on the south side, and found
what seemed payable gold in a small creek running south into
an extensive flat country. The result was that some half-
dozen parties of Ross miners obtained about 200 oz. of gold'
by box-sluicing in rainy weather. The flat into which the-
above creek empties is extensive, and with occasional ridges-
and terraces continues as far as the Wanganui River, gold-
colours being obtainable from every little creek that from'
time to time I have tried. Within sight from the top of
" Hitchin's Hill," as the miners called it, is to be seen the
terrace about half a mile distant, bordering Lake lanthe,
where the late Mr. John Allen had a sluicing claim. There
are also many other indications that the untried country ex-
tending southward from the places named must contain more
or less rich leads of gold, which, if discovered, would open
up a very large mining district. The probability is, how-
ever, that the promising country I have attempted to describe
will ))e left in abeyance until Westland becomes much more
populous, and easj' access is available by means of a West
Coast railway connecting with Otago.

•
WATAROA RIVER.

By Aluxandeb Gunn, Wataroa, South Westland.

So far as gold-mining is concerned, the Wataroa River
has been a very poor one, compared with some of the others

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 129

on the West Coast. The best patches I have known seldom
gave more than good wages. The gold that has been got has
buen technically called "drift" — i.e., simply thrown up on
sheltered beaches below a sharp bend. There were over forty
men on the river the first winter it was opened, and nearly
ever since there has been one or more fossicking on it, and
occasionally striking a good-wages patch after a big flood.
The main bottom liivs never been touched, so far as I know,
except on one occasion by two mates and myself, about ten
miles from here, up the Perth branch. We got colours of
gold in a saddle above the snow-level on the main range ; it
was very fine gold, but the sample varies very much in both
branches from fairly coarse to the fineness of floiir, mostly
the latter kind.

Tin, Antimony, Copper, Scheelite, and Silver.

There are traces of tin, antimony, copper, and scheelite,
as well as gold, but whether in payable quantities remains to
be proven. I know of a big reef containing copper, but not
in payable quantity — at-least, not at present; I had some of
it tested. The reef also contains traces of gold. There is a
small silver leader about 6 in. in width, but I have seen no
trace of a golden reef anywhere, and have only heard of two
quartz-specimens being found. One I picked up myself in the
claim where we worked on the main bottom, weighing over
2\ dwt. ; the other specimen was picked up lower down the
same branch, and it weighed just over a pennyweight.

MINING POSSIBILITIES IN SOUTH
WESTLAND.

By W. H. Harris, Pakorari, South Westlancl.

Possibly a brief sketch of the past history of mining affairs
in the far south, with a -prospect of what is likely to come if
5 — Mining Handbook.

130

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

followed up with energy and perseverance, may not be out of
place. In the early part of the mining rush to the Coast a
number of the hardy old sort of diggers — men who would
risk their lives and go to strange places for gold — were pro-
specting and exploring the southern part of the Coast from
Riverton to Okarito, principally in search of gold. A num-
ber of them came round in surf-boats and small craft prospect-
ing the sounds, beaches, and rivers along the coast-line. They
found gold almost everywhere on the sea-coast and in places
inland for about two or three miles. Some of this gold was
worked with good results — more of it patchy, and known to
the digger as " stringing " gold; but, still, the gold was there,
as well as other valuable metals, though not in sufficient quan-
tity to pay the ordinary gold-digger. This is left for the pre-
sent or future generations to exploit, and I have no doubt that
it will eventually be well worth it. Through the energy and
pluck of these men, this rough and rugged southern coast-line
was transformed into busy places.

South of Okarito, the Three-mile, Five-mile, Gillespie's,
Hunt's, Bruce Bay, and Haast Beaches, with many small
places between, were all rushed and worked, and some of
these beaches gave many a digger a fortune. They were
all black-sand leads made by the sea, and truly a "golden
coast." One may ask, " Where did all this gold come, from? "
The only solution to this question is that, in the first place, it
was washed out by the rivers from the interior, then cast up
on the sea-beaches, mixed with tons upon tons of sand and
gravel, then combed down by certain winds and ocean currents,
till a seam of black sand and gold remained. These, in the
course of time, would be covered up with wind-blown sand by
tlie action of the sea and other causes, until some of these leads
were deep from the surfac% requiring pumps and, in some
places, water-wheels to drive them, and then only a portion of
the lead — perhaps the best part — was got. The rest — the
deeper part — was left, and in some cases is there still, being
too deep to work by these means; and there it is likely to
remain, as well as other deep and little-known leads, which are
waiting for an up-to-date dredge or some other mechanical

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 131

means to make them pay. Does all this not go to prove that
(he country inland contains gold somewhere 1 All the gold in
these leads was very fine — as fine as flour ; therefore, the only

thing to infer is that the coarse gold has been left behind

perhaps deep in the river-beds and gullies, or buried in the
sidelings and terraces, and there it has to remain until some
fortunate prospector is luoky enough to discover it.

The inland country in the far south is very little known to
the prospector. The bulk of the diggers have worked the re-
mains of the beach leads — that is all they could work owing
to want of water — and some have worked on the coarser known
deposits inland, but very little prospecting has been done in
a systematic way. The old-time school of digger has long since
left for other golden countries ; others have ' ' crossed the
torder," never to return, and the few that remain are too old
and used-up to tackle rough work of this sort. The present
generation do not seem inclined to prospect this inland
country. To begin with, they do not know how, and they lack
the funds. It takes money to prospect deep and difficult
country, and that they have not got. They are generally more
disposed to take up land, make farms, and raise stock. This
will give them bread and butter, and so this inland country is
left for speculative men with means at their back to prospect
the interior, where, doubtless, there is a good field awaiting
them for their pluck and outlay.

In 1873 gold was found in a block, known since as
"Bullock Creek country." Here was a splendid sample of
coarse gold — some of it up to 5 oz. pieces. I myself had
about 50 Qz. in one parcel, and, with the exception of about
2 oz. of small gold, the whole lot weighed from J dwt. to 4 oz.
A rush set in here, but was of little consequence, for the gold
was found only in a small area of country. Many of the
men who came to this rush had left good claims and homes
elsewhere, an-d when they found the best ground taken up they
were eager to return ; therefore the surrounding country got
very little fu'-ther prospecting. It was a very rough country,
without roads or tracks, and dangerous to travel on account
of bad bluffs and rivers. Most of the men came by steamer

132 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

into the Haast River, and went back the same way. Since
then a number of men have been fossicking in the old work-
ings, but they were not exactly the sort to further explore the
surrounding country.

Coal was also found in this block, and copper and mica in
the range at the back, but these minerals have never been tried
or prospected much, owing to the old story — lack of funds.

Later,' when the dredging-boom was on throughout New
Zealand, a number of areas were taken up here, but they fell
through before a trial was made in this direction. Possibly
the claimholders had no knowledge at that time how to Seal
with fine gold on a large scale. They, doubtless, will sur-
mount this difficulty as time rolls on, and then the southern
beaches and rivers will be valuable property.

Further south coarse and fine gold has been found, and
worked nearly to Milford Sound. This, with a few exceptions,
has been entirely along the sea-coast line, and in this block
it is still the same old story — very little known of the inland
country.

Metals and minerals of value have been found in the Red
Hills on the Cascade River, in and on the Gorge River, Big
Bay, and many other places that would paj' the prospector to
look into. It is of little use looking along the ooast-line.
These places have all been worked, and until a means of saving
fine gold on a large scale is discovered there is little there worth
attention ; but there is room for energetic men with some
capital who would systematically prospect the inland country
of far South Westland.

These notes, from a man who has spent more than half a
lifetime on the South-west Coast, principally in mining, may
be of some little assistance to the future prospector in these
promising regions. •

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 133

SOUTH WESTLAND AS A GOLD AND
MINERAL COUNTRY.

Notes describing the Auriferous and Mineral Country
between IBTaiho and Cook's Rivers and further South.

By J. Ritchie, Bruce Bay, South Westland.

Omoekoa Creek is situated within about two miles of the Waiho
River at its effluence. Running parallel with the coast-line,
three miles inland, is an alluvial lead of cement wash.
Fifteen years ago a party of three men obtained gold which
gave them £500 each for twelve months' work. The modus
operandi was by burning the cement. Gold is obtainable in
almost any part of this cement lead, and the probabilities are
that similar rich patches to the one mentioned exist. The
surroundings are rough and heavily timbered, but, neverthe-
less, are well worthy the attention of persevering and intelli-
gent prospectors.

Concerning the creek, a strange feature exists — viz., at
its extreme head no gold is to be obtained. This will be from
the south-western slopes of Mount Cook. The stream is about
ten miles in length, and flows direct to the ocean. At three
miles from the entrance the bed of the stream was worked in
the early days at a profit, and gold with quartz attached was
often found — in fact, the Omoeroa Creek was a byword for
specimen gold. This augurs well as an indication of auri-
ferous-quartz reefs in the near locality, and should also com-
mand the attention of prospectors in search of quartz reefs.

The Waikukupa River is two miles south of the Omoeroa
Creek, and is similar in character in every respect to the
description given above. It may be termed a sister stream.
At the extreme mouth payable gold can be obtained, even at
the present day, apparently brought down by diluvial action.
Cook's River is a hundred miles from Hokitika. Eight
miles from the Main South Road, and up stream, the right-
hand branch heading from Mount Cook was worked profitably
for some years by wing-damming and other methods. It is

134 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

rather rough with boulders, but to enterprising men these are
to be managed. There is any amount of unworked and avail-
able ground to be obtained. These flats would require heavy
tail-races and water-wheels. As an instance, twenty yeara
ago a party, from a paddock 40 ft. square and 20 ft. in depth
(unbottomed), got 70 oz. of gold. The great difficulty they had
to contend with was the water. There was easier ground to
work in those days, and the party disbanded ; but rich gravels
are there in those river flats to reward strong, active, and
robust men ; or perhaps dredging would be the better plan to
deal with these gravels. Wages also can be made in the
terraces. The gold is from fine to shotty.

Referring again to the Waikukupa, the country south and
towards Cook's River, about four miles inland, is a succession
of terraces, worthy also of the attention of prospectors. A
little gold was found in the early days, but the difficulties of
the dense, impenetrable forests retarded any exploitation,
or of such a kind that the locality warrants. If it had been
in some more centtal place, probably something would have
been discovered long ago. The country described above ap-
pears to be the end, southerly, of the auriferous zone from
Ross and the various districts northerly.

Gillespie's and Karangarua River.

The rock formation traversing south from these localities
to Oinemaka (or Black) River, five miles south of Bruce Bay,
is quartzose schist. In the left-hand branch of the Karangarua
River great outcrops of haematite are to be seen. These and
the quartzose-schist rocks denote the strong probability of
cupriferous or other mineral ores. ISio prospecting has been
done by an expert to ascertain the nature of these indications.
These haematites are useful in'the manufacture of paints.

At the Oinemaka River the formation changes to granitic.
Here, again, no prospecting has been accomplished. It is on
the cards that the granitic country may be stanniferous, and
the very high price for tin ought to o6er an inducement to
the expert tin-prospector to overhaul this country to determine
if the oxides exist or not.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 135

Between the Oinemaka and Paringa Rivers the country is
elevated, and on the falls south another change in the forma-
tion occurs, and you are in a coal-measure; an outcrop of
bituminous coal occurs on the surface, but its width and other
dimensions are unknown, for, apart from an occasional bag
or so being rooted out by one or another, no development has
taken place. This coal is pronounced to be of excellent
quality.

At Paringa River, ten miles south of Bruce Bay, twenty
years ago, a local syndicate found a complex ore containing
silver, antimony, and a small percentage of gold. This also
has not had sufficient attention devoted to it, and the extent
of the deposit, or lode, is undetermined. Being isolated, the
aSair dropped out of sight.

Abbey Rocks are on the shore five miles south of the Paringa.
On a hill facing the ocean the country rock is a calcareous,
or limestone, formation, and the indurated portions of it are
adaptable for lithographic purposes. At a depth away from
the disturbances effected on the surface the stone ought to
prove more solid and defined, and proving the stone at depth
should have been the procedure of a company who thirty
years ago expended £1,000 on the venture. Similar rocks
are obtainable in more accessible parts of the world, and the
utility of the Abbey Rocks lithographic stone may be recog-
nised in due time.

South of the Abbey Rocks to the Blue River another auri-
ferous belt traverses the country. Twenty years ago, and sub-
sequently, several parties of diggers averaged wages, and some-
times smaller returns. Odd parties at times have even done
better; for instance, a party of three men made £1,000 be-
tween them in a comparatively short time in working a ter-
race, and two others got 80 oz. of gold in working a small creek
running into the river. Gold can be found all over the sur-
rounding country, but it was, and is still, very rough, and
difficult to obtain supplies ; hence this part of the West Coast
has not had sufficient attention paid to it by prospectors.

Eight miles further south of the Blue River there is a suc-
cession of terraces and gullies, similar to Omoeroa Creek, de-

136 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

scribed above. Twenty-five years ago a rush set in at a place
called Bullock Creek, and some thousands arrived there.
Although several hundred ounces of gold was obtained, there
was not inducement enough for a large population in such an
isolated locality. The ground worked was shallow, and the
gold was of a coarse character.

Immediately near the coast is a cement wash, at what is
called the Sardine Terrace. Gold is known to exist in this
formation, and is pronounced to be payable. Six years ago
a syndicate secured the ground, and partially constructed a
water-race. The isolated position, again, similar to other
worthy mining projects in far South Westland, deterred them
from further operations ; but the locality will have its day in
the near future.

Copper Creek is five miles further south. For years past
cupriferous ores have been known to exist in this locality,
but no systematic search or development has ever been under-
taken by an expert in mineral ores to test the dimensions,
conditions, and value of such deposits as to whether they are
good, bad, or indifferent, or whether they occur in veins,
lodes, or deposits. The high prices ruling at present for
copper and tin will, no doubt, stimulate prospecting around
this district.

The Auriferous Black-sand Industry.

Apart from other mining pursuits and their future pro-
spects, and the probabilities of new discoveries in gold and
mineral ores, is the black-sand industry. All along the coast-
line described from the Waiho to the Haast Rivers this mode
of gold-winning has been a source of considerable profit for
many years. Of course, the first working would be the accu-
mulated deposits of gold-du* from time immemorial by the
ravages of tempests, but, nevertheless, even at the present
day scattered parties here and there along the coast beaches,
after heavy surf beatings, get nice patches of the precious
metal. Some maintain that the gold-dust is due to marine
agencies, ground from the ocean bottom, while others contend
that the heavy surfs beating on the beach-washes inland is

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 137

the cause. Both theories are, apparently, feasible, and per-
haps both actions are independently responsible for the black-
sand deposits.

When the dredging boom was on, these auriferous beaches
were all taken up, and at Gillespie's Beach a suction dredge
was erected, but this proved a failure, owing to its inability
to profitably raise sufficient wash. Bucket dredges must be
the mode of working. This industry will last for many years,
and if proper appliances are adopted there is no fear of the
result. At times dredges would have to cope with stones and
timber, but these would not prove such a drawback as in many
other places.

Every heavy storm adds its ounces of gold to reward the
beachcomber, and the heavier the surf the better for him.

In conclusion, I desire to acknowledge Mr. A. McPherson's
valuable aid in the compilation of this short paper, which I
trust will be the means of attracting public attention to a part
of New Zealand that is too little known to the general public.

THE GOLD AND MINERAL WEALTH OF
THE WEST COAST.

By J. Bevan, Merchant, Hokitika.

In a paper read at the Town Hall, Hokitika, on the 27th
August, 1895, by Mr. J. Bevan, formerly member of the
House of Representatives, reference was made to the fact that
from Cape Farewell to the confines of Otago there is a stretch
of mineral country, hundreds of miles in extent, with indica-
tions of immense wealth, extending from the sea-coast to the
dividing-range. Nearly every river and its tributaries bears
evidence of this fact — apart from the gold-deposits existing
on the ocean-beaches, held in the black sand in a finely divided
state — and is always suggestive of the great main sources from
whence it is derived. This West Coast forms one of the most

138 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

interesting and extensive fields for research. It is rich in the
possession ot untold wealth, as evidenced from its discoveries
and its steady output of gold. It is figuratively, and in some
places quite, an unexplored portion of New Zealand, capable
of absorbing an enormous population, and with salubrious
climatic advantages.

After referring to the marvellous results obtained from
fissure-lodes in the granite formation in Montana, where the
Great Granite Mountain Mine paid £3,000,000 in dividends
in ten years, and to the Alaska-Treadwell Mine, which paid
£80,000 annually in dividends from low-grade ore only worth
13s. 9d. per ton, Mr. Sevan referred to the discoveries of
quartz veins in the main belt of granite at Mount Wills, Vic-
toria, embracing an area of forty square miles, and pointed
out that similar granite formations are the leading features
observable for hundreds of miles in the great auriferous belts
of the West Coast ; gold had been proved to exist in these for-
mations, scattered over an immense area, and was obtainable
in any of the granitic formations.

Amongst other discoveries on the West Coast, Mr. Bevan re-
ferred to that at Langdon's, in the Grey district, the ore from
which had given phenomenal assay returns ; to the surface
reefs at the Taipo, rich in the precious metal ; to the coal-
deposits at Gentle Annie and Camelback ; to the rich and pro-
mising reefs at Cedar Creek ; to the auriferous and argenti-
ferous lodes at Mount Rangitotoj to the argentiferous galenas
found in the Totara and in the neighbourhood of Mount
Bonar ; to the splendid coal and rich carbonates of copper
found at the Haast River ; and to many other discoveries of
tin, nickel, &c., all object-lessons of great value and import-
ance. Unhappily, development had not succeeded discovery
— not on account of the want of enterprise on the part of in-
dividuals, but to want of necessary capital and lack of the
scientific and technical skill to cope with such undertakings.

As to deep sinking, nothing of importance had yet been
accomplished, beyond what was done in Reefton in quartz-
mining, and at Ross in alluvial workings. In the latter
place, the Cassius Claim was an example of what might be

NEW ZEALAND MINIWG HANDBOOK. 139

expected if deep sinking was proceeded with on systcmiiicio
lines.

The operations of the late Mr. Cassius, who was one of the
most enterprising men in Westland (commercial and other-
wise), solved, in his mining venture at Ross, a most interest-
ing problem in the development of the rich auriferous deposits
of the Ross Flat. He proved the existence of gold at deeper
levels than were ever worked before, the wash being much
richer than in the upper workings, which were all on false
bottoms, even to the bottom worked in the Cassius Claim,
which was also a false bottom ; nevertheless, in eleven months'
working on that bottom gold was obtained to the value of
£18,726. It was no unusual circumstance to get from 30 oz.
to 50 oz. per day. The work was carried on under exceptional
difficulties, having to combat a heavy body of water with in-
adequate machinery at a period when everything was of a
costly nature and wages abnorm:ally high. The Ross Flat has
always been looked upon as a basin of gold, and, should a
proper and efficient system of drainage be adopted, no finer
field for mining enterprise exists in the colony. The Ross Flat
is surrounded by gold-bearing belts of country, indicating
great possibilities when work is scientifically and economically
undertaken.

VTAITAHA RIYER TO BIG BAY.

By G. J. Roberts, Commissioner of Grown Lands, Westland.

The following notes as to metals, minerals, &c., occurring
between the Waitaha River and Big Bay may be of some
value to prospectors and investors : —

Gold-hearing Gravels, &c. — These occur on banks and bars
of nearly every river, and also fringing the terraces and
plateaux between the foothills and the sea. If water were
brought in, undoubtedly remunerative sluicing would ensue.
Best localities : Omoeroa, Cook River, Paringa, Abbey Rocks,

140 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Bald Hill, Bullock Creek, Sardine Terrace, Stafiord River,
Gorge River, etc.

Surface prospecting has overtaken the greater portion of
the country, but there are still many square miles of virgin
areas; and it must be especially emphasized that none of the
deeper ground has been tested at all, because the water haa
always prevented the ordinarily equipped digger from sinking
any moderately deep shafts.

Auriferous Sands occur all along the sea-beaches, not only
on the open shore, but also in " leads " more or less parallel
with the present seaboard. These " leads " are ancient sea-
deposits, and indicate former shore-lines. Despite the con-
tinuous workings for forty years, many of these beaches still
yield small wages to the individual miner, and after heavy
weather really good returns are made, owing to the sea cutting
down the beaches and concentrating the gold which occurs
throughout the immense sand-dunes. Much fine gold is also
thrown up on the beaches by the surf, and this induces the
belief that payable gold may exist on the outside bank which
everywhere runs parallel with the shore. This sea-covered
bank could only be worked by'dredges. Many ancient beaches
also occur in the swamps along the seaboard, and as these are
in waterlogged country they can only be worked by dredges.
I consider these would be found very rich in several localities.
" Raised " beaches also occur all along the seaward slopes ;
these are gold-bearing cements, and though their continuity
is much broken by the erosion of the rivers and streams, yet
many strips of these rich deposits remain undisturbed.

Auriferous Quartz has been found at Evans Creek, and in
the valleys of the Wanganui, Callary, Cook, Pariuga, Jackson,
Cascade, and Gorge Valleys, but as yet no payable reefs have
been exploited. *

Silver-ores . — Galena has been found at Evans Creek, Cook
River, Mount Argentine, Blue River, and Jackson Valley.

Copper occurs at Wanganui River, Paringa, Matakitaki
Range, and on the Red Hills behind Big Bay.

Iron-ore (Chrome). — This occurs at Fox River, and on the
Red Hills in large quantities.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 141

Coal occurs in patches, more or less extensive, from Paringa
to Smoothwater — close to the coast.

Limestone accompanies the above coal-measures.

Millstone Grits occur at Smoothwater Bay ; also good free-
stone around Jackson's Bay.

Building-granite is found at Mount Bonar, &c.

Asbestos is found on the Red Hill country near the Cascade
River.

Note. — Westland is just about dead for want of pro-
spectors.

GOIiD-DREDGING ON THE \irEST COAST.

By Robert Tesnent, Inspector of Mines, and Akthuk H. Richards,
Assistant Inspector of Mine?, for Marlborough, Nelson, and the West
Coast.

Although gold-dredging on the West Coast has not of late
years favoured the anticipations so strongly announced by
the original promoters in the early history of the industry,
the fact remains that, where care and ordinary skill were
exercised in the selection of dredging-areas, and the affairs
of the company were directed under the auspices of honest
and judicious management towards the interests of the share-
holders, the claims still continue to give satisfaction, and
even on areas which, according to public opinion, were the
reverse of f;ivourable, success has seldom failed to reward
honest effort when combined with common-sense methods.

It would serve no useful purpose now to enumerate the
advantages and disadvantages as related to the probable
success and failure of the industry, since we must be more
concerned with the future, and take profit from the disap-
nointine experiences of the past. It must be admitted that
when the boom was pushed to fever-height there was extra-
ordinary pressure on the physical capacity of the consulting
nsineer while there was excessive employment of unskilled

142 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

labour. These factors of rashness had not only a tendency to
increase the ruinous breakdowns of machinery, but also re-
sulted in an extravagant loss of time in effecting repairs. In
fact, the cry was, " Get the dredge on the water, whether
suitable or otherwise "; and, as a consequence, success was a
financial virtue sure to be fettered with the inevitable break-
down.

In reviewing the general operations so far effected through-
out the different auriferous areas operated on, it is notice-
able that the beds of the Buller, Grey, Teremakau, and
Hokitika Rivers, which drai;3 the more important alluvial
watersheds of Westland, and^ the Aorere River in Colling-
wood, have practically failed to maintain profitable invest-
ment ; whilst, on the other hand, the tributaries have given,
and continue to give, lucrative and payable returns — viz.,
the Nelson, No Town, Callaghan's, Blackwater, and Slab
Hut Creeks, on the Grey River ; Greenstone Creek, on the
Teremakau River; and Boatman's Creek, on the Inangahua
River (a tributary of the Buller River). In short, with the
exception of the Old Diggings, New Buller Junction, and the
old Premier (Three-channel Flat), now operating on the
Lower Buller, dredging is practically confined to the tribu-
taries above mentioned.

Some Particulars of Dredging Operations.

Blachwater River Dredge, Grey Valley. — The Black-
water River Gold - dredging Company was registered in
April, 1000, with an area of 106 acres and 36 perches. The
nature of the material operated upon consists of free wash
without boulders; depth, 13ft. from water-level; quantity
raised per hour, 100 yards. During 1905 an area of 7| acres
was worked, the quantity treated being 516,000 cubic yards,
and the yield of gold 2,030 oz. 16 dwt. 22 gr., value £8,058
IGs. 3rt, The total quantity of gold obtained since the dredge
first commenced work has been 5,065 oz. 1 dwt. 18 gr., value
,£20,229 Is. Dividends paid amount to £6,395 12s. 6d.
Cost of dredge, £5,060 13s. 2d.; property, £3,157 12s. 3d.;
other plant, £351 17s. 6d The capital actually called up

-NKW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 143

amounts to £8,891 18s. Average weekly cost of working,
£75 to £80; average weekly cost of repairs, about £600.
Length of pontoons, 90 ft. 6 in. ; depth, 6 ft. ; beam, 24 ft. ;
ladders capable of dredging 32 ft.; capacity of buckets
(thirty-five), 4 ft. ; rate of discharge per minute, twelve
buckets. Length of elevator, 45 ft. Average number of
weeks worked, thirty-three. Average number of men em-
ployed, eleven. Dredgemaster, M. C. Cuff; secretary, A. J. C.
Brown, Dune-din.

CaUagkan's Creek Gold-dredging Company has an area
of 39 acres 3 roods 2 perches at Callaghan's Creek, about five
miles from Ahaura. The company was registered on the
25th May, 1900, and commenced work on the 12th March,
1902. During the year 1905 the dredge won 1,324 oz. 3 dwt.
of gold, value £5,264 Os. lOd., making a total of 4,296 oz.
13 dwt., value £17,097 19s. 9d., from which dividends were
disbursed amounting to .£5,750, while the total capital
actually called up wa.s £5,750, and the dredge cost £5,394.
The pontoons are 60 ft. in length, 6J ft. deep, 25 ft. beam ;
and elevator 36 ft. in length. There are thirty-six buckets,
each with a capacity of 4 cubic feet, and capable of dis-
charging at the rate of ten to twelve per minute from a depth
of 22 ft. to 30 ft., the average quantity raised per hour being
about 2,200 cubic feet of wash. The weekly cost of working
(including fuel, &c.) was £110, and the yearly cost of re-
pairs £300. The number of hours worked during the year
was 6,406. Seven men employed. Dredgemaster, David
Clark; secretary, Bernard P. MoMahon, Reef ton.

Greymouth South Bench Dredging Company (not regis-
tered), with a called-up capital of £1,287, commenced work
on the 15th May, 1905, on a black-sand auriferous area of
70 acres, situated about three miles south from the Township
of Greymouth. During the year 1905 there were 4J acres
of ground operated on, which yielded 170 oz. of gold, valued
at £656. This dredge was originally named the " Stony
Mosquito," and was repurchased, with other plant, water-
races, dams, &c., for £1,350. The time worked during ten
months and a half was thirty weeks, the average yearly cost

144 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

for repairs being £800, while the working-cost per week was
£38. Tlie pontoons are 96 ft. in length., 8 ft. in depth, and
beam 24 ft., equipped with a ladder, carrying thirty-eight
buckets of 5 ft. capacity each, capable of discharging eight
per minute from a depth of 26 ft. The sands, comprising
one-fifth of the material lifted, are treated over plush-laid
tables, 36 ft. by 8 ft., and the washed gravels elevated and
discharged 55 ft. Average number of men employed, seven.
Dredgemaster, George Vick; secretary, G. Perotti, Grey-
mouth.

Al Gold-dredging Company was registered in 1899, and
the dredge commenced work in June, 1901, on a creek-bed
area of 68 acres, situated on the Redman's Creek, Cronadon,
and adjoining the areas dredged and owned by the Reeves
Proprietary. The material dredged is an ordinary wash
15 ft. in depth. In 1905 9 acres of ground were worked and
treated for a yield of 931 oz., valued at £3,440, and since
work fir<?t commenced 3,800 oz. of gold won gave a cash value
of £14,981. The capital called up has amounted to £8,500;
divid:nds, £2,125; cost of dredge, £8,887; other plant,
water-races, dams, &c., £1,659. Average weekly cost of work,
including fuel, water, &c., £46; yearly cost of repairs, £198;
cost of coal per year, £292 ; number of weeks worked per
year, forty-seven, or 5,680 hours. Length of pontoons (wood)
95 ft., depth 6 ft., beam 30 ft. ; fitted with ladders carrying
thirty-five buckets of 4J ft. capacity, of which nine to ten
buckets are discharged per minute, and the sands dis-
tributed over a table-surface 12 ft. by 12 ft., while the gravels
can be elevated to a distance of 70 ft. Seven men employed.
Dredgemaster, Alfred Thomson; secretary, E. Walker, Christ-
church.

Belle Vue Gold.-dredgir^ Company was registered on the
17th October, 1902, and dredging was first commenced on an
area of 75 acres, situate on the ^Matakitaki River, near
Murchison, in August of 1904. The wash operated on is
sand and ordinary gravels, occasionally mixed with clay, the
depth varying from 6 ft. to 23 ft., and the quantity of gravels
raised and treated per hour gives an average of 90 to 140

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NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 145 ■

cubic yards. In 1905 29,040 cubic yards was raised from
13J acres, and treated over a table-surface 18 ft. by 4 ft. 6 in.,
and ten tables 9 ft. by 2 ft., for a yield of 489 oz., valued
at £1,924. Since dredging first commenced, 851 oz. 13 dwt.,
valued at £3,339, has been won, while the capital called
up has amounted to £3,400, and the cost of dredge was
£3,586 9s. lid. Including fuel, water, &c., the average
weekly cost of working is £51 ; yearly cost of repairs, £273 ;
and yearly cost of fuel, water, light, &c., £480. In 1905 the
dredge worked twenty-four weeks, at the rate of 120 hours
per week, and during the year 2,561 hours, with seven men
employed. The pontoons are 110 ft. in length, depth 7 ft.,
and beam 30 ft. ; fitted with forty-two buckets having a
capacity of 6 cubic feet each, able to discharge 60 cubic feet
per minute and elevate 28 ft. The depth of auriferous
gravels below water-line is 18 ft., with an overburden of 2 ft.
above water-line. Dredgemaster, C. G. Morel; secretary,
E. MacRae, Christchurch.

JaTuiescm's Reward Oold-dredging Company was registered
in 1901, and commenced work in August, 1902, on an alluvial
dredging-area of 112 acres, situate in Nelson Creek. The
material operated on comprises one-fourth sand and three-
fourths gravels, about 1,500 cubic yards per hour being
treated at an average cost of l|d. per yard. In 1905 11 acres
of ground operated upon yielded 2,322 oz. of gold, valued
at £8,625, and since dredging commenced 3,312 oz., valued
at £12,782. Capital actually called up, £6,500; total
dividends declared, 16s. per share; and cost of dredge,
£3,500. The pontoons (wood), built to a total length of
90 ft., depth 6 ft., and beam 29 ft., are fitted with ladders
carrying thirty-three buckets of 4J cubic feet capacity, of
which nine buckets are discharged per minute, and the sands
distributed over a table-surface 12 ft. in length by 14 ft. in
width. The average weekly cost of working is £80, and per
year of forty-eight weeks worked, £466 14s. 9d. ; during same
period general repairs cost £1,500. Seven men are employed.
Dredgemaster, A. Dalzell; secretary, E. A. Wicks, Grey-
mouth.

14:6 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

New Feddersen Gold-dredging Company commenced work
on the 2nd June, 1904 (registered 1st August, 1904), on an
alluvial river-bed area of 10 acres, situate in the Buller
River, near Lyell. The material operated on includes fine
sand and gravels, with about 15 per cent, of large stones,
some 1,800 cubic yards per hour being lifted from a depth
of 35 ft. In 1905 the gravels raised and treated from 3 acres
yielded 742 oz. 16 dwt. of gold, valued at £2,899 10s. Ifd.,
and since work first commenced 1,654 oz., valued at £6,472
16a. 5d. The first cost of dredge was £10,400, the repur-
chase price being £2,000. The capital actually called up has
amounted to £2,312 10s., and the total dividends declared to
£1,271 17s. 6d. The pontoons (wood) are built to a length
of 90 ft., depth 8 ft., and beam 30 ft., fitted with ladders
carrying twenty-seven buckets of 6 cubic feet capacity, and
discharging at the rate of nine per minute, while the sands
are distributed over a table-surface of 12 ft. by 12 ft. The
average weekly cost of working was £63 ; for the year of
forty-one weeks, £590 9s. 9d. ; and during the same period
repairs cost £600. Eight men employed. Dredgemaster,
Andrew Carnegie; secretary, Joseph Steele, Reefton.

Old Diggings Dredge, Buller Biver. — Hansen and party,
having repurchased the Old Diggings dredge for £400, com-
menced work on a river-bed claim of 41 acres, near Berlin's,
on the 9th February, 1903. The gold won in 1905 was
368 oz. 17 dwt. 22 gr., valued at £1,467 6s. 8d., and the total
yield 1,101 oz. 8 dwt. 22 gr., valued at £4,479 2s. Id. Two
sets of ordinary tables are in use, with respective areas of
16 ft. by 12 ft. and 15 ft. by 7 ft. The pontoons are built
of steel plate to a total length of 101 ft., depth 5 ft., and beam
20 ft. 6 in. ; equipped with ladders which carry thirty-two
buckets of 4 ft. capacity, roid discharge nine buckets per
minute from a depth of 25 ft. The elevator, 49 ft. in length,
is set with trays at 6 in. centres. For wages and coal only
the average weekly cost is £32 ; cost of fuel for year, £218
6s. 9d. ; and repairs for same period, £450. Five men em-
ployed. Dredgemaster, A. Gillstrom.

Paetolus Gold-dredging Company has an area of 168 aero

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 147

1 rood 9 perches at Nelson Creek, situate about nineteen
miles from the Town of Greymouth, on which two dredges are
at work, both being capable of raising 6,750 cubic feet of
wash per hour. The company was registered on the 30th
August, 1899; No. 1 dredge commenced to work on the 14th
March, 1901, and the No. 2 on the 10th September, 1902.
Their united yields amount to 14,078 oz. 2 dwt. 3gr., value
£57,985 19s. 2d., and shareholders have received dividends
amounting to £20,937 10s.- while No. 1 dredge cost £7,122
17s. 7d. and No. 2 £8,342 Is. 9d., the capital actually called
up being only £8,125. During the year 1905 the two dredges
won 5,863 oz. 3 dwt., value £23,179 12s. 9d. There are
seventy-six buckets working on both dredges, with a capacity
of 4J cubic feet on one and 5h cubic feet on the other, the
rate of discharge from a depth of 25 ft. to 30 ft. being ten to
twelve buckets per minute. The weekly cost of working both
dredges, on which there are eighteen men employed, is
£131 OS., and the yearly cost of repairs £1,500, the aggregate
number of hours worke-d during the year on both dredges
being 11,781. It is estimated that the claim will last five
to six years, or about ten years from the date of commencing
work. Dredgemaster, James Cowan ; secretary, Bernard P.
McMahon, Reefton.

Prince of Wales Dredge, is operating on an area of 9 acres
at Robinson's Creek, Donoghue's, near Ross, where work was
first begun on the 13th October, 1903, the owners being a
private syndicate. The wash operated on consists of auri-
ferous sandstone intermixed with black manganese stones, and
is dredged from a depth of about 30 ft. Since then the dredge
has worked 2 acres of ground for a yield of 2,735 oz. 15 dwt.
4gr. of gold, valued at £10,670, including 669 oz. 17 dwt.
18 gr., valued at £2,610, the result of dredging for the year
1905. The cost of the dredge has been £10,155 Us. .sTl. ;
weekly cost of working, £50; fuel annually cost £1,098, and
repairs £1,480. It is surmised that the claim will last twelve
years, or fifteen years from date of commencing work, and
that the land can afterwards be utilised for grazing pur-
poses. Dredgemaster, David Graham; secretary, T. W.
Bruce, Ross.

148 NKW ZEALAND JflNING HANDBOOK.

St<iffo7-d Gold-dredging Company (formerly Stafiord-
Wainiea) was registered on the 1 7tli May, 1905, and on the
Gtli June oommenoed dredging operations on an alluvial
creek-bed area of 60 acres 1 rood 26 perches, situate on the
Waiuiea Creek, Stafford, Westland. The gravels operated on,
25 ft. in depth, are heavily intermixed with submerged
timber; the bucket-ladder can lift from a total depth of
■■i:J ft. From the oth June, 1905, to the .'Jlst May, 1906, the
gravels raised and treateil from 5^ acres yielded 933 oz. 9 dwt.
of gold, valued at £3,608 13s. Id., and during operations by
the Staflord-Waimea Dredging Company on the same creek the
gold won amounted to 1,379 oz. 9 dwt. 23 gr., valued at
,£5,.'i2ri 5s. 3d. Tlie rep)nrchafie cost of the dredge, includ-
ing claim and freehold land, was .£1,734. Since registration
the capital actually called ii]> wa^ £1 on 2''^9 contributing
shares, and the dividends £202 Gs., Lining 2s. per sliare on
1,734 vendors and 289 contributing shares. The pontoons
are built to a leiiglli of 1 10 fl., drptli 6A ft., and beam 31 ft.,
filted with ladders carrying twenty-seven buckets of 4| cubic
feet capacity, capable of -discharging 1,710 cubic yards per
hour, at the rate of twelve 'luckets a minute, while the sand^
are distributed over a tal)le-surf.ace 21 ft. l)y 21 ft. Includ-
iuLT fuel, tl'C, (lie averai^'e weekly working-cost is £57, the cost
of fuel alone for forlv-four working-weeks being £535. It is
considered probable that the ground can be afterwards used
for fruit-culture. Dredgemaster, George Wilson ; secretary,
r. E. Ricliards, Alexandra, Otago.

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

QUARTZ-MINING.

By Robert McIntosh, A.O.S.M., Aaoistant Inspector of Mines for the
Southern Mining District.

Head of Lake Wakatipu.]

It is recorded in the "Handbook of New Zealand JVIines,
1887," that the Invincible Mine, Rees Valley, was opened out
in November, 1882, and from that month until December,
1885, 7,755 tons of quartz yielded 3,828 oz. of gold, or an
average of 9 -dwt. 21 gr. per ton. To this must be added
10^^ oz. recovered from 11 tons of pyrites ground in a berdan.
For the twelve months ending March, 1886, 2,682 tons of
quartz yielded 1,100 oz. 1-3 dwt. of gold, and the tailings
yielded an additional 108 oz. 10 dwt., making a total of
1,209 oz. for that period. Again, during 1896 the company
crushed a total of 2,167 tons of quartz for a yield of 1,517 oz.
of retorted gold, equal to 14 dwt. per ton. The mine was
profitably worked until August, 1887, when it was found,
after careful prospecting, that the quartz had run out. The
mine was then let on tribute in February, 1888, and in March
the tributers were reported to be on payable gold. During
1887 the tributers crushed 1,361 tons of quartz for a yield of
500 oz. of gold. The payable stone was again lost in 1888,
and the company went into liquidation. The mine was then
sold to the Rees Valley Quartz-mining Company, which pro-
spected it thoroughly until 1892, but^ without success, the
license being eventually cancelled.

In 1904 a Greymouth syndicate sent two prospectors to
prospect a reef at Mopoke Creek, Lake Wakatipu j but tlie
assays of the quartz did not come up to expectations.

Mr. George Reid, of Queenstown, acquired a prospecting
license in 1904 over a large area in Caples' Valley, Greenstone,
Wakatipu district.

150 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Shotover District.

The Phcenix Mine was originally prospected about the
year 1862, when it was purchased by Messrs. Bullen Bros.,
who are said to have expended £50,000 in developing the pro-
perty. During the early stages of development some good
returns were obtained, but the work undertaken was mainly
of a prospecting and opening-up nature, and the mine did
not become a paying concern until about the year 1884. It
was recorded that from February, 1884, to November, 1885,
6,400 oz. of gold was taken from the mine, the total yield up
to 1887 being about 15,500 oz. In 1888 a poor block of stone
was being worked, the yield being as low as .3 dwt. per ton,
and this continued during 1889, when the owners purchased
the Phcenix Extended. In 1891, 4,835 tons of quartz was
crushed for a return of .3,197 oz. of gold. The property was
floated on the London market in 1892, and the new proprie-
tary took possession on the 31st March, 1893. During 1892,
5,457 tons yielded 1,920 oz. of gold; all the quartz was taken
from the Phoenix Extended section. Operations were con-
tinued by the new company, called the " Achilles Gold-mining
Company," and good returns were obtained from time to time.
In 1896 the quartz in the lode then being worked averaged
IJoz. to the ton, and since the date of registration, in 1893,
7,181 oz. of gold has been produced, valued at £27,500. The
mine continued to be worked until 1901, but not with the
success attending its former operations. Owing to the capital
of the company being then exhausted, and no payable stone
in sight, the mine was permanently closed down in May, 1901
The property was purchased in 1903 by the Mount Aurum
Gold-mining Company, and operations were resumed in 1904
on the British-American line of reef. An aerial tramway con-
nects the mine with the battery. The deep workings have not
been un watered.

The Gallant Tipperary Mine was first opened about
1867, but without success until 1884, during which year it
was worked on tribute. In the early years of its existence
this mine was known as the Nugget. Some of the stone worked
in 1888 averaged from 11 dwt. to 18 dwt. per ton. 1,500 tons

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 151

was crushed in 1889 for a yield of 961 oz. of gold. From
1885 to 1895, 11,490 tons of stone was crushed, yielding
4,392 oz. 11 dwt. of gold. In 1897 this company went into
liquidation, and the property was purchased by the Shotover
Quartz-mining Company. A low level was driven, which was
completed in 1900, and stoping operations were commenced
The stone mined of late years has not been rich, and calls have
been made on the shareholders from time to time for capital
to enable operations to be carried on. It is the intention of
the company to spend a considerable sum during 1906 in de-
velopment-work.

This district abounds in reefs, many of which have been
worked from time to time; but none of these mines can bd
said to have been developed to a paying stage. In common
with other districts, many of these leases have been held, ap-
parently, with a view to disposing of them should an impetus
be given to quartz-mining ; thus development is retarded
Other reefs known to be payable only await the capital to pro-
vide the necessary machinery. Among those which have been
worked at various times may be mentioned the Maori Point,
Leviathan, Crystal, Cornubia, Chorazin (or Reefton United),
Aspinall's, and Alpine Reefs.

Macetown.

Warden Stratford states that reefs were first practically
tested here about the year 1876. Three lines of reef were first
worked — (1) the Homeward Bound line, (2) the Maryborough
line, (3) the Advance Peak line. The Homeward Bound line
was opened in 1876 by Messrs. Raven and Barclay, who won
551 oz. of gold from 542 tons of stone while opening up. On
the same line, to the north-west, were situated the Lady Fayre,
Gladstone, Mackay's, and Premier Claims. The Defiance line
runs parallel to the Homeward Bound, and on the east side.
The Maryborough was opened up in February, 1876, by the
Maryborough Company, and from 5 tons of stone crushed from
a footwall leader 23J oz. of gold was obtained. On this line
were situated the leases of the Garibaldi Company, Duke of

152 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Wellington No. 2 South, Victor Emmanuel No. 3 South, and
Finn's lease, No. 4. The All Nations line is parallel to the
Maryborough, about 5 chains to the southward. From a
leader between these two lines 345 tons of quartz yielded 39 oz.
of gold. The Tipperary, Geraldine, and Caledonian leases
were continuations of the All Nations line, while the Canton
and Ancient Briton claiais were branches trending south.
AVith regard to the Advance Peak, or Main Lode line, there
appears to be three parallel lodes here trending north-west.
Several rich leaders radiate from these lodes, as high as 5 oz.
of gold per ton having been obtained from them. The Kathe-
rine was a rich leader from the north-east lode of this parallel.
Development-work was carried on, and in 1878 a public
crushing plant was erected and quartz crushed from various
reefs. Some of these parcels, which were said to be well re-
presentative of the quartz in the mines, gave rich yields.
Eighty tons of quartz from the Gladstone Mine yielded 304 oz.
of retorted gold; 50 tons from the Tipperary yielded 127 oz
For some time the stone from the Tipperary Mine yielded
nearly 1 oz. 8 dwt. of gold per ton. It would be impossible
in this short sketch to detail the history of this district during
the next few years. Numerous leases were taken up, but
operations were not successful in all cases. Capital was re-
quired, as the district for some years was only provided with
a pack-track. In 1884 the main road from Arrowtown was
opened for traffic. Warden Hawkins, reporting in 1886, says,
" Of all the numerous gold-mining companies that were called
into existence on the discovery of paj'able quartz at Macetowa
only two remain, of which the Premier Mine has been the most
successful." During 1886 the Sunrise Lease Gold-mining
Compan}' struck good stone, and was the only mine at work
during 1888 and 1889. In the latter year an endeavour was
made to float a company on the London market to work the
Premier and Tipperary mines. This flotation was completed,
and British capital was introduced into the district in 1890.
About this time prospects became brighter. The Sunrise
struck good stone, and erected a new battery. Unfortunately,
in 1891, expectations were not realised. Poor results were

H
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^fBW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 153

obtained from the Sunrise and Premier mines, while opera-
tions were not commenced at the Tipperary Mine. During
1892 the Sunrise Company sold its plant and claim to the Pre-
mier Consolidated Company, which carried on continuous
operations during the year for a return of 945 oz. of gold
from 95r tons of quartz crushed. The Tipperary Company
was re-formed in London in 1892 with an available capital of
£10,000, so that in this mine, as also in the Premier, deve-
lopment-work was carried on during 1893. In that year the
Premier Company crushed 3,163 tons of quartz for a yield of
1,985 oz. The Glenrock Consolidated Company purchased the
Premier and Sunrise mines in 1895, and preparations were
made to work these properties on a more extensive scale. The
Tipperary Gold-mines Company was reconstructed in 1896,
and a new company called the Westralia and New Zealand
Gold Explorers (Limited) took possession of the property.
Work was continued along the usual lines for the next few
years. In 1898 several well-known mines — the Victor
Emmanuel, Morning Star, Black Angel, Garibaldi, Mary-
borough, Homeward Bound, Lady Fayre, and Golden Trea-
sure — were consolidated into one holding as " Farrell's Con-
solidated Mines." The intention was to place these proper-
ties on the London market. Operations in the Tipperary and
Sunrise mines were not very successful, and the mines were
closed down in 1899, but the Premier continued to be worked,
2,825 tons of quartz being treated for a yield of 1,661 oz. of
gold during the year 1899. The Indian Glenrock (Wynaad)
Company continued operations in the Premier Mine during
1902, in which year 2,178 tons of quartz yielded 1,752 oz. of
gold. In 1903 the Premier-Sunrise (New Zealand) G<)ld-
mining Company purchased the Premier Mine from the Indian
Glenrock Company. The mine was worked continuously
during the year with fair results. Work was resumed in the
Tipperary Mine in 1903, but, as the further development of
the mine included the installation of expensive machinery,
operations have since been at a standstill. The Premier-Sun-
rise Company continued operations during 1904 and 1905.
In the latter year the available stone was stoped out, and con-

154 NHW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

siderable prospecting-work failed to open up a new ore-body.
In consequence instructions were received from the home office
to suspend operations early in 1906.

Some attention was given to prospecting in 1904, and reefs
were opened up in Caledonian Gully by Richard Balch, Ander-
son and party, and Beale and party ; 25 tons crushed from
Balch's lease yielded 52 oz. of retorted gold. Information was
received in 1904 that the flotation of the New Zealand Con-
solidated Gold-mines was completed, and a few weeks' work
was done on the property. Owing, it is stated, to some hitch
in financial arrangements, the transfer was not completed, and
operations were discontinued. No work has been done on that
p)roperty since.

The reefs in Caledonian Gully were worked during 1905
with more or less success, the quartz being crushed in the Tip-
perary battery, purchased by McKay and party, who hold the
lease adjoining Dalch's. The closing-down of the Premier
Mine was due to the lack of capital to further develop the pro-
perty. The fortunes of this mine were involved with others in
India, and further capital was not available for the New Zea-
land property. It is confidently asserted by those who have
the best knowledge of the district that the mines will prove
their value in the future, when the necessary capital becomes
available for their development.

Mount Pisa.

There is a line of reef on the face of Mount Pisa, opposite
Gibbston, wliich has received some attention from time to
time, but no development-work has been done on it. Quartz
reefs have also been found at the head of the Gentle Annie and
Roaring Meg Creeks, 'fhere is an extensive field on Mount
Pisa practically unprospected for quartz reefs or mineral
lodes. Further on a large quantity of gold has been found or
the slopes of the Crown Range, and a quartz-mine is now
being opened out on the Crown Terrace.

Native silver has been found on the western slopes of tho
Crown Range, in the Matatapu Valley.

NJSW ZBALAJ^D MINING HANDBOOK. 15fi

Carrick Range.

The Star of the East Company coruinenced operations in
1870, and for a few years there was considerable activity in
quartz-mining in this district. During 1877 quartz-mining
took a retrograde movement, due to the absence of new finds.
Warden Simpson drew attention to the necessity for prospect-
ing for main reefs on the tops of the ranges instead of the
slopes and spurs, and expressed his confidence that the quarti
reefs in the district, which are very numerous, would excite
considerable attention at no very distant date. Warden
Keddell, reporting in 1881, indicated that an important dis-
covery had taken place in the Carrick Range, but recorded
in 1882 that after a trial crushing from one or two of the
pioneer claims, which resulted in a yield not worth recording,
the new quartz claims on the Carrick were abandoned. It ap-
pears that the character of the quartz reefs here is entirely
difierent from those found in any other district. They are
mixed with a red-clay substance, and the stone is of a loose,
broken nature, and can easily be taken out. About this time
an antimony-lode was opened out by Messrs. Buchanan and
Watson, of Duuedin, but the ore, although of good quality,
was not found then in quantity. Mr. H. A. Gordon, Inspect-
ing Engineer, Mines Department, writing in 1885, states of
this locality: "Very rich quartz lodes have been worked on
the surface, one of the companies (the Royal Oak) having paid
about £14,000 in dividends to the shareholders, but after
going down about 70 ft. in the lode it commenced to get of
too poor a nature to work. On the Royal Oak line of reefs
shafts have been put down 150 ft., but at this depth the lodo
seemed to run out." The ground was abandoned for several
years, when a company again took it up, and was in 1885
driving a tunnel from the face of the hill at the head of
Smith's Gully to try and find the reef at a greater depth.
This tunnel is now in nearly 1,100 ft., but the present com-
pany has not yet been successful in finding any stone of a
payable nature. There are several lines of reef on this range,
but none of them are being worked to any extent. The Star
of the East Company has driven a tunnel at a low level for

156 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

over 500 ft. to prospect the ground. All the work being done
in 1885 was of a prospecting nature. During the next four
years operations were mainlv of a prospecting nature. In
1889 Warden Hickson reported: "Very little activity is
noticeable. A special claim, embracing the ground formerly
held by the Star of the East Company and the Elizabeth Com-
pany, has been granted, and prospecting is being carried on,
but the result is not ascertainable. Lawrence and party are
getting good payable stone from the line of reef formerly
held by the Caledonian Coinpany, and on the same line Watson
and Ridland are getting good prospects, and have erected a
small crushing plant." In 1890 Lawrence and party, work-
ing on a lease on the old Caledonian Reef, were said to have
a very valuable property. They succeeded in tracing the reef
for a considerable distance, with a body of stone 2 ft. to i ft.
in widtli, carrying very payable gold. The Star of the East
Company abandoned its claim, and the license was cancelled;
but several parties set in to further prospect the ground. In
1891 there was little quartz-mining in the district. Some
rich stone was got in the early days, but the Carrick Range
was at this period nearly deserted, with the exception of about
two parties. Eighty tons were taken from the ground formerly
held by the Elizabeth Company, which was said to have yielded
about 1 oz. of gold per ton. E. Lawrence was carrying on
constant operations in his mine, but the quartz, being low-
grade, required a cheap method of crushing to make it pay.
Very little mining was done for the next four years. In 1895
Messrs. Lawrence Bros., in the Day Dawn Mine, were work-
ing on a lode about 14 in. wide. The reef averaged this widf^'
for a distance of 280 ft., and was enclosed between well-defined
solid walls. During the^ear 1895 some 350 tons of quartz
was crushed, yielding 230 oz. of gold, an average yield of
13'31 dwt. per ton. Evan Jones and party and McCabe and
party also had good prospects. During 1896 Messrs. Lawrence
Bros, crushed 876 tons of stone for a leturn of 346 oz. of gold,
valued at £3 I7s. per ounce. In the same year McCabe and
Sons drove a tunnel 600 ft. in length to cut the Young Aus-
tralia Reef, which yielded good returns about the year 1876,

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NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 157

but which was then abandoned through a large influx of watsr.
During 1897 the Golden Gate Quartz-mining Company held
a claim of 100 acres, upon which an adit was opened out from
Pipeclay Gully. The quartz was partly oxidized and partly
■of a more refractory character, the average width being about
16 in. From a trial crushing the yield was 12J dwt. of gold
per ton. McCabe and Sons continued to work the Young Aus-
tralia Mine. James Lawrence crushed 782 tons from the Day
Dawn Mine for a yield of ]43oz. of gold. Lawrence Bros,
•crushed 170 tons of quartz from the Star of the East Mine for
■a return of 57 oz. of gold. In 1898 there was little alteration
to note. Four hundred and fifty tons of quartz was crushed
from the Star of the East, yielding 107 oz. of gold. Prospect-
ing operations were carried on by J. Holliday for the extension
of the Star of the East Reef, known as the Go-by. During
1899 Lawrence Bros, took out small blocks of stone from the
•Gjmpie, Heart of Oak, Star of the East, and Day Dawn
reefs. Holliday's prospecting-tunnel on the Go-by Claim was
in 4-40 ft.

Renewed interest was taken in the Carrick Range reefs in
1902, as it was expected that the application of the cyanide
process would render the refractory ore payable. Unfortu-
nately the parcels of ore sent for treatment to the School
of Mines, Dunedin, were too poor to pay for treatment either
l)y amalgamation or cyanide process ; but it was considered
that the samples were not representative of the quartz in the
district. In 1904 a battery was erected on Watson and Holli-
day's claim, as the owners were confident that the large body
of quartz available would be payable if efficiently treated.
Unfortunately, the battery results were poor. Exhaustive
tests of the stone made at the Colonial Laboratory, Wellington,
proved that the values could not be saved by plate amalgama-
tion or the chlorination process ; but the cyanide treatment,
followed by amalgamation, gave excellent results.* As an
alternative method, the suggestion was made that the concen-
trates could be saved and shipped to Dapto, New South Wales.

* See Ntw Zealand Mines Record of the 16th April, 1906, pages 378
-and 379, for recent analyses.

158 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Mining in the past has been devoted entirely to the oxidized
stone, and very rich yields have been obtained from time to
time. It was not possible to deal with the refractory ores,
and consequently these portions of the lodes lie undisturbed.
Hence there is a large field here which only awaits the outlay
of capital in the necessary appliances and works to render it
productive.

Bendigo, near CromTsell.

The Bendigo Reef was first opened out in 1865 by Logan
and party, and worked by them until 1876, when the Cromwell
Company was formed to work the mine. The " New Zealand
Handbook of Mines, 1887," records that gold to the value of
£500,000 was obtained by Logan and party, and, from 1876
to the end of 1883, 26,000 oz. of gold was obtained. In 1884
the company was wound up, and the mine and plant were pur-
chased by the New Cromwell Gold-mining Company (Limited).
During 1886 this company erected expensive winding, air-
compressing, and pumping machinery. In 1887 the com-
pany's property was purchased by a London syndicate, and
a new proprietary formed with a capital of £100,000. It was
intended to sink the shaft to a depth of 600 ft. In March,
1889, the shaft had been sunk -330 ft. Previous to the old
company suspending operations a winze was sunk for 27 ft.
below the 420 ft. level, and at 20 ft. down the winze stone was
struck which yielded nearly 3 oz. to the ton, the reef being
from 2 ft. to 2 ft. 6 in. wide, following an east-and-west
course, with underlie to north. On the 31st May, 1890, the
shaft was down 430 ft. In the same year McLoughlin and
party erected a five-head battery on the Eureka Reef. The-
Cromwell Company's shaft reached a depth of 520 ft. in 1891,
and a level was driven westward to command good stone said
to be left underfoot in the 420 ft. level, but the search was not
successful. The number of hands employed about the mine
was diminished in 1892, and proposals were made to the Eng-
lish shareholders to raise sufficient capital to sink the main
shaft GOO ft. The only other work in the neighbourhood was
at the Rise-and-Shine (Old Eureka), where crushing was being

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 159

carried on. In 1893 the Cromwell Company succeeded
raising £12,500 in England, and intended to use £500 in pro
specting the old workings; the shoot of gold formerly worked
pinched out in depth. There were several claims worked on
this line of reef to the westward of the Cromwell Company's
ground, and some fair auriferous stone was found. During
1895 the Cromwell Mine was let on tribute to a party of
miners, and excellent results were obtained from above the
150 ft. level. The battery returns for 1894 show that 542 tons
of quartz was crushed, which yielded 451 oz. of gold, valued
at £1,759. The tributers continued to obtain such good re-
sults that during 1896 the company was reorganized, and
arrangements were made to spend a very considerable sum in
further developing the ground. During 1895, 532 tons was
crushed, yielding at the rate of 19 dwt. of gold per ton.
Operations were resumed by thfe company during 1896, nearly
all the work done being of a prospecting nature; 650 tons of
stone was crushed, yielding 262 oz. of gold. In 1898 the mine
was again let on tribute. The tributers worked on the northern
division of the reef where it splits between the winding and
the pumping shafts ; the average yield from this block was
2i oz. to the ton. It was considered that an adit driven from
the valley would crosscut the whole system of reefs, and obviate
the necessity for pumping and haulage. Early in 1899 the
Cromwell Proprietary Company resumed operations in the
mine. Work done included the sinking of a shaft in the
eastern section of the mine. During the year 1,264 tons of
stone was treated for a yield of 827 oz. 5 dwt. The mine was
closed down the whole of the year 1900, but in 1901 it was
anticipated that the necessary capital to drive the low-level
tunnel would be forthcoming. Operations were conducted
during 1902, bat not in the direction intended, work being
mainly confined to taking out stone from surface workings.
The company carrying on operations at this period was known
as the Bcndigo Gold-mining Company (Limited), which worked
the mine on trib\ite from the Cromwell Proprietary. The
proposal to drive the low-level adit received consideration
from the London board of directors, but the capital was not

160

3SIBW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

forthcoming. During 1903 the property was sold to Messrs.
Waters and Talboys, trustees for a purchasing company.
Operations have not been continued since, but endeavours are-
being made to raise tlie necessary capital to further develop
the mine. The Alta Reef has also received attention from time-
to time, and there are several reefs in the locality -worthy of
attention. Search for the extension of the Bendigo Reef east,
and west should be conducted, while there is also a large held
for prospecting over the Leaning Rock Range.

Scheelite has also been found on this range in the quartz-
lode at the Alta Mine.

Obelisk (or Old-man Range).

Warden Keddell, in 1883, intimated that new discoveries-
of quartz claims had been made on the Obelisk Range. These
were found by a miner named White, while sluicing operations
were in progress on the hill-slopes. In 1883 a company was
formed to work White's Reef, and sixteen other leases were-
granted. Work was continued during 188-1, and stone of good
quality was taken out. About 600 tons of quartz was taken
out in 1886, yielding 520 oz. of retorted gold — an average of
slightly under 18 dwt. to the ton. During 1888, 820 tons,
of stone yielded 829 oz. 17 dwt. of gold, valued at £3 17s. lOd.
per ounce. Two other claims were also working, but no-
machinery was erected thereon. From one claim three crush-
ings averaged over 3 oz. to the ton. An old miner said of the
Obelisk Range, " A rabbit cannot burrow without disclosing"'
payable stone." The range is a network of quartz reefs.
White's Reef changed hands during 1890, the purchaser being-
Robert Symes, who has continued to profitably work the mine.
Crossan and party and Baker and others were also doing well
about this time. Symes otos. continued to work during 1892,
and Crossan and Gray developed a rich reef on Coal Creek
spur. During the year they netted 880 oz. of gold — llioz.
by sluicing, and 766 oz. from 315 tons of quartz crushed.
Messrs. Symes only crushed 57 tons during 1893 for a yield'
of 40 oz. of gold, while Crossan and Gray crushed 279 tons
of quartz from the Excelsior Reef for a yield of 589 oz. of

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NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 161

gold, valued at £2,360. Operations were carried on at both
these mines during 1894, but results were not so good. The
work done during 1895 was, however, attended with more suc-
cess, 270 oz. being obtained from 236 tons from Symes's
mine in a few months. About this time the Conroy's Gully
reefs commanded some attention ; these reefs were successfully
worked many years ago. In 189S, 40 tons of stone from the
Excelsior Reef yielded 52 oz. 18 dwt. of gold. During the
past few years these two mines have been worked as formerly,
but, unfortunately, not with the same amount of success.
Both parties, however, continue in the expectation of again
striking payable stone. This face of the range is much dis-
turbed, and prospecting is best carried on by surface sluicing.
As all the water is now held for sluicing on the Bald Hill Flat,
prospecting has been practically at a standstill for many years.
There are many known reefs in the Obelisk Range, which can,
however, only be worked by companies having the necessary
capital. Several reefs abound at the head of Eraser basin
and Campbell's Gully, but as the season in this locality is short
very little prospecting is ever done. There are several lines
of reef crossing the foothills of the Obelisk Range. Among
those worked in former times may be mentioned the Conroy's
Gully and Day Dawn reefs. Want of capital to provide the
necessary pumping and -finding machinery is said to have
caused discontinuance of operations on these reefs. Recently
a reef in Conroy's Gully was taken up, but the owners
could not procure the capital to sink the shaft and erect
the plant necessary to develop the mine. A battery was
erected, and stone carrying payable gold was taken out
above water-level, but a slide was met with, and operations
were discontinued.

Nevis and Nokomai.

Beyond the Carrick Range, in the Nevis district, quartz-
mining has never been prosecuted, although specimen-stone
has been found in the' alluvial claims. Hitherto alluvial work-
ings have been paramount in this district, but with the decline
in that industry more attention will, no doubt, be paid to
6 — Mining Handboolc.

162 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

prospecting for quartz reefs and mineral lodes in this exten-
sive tract of mountainous country.

Cinnabar is J;nowti to exist, but little prospecting has been
done to locate the lode.

A quartz reef exjsts in Victoria Gully, Nokomai, but )t,
has not been prospected to any extent.

A large auriferous-lode formation is known to traverse the
Garvie Mountain, but owing to its general inaccessibility very
little endeavour has been made to locate the value and per-
manency of this reef, or to prospect for other reefs in this
mountain.

Tuapeka.

In 1882 the Gabriel's Gully Quartz-mining Company drove
a tunnel 380 ft. into the spur lying between Gabriel's Gully
and Weatherstone's. A fine body of quartz was met with, but
it was not sufficiently payable for working. The Gabriel's
Gully Prospecting Association resumed operations on this reef
in 1897. Some years before a reef, varying from 2 ft. to 9 ft.
in width, was worked, but it pinched out in depth. Opera-
tions were continued during 1898, when a considerable amount
of prospecting was undertaken, but the work was not success-
ful, and was abandoned during the following year.

Some specimens of quartz containing gold were found in
Grey's Gully, above Evans Flat, and search was made in 1901
for the reef. A level was driven and crosscuts put in without
meeting with success, and the mine was abandoned.

A reef outcrops on the Weatherstone's Commonage, near
O'Brien's Hill, upon which a limited amount of surface pro
specting has been done. This locality is well worthy of sys-
tematic prospecting.

Waitahuna.

Quartz-mining is confined to the range known as the Waita-
huna Heights, and lying between Waitahuna and Waipori.
The Waitahuna Quartz Company was in operation in 1890, but
the results were not payable, and in 1892 this company ceaseil
operations. Arnold Sturm continued to prospect about this

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 163

old mine during 1895 in the hopes of striking a good reef, but
these hopes were not realised, and of late years nothing has
been done around this district.

Waipori. ■

Situated in the Tuapeka district, this goldfield was opened
up in 1862, and quartz reefs were discovered in 1864. The
oldest quartz workings in Otago were opened on the Shetland
Reef, which was worked by the Pioneer Company. Several
quartz reefs were taken up in these early days, but owing lo
the lack of capital, in most cases, the mines were not developed
in depth, operations ceasing while the workings were j'et com-
paratively shallow. Among the early claims were the Pioneer,
Maori and Maud, Devil's Creek, Cosmopolitan, and Canton.
The majority of the reefs prospected well, and during their
period of working prior to 1873 there was a fair yield of gold
in the aggregate. Daring the nest ten years the progress of
the industry was slow, and in 1882 Warden Wood expressed
the opinion that no reef in the district could be callei?
thoroughly opened out with the exception of the O.P.Q. Reef.
This remark equally applies in 1906. In 1882 slightly more
attention was given to the quartz reefs. Prospecting was
carried on at the Nil Desperandum — a continuation of the
O.P.Q. line of reef; also at Cox's, Lammerlaw Reef, and Esson
and party's Nuggety Reef. In 1883 there were three batteries
at work — namely, the Victory, 10 stamps; the Undaunted,
10 stamps ; and the Modern Maori, 5 stamps. About fifty men
were engaged working for the above companies. Several new
areas were taken up in 1883, and the industry went along
quietly for a few years. Reporting in 1886, Warden Revell
stated, "At Waipori eight old quartz gold-mining leases were
cancelled either for abandonment or non-payment of rent.
Two quartz leases and two ordinary quartz claims are now
being worked in this part of the district, the quartz being
estimated to yield from 18 dwt. to 1 oz. 4 dwt. per ton."
Forty miners were engaged in quartz-mining in 1887, in which
year Long and party reopened the Canton Claim, and Porter
and party took up the O.P.Q. Claim again. This latter party

164

NlSW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

crushed 700 to 800 tons, yielding from 3 dwt. to 14 dwt. per
ton. It was estimated that 1,000 tons of quartz was crushed
during 1887, yielding 350 oz. of gold. In 1889 Gare and
party (Bella Reef), Lawson and party, Robertson and party,
and Knight and party were granted licensed holdings, (iare
and party'f? reef, on the Lammerlaw, averaged 5 ft. to 6 ft. in
width, and gave a steady loturn of half an ounce of gold to the
ton. The Maori, or Cox's Reef, was reopened in 1890. This
reef was only 6 in. in widtli, bur yielded at the rate of 1 oz. to
the ton. Gare and party's leef was the only one in operation
during 1891. A large body of stone was opened out, and was
expected to give an average yield of 15 dwt. per ton. Ritchie
and party started work on the O.P.Q. line in 1891, and con
tinued until 1893.

In 1894 Warden Hawkins said of the Waipori district,
" Although high hopes were entertained for some time as to
the prospects of quartz reefs here, and the existence of reefs
has been amply demonstrated, yet at present quartz-mining
is in complete abeyance. F. W. Knight intends to further pro-
spect tlie Bella Quartz-mine, which he purchased, as he believes
that good stone will be found to remunerate him amply for his
outlay."

The Canton Reef was again taken up in 1896 by several
parties, by whom it was to be thoroughly prospected. In this
year also the O.P.Q. Reef was in the hands of a party who
were endeavouring to float it on the London market. The
endeavour was successful and the flotation completed. Warden
Hawkins states, " The New Zealand Minerals Company have
purchased several claims and water-races, the O.P.Q. and
Canton reefing claims, and a right to take eighty heads of
water from the Chryslall Falls, on the Waipori River, being
among the principal purchases. With the Chrystall Falls
■v^ater it is the intention of the company to generate electricalj
power for the purpose of working the two reefing claims
Charles Todd took up three special claims on the Bella Reef
in 1896, with the intention of floating a company on the
English market." The O.P.Q. Gold-mines Company (Li-
mited) was floated on the London market in 1897. This com-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 165

pany took over the O.P.Q. reefing claim from the New Zea-
land Minerals Company. About thirty men were employed
during the year in sinking a shaft, erecting a battery, and
opening up the reef. By the end of the year there were about
400 tons of stone at grass, giving an assay value of 14 dwt.
Speaking of this company's operations during 1899, Warden
Stratford says, ''The O.P.Q. Gold-mines Company (Limited)
employed a large number of men, and had done a good deal
iu opening up the reef during the last twelve months. The
company has completed and erected a good deal of expensive
machinery, and the mine has been yielding good returns ;
831 oz. were won for 1899."

The Bella Reef was reopened in 1899 by Robert McKeitoh*
and party, of Lawrence. There is a percentage of scheelite
in the stone, which was not saved. The gold-saving appliances
consisted of quicksilvered plates without blanket strakes. The
quartz in this reef has been proved to be rich, but the ore re
quires chemical treatment in addition to amalgamation. The
irine was closed down in 1900, and a parcel of concentrates
forwarded to New South Wales for treatment. Unfortunately,
the parcel was lost in transit, so that no results are available.

During 1900 -development and stoping operations were
carried on at the O.P.Q. Mine. Gold to the value of £9,000
was obtained for twelve months, and concentrates were ou
hand for shipment to New South Wales for treatment. The
average yield of gold is given as 8j-dwt. to the ton. The best
crushing the company had realised 190 oz. 11 dwt. of gold from
193 tons of quartz. Occasional patches assayed as high as 5 oz.

to the ton.

Reporting for 1901, Warden Cruickshank says, "The
O.P.Q. reefing claim is owned by a London syndicate, and they
have spent an enormous amount of money in developing the
mine and procuring very costly machinery, and in doing .io
have just about exhausted their capital ; but, of course, tEcy
expected the returns from the mine would be sufficient to carry

*McKeitch was the last man killed by the Boers during the late
war, or rather after the war, as he was knocked over after the pro-
clamation of peace.

166

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

on, as the claim was in working-order and yielding good re-
turns, with about seventy hands employed. Unfortunately,
very severe winter weather set in with heavy falls of snow, aaid
to be the severest winter experienced in the -district for twenty-
four year.s, and it continued several months, entirely stoppino-
all work at the mine, and all hands were thrown out of em-
ployment. As good yields were obtained while the mine was
being worked, it is to be hoped that satisfactory financial
arrangements will be made to carry on the work again."

For several monthb. after closing down, the mine was kept
unwatered, and the levels were kept open in anticipation of
instructions to resume operations. As these instructions were
not received the mine was closed down permanently, and since
then the machinery has been partially dismantled. In sym-
pathy with the non-working of the O.P.Q. Mine, all quartz-
mining is at a standstill in the AVaipori -district. It is un-
fortunate that this should be so, as a great number of reefs
occur in the district, many of which are known to be valuable.
The drawback is the want of capital to properly prospect and
develop them. The district is an outlying one, and the
carriage of fuel, timber, and mining requisites is costly, so
that private parties are prevented from developing the reefs
to that degree upon which the permanency of the mines de-
pends. It cannot be denied that the district abounds in quartz
reefs, and that the many reefs now lying unproductive in tht-
Lammerlaw Ranges and adjoining foothills are worthy of the
attention of the investing capitalist. That the country is.
rich in minerals is proved by the existence of copper, anti-
mony, and scheelite lodes, while cinnabar and manganese have
also been found.

Canada Tleef, near Milton.

Work was carried on here prior to 1875. A shaft was-
sunk 80 ft. in depth, and the reef was driven on east and west.
The average yield in these days from the quartz crushed was
about 5 dwt. per ton. It is recorded in Hutton and Ulrich's
'■ Geology of Otago " that in an adit from a steep slope facing
the Tokomairiro River a patch of stone was found yielding

NEW ZEALAND MIJiING HANDBOOK. 167

5 oz. of gold per ton. The Table Hill Company also worked
a reef running parallel to the Canada Reef, the top stone
from which averaged 5 dwt. to 6 dwt. of gold per ton. After
a depth of 150 ft. had been passed the yield became poorer.

Renewed attention was given to this district in 1887, when
several quartz claims were taken up. Gillon and Murphy
obtained prospects of from 5 dwt. to 6 dwt. per ton. McLean
and Kerr re-erected a battery which had been idle for about
twelve years. Murphy, Gillon, and Thompson worked the
quartz claim for some time during 1888, but closed down, as
it did not turn out payable, and the battery was removed to
Nenthorn. Very little work was done on Kerr and McLean's
area.

Two quartz claims were taken up at Table Hill in 1889,
and fair prospects obtained. A little excitement was caused
in this district about 1891, but it died away, and in that
year Kerr and party abandoned their enterprise. Nothing
more was done until 1897, when John Lawson and party, of
Berwick, took up a claim at Table Hill, and erected a ten-
liead battery. Lawson, Ritchie, and Andrew's mine was let
on tribute to W. G. Mouatt in 1898. There were three lines
of reef, known as Ocean View, Canada, and Lawson's. Eight
hundred and thirty tons crushed in 1898 yielded 103 oz. of
gold; 1,297 tons of quartz was crushed during 1898 from the
Burnt Creek Company's mine for a total yield of 95 oz.
Three lines of reef were prospected, but the quartz presented
a glassy appearance, and was very poor. The company went
into liquidation in 1899. Work was continued during 1899
on the lines of reef known as Lawson's and the Canada. Two
hundred tons was crushed from the Canada line for a yield
of 5 dwt. per ton. Several crushings from Lawson's reef
yielded from 8 dwt. to 21 dwt. per ton.

During 1901 the Table Hill Quartz-mining Company re-
opened the old workings of the Burnt Creek Company, and
in the same year Mr. Lawson was engaged in opening out on
the Canada Reef, to reach the solid reef beyond the old work-
ings, but he died in 1901, and no further development took
place at the Canada Reef in that year. The Table Hill

168 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Quartz-mining Company also ceased operations in that year
Sutherland and party did some prospecting on the Burnt
Creek line of reef in 1902. Thomas Park and party, known
as the Last Chance Quartz-mining Company, reopened the
Canada Reef in 1903. Thirty-five tons of quartz was taken
out and crushed for a return of 16 dwt. per ton. The work-
ings were about a mile to the east of those formerly worked
by Mr. Lawson. During 1904, 226 tons was crushed for gold
valued at £1,097. The mine continued to be profitably
worked during 1905, in which year 1,967 tons was crushed
for a yield of 876 oz. of gold. In this year also prospecting
was carried on in various places in the district. The Ocean
View Reef was opened up in proximity to Park's workings,
and several parcels of stone were crushed at Park's battery.

The Last Chance Company continues to work in 1906, but
there is little development in the other mines. Park's
battery, being the only one in the district, is working full
time when water is available, and thus is unable to crush for
other parties.

Saddle Hill Reef, Green Island, near Dunedin.

According to Hutton and Ulrich's "Geology of Otago,"
this is a true reef. It strikes E. 14° S. and dips northward
at an angle of about 55°. The mine was worked prior to
1875. Two shafts were put down 49 ft. and 125 ft. in depth,
and the reef widened out to 12 ft. in places in the lower work-
ings. About 2,000 tons of stone was taken out and crushed
for a yield of 5 dwt. per ton. The auriferous stone would
average 14 dwt. if selected. Three other well-defined reefs
occur between the first reef and the main road. Work was
resumed about 1884, but was again stopped; the yield per ton
was not sufficient to pay expenses as work was then being
carried on. During the time of working 5 tons of stone was
forwarded to Ballarat, and from two trial crushings the yields
were 14J dwt. and 16 dwt. per ton. The return from similar
stone crushed at the company's battery was only 3| dwt.,
showing a big loss somewhere. In 1896 about 2i tons was
sent to the Dunedin School of Mines battery, but nothing

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 169

further was done in connection with the lode. The reef is
favourably situated as regards coal-supplies and railway
facilities.

In 1899 Adam Harris prospected the locality for some
scheelite which he knew to exist, but the results were not satis-
factory, and the work was discontinued. The reefs have been
idle ever since.

Hyde and Macrae's.

Three prospectors discovered a reef in the Mareburn Creek
in June, 1887. The outcrop was traced nearly two miles on
the surface, and two trial crushings yielded nearly 2 oz. of
gold per ton. The reef is 5 ft. between the hanging and foot
walls, and auriferous from wall to wall, A company was
floated in 1888 to develop the Mareburn, or Mount Highlay
Reef. A ten-head battery was erected, and the quartz de-
livered to it by an aerial tramway from the mine. Opera-
tions during 1889 proved the reef to be about 7 ft. wide at
the 150ft. level, and to average lOdwt. to the ton; but
shortage of water hindered the company's progress, and this
was also the case during 1890 ; the average yield from stone
crushed during that year was 5 dwt. The Bonanza Mine was
opened out in 1890 in a small creek running into the Stone-
burn, about twelve miles from Macrae's; 600 tons of stone
treated yielded 6.38 oz. of gold. The Golden Point Mine,
situated in Deepdell Creek, near Macrae's, was the property
of the Golden Point Gold-mining Company ; but the company
went into liquidation in 1890, and the property was sold to
Messrs. Donaldson Bros. During 1891 operations were
carried on at the Bonanza, Mount Highlay, and Golden Point
mines. From this latter mine 6 J tons of scheelite was sent
as a trial shipment to London, and the result showed a small
profit. The Highlay Company ceased operations in 1892, but
the Bonanza and Golden Point mines worked profitably during
that year, and were likewise engaged in 1894. In that year
the Mount Highlay Reef was reopened. The Bonanza and
Golden Point were stated to have had a good year during
1895. Owing to the interest taken in quartz-mining on the

170 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

West Coast and Auckland, increased attention was paid to
the reefs of this district, and there was a likelihood of capital
being invested. Messrs. Donaldson Bros.' mine and the
Bonanza Mine continued to get satisfactory returns durinar
1896. A number of holdings was granted in the district and
near Dunback.

The Donaldsons erected an aerial tramway in 1897, but
scarcity of water retarded crushing operations. Sutherland
and Glover took 250 tons out of the Dunback Reef. From
Cunningham and party's claim trial crushings gave an
average of 1 oz. to the ton. In 1898 Mills and Sons removed
their five-head battery from Nenthorn and erected it on
Macrae's Flat. That year they crushed stone from the Golden
Bar Reef, yielding 5 dwt. per ton. Cunningham Bros, and
Ross erected a five-head battery. Fifteen men were employed
about the Bonanza Mine during 1898. The low-level adit had
been driven 1,550 ft. in length, and the quartz was conveyed
to the battery by an aerial tramway.

Messrs. Donaldson had a successful year during 1899.
Their scheelite workings were said to have been highly re-
munerative. The scheelite occurs associated with the quartz
in the Golden Point Reef. Mills and party crushed a lot of
stone averaging 7 dwt. per ton. Other reefs at work in the
district were the Ounce Reef, Mareburn Reef (quartz and
scheelite). Mount Highlay, and Bonanza mines. Cookerell and
'party reopened the Mount Highlay Mine in 1899. C. Nunn
was in charge of this mine the following year, and stone was
stoped out from the 100 ft. level to the surface. Donaldson
Bros, worked their reef by the opencast system, obtaining a
considerable percentage of high-grade scheelite. Mills and
Sons continued to orusli^stone from the Mount Highlay line
of reef. From sixteen to twenty men were employed aboilt
the Mount Highlay Mine in 1900. During that year the
Golden Bell battery (H. Mills and Sons) crushed 2,290 tons
of stone for a yield of 4.31 oz. of gold, and Cunningham,
GrifBn, and Spears crushed 447 tons for a yield of 188| oz.
of gold from the Ounce Mine. In 1900 the Golden Bar Mine
was taken up by a party of working shareholders. This reef

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 171

was tried from time to time and pronounced unpayable, but
several crushings taken out that year yielded from 5 dwt. to
15 dwt. per ton.

During the year 1900 the Bonanza Mine was continuously
worked, the approximate yield being 15 dwt. per ton. During
1901 Mills and Sons crushed 2,000 tons of stone for a yield of
327 oz., and Donaldson Bros, obtained good returns of gold
and scheelite, while the Bonanza and Ounce mines were said
to have done well. The Golden Bar Company crushed
900 tons of stone during 1901 for a yield of 5J dwt. per ton.
This company in 1902 secured some good returns, yielding
from £10 to £14 per man per week above working-expenses.
The Ounce Reef was let on tribute to Lidstone and party, but
the Bonanza Mine did not do much during 1902. C. .McGill
opened the Maritana Mine, in Deepdell Creek, during the
year, and erected a battery. Donaldson Bros, erected a new
ten-head battery and a Woodbury shaking-table for saving
scheelite. At Mount Highlay a little was being done in con-
nection with quartz-mining. The same number of mines con-
tinued to be worked during 1903 with more or less success,
but there were no fresh developments to record.

During 1904 qaartz-mining progressed steadily around the
Macrae's district. This progressive movement was assisted
tK) a great degree by the high price ruling for scheelite. This
mineral is associated in payable quantity with the quartz at
various points on this line of reef. Attention was also given
in a few instances to saving the tailings for future treatment
by cyanide, and during 1905 a cyanide plant treated a quan-
tity of tailings at the Golden Bar Mine. This plant has now
been removed to the Golden Point Mine, where several thousand
tons of tailings await treatment.

Donnldson Bros, opened up a large reef near Mount High-
lav in 1906, and erected a Huntingdon mill and concentrating
appliances. There is a percentage of scheelite in the stone.
The Golden Bar and Ounce mines closed down in 1906. A.
large quantity of gold has been taken out of these mines ; but,
principally owing to lack of capital to carry on further de-
velopment-work, these mines have been closed down. In order

172 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

to establish the permanency o£ a reef, capital must be ex-
pended in opening it up, and in keeping development-work
in advance of stoping.

NenthoFn.

McMillan and party -discovered a reef at the head of Nen-
thorn Creek in November, 1888, and prospecting revealed the
existence of other reefs. Sixteen licensed holdings were
granted in 1889. The richest reef was the Croesus, which was
2 ft. in width. The Victoria Company's reef was said to be
a valuable one, as from 2| tons of stone nearly 3 oz. of gold
was obtained; at a depth of 30 ft. the reef was 2 ft. in thick-
ness. McMillan and party sent a test crushing to McQueen's
battery, Dunedin, and obtained a yield of 3 oz. to the ton.
The Nenthorn Consolidated Company sent several tons to the
Footscray Works, near Melbourne, which resulted in a yield
of from 2 oz. to 3 oz. per ton.

A fresh reef was discovered in 1889, two miles south of the
Croesus, and on which the Eureka was the richest claim.
Warden Dalgiiesh, in 1890, stated, " This last acquisition in
the way of a quartz-mining field, about which such very ex-
travagant hopes were entertained last year, has not realised
those hopes. At the outset the management of many of the
claims fell into inexperienced hands, and the work was carried
on without system, and in a very costly manner." The
operations of the various companies on this field have been
minutely described by Warden Dalgiiesh in his report for the
year 1890. The collapse of mining at Nenthorn had a de-
pressing influence on mining generally. Only the Croesus,
Eureka, and Surprise Claims were worked on a small scale
during 1891. Sheppard ajid party were working on the field
in 1892, and they crushed 100 tons of quartz for a yield of
12 dwt. per ton, but the other mines were idle. The Croesus,
Surprise, Eureka, Jacob, and Daddy Reefs were also worked
a little during the year 1893, but t'he results were not worth
recording. There were a few men employed in a desultory
manner during 1894. The Croesus battery crushed small
parcels of quartz, amounting to 200 tons, for a return of about

NISW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 173

130 oz. During 1895 the Surprise, Victoria, and Eureka
Claims were at work, about twenty men being employed. The
stone raised was found to run about 15 dwt. to the ton, but
this was not sufficiently payable. Negotiations were going on
during 1896 with a London company, with a view to working
some of the claims on a large scale. A few of the claims were
worked in a small way that year. Nenthorn remained quiet
during 1897. Messrs. Mills continued working on the Sur-
prise Reef, and succeeded in getting two crushings valued at
2 oz. per ton. Messrs. Sligo Bros, were working the Blue
Slate Reef and crushing in the Croesus battery. The Consoli-
dated Claim was worked by Eggers and Peddie, and 70 tons
is said to have yielded 80 oz. McConnell and Wright at-
tempted to work the Jacob Reef, but owing to the smallness of
the lode gave it up ; the return for 8 tons is stated to have
been 20 oz. From Kitchener's Fortune, Callery and McConnell
crushed 6-3 tons for a yield of 70 oz. Scarcity of water re-
tarded continuous working on these reefs. Messrs. Sligo Bros,
had a good crushing in 1898, and were said to have struck a
block of stone supposed to yield 5 oz. to 6oz. per ton. They
crushed 500 tons for themselves for a yield of 339 oz., and for
small parties they crushed 169 tons for a total yield of 263 oz.
Callery and Son and Connell an-d party also had good crush-
ings.

Nenthorn was pretty well deserted in 1900, and very little
work has been done since that year. A few leases are still
held by those who know the value of the field, in anticipation
of a revival of interest in this locality. As at Hindon, the
best results would be procured from this field by a company
holding an extensive area, and having sufficient capital to
develop the reefs and to provide the plant necessary to treat
the stone in a scientific manner. Good yields were obtained
by the old-fashioned plate amalgamation, but the mineralised
nature of the stone prevented any possibility of a high ex-
traction.

Hindon.

Some well-defined reefs were prospected in 1877 in Mul-
locky Gully, Hindon, and there was reason to believe that

174 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

the reef would be payably auriferous. Warden Maitland
reported that the New Caledonia Quartz-mining Company,
operating at the Game Hen Reef, Hindon, erected machinery
in 1878; Messrs. W. and A. T. Kenny were also erecting
machinery. As there are numerous outcrops of quartz reefs,
more or less auriferous, throughout the district, it was con-
fidently expected that they would turn out satisfactorily.
During 1879 the expectations regarding these reefs were not
realised ; the failure is attributed not only to the want of
capital, but also to the scarcity of water in the summer
months. Two companies erected machinery — namely, the New
Caledonia Company and the Hindon Company (late Kenny and
party). About 1,000 tons was crushed, ^delding at the rate of
15 dwt. per, ton. There was no improvement in the district
during 1880, the absence of water and cheap fuel proving too
great a drawback to success ; the stone crushed during the
year yielded from 5 dwt. to 17 dwt. per ton. An abundant
supplj^ of water would have been beneficial both for quartz and
alluvial mining. The Just-in-Time Quartz-mining Company
erected a battery during that year. With the exception of
50 tons, chiefiy test crushings by the Just-in-Time Company,
no stone had been crushed during 1881 ; the stone crushed by
the Just-in-Time yielded 10 dwt. per ton. In the Zealandia
Company's lease the reef had been traced to a considerable
depth, while Harrison and Marriott had a well-defined reef
in the lease known as the Gladstone. The Gladstone Company
crushed 100 tons during 1882, which yielded 15 dwt. to the
ton. The Game Hen and Zealandia properties also received
further prospecting. No stone was crushed in 188-3. About
730 tons of quartz was crushed in 1884 by the Don Quartz-
mining Company, the yield being a little over 5 dwt. per ton.
Lyders and party, who o^^^led the crushing plant of the Don
Company, crushed several hundred tons of stone, which
yielded from 4 dwt. to 16 dwt. per ton.

Warden Carew predicted a prospect of renewed enterprise
in this district in 1888. Lyders and party crushed at their
battery during 1887 the following parcels of stone : Lyders
and Hilgendorf, 350 tons, yielding 6 dwt. per ton; P. A..

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 175

Lyders, 150 tons, yielding 5 dwt. per ton ; A. T. Kenny,
70 tons, yielding 4 dwt. per ton; A S. F. Parker, 30 tons,
yielding 7 dwt. per ton. A Melbourne company was formed
during 1888 to provide capital to develop these reefs, and
machinery was being erected in 1889. Lyders and party put
through 200 tons, which yielded an average of 8 dwt. per ton.
The Mount Hyde Company, mentioned as erecting machinery
in 1889, was unfortunate, and the property fell into the hands
of Begg and Co. At a small battery in Machine Creek about
200 tons of stone was crushed, yielding an average of 7^ dwt.
per ton. Begg and Co. crushed 250 tons of stone in 1890 for
a yield of 7 dwt. per ton; Kenny and party crushed 30 tons
from the Zealandia Reef and obtained 1 oz. per ton. Begg
and party's operations were a failure in 1891, chiefly owing
to Fhe stone requiring special treatment. The quartz was
found to be highly pyritiferous. Sheppard and party crushed
a quantity- of stone from the Gladstone Reef, and this yielded
from C dwt. to 11 dwt. per ton. They continued to work for
a few years, as they were able to make small wages.

Very little was done here during 1895, and the district has
been practically deserted ever since. The reefs in this locality
would be best worked by a powerful company holding an exten-
sive area, and having large crushing plant and reduction-
works, in order to gain as high an extraction of gold as pos-
sible.

This district is reached by way of the Otago Central Rail-
way from Dunedin.

Barewood.

On Barewood Run, the property of the Otago University
Council, several promising reefs were opened up in 1890, and
satisfactory trial crushings obtained. Portion of this endow-
ment was brought under the operation of the Mining Act in
1890. Six hundred and fifty tons of stone was conveyed to
the Saddle Hill battery during that year, and yielded at the
rate of 14 dwt. per ton. A number of the holdings were aban-
doned in 1891, but Porter and Hocking and Wolters and
party carried on active operations during that year. The

176 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

former party had sunk to a deptli of 100 ft., and crushed
500 tons for a yield of 280 oz. of gold. Wolters and party
erected a five-head battery, and crushed 540 tons for an
average yield of 10 dwt. Quartz crushed by Wolters and party
in 1892 yielded from 10 dwt. to 17 dwt. per ton; while Porter
and Hocking (tributers to the Barewood Company) crushed
250 tons for a yield of 115 cz. Porter and party abandoned
the Barewood Company's mine in 1893, but the company pre-
pared to further develop the property. On the foot-wall side
the lode intermixed with scheelite, which was to be saved.
In Donald Reid's mine the shaft was sunk to a depth of 150 ft.,
and 1,447 tons of stoce crushed for a yield of 549 oz. of gold.
Wolters and party and the Barewood Company worked
throughout the year 1894, and in the same year P. A. Lyders
opened up a reef on the opposite side of the Taieri, on the
Otago Museum Endowment Reserve, where he erected a battery
and crushed 90 tons of stone for a yield of 7 dwt. per ton.
During 1895 interest was renewed in this field. The party
known as Wolters and party was formed into a registered com-
pany, known as the Barewood Quartz-mining Company, and
this company, from 380 tons of stone, obtained 330 oz. of
gold. As the result of prospecting by Lyders and party,
several licensed holdings were taken up on the Museum Endow-
ment.

In 1896 two companies, with large capital, completed
arrangements for further prospecting and opening out the
reefs, preliminary to erecting powerful machinery. During
1 897 Lyders and party, of the Golden Burn Company, con-
tinued to work ; the stone was found to be charged with
arsenical pyrites. In the same j'ear prospecting operations were
being conducted in the Barewood Mine by the Anglo-Continental
Gold Syndicate and the Jjondon and New Zealand Explora-
tion Company, who were jointly interested in the venture.
Three shafts were sunk. Warden Carew, reporting for 1898,
stated that quartz-reefing was at a standstill, the Barewood
reefs being apparently too low-grade to be profitably worked
under existing circumstances. Owing to litigation the Bare-
wood Company did no work during 1899. In 1900 Alexander

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: -M::

'^&\

NET? ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 177

Gibson's claim employed eleven men; the yield of gold for
the twelve months was valued at £885. There was nothing else
done during 1900.

During 1901 the water was pumped out of the Anglo-Con-
tinental Company's No. 3 shaft, and the west level was con-
tinued. This was done by Mr. Wolters, acting for the Bare-
wood Gold-mining Company. The stone on the foot-wall was
found to be payable, thus giving the mine a new lease of life.

James Hunter sunk a shaft on a reef 4 ft. wide at Sutton.
Stone tested at the Dunedin School of Mines returned at the
rate of 13 dwt. to 18 dwt. per ton.

During 1902 the Barewood Gold-mining Company ex-
tended the 125 ft. level and stoped out to the rise; the stone
yielded about 12 dwt. in the crushing. The tunnel on the
Sutton Reef was in a total distance of 350 ft. to the face.
Operations in the Barewood Mine were extended to the 188 ft.
level during 1903, and stoping was conducted to the rise;
2,083 tons of stone was crushed for a return of 1,691 oz. re-
torted gold, and 100 oz. additional was obtained by treating
the tailings with cyanide.

Operations were continued during 1904. 2,209 tons of
quartz yielded gold to the value of £3,370. The mine con-
tinued to be worked during 1905, and a large battery was
erected, driven by an oil-engine. Two cyanide plants were also
erected to treat the large amount of tailings saved. The con-
centrates were shipped to Australia for treatment. The mine
still continues in operation in 1906.

The Sutton Reef was further developed in 1905, and pre-
parations were made to develop it on a large scale, but the
quartz did not turn out according to expectations. The mine
is still being prospected in 1906.

This district is reached by the Otago Central Railway from
Dunedin.

Serpentine.

Prior to 1876 quartz veins were prospected in this locality,
but with no particular success. Some promising discoveries

178 NEW ZEALAND MININU HANDBOOK.

were made in 1877, and a company erected machinery, other
leases being taken up in the locality. The Serpentine Com-
pany obtained good prospects in 1878 from the German Jack's
Eeef, but the intrusion of a large mass of mullock in the reef
baffled their efforts. Other reefs were discovered in Scandi-
navian Gully and Golden Gully, which showed fair prospects.
The Serpentine Quartz-mining Company ceased working
during 1879 ; but, in spite of this fact, several new leases
were applied for in 1880. Warden Robinson reported in 1882
that the industry was developing into importance here, and
some very encouraging trial crushings were made. Several
fresh leases were granted in 1883, but operations were at a
standstill at the end of that year, sufficient capital not being
available to develop the reefs. A company was formed in
1886, called the Golden Gully Quartz-mining Company, to
work Turnbull's old reef, which gave good results a few years
previously. The Golden Gully's crushings were a disappoint-
ment, as a lot of casing and mullock, which it was thought
would paj- more than expenses, was crushed. The reef was
fair-sized, and showed gold. The Golden Gully continued to
carry on operations during 1889. A main adit was driven
1,354 ft., and connected with the surface by a pass 230 ft.
One hundred and thirty tons of stone was crushed, yielding
221 oz. of gold, being at the rate of 1 oz. ]5dwt. per ton.
Work was carried on at the Golden Gully Mine for some time
during 1890, that being the only work carried on in the
locality.

All work ceased in this district in 1891, and very little
was done on these reefs until 1899, when J. Cogan opened up
a quartz reef estimated to yield from 10 dwt. to 15 dwt. per
ton. This venture was not, however, a success, and mining
has latterly been confinOT to alluvial workings. Cogan's
battery is still on the ground, and there is here an extensive
field for prospecting. There can be little doubt but that up-to-
date methods of mining and scientific treatment of the quartz
will enable many of the reefs in the Serpentine district, as
well as at Rough Ridge and elsewhere, to be worked profit-
ably.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 179

Entrance to this district is by way of the Otago Central
luiilway to Waipiata; thence about thirty miles inland.

Otago Central : Rough Ridge and Ophir (or Black's).

Quartz-mining was first started at Rough Ridge about 1868,
and carried on for some time. The Ida Valley Quartz-mining
Company and the Great Eastern Company were in operation
about 1872. The mines at Rough Ridge ceased working in
1879, and very little more was done until 1884, in which year
a small company, named the Otago Central Gold-mining Com-
pany, was formed for the purpose of working quartz reefs at
Rough Ridge. For the last twenty years attempts had been
made to work these reefs, as high as 3 oz. per ton having been
obtained in some cases. The Ridge is described by Warden
Hawkins as a perfect network of reefs, leaders, and lodes,
ranging in size from 10 in. to 5 ft. The yields averaged from
10 dwt. to 3 oz. per ton. A large quantity of sulphide mineral
was found in the stone ; this had a considerable efiect on the
saving of the gold. The Otago Central Company, formed in
1884, was not successful, and went into liquidation in 1887.
The Progress Gold-mining Company was registered in 1886.
The Great Eastern Company was very successful, and for eight
months, prior to May, 1888, produced 820 oz. of gold from
400 tons of quartz. The company was working in the 420 ft.
level. There were several different lodes on the property, and
the one then being worked was heavily impregnated with iron-
pyrites and zinc-blende, both of which minerals were auri-
ferous. Chemical tests made of the tailings proved that the
Great Eastern Company lost nearly 2 oz. of gold for every
ounce saved by the battery, and it was proposed to erect
chlorination works on the mine. The Progress Company did
a good deal of development-work during the year 1888. The
Great Eastern obtained fair returns during that year, but the
mine was handed over to a London syndicate, which purchased
that and other mines on the Ridge, and machinery of the most
approved type was to be erected. Unfortunately, the negotia-
tions with the London syndicate fell through in 1890. An
expert inspected the properties during 1890 on behalf of the

180 NKW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

London syndicate, but the negotiations were not successful,
and the mines were closed down. Perry and party did some
work on these reefs, with good results, in 1892, and pur-
chased the Progress and Great Eastern mines the following
year, and continued to work upon them. They crushed
200 to 300 tons of stone dTiring 1894, but the yield was only
equal to 8 dwt. per ton. Latterly their attention had been
devoted to the Otago Central Reef, from which the quartz was
expected to yield 15 dwt. per ton. In 1895 some special claims
were taken up, including those known as the Progress, Central,
Great Eastern, &c. It was proposed to form a company, with
a large capital, to be floated on the London market. The yield
in 1888 and 1889 showed an average of over 1 oz. to the ton;
but samples sent Home for treatment gave returns up to 9 oz.
per ton. Nothing practical came of the long-pending negotia-
tions between the local company and the London company
in 1896; no progress was made in 1897, and very little has
been done during the past nine years. Perry had a few crush-
in gs from time to time of stone taken out from surface work-
ings. With the advance in the scientific treatment of complex
ores, such as exist here and elsewhere, it may be confidently
expected that these reefs will be profitably worked at some
future date, should sufficient capital be expended in reopening
the mines and equipping them with the most improved appli-
ances. The locality is reached by the Otago Central Railway
from Dunedin.

During 1887 a company, calling itself " Green's Reef and
Seam Workings Company," was floated to work the holding
of a miner named Green, who in 1885 found gold in an ex-
tensive seam of decomposed schist on a spur above Black's
Township. The seam was very rich in places, but the opera-
tions of the company were not successfiil ; it had a little over
a year of existence, and was wound up in 1889. The company
treated the material at first by Wall rolls, but this machine
was not suitable. Then a puddling-machine was erected, but
200 tons of stuff only yielded at the rate of 3 gr. of gold per
ton. Next, a line of sluice-boxes was laid down, and 597 tons
was treated by sluicing for a total return of 2oz. 1 dwt. In 1889

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 181

Mr. Green, the discoverer of the above seam, found a new
reef to the north of the reef called Corrigall's. On this latter
reef he erected a battery of eight heads to crush the materials,
which could not be classed as quartz, being more of a ferru-
ginous quartz conglomerate, without defined walls. A miner
named Burren was also sluicing similar material, and saved
the quartz which contained gold. The prospects on these pro-
perties were not very encouraging, and but little work was
done during the next few years. In 1891 a reef called
Ryan's, at Black's, was prospected, and a shaft 45 ft. in depth
was sunk, but the venture was not successful. Several claims
were hefd in 1892 in the vicinity of Green's seam workings,
but no work was done owing to the absence of crushing-power.
In 1895 Mr. Green returned and took up his original claim;
he did a lot of preparatory work, and was sanguine of the re-
sults, but no good results were achieved. Considerable excite-
ment was caused in 1896 by the discovery of what promised
to be a highly payable quartz reef some two miles and a half
from Ophir, in a south-easterly direction on the range divid-
ing the Manuherikia Valley and Ida Valley. Gold showed
freely in the stone. The discoverer, Mr. Green, sent a small
quantity to the School of Mines, Dune-din, and the return was
at the rate of 7oz. per ton. A further lot of 30 cwt. yielded
on rough treatment a return equal to 2 oz. per ton. The reef
was acquired by a small local syndicate, but for various reasons
the venture was not a success, although a considerable amount
of money was expended in prospecting it. In 1900 this quartz
claim was again taken up. In 1901 the Clyde Enterprise
Quartz Prospecting Company took up 50 acres under a pro-
specting license over the area formerly held by the Green's
Reef and Seam Workings Company. The old shaft was put
in repair and a level started ofi at the 70 ft. level to search for
a quartz reef, but payable results were not obtained, and the
venture was abandoned. Since 1901 quartz-mining in this
district has been practically at a standstill, although the
opinion is held that payable reefs will yet be found on the
Raggedy Range and Blackstone Hill. Very rich alluvial
diggings have been worked on these ranges.

182 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Southland: Liongwood and Waiau.

Warden Wood reported that in 1887 prospecting for quartz
reefs was being prosecuted on the eastern side of the Longwooi
Range, Southland. A well-defined reef, running north-west
and south-east, was discovered, and found to be rich to a depth
of 30 ft., at which depth it was 2 ft. in width. Owing to a
partnership dispute this reef was not worked during 18.78, but
operations were continued in 1879, when an adit level was
driven. At that time the want of capital to develop these reefs
was felt, and the thickly timbered and broken nature of the
country rendered prospecting a slow process. There was a de-
pressing lull in this district for some time, but renewed
activity was displayed during 1879. In several of the claims
leaders were found carrying gold, but large reefs had not been
found. The Longwood Reefing Company was crushing in
1880 ; the stone was said to be of good quality. The Longwood
Reefing Company and the Geelong Company suspended opera-
tions in 1881, as the stone was then too poor to pay for ex-
traction and treatment. Further to the east, in the neigh-
bourhood of Specimen Gully, good samples of stone were taken
from the Arethusa and Pioneer Claims ; the latter, from a
sample of 19 cwt. of stone sent to the Ballarat School of Mines,
obtained a return of 19 dwt. of gold to the ton. A battery was
erected at Riverton about this period for testing parcels of
stone. Warden McCulloch, reporting in 1882, described the
industry in this district as being in a state of stagnation ;
none of the mines was worked during that year. Nothing
was done here in connection with the reefs until 1895, when
the Riverton Mining Association sent out two parties of pro-
spectors in February, and within two months two reefs were
reported to have been discovered. The long-looked-for reefs
were not, however, found in 1896, but prospecting operations
were still being carried on. In 1897 n subsidised prospecting-
tunnel was driven 950 ft. by the Longwood Quartz-mining Com-
pany, b'lt the reef was not struck at that distance.

A trial shaft was put down 32 ft. at South Riverton to prove
a reef found on the surface. The work was undertaken bv
the Riverton Prospecting Association.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 183-

The Longwood prospecting-tunnel cut a reef in 1898, at a
distance of 994 ft. The reef was 2 ft. wide. Some work was-
done upon it, but unfortunately nothing payable was found.
Operations were suspended in 1899, and very little attention
has been paid to the quartz reefs since.

Reports have been made from time to time of the discovery
of quartz reefs in the dense bush country across the Waiau
River, but no definite information has so far been received of
any finds.

PreserYation Inlet.

The discovery in 1892 of a rich auriferous lode, crossing
the bed of Wilson's River, gave an impetus to prospecting
for reefs at the Inlet. The first claim was called the Pro-
spectors', and four other holdings were taken up on the
northern extension ; three were granted on the southern end
Another quartz reef was found near Cuttle Cove, on the oppo-
site side of Preservation Inlet. Other prospecting was being
carried on in 1892, but the country was rough and covered
with dense, swampy moss and forest. Very little development
took place during 1893. The Golden Site Company acquired
the Prospectors' Claim, and sunk a shaft and constructed an
adit. Arrangements were made to erect a battery to be driven
by water-power. The Hesperides, Surprise, Lucky Shot, and
Rata Claims were prospected with little or no success during
that year. Very rich gold-bearing lumps of quartz were found
in Cuttle Cove, but the solid lode was not discovered.

During 1894 the Golden Site Company erected a battery,
and between August and October crushed 640 tons of quartz
for a yield of 666 oz. of gold. This quartz was all taken from
the south side of Wilson's River, where the reef averaged
S ft. in width. The battery returns for 1894 showed that
1,155 tons of stone was crushed for a total yield of 875 oz. of
gold, but only the Hesperides and Triangle Extended mines,
on the south side of the Golden Site, were developed, very little
' being done towards working the quartz lodes in the district,
and operations were suspended in the holding on the north
side.

184 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

The Morning Star Company was formed in 1894, with a
oopital of £12,000, to work a mine on the mainland, facing
Longbeach. A ton of stone sent from this mine to Messrs.
Wylie and Scott's battery at Invercargill yielded 9 oz. 14 dwt.
A rich auriferous lode was found on Crayfish Island, in the
Nugget Claim, where 95 oz. of gold was broken out by hand.
A trial crushing from the St. George and Crown Claims, at
Cuttle Cove, is said to have yielded 1 oz. 7 dwt. per ton.

" Rocks of the Lower Silurian formation abound in this
locality, and three distinct lines of reef -bearing rock are trace-
able within the bounds of this formation . (1.) That of the
Golden Site, in the middle of Wilson's River Gorge, and ex-
tending south to the coast-line at the mouth of Kiwi Stream.
(2.) That beginning at Cuttle Cove, and extending through
Steep-to Island (Crayfish) to the Longbeach and Morning Star
line of reef. This line extends south across Sealers' Creek to
Wilson's River, two miles below the Golden Site Claim, and
has been cut in the road formed to that claim. (3.) This line
of reef-bearing country begins between Cuttle Cove and South-
port, and forms a very considerable display of reefs and
leaders on Cavern Head, and thence extends through Coal
Island to Observation Point, on the mainland opposite. Below
Sealers' Creek this line is lost in the disappearance of the
Silurian rocks below the coal-bearing rocks of the coast-line."
The foregoing description is by Mr. Alexander McKay, F.G.S.,
Government Geologist, who visited the district in 1895. Quartz
lodes are rare in the granite formation to the eastward of the
Silurian rocks.

One lode was being prospected in Isthmus Sound in 1895.
The ore was a strange admixture of iron, copper, lead, zinc,
gold, and silver. Wheik comparatively pure or dressed to a
high percentage the galena was said to yield 100 oz. to 120 oz.
of silver to the ton, and as much as 7 dwt. of gold.

The Golden Site Mine made little progress during 1895,
and was closed down towards the end of that year, pending the
raising of further capital to develop the lodes; 111 oz. of gold
was obtained from 454 tons of stone. The Morning Star Mine
continued to work with vigour, and the battery-power was

.^"■h

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Uimn.j llnii.lluH,!.

1X1 LINK, DiOXMS'J'ON ("WeS'ITOUT CoAI, Co\rPANT, LnilTED).

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 185

doubled during that year ; 1,335 tons of quartz yielded 728 02.
of gold.

Several reefs were found at Sealers' Creek, but they were
not opened out. A good deal of prospecting was done on
Steep-to (or Crayfish) Island for a rich reef supposed to exist,
but this had proved a vain endeavour. Sufiioient prospect-
ing had not been done to prove the value of the reef at Cuttle
Cove, near Cavern Head. Mr. McKay examined several out-
crops in Cuttle Cove, but pronounced them to be too thin for
profitable working, unless very rich. Samples yielded only
traces of gold. At Cavern Head there is a regular network of
reefs and quartz leaders.

The Morning Star Mine continued to work during 1896.
The total yield of gold since commencement of operations was
valued at .£20,000. The returns for the year ending the 31st
March, 1897, showed that 3,140 tons of stone was crushed for
a yield of 3,420 oz. 14 dwt. of gold, valued at £4 2s. per ounce.
The Alpha Gold-mining Company was formed in 1896 to work
Longney's Claim, Sealers' Creek, but very little work had been
done. A well-defined reef was traced in the Golden Site Ex-
tended Company's claim, and a trial crushing gave favourable
results. All the claims were held under protection in 1896.
At Isthmus Sound the stone taken from Bradshaw's Reef was
highly mineralised, and it was proposed to ship a parcel of
ore to England for treatment.

The Morning Star was the only mine producing gold in
1897, in which year 139 oz. of gold was obtained. The Alpha
Mine was being developed, awaiting the erection of the battery.
The Golden Site Mine was being further developed, but no
crushing was done. Other mines in the district were doing
very little, except the Golden Site Extended, at which mine a
shaft 210 ft. in depth was sunk and levels driven.

In 1898, 3,733 tons of quartz was crushed in the Morning
Star battery for a yield of 2,060 oz. of gold, valued at over
£8,000, and a further yield of 93 oz. was obtained by amalga-
mation of the tailings. The Golden Site Extended also started
crushing, and obtained 301 oz. of gold from 1,107 tons of
quartz; while th" A'^i^n n/-,mnaTiv crushed 338 tons of quartz

186 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

for a yield of 93 oz. The Sunrise Company started driving
tunnels on property adjoining the Morning Star, and a reef
€ ft. in width was cut in No. 1 tunnel.

During 1899 the Morning Star Company crushed 1,033 tons
for a yield of 432 oz. of gold, valued at £1,770. The resources
of the mine were approaching exhaustion at the end of that,
year, in consequence of the little development- work that was,
carried out. A good deal of work was done on the Alpha Mine,
but only 22 oz. of gold was obtained from 446 tons of quartz.
The stone was low-grade, as the best crushing only returned
5 dwt. per ton. The Go.'den Site Extended Company's holding
comprised five claims — viz.. Break of Day, 30 acres; Heather
Bell, 30 acres ; Golden Site, 30 acres ; Christmas Eve, 30
acres ; Hesperides, 24 acres. A lot of work was done on
the property, but only 274 tons of stone was crushed, yielding
-55 oz.

A shaft 80 ft. deep was sunk on the Tarawera Gold-mining
Company's property. Isthmus Sound, but the stone would re-
quire to be shipped to a reduction-works for treatment.
While prospecting by surface trenching Messrs. Robinson and
Williams unearthed a reef 18 in. wide, and showing gold
freely. A trial crushing from a reef at Cuttle Cove yielded
1 oz. of gold per ton.

The returns from, the Inlet mines were not very large
during 1900. The Morning Star crushed 776 tons for 365 oz.
of gold, valued at £1,496. The Golden Site Extended crushed
5 tons for 1 oz. 18 dwt., and the Alpha Quartz-mining Com-
pany secured 264 oz. 17 dwt. from 1,364 tons of quartz. There
were no developments to record during that year, but in the
year 1901 the New Star Company's tributers, operating on the
Morning Star Claim, crushed 15 tons for 11 oz. of gold. The
Golden Site Extended recovered 9 oz. from 42| tons, and the
Alpha Mining Company crushed 770 tons of quartz for a yield
of over 163 oz. Three tons of stone was taken from the Venus
Claim (late Mavourneen), Crayfish Island, and crushed at the
Morning Star battery, for a return at the rate of 16 dwt. per
ton. In June, 1901, the Cuttle Cove Gold-mining Company's
mine was let on tribute to two miners, who took out a trial

NEW ZEAL.'.XD MINING HANDBOOK. 187

crushing of loj tons of stone; this was crushed at the Morn-
ing Star battery for a yield of 11 oz. 13 dwt. retorted gold
McQueen and party extended an adit through hard country
to intercept the main reef in the New Venus (or Monte
Christo) Claim in 1902, but without success.

In the year 1902 the New Star Company secured 113 oz.
15 dwt. retorted gold from 178 tons of quartz, and from the
Alpha Mine 306 tons were crushed for a yield of 25 oz. re-
torted gold. Matters were very quiet on the Preservation
field during 1903. The New Star Company had an unfortu-
nate year, and was compelled to go into liquidation ; 99 tons
of quartz was crushed for a return of 26 oz. of gold. The
mine was worked on tribute during that year by Hawkins,
Juncker, and party.

All work in connection with quartz-mining was stationary
throughout 1904, although efEorts were made to resume work
in the Morning Star Mine. This state of inactivity continued
throughout 1905, but in 1906 some prospecting was under-
taken, and rich stone was reported to have been found, taken,
it was said, from the newly discovered extension of the Morn-
ing Star Reef. There is an extensive field here yet unpro-
speoted owing to the difScult nature of the country.

Access may be had by steamer from Invercargill, or by

several diihcult overland routes.

[The early information in these notes is mainly culled from reports
by Wardens and officials published in the annual reports issued by the
Mines Department. — Author.]

MOUNT IDA DISTRICT.

By Warden McEnnis.

Gold was discovered in the Hogburn Gully, on the present
site of the Town of Naseby, in June, 1863, by a miner named
William Parker and his mates. The Hogburn is a small stream
which takes its rise in Mount Ida, and joins the Taieri River

188 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

above the lake. Soon after gold was found at Hamilton's,
followed by fresh discoveries at Hyde, Sowburn, Kyeburn, and
Fullerton's. The following year gold was discovered at Black-
stone Hill and Dunstan Creek (or St. Bathan's), and shortly
after at Cambrian's. The Mount Ida Goldfield embraces
within its area a large number of streams, all of which have
been proved to be auriferous. A few months after the firs!
discovery, when it was estimated there were five thousand
people on the field, the escort brought to Dunedin 4,320 oz.
of gold. The field has been continuously worked since then,
and sluicing has been very extensively carried on.*

The operations at some of the principal mines in the dis-
trict during the past year may be briefly summarised as
follows : —

Macrae's Flat.

Gold and Soheelite.

The usual amount of mining has been carried on during the
year ended the 31st December, 1905. There has been more
activity than usual in quartz-mining, and several fresh areas
have been taken up, but in most cases not much has been done,
as a want of capital hinders eflScient work.

The Golden Bar Mine has been very successful during the
year, and has paid handsome dividends to the owners. To-
wards the end of the year the good stone gave out, but a fresh
make was discovered.

The Ounce Claim has been worked by W. Lidstone, and a
small quantity of stone treated, which, it is stated, has left
very little margin of profit.

The Maritana Claim, owned by C. McGill, has done a con-
siderable amount of work, and produced a small quantity of
scheelite, but the gold-returns are rather small. The mine has
been connected with the battery by a three-rail tramway, and
an oil-engine put in to augment the water-power.

The Golden Point Mine, owned and worked by W. and G.
Donaldson, has been in regular operation during the j-ear, and
employed an average of twenty-five men at mine and battery.

' Handbook of New Zealand Mines, 1887," p.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 189

The low level has been extended, and is now following the reef
to the dip, which contains very good gold-bearing stone. The
yield of gold has been satisfactory, and 60 to 70 tons of scheelite
has been produced during 1905, of an average value of about
£80 per ton.

The Mount Highlay Mine changed hands during the year,
and the purchasers have done a considerable amount of work.
They put in a concentrator and saved some scheelite with it.
Four or five men are employed, but the battery has not been
kept constantly going, although there is a prospect of more
vigorous work being undertaken.

The Gold and Tungsten Mine, near Mount Highlay, is one
of the most recently taken up properties, and, although it at
first consisted of six parties, it is now entirely in the hands
of Messrs. W. and G. Donaldson,- who have spent £1,500 on
a plant, which is situated on a branch of the Mareburn Creek,
and within 500 yards of the mine. The plant consists of a
receiving bin and screen, a coarse rock-breaker, a fine crusher
(Blake and Marsden), ore-feeder (Challenge), a 5 ft. Huntington
roller mill, copper plates, and a Wilfley concentrator (latest
pattern). An oil-engine will be used to actuate the plant till a
large steam boiler and engine are put in. The engine will
have ample power to drive an enlarged plant. The reefs con-
tain very fair gold, and one has a good percentage of scheelite
in it. Messrs. Donaldson believe in the Huntington mill for
crushing scheelite-ore, as their experience has shown them that
there is nothing like the loss in slimes (and scheelite is very apt
to slime) with the mill as with modern stamps. The plant
will employ ten or twelve men.

The Burster Sluicing Claim, situate on Mount Burster,
Mount Ida Range, was a notable claim, considering it was at
an elevation of 4,000 ft. above sea-level. This, I understand,
was at the highest elevation (save Mount Criffel workings) of
any gold-sluicing in New Zealand. The water was obtained
by several races, circling round the mountains, catching the
snow-water. The claim is now practically worked out, but the
owners have men on tribute clearing up small patches and
prospecting.

190 NEW ZKALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Matakanui.

The Undaunted Gold-mining Company has paid in divi-
dends £1,125 for the year 1905, and won 618 oz. of gold, the
number of men employed on an average being nine. This
company has the electric light installed. The face operated
upon is 43 ft. deep. The water-supply was very slack from
Marcli to end of August, 1905, the autumn being the driest
ever experienced, and the winter the mildest, with scarcely any
snow or frost ; but fair rain fell during the last four months
of the year. The company holds 114 acres, hydraulic elevat-
ing being the method employed in working the claim. This
company has paid £11,250 in dividends, and expended
£16,953, its paid-up capital amounting to £15,000.

The Tinker's Gold-mining Company paid in dividends
during the year £1,687 (making a total of £5,438), and won
739 oz. of gold. The company is elevating from a depth of
60 ft. Claim, 87 acres.

The Matakanui Gold-mining Company paid in dividends
in 1905 £1,049, and won 538 oz. of gold. It is now working
a rich run of gold, and elevating 65 ft. Claim, 45 acres.

St. Bathan's.

The scarcity of water during the past year retarded mining
operations considerably, but the returns, nevertheless, were
satisfactory, and have given hopes of future permanence.

The United M. and E. Company obtained about 850 oz. for
a little more than four months' work. The dry weather and
heavy frosts caused the water-supply to be very intermittent
and small. This company has struck a good run of gold.

Tho Scandinavian Company has done but little work on
the claim in St. Bathan's basin, owing to protracted litiga-
tion. This company intends to erect an up-to-date and power-
ful plant to elevate from the lowest level — about 160 ft. On
its Surface Hill Claim this company is elevating from a depth
of 120 ft. The company has the best water-supply in the dis-
trict.

NEW ZEAr^AND MINING HANDBOOK. 191

NASEBY DISTRICT.

By R. MuKRAY, Manager Government Water-races.

Within a radius of four miles of the Township of Naseby
the principal gold-mining operations in the County of Manio-
toto have been carried on during the last forty-two years.
Until recent times the method of working was by ground-
sluicing. The water supplied from private races in the early
days being very inadequate and intermittent, the Government
had by 1887 constructed the Mount Ida Water-race, thus allow-
ing a large amount of ground, wherever fall could be got, to
be sluiced away. This became limited within recent years,
and, in order to get at the flat beds of the creeks, a different
method of working had to be adopted — that of hydraulic
elevating — for which the ground is very suitable, it being
principally a quartz wash, and free from any large quantities
of boulders. The average depth is about 16 ft., but to get a
dump for the tailings the washdirt has to be elevated to a
height of about 26 ft., the number of olaijns at present at
work using all the water available. During the dredging boom
a good deal of this country was taken up for dredging, but
from the consistent nature of the auriferous washdirt this
method proved a failure. By the hydraulic-elevating system
the wash is completely pulverised, letting the gold free.

In the Kyeburn, Patearoa, and Blaokstone Hill districts,
with the exception of one elevating claim at Patearoa, gold-
mining is carried on by ground-sluicing, all the water being
in the hands of private parties. At Patearoa a private party
of four, about two years ago, started to construct four miles
of a race at a high level to carry ten heads out of the Sow-
burn Creek, to work ground in Caledonian Gully, but it is
not yet completed ; they have had a good deal of rock-cutting
to contend with, but evidently have faith in the venture.

The length of the Government main race is 66 miles
65 chains. Besides this, there are about twenty-four miles
of distributing races from it. The Blackstone Hill Kace,

192 STEW ZEALAND MHi

owned by the Government, is sixteen miles in length, making
a total length of races of 106 miles. Only twelve miles of the
Blackstone Hill Race is in use, supplying R. Johnston and
Sons, who are ground-sluicing.

Besides the lignite-beds that are at present being worked
in the district, there is a very large area of this coal not
generally known at the East Marionburn, a tributary of the
Manuherikia River. It is traceable for a distance along the
foot of the Hawkdun Range upwards for about twenty miles,
where the East Marionburn cuts through it. It is of a much
better heating and lasting quality than that of any lignite
now being used in the district. It is about seven miles in-
wards towards the range from Hill's Creek Township.

In connection with mining in this district the principal
drawback is the want of water.

MINING AT LITTLE KYEBURN,

By William Smith, Little Kyeburn.

Little Kyeburn, properly speaking, is the right-hand
branch of Kyeburn Creek, and at no period of its history has
it ever been noted for its large finds of gold, although gold-
mining has been carried on in the locality for upwards of
forty years. There is a large area of auriferous ground, but
most of it is much too poor to pay with present known ap-
pliances, and, with the exception of two or three parties of
Chinamen fossicking in the bed of the creek, there are only
three parties at present dirrying on mining crerations in the
locality. The first and most important of these parties is
W. H. George and his two sons, who obtain their supply of
water from the Undaunted Creek, a tributary of the Little
Kyeburn. The water is conveyed in a water-race about two
miles in length to their claim, which is situated on the bank of
Deep Creek, about half a mile above its junction with the

WB'\V''^®SES]SrD mining" HANDBOOK . 193

Little Kyeburn. The ground is all river-gravel, and very
stony, and is operated on with about 800 ft. of pipes, varying
from 15 in. to 7 in., with a 2Jin. jet. Owing to the stony
nature of the ground, it Just about pays working-expenses.

Philip Brown and W. Smith's claims are about a mile and
a half -distant from that of W. H. George and Sons, and on a
higher elevation. The water-rights of these respective parties
are not so good as that of the Georges', but the ground being
of a lighter nature, and generally very hard, they can work
with a .smaller head of water with just about the same results
— namely, pays working-expenses.

Some few years ago a dredge was put on to work the bed
of the Little Kyeburn, but it turned out a failure, and after
wards a sluicing company tried hydraulic elevating; but,
owing to the ground being too stony, and also too shallow,
causing too much shifting of elevator, that venture also was
a failure.

GOLD AND SCHEELITE MINING AT
MACRAE'S FLAT.

The Golden Point Mine has an area of 84 acres, and is
owned by Messrs. W. and G. Donaldson. This property is
opened by five tunnels, which are driven a total distance of
3,000 ft., and intersect two lines of reef varying in width
from 3 ft. to 8 ft., the quantity of ore available being esti-
mated at 200,000 tons. Developments comprise 600 ft. of
crosscuts, a total length of 5,000 ft. having been driven on
the course of various lodes. In connection with the reduction-
works a ten-head stamp-battery, driven by steam and water,
is employed, the average duty per stamp per diem ranging
from 3 to 3J tons. The gold is saved by amalgamation on
plates and mortar-boxes, concentration, and treatment of tail-
ings by cyanide, a little of which is used in the mortar-boxes.
During the year 1905, 3,100 tons of ore yielded 782 oz. of
gold, value £3,120. The total quantity of ore crushed was

7— Mining Hap^roofc

194 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOQS

about 18,000 tons, yielding 5,000 oz. of gold, valued at
£20,000, the average value of the gold being £3 19s. per
ounce. About 400 tons of scheelite was also produced, valued
at £24,000. The total expenditure in wages to 31st December,
1905, amounted to £22,000. On an average twenty-five men
are employed in the mine, and five in the reduction-works.
Value of plant, &c., £10,500.

Until recently the Golden Point has been the only mine
in New Zealand that has been a regular producer of scheelite
as well as gold. Scheelite has been mined during the past
eight years, concentrated, and shipped to Europe, where it
i.s manufactured into tungstic acid, and used in the manu-
facture of high-grade steels. These steels are put on the
market as "tungsten nickel steel," "high-speed steel,''
" self -hardening steel," &c. Tungsten steel is principally
used for tool-steel or engineers' steel. It is also used for the
inner tubes of big guns, its properties being great density,
hardness, and toughness ; it may be glowing hot, yet not lose
its temper, and is therefore an ideal tool-steel — so much so
that engineers' lathes can now turn out double their former
quantity of work.

Tungstic acid is also made into some fine grades of paint;
it is used as a mordant (fixing the colours in calico-printing,
&o.), and renders cloth non-inflammable.

Scheelite is used as a cheap fluorescent screen for X-rays.

The occurrence of scheelite has been known in the Macrae's
Flat district for the last fifteen to twenty years, but nothi'"'
was done till Messrs. Kitchener and Donaldson sent a ship-
ment of hand-picked ore to London about fifteen years ago.
The ore then shipped was of poor quality, only yielding about
40 per cent., and the r^urns did not leave a large margin of
profit. Nothing further was done till about eight years ago,
when Messrs. Donaldson, in working their reef for gold, dis-
covered some extremely rich deposits of scheelite underlying
the reef. These deposits were suiEoiently pure to be hand-
picked; they assayed 68 per cent, of tungstic acid, and
realised £58 per ton. The quartz also contained a large per-
centage of scheelite, which could only be treated by concentrat-

■cjix anAL/aiiu mijNlJNU HANDBOOK. 195

irg appliances after going through the battery. A Fr
vanner was put in, which gave complete satisfaction, the
scheelite concentrates assaying 72 per cent, in tungstic acid.
The first year after the vanner was put in scheelite concen-
trates were saved to the value of £6,000. Since then scheelite
has been regularly produced, and, although the price has
varied very considerably, the value produced to date (25th
June, 1906), is about £24,000. It has been sold as low as
£20, and as high as £120, per ton.

The tailings are being saved for treatment. They assay
10 dwt. of gold, and a small sample treated with cyanide
yielded 7 dwt. per ton.

The stone is found to be richer in gold the deeper the work-
ings are carried.

Scheelite sometimes carries specimen gold, but as a rule
this is not general, and the purer the scheelite the less gold
there is in it. Mine-manager, William Donaldson ; general
managers, W. and G. Donaldson, Macrae's Flat, Otago.

The New Zealand Gold and Tungsten Mine, Mount
Highlay, has an area of 90 acres, and is owned by Messrs.
William and George Donaldson. One tunnel has been driven
a distance of 50 ft. Two reefs are now being worked, which
maintain an average width of from 6 ft. to 10 ft., the ore
available being estimated at 60,000 tons. The plant in use
is valued at £2,000, and consists of one 5 ft. Huntington roller
mill, with a capacity equal to ten head of stamps, the average
duty of th" mill per diem being 20 tons. There are two rock-
breakers cuiployeu — one ordinary and one very fine crusher.
The gold is saved by means of amalgamation in mill and
copper plates. Total expenditure in connection with the mine
up to the 31st December, 1905, £2,600.

This mine has only recently been started, but the return so
far is satisfactory. There are immense bodies of stone very
easily mined, and containing a fair percentage of scheelite,
which is saved by a Wilfley concentrator. The mine is being
connected with the mill by a three-rail incline tramway, with
steel sleepers and one-ton trucks ; the whole of the material

196 NEW ZEAIiAND MINlWS" HANDBOOK.

is being obtained from England. A large boiler and engine
are in course of erection, and the plant is to be increased.

Lignite suitable for steam purposes is found within three-
quarters of a mile of the plant.

Although this mine is six miles distant from the Golden
Point Mine, at Macrae's Flat, it is apparently on the same
line of reef, and has many of the same characteristics. Mine-
manager, George Donaldson.

THE LIVINGSTONE GOLDFIELD.

By John Christian, Livingstone.

Livingstone is that portion of the Maerewhenua Goldfield
lying east of the river of that name. It is about twenty miles
west of Oamaru, and lying from 800 ft. to 1,200 ft. above
sea-level. There was a small rush here about the end of 1863,
but, as there was practically no water on the field, work was
confined to a few small gullies, with not very satisfactory re-
sults. Later on, what is known as the "green-sand deposit"
was discovered in all the spurs, and the work of race-construc-
tion was commenced. This green sand is a marine deposit, as
is evidenced by the countless shells, sharks' teeth, &c., contained
therein. It lies on a false bottom, composed of quartz gravel,
and is overlain by sand, both free and cemented, and clay.
The water-supply is brought from the Maerewhenua River
and two small creeks nearer the field. The gold is pretty
evenly deposited, but in no case very rich, though highly satis-
fautory returns have Heen obtained in most places. The
ground was shallow all round the edges of the spurs, but as
the workings went back the overburden became too heavy for
profitable working, and for the last ten years very little of
this deposit has been worked. About that time it was found
that the false bottom carried payable gold, and since then
nearly the whole of the workings have been in the false bottom,
the returns in most cases being fairly payable, and in some

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 197

instances very good. The gold on this field is very fine and
difl&cult to save. It is found that about one-half will pass
over a string of ripples. The stuff is then passed through a
sluice paved, or rather thatched, with tussocks, but even then
it is found that a considerable percentage is lost. The water
is supplied by the following races: —

Yeomans's race : Seventeen miles .long ; capacity, two
heads. Water — only in the spring.

Lory Brothers' race: Fourteen miles; capacity, tnree
heads. Supply depends on rain. Works two claims when
water available.

Cook's race : Twenty-five miles ; capacity, three heads.
Full supply about half the year — always a little. Two claims
worked when water available.

Christian's race: Twenty-seven miles; capacity, twelve
heads. Full supply most of the year. Works two claims,
and supplies water to others.

MINING AT WAIKAIA.

By E. T. Stewart.

Many attempts haVe been made to work the bed of the
Waikaia River in its upper reaches, but all unsuccessfully
except one, where the conditions were more favourable than
in general, owing to the bed of the stream being wider, and
very rich returns were secured and fortunes mad«. The
narrowness of the river-bed — not more than 70 ft. in places —
precludes the possibility of working, except at great outlay,
to secure temporary diversion of the stream, through overhead
flumes, while the gold was being cleaned off the rock bottom.

About twelve miles in a south-easterly direction from
Waikaia a volcanic formation exists, carrying gold, silver,
and copper, assays of which gave 4 dwt. gold, 3 dwt. silver,
and 2 per cent, copper per ton. This would seem to warrant
the expenditure of capital in making further tests, as there
is a very large body of stone, which, as far as appearance goes,
is all the same.

198 NEW ZEALAND MINING H^^JgggOK

At Nokomai, about twenty-four miles west of Waikaia, a
quartz reef, some 14 ft. in width, and in places yielding assay
returns of an ounce of gold per ton, the average being about
12dwt., has received attention from prospectors at different
times, but the necessity for an extensive crushing plant places
this reef beyond the reach of any but capitalists. It is, how-
ever, worthy of attention in the direction of development.

In the Waikaia district there is a large area of auriferous
terrace formation, favourably situated for ground-sluicing,
which will no doubt receive attention when the richer alluvial
flats have been worked out by dredging. Eleven dredges are
now at work in the district, which, with two exceptions, are
securing highly satisfactory returns.

There is also a large deposit of high-grade shale in the 3is-
tiict, and another of marl, both being easily accessible by a
good road.

GOLD-DREDGING IN THE WAIKAKA
VALLEY.

By McGeoege Bros., Waikaka.

As far as can be ascertained, most of the dredging-areas in
the Waikaka Valley are now being successfully worked. The
non-success of one or two ventures is attributable to the area
of the claims being too small — about 70 acres to 90 acres; at
least 200 acres per dredge is required to insure success.

There is an excellent opening in the vicinity of the Little
Waikaka, which would probably pay handsomely for hydraulic
sluicing if the necessary capital could be found.

At present, with other^private companies, we are having
a quantity of our concentrates tested by an analytical chemist
to prove if gold is being lost by present methods of saving
other minerals that exist in payable quantity.

By means of a separating-box soil and sand are distributed
over the tailings, which are left perfectly level, and when sown
with clover and grass yield excellent grazing, as may be seen
on Waikaka United and other claims in the district.

NiSW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK, 199

OTAGO AS A MINING DISTRICT.

By L. 0. Beal, M.A.I.M.E., Dunedin.

Replying to Mr. Warden Cruickshank's inquiry as to aban-
doned properties in the district whose failure may be attri-
buted to lack of management or capital, and to other inquiries
bearing on the present and future prospects of the mining in-
dustry, Mr. Beal writes as follows: —

To my knowledge a great many of the failures have been
owing to lack of management. Take as an instance the large
number of failures in the district in quartz-mining. No
record is kept at any place of the amount of quicksilver used
for ripples and copper plates in amalgamating the gold, and
very little is done in the way of cleaning the silver by retorting
or cleaning it with sodium. A large quantity is lost by flouring
owing to there being a considerable amount of arsenical pyrites
in many of the reefs. Antimony and galena also some-
times occur. It is only a few companies that concentrate
their tailings and have them treated, and many companies
and mines could have paid dividends out of what they
have wasted. At one mine at which I acted as advising engi-
neer (the Premier, or, later, the Glenrock Company, at Mace-
town), by saving the concentrates and cyaniding them a profit
of from 7s. to 15s. per ton was made over and above the ordinary
returns by amalgamation. _ A considerable loss is often in-
curred by not crushing the material fine enough. I have seen
as much as 80 pounds' worth of gold obtained by grinding
the tailings from 120 tons of quartz after it has run over
plates kept in excellent order. The 120 tons were crushed to
a punched-mesh screen of 280 holes per square inch, and then
the tailings were afterwards ground and amalgamated, a little
cyanide being used in the grinding plant to keep the silver
in good order, and the result was gold to the value of £80,
obtained by grinding and amalgamation of 120 tons of quartz.

I find by examination of quartz tailings under the micro-
scope that sometimes in lodes there is a large quantity of fine

200 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

gold imbedded in the pyrites. This can be recovered by con-
centrating and grinding or cyaniding, and sometimes there
is a large quantity of fine gold in the quartz (not in pyrites) ;
this will be mostly lost in concentrating, and only saved by
grinding and amalgamating.

Where grinding and amalgamating is done the silver
should be first thoroughly cleaned by retorting, or by sodium
and some cyanide, and, say, a small quantity of caustic soda
added at times to keep the silver in good order. Silver should
also be weighed when being put in, and again on cleaning up
the grinding and amalgamating plant, also that obtained
from squeezing the amalgam and retorting, so that no silver
is lost by flouring or other causes.

I am satisfied a large loss takes place owing to insufficient
training and careful watching in battery-work.

A large loss in quartz-mining often occurs in not properly
opening up first, so as to obtain good ventilation and cheap
filling of the stopes. Very few mines keep a record of the
longitudinal sections of the workings. I think there can be
now no question as to the gold occurring in shoots, and owing
to no records being kept the run of gold in the lodes is oEen
lost, and failure ensues.

There can be no doubt that in many cases loss occurs owing
to want of capital in putting on efficient plants and doing
necessary development-work. Mount Aurum, Advance Peak,
the Lammerlaw Range above Waipori, the Old Man Range be-
tween Roxburgh and the Nevis, Mount Highlay, Dunback Hill,
Garvie Mountains, Rough Ridge, Waitahuna, Mount Stoker,
Rock and Pillar, Hummock and Little Hummock, Dunstan
Range, Umbrella Mountains, and Mount Pisa Ranges,
all contain large number^ of auriferous lodes, and I am
of opinion that many quartz-mines would pay under good
management, although they have been failures in the past.
The number of lodes in the Otago goldfields is very great, but
want of capital, and consequent want of proper plant and
opening-up and development work, together with some of the
causes already indicated, is more to blame than the mines
themselves for the failures in the past. The following are

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 201

names of some of the mines that I consider should pay if pro-
perly capitalised and thoroughly well managed: O.P.Q. Reef,
Canton Reef, and Gear's reef, at Waipori ; Ocean View and
Johnson and Gillan's reefs; Canada Reef; the Waitahuna
Quartz-mine. The Game Hen Reef, at Hindon, I think, should
also pay ; also a continuation of the Barewood Reef, south-east-
ward, where worked a little north-west of Christmas Creek,
between there and the Taieri Rirer; also Barewood Reef, to-
wards Matarae, across the river.

I also think the Nenthorn field of reefs would pay if a
record of the workings had been kept, as I found after the
field had been abandoned, from inquiries I made when pre-
paring a geological section of the field, that the shoots of gold
had been almost horizontal. This peculiar fact was not ap-
parently found out; the companies looked for the shoots of
gold going down almost perpendicularly, and hence I think
the failure of that field.

There must be some more good reefs in the Waipori and
Nokomai districts as yet undiscovered and worth prospect-
ing. This I know from the large number of quartz-specimens
I have seen among the gold when dredging and sluicing com-
panies are washing up.

There are also some reefs, such as Bradshaw's reef, in
Long Sound, Preservation Inlet Goldfield, which would well
repay prospecting, and continuation of Morning Star Reef
above Cuttle Cove, and I have seen good specimens of copper-
ore from that district. Stewart Island is a locality that
would well repay a prospecting party ; also Mount Aurum
and the Longwood Range.

What is badly wanted, in my opinion, is a good strong
prospecting party, consisting of, say, two capable hydraulic
miners, two good quartz-reefing miners, a person with a good
knowledge of mining geology and metallurgy, and a survey
hand capable of fixing positions, etc. I think a really efficient
prospecting party would be well repaid, as very little pro-
specting of a systematic nature is done nowadays. I have
been over almost every part of Otago and Southland mining
districts, and can speak for the localities and ranges I have
mentioned.

202 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

I find cinnabar and sclieelite ores are very little known
among miners. I think the Waitahuna Hills would pay to
prospect for cinnabar ; and Mount Highlay, Dunback Hill, and
Lammerlaw Eanges would pay to prospect for scheelite.

I consider a better appreciation of water-power and trans-
mission by wire-rope and the system of self-acting aerial tram-
ways could, with great advantage, be more generally used.

Regarding the dredging industry, it has suffered a good
deal from not having dredges quite strong enough or deep
enough to do the work, and I think -dredge-ladders should be
made telescopic so as to be able to be let out 10 ft. to 20 ft.
and clamped.

There is, in my opinion, excellent scope for capital in the
idea of diverting, say, portions of the Shotover and Kawarau
Rivers by means of tunnelling, and I think such a scheme
would repay capital spent upon it.

There is probably a good field for alluvial prospecting at
Cardrona, as that river must have a higher level of ancient
bed like the Shotover and Arrow Rivers, and also like the
small portion of the old high bed of the Nokomai River ad-
joining the Nokomai Sluicing Company.

In conclusion, I may stale that, in my opinion, mining in
the past has suffered from a general supposition that gold
comes where it is apparently by chance, and I am firmly of
opinion that such is not the case. Take alluvial gold-deposits :
such a thing as the angle and manner of the way the stones
are laid down in the wash seems to have been so far unnoticed.
When the long flat stones travelled along in the alluvial de-
posits they must have moved with their greatest length at right
angles to the direction of the movement, and canted back to-
wards the direction in which they came. If a face of gold-
bearing wash is opened up its direction can be traced, and pro-
bably much more good wash found, as the present contour of
the country is very different from what it was at previous
periods.

As regards reef gold, no study seems to have been made as
to the particular character of the country rock in which the
reefs are found, and a careful investigation of the exact

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 203

character of the various country rocks, or particular class of
schist rock, should be made, as I find I can often tell the
character of a lode by examining the character of the country
rock it is in, and there are much greater changes in the
various schist rocks than appear at first to the eye. Some
schist is very soft, some very hard, other very slaty, and other
very clayey or micaceous ; some a great deal laminated, and
some very dense and black. A slaty, clean schist usually
carries coarse reef gold, and a clayey micaceous schist very
fine gold. I have found three or four classes of quartz contain-
ing a good deal of fine gold, althougli apparently barren to the
eye.

HYDRAULIC MINING.

A Short Review of this Important Industry from its
Inception to the Present Day.

By John Ewins, Hyclrai^lic Minii g Engireer, Central Otfgo.

In hydraulic mining we imitate nature. Through countless
ages sun, wind, and rain; frost and snow; tiny rivulet, creek,
and river were disintegrating the high country and forming
the alluvium with which the valleys are filled, the terraces
fringing them formed, and the foothills of the mountains
made.

Over a great part of the South Island of New Zealand the
alluvium has gold — usually in minute specks or grains — dis-
tributed through it. This auriferous alluvium is of two classes
— first, the old drift ; second, the more recent alluvial de-
posits. The chief of the first class is what is called the " white
drifts " — the primary alluvial deposit over the whole island —
and, overlying it, other drifts of the age that succeeded the
laying-down of the white drifts ; the?e were in part formed
from the disintegration of the white drifts themselves. These
drifts are described by Mr. Alexander McKay, F.G.S., Govern-
ment Geologist, in his able work on "The Auriferous Drifts

204 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

of Central Otago." He examined their outcrops in over
seventy places — from opposite Stewart's Island to Cook Strait
— and he found them everywhere gold-bearing. I should like
to place on record some surmises as to the origin of those
drifts ; to make some attempt to imagine —

What did befall
Far away in time, when o'er this lifeless ball
Hung idle stars and suns ;
but that is not within the scope of this paper. Those drifts
were formed when the Middle Island was flat — before the
mountain chains arose — when an entirely different river-sys-
tem from the present existed. They are to be found hundreds
of feet beneath the more recent alluvium of the larger valleys;
they are to be found fringing the mountains and hills that
have been thrust up through them ; thej' are to be found in
patches on the sides, and even on the tops, of the mountains
themselves in positions where they have been preserved
from denudation. These drifts are but poorly auriferous,
except in places where during their own age there was concen-
tration in the rivers and streams of the period. The beds of
old drift are of all thicknesses, from a few feet to hundreds
of feet, and rest at all angles from vertical to perpendicular,
but at angles always similar to the dip of the rock bottom they
rest upon.

The second class — the more recent drifts— were formed by
the streams from the present mountains. These streams cut
down their own rock formation, and with it the old drifts
resting upon or against it in vast quantity after the upheaval.
The result has been a mixture and a concentrate. These de-
posits are much richer in gold than the other ; in them the
early discoveries of gold in the Middle Island were made, and
from them, with primiti'^ appliances, the early miners in a
few weeks or months made small fortunes. In the recent de-
posits, no matter what the depth of the alluvium, the few feet
of it resting on the bottom — whether that bottom be rock or
old drift — carry the most, and sometimes nearly all, of the
gold. This bottom stratum only was treated by the early
miners, and was called "the washdirt." The washdirt was

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 205

" paddocked " or "driven" out, and carried or carted to
where there was water. By water the deposits were laid down,
and by water the gold they contain is extracted.

The first appliances used for extraction were the tub and
cradle. The washdirt was first puddled, by means of a spade
or shovel and a small quantity of water, in a tub to dissolve
the clayey part by which many of the specks of gold adhere
to the gravel. The cradle is shaped like that in which a
child is rocked to sleep, with a hopper or sieve set where
top of hood is. The puddled washdirt — a shovelful at
a time — is put into the hopper, and water ladled on
to it with a dipper, the cradle being rocked the while,
until all the gold has been washed out of the gravel
and through the holes in the hopper ; the washed gravel is
then thrown out, and another shovelful operated upon. The
finer materials — sand and small gravel — and gold that have
passed through the sieve are simultaneously carried by the
water over a series of slides, set at a grade sufficient, with the
rocking motion, to make the sand and gravel travel. The slides
and bottom of cradle are covered with some fabric — plush,
baize, blanket, or sacking — with a hairy surface, in which the
specks of gold, through their superior specific gravity, are
caught ; while the lighter material is still, by the action of
the water, carried onwards out of the open foot or end of the
cradle. The gold is easily taken off the arresting surface by
dipping it in a miner's " panning-o£f " dish filled with water.

The writer has been led to give this detailed description
of the earliest method of gold-extraction from the fact that
he has never in anj' book on gold-mining seen any descrip-
tion a layman could understand.

Next to the tub and cradle came the sluice-box, or series
of boxes. These were wooden troughs, open at both ends, and
set at a grade of half an inch to an inch to the foot. Besides
its own bottom the sluice-box has a removable or false bottom,
1| in. in thickness. It is formed of lattice-work, or some-
times of a solid board with auger-holes bored through it, as
close as they can be put without too much reducing the
strength of the board. The false bottom is laid on the real

206 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK,

bottom of the sluice-box and lightly fastened down; a stream
of water is then made to flow through the box, and some of
the miners are set to shovel the auriferous gravel into the box,
down which the water carries it, leaving the gold in the
cavities of the false bottom. One man stands over the box
with a " sluice-fork " to throw out, when washed, any stones
too large to be carried down by the water, and other men
shovel away the material after it has run through the box or
series of boxes.

Both of those methods of gold-extraction involved con-
siderable manual labour. By the tub and cradle not more
than half a yar-d per day for each member of a party could,
under average conditions, be treated ; by box-sluicing, from
three to six yards for each man might be got through.

A speedier and more effective method was soon evolved —
ground-sluicing ; but, as a rule, it can only be employed on
auriferous deposits situated on terraces and hills, where the
"bottom" on which the washdirt rests is at sufficient elevation
to permit of a ground-ditch or channel being constructed with
a grade sufficient to run the auriferous alluvium through it
into some not-too-far-ofi hollow or river. Such conditions
being fulfilled, the nearest stream that can be conducted on
to the top of the auriferous alluvium is diverted and em-
ployed to carry the alluvium down the ground - ditch into
the hollow. The ground-ditoh is roughly paved with stone.5
set against each other in such a way as to resist the action
of the flowing water and gravel. In the interstices between
the stones the gold is caught. The ground-sluice is cleaned
up periodically, when some thousands, or it may be tens of
thousands, of yards of alluvium have been run through. The
cleaning-up process is simple. The water is first allowed to
run clear for a while until the rough paving-stones are bare of
sand and gravel. It is tnen turned off, all except a little in
which the rough stones are washed, and then stacked on the
side? of the ditch. The small quantitj' of sand and gravel
that occupied with the gold the interstices between the stones
is then removed from the ground-ditch, and treated in 'i
sluice-box — the residuum not being more than 10 yards per

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 207

100 yards of ditch. At first, in ground-sluicing, the water
was allowed to run down over the alluvium operated upon,
and the miners broke up the material with picks; but soon
canvas hose was called into requisition, and used to bring dowi)
and break up the clays, sands, and gravels of the deposit.
But canvas soon rotted, and at its best stood but little pres-
sure — 100 ft. being the maximum — and for the disintegration
of many of the deposits that pressure was inadequate. Some
of the deposits were also far distant from the higher ground
whence pressure could be obtained, and this led to iron piping
being introduced — but not until canvas had for years been
universally employed. The first pipes used were flanged
wrought iron of but 7 in. diameter (the diameter of the hosing
they displaced), but after their introduction the scale of opera-
tions rapidly got larger, and the diameter of the pipes used
as rapidly increased. As has been said, to work a deposit of
auriferous alluvium by ground-sluicing, it had to be so
situated as that a grade for a ground-ditch to discharge into
some hollow could be found. But wherever deposits existed
it was found, as tliey were opened up, that vast quantities —
sometimes of the richest of them-^had to be left under foot.
At first the difficulty was got over by using larger streams of
water, enabling the material to be sluiced through lower-
graded ground-ditches, but such ditches were expensive to
construct, and still (in many localities) left extensive deposits
under foot.

In 1878 the system of hydraulic elevating was invented,
and none too soon, for on most of the Otago sluicing-fields the
deposits that could be profitably worked by open-face ground-
sluicing were all but exhausted. By this system the under-
foot deposits became workable to depths proportioned to the
quantity and elevation of the streams of water that could be
brought to bear upon them. Under this system the water is
conducted from the water-race — terminating on the nearest
hill that gives the requisite pressure — to the ground to be
operated upon in pipes of such diameter as is necessary to
carry the quantity of water to be used without undue loss by
friction. By means of a suction-jet elevator, provided with

208

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

swivel joints, a large paddock, or hole, is then sluiced and
elevated until the level it is desired to operate at is reached,
when the permanent elevator — of greater capacity and power
than the suction or " sinking " elevator — is set up. It is
very simple, and although but a small percentage of the power
that might by other mechanical means be obtained from the
water, if used to drive a Pelton or turbine wheel, is got, its
simplicity, and the expedition with which it can be shifted
from place to place, makes it the cheapest and best machine
yet devised for working underfoot alluvial deposits.

The elevator consists of an upright iron tube, its lower
end resting some feet under the " bottom " of the ground to
be operated upon in a pit excavated for the purpose of re-
ceiving it. The tube is of a diameter proportioned to the
height it is intended to shoot, or elevate, the auriferous
alluvium, and the quantity of water to be employed; it may
be but 7 in., and it may be 24 in. or over. The upper end yi
the tube is on a level with the ground-ditch or sluice-box that,
the elevated material is to be discharged into. The tube is
of wrought iron or steel, save at upper and lower ends, where
hard iron castings are used — at the top, for deflecting the
debris-carrying stream into the sluice ; and at the bottom,
to take the wear of the ascending alluvium, which is greatest
where it first impinges on entering the tulse and for a little
distance up. The tube is supported on stanchions, and
narrows from about 8 ft. above its lower end to about 2 ft.
from said lower end, where the contraction ends in a
"throat," about 9 in. in length, of a section one-fifth to one-
third of that of the tube itself, from which it again expands
to form a. bell-mouth on lower end. A jet of water is so fixed
as to play straight up the tube through the throat, this jet
being connected by pipe^of suitable diameter with the main
pipe-line above described^ To do the best work there must
be certain ratios between the diameter of the elevating-jet, the
diameter of the throat, and the diameter of the uptake pipe;
and these again vary with the pressure. Such adjustments
having been made, the jet elevator will lift to a height of
12 per cent, of the pressure on the elevating-jet (in addition

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 209

to its own water — that is, the water of the elevating-jet)
a similar quantity of water used in breaking down and
bringing debris forward to the lower end of the tube. There -'s
sufficient space left by the bell-mouth between the throat and
jet for the water and sluiced material to get in to where they
are caught and whirled up by the ascending jet. By a proper
arrangement of parts, water and sluiced material may be
lifted to a height equal to 30 or even 40 per cent, of the pres-
sure on the elevating-jet, but the proportion of water that
can be raised will vary in inverse proportion to the height
elevated. The variation in the amount of solid material that
can be elevated is inconsiderable.

Hydraulic elevating — as it is called — was first introduced
about twenty-eight years ago, and now nearly all the alluvial
mining that is done in Otago is by means of it, as is much of
what is carried on in Nelson and on the West Const. By it
deposits have been raised and their gold extracted from a
depth of 170 ft. But for its invention alluvial mining in
Otago would be almost a thing of the past.

The three things wanted for a successful hydraulic sluicing
and elevating concern are — a large and constant supply of
water, the delivery of that water at a sufficient elevation above
the deposits to be operated upon, and the command of ex-
tensive deposits of auriferous alluvium. The expenditure
necessary to construct water-races and reservoirs, and provide
plant to work on a large scale, is usually so great that unless
the deposits ' are extensive they are worked out before the
capital expenditure is recouped. If the scale of operations is
extensive, very poor ground can by this system be made to
pay. It may be laid down as a general rule that one-half the
gold that must be in the ground to make dredging pay will
give equally payable returns by sluicing and elevating ; while
ground that, from the nature of the "bottom" the deposit
rests upon, cannot be dredged at all may give enormous re-
turns where it can be operated upon by sluicing and elevating.
It cannot be used to work the beds of running rivers, but
many of them have in the ages past changed their course, and
where they ran in the gold-depositing age is now dry land.

210 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

By sluicing and elevating those old beds can be worked, ami
every speck of their gold extracted. Their ancient beds can
be laid bare and rendered as dry as a summer road.

I have said there were three things wanted for a successful
hydraulic sluicing and elevating concern ; but there is a fourth,
even more important, without which, where all three exist,
there may be disastrous failure — the knowledge how to apply
them t-o proper advantage, how to make the most of them.
Some of our best enterprises have failed from the lack of this.

Many of the most extensive, and probably the richest, areas
of auriferous alluvium have yet to be worked ; but to
make success great and certain they must be operated upon
on a large scale. They are not regular in their yields : the
conditions under which they were laid down prevented that;
but, worked on a sufficiently large scale, their poorest parts
would pay good interest on invested capital, and their best —
now and again come upon — might give the whole capital back
in a month. The day of the small company and the old
methods is done; there is little left rich enough to pay them.
The concern that can only treat 100,000 cubic yards per
annum may strike a poor area for a whole twelvemonth's
work, may for that time not get its expenses, and suspend
work; where the concern that treats 500,000 cubic yards gets
quickly over the poor " patch," and secures a good average
for the year. Again, the cost per cubic yard of treatment by
the small concern may be twice, or even three times, what it
is by the large.

Closely connected with the future of hydraulic mining,
and the need for larger enterprises in working our remaining
alluvial deposits, is the need for a new departure in mining
law, under which greater security would be given for the in-
vestment of capital, as ^Iso for the suppression and punish-
ment of the swindling promoter ; but this subject is too
large to be handled in the tail of this paper, and is somewhat
beyond its scope. There is more gold to be got in the South
Island from alluvial deposits than ever has been taken out,
and to be got at a profit by properly designed means on a
large scale ; but one almost dreads the advent of the first

NEW" ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 211

highly successful concern of the kind — it will be the means of
foisting on the public so many swindling imitations that the
public can only lose its money over them. It has been so in
quartz-mining in the North, in dredging in the South and
West, and assuredly history will repeat itself whenever the
successful inventor appears on the scene in hydraulic mining.

HYDRAUIilC SLUICING AND ALLUVIAL
MINING.

By Robert MoIntosh, A.O.S.M., Assistant Inspector of Mines for the
Southera Mining District.

It is recorded that alluvial gold was discovered in 1851 in
Otago, but owing to the difficulties attendant on prospect-
ing it was not until 1861 that the first 'important discovery,
by Gabriel Read, took place. This was in the locality now
known as Gabriel's Gully, Tuapeka. Other portions of the
district were found to be gold-bearing, as at Waipori, Waita-
huna, and Woolshed Creek, or Glenore. From this base pro-
spectors extended their operations further inland, and in the
year 1862 Hartley and Reilly discovered gold in the Dunstan,
and Fox discovered auriferous gravels in the Arrow River.
The year 1862 was remarkable for the opening-up of the Dun-
stan, Nokomai, Cardrona, Waikaia, and Wakatipu goldfields.
Other auriferous tracts were located from time to time until
the existence of extensive auriferous areas in Otago and South-
land became an established fact. The chief alluvial districts
lie in the valleys of the Taieri, Kyeburn, Manuherikia, Wai-
tahuna, Waipori, Tuapeka, Clutha (known locally as the
Molyneux), Pomahaka, Mat aura, Waikaka, Waikaia, Nevis,
and Maerewhenua Rivers. Extensive deposits are found along
the coast-line. The most enormous alluvial deposits may be
said to lie within the valleys of the Clutha (or Molyneux)
river-system. In the early days of gold-mining very primi-

212 NEW ZBAI.AND MINING HANDBOOK.

tive appliances were required to collect sufficient of the pre-
cious metal to enable the miners to earn a livelihood. The
gold was then found in shallow deposits, especially in the
valleys of the Clutha, Shotover, and Arrow Rivers, where the
beaches in many places were literally lined with golden sand.
But great changes took place in a few years, as the easily
worked ground became exhausted. Attention was then given
to labour-saving appliances. Water was brought on with or
without pressure, and the terraces ground-sluiced, until
further disposal of the tailings was rendered impossible. This
left much ground Still unworked, and large areas which oould
not be touched at all. Shaft-sinking and tunnelling were re-
sorted to in some places, but in the former case this meant the
installation of costly winding and pumping machinery.

Fortunateh', the system now known as hydraulic sluicing
and elevating was introduced in 1880 by J. R. Perry at Ga-
briel's Gully, Tuapeka. This system had been in use in Cali-
fornia for some years, but Perry's adaptation was a decided
improvement on Californian practice, inasmuch as the latter
depended to a great extent on suction, whereas direct pres-
sure was the main feature of Perry's application. The
success of this appliance was assured, and a new era arose in
Otago mining. As the years went on this system was exten-
sively applied. Water-races were cut in at elevations calcu-
lated to afford the necessary power to work deposits of
auriferous ground. Claims are now being worked in which
the perpendicular height to which the material is elevated
ranges from less than 20 ft. to 112 ft. The largest claims
worked by this principle are the Bluespur and Gabriel's Gully
Consolidated Gold-raining Company, near Lawrence ; Rox-
burgh Amalgamated, Roxburgh; Champion, at Beaumont;
United M. and E. and*Scandinavian claims, St. Bathan's;
Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Nokomai ; and Bakery
Flat Claim, Waipori. Hydraulic sluicing and elevating is
carried on at Waipori, Waitahuna, Tuapeka, Deep Stream,
Naseby, Serpentine, St. Bathan's, Matakanui, Queenstown,
Cardrona, Nokomai, Waikaia, Round Hill, Bald Hill Flat,
Roxburgh, Island Block, Beaumont, and some outlying places.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 213

In many localities hydraulic sluicing is adopted, but the
material is discharged down a ground-sluice. This is only
where sufficient fall for tailings is available.

Smith's jet-pump system, worked on the principle of suc-
tion, has enabled long stretches of the Shotover River to be
worked profitably during the season when the river is low.
This appliance was fully described in Mines Reports, 1899.

The deep leads of Otago have commanded much attention,
and extensive work has been done on them. The quartz grits
worked by hydraulic sluicing and elevating at St. Bathan's
and Matakanui may be termed deep leads, and extensions of
these deposits have been worked from time to time by shafts
and drives. The Criffel lead, which strikes across the face of
Mount Crifiel above Cardrona Valley for a proved distance of
twelve miles, has hitherto been worked chiefly by sinking and
driving. Recently a company was formed to bring in water
in order to conduct extensive sluicing operations. The pre-
paratory works have now been accomplished, and sluicing will
be started this year (1906). The main deep lead traversing
the Waipori Valley for a distance of twelve miles with its tribu-
tary leads — viz., the Lamiuerlaw lead and the Post Office Creek
lead — is one of the most extensive in the Otago District. The
tributary leads have been worked for many years by hydraulic
sluicing and elevating, but no progressive works were done
on the main lead until 1903. In that year J. T. Johnson, of
Waipori, designed a hydratilic dredge (locally known as the
submerged-jet dredge) in order to work this deep lead. De-
scription of this dredge will be found under "Gold-dredging
in Otago and Southland," page 272. This lead is now
being tested by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Bottom
was reached at a depth of over 60 ft., the gravels passed
through being payably auriferous throughout.

■Water-conservation and Future Prqspects.

Alluvial mining still maintains a high place among the
revenue-producing industries of the colony. There are very
extensive areas of highly auriferous country unworked

214 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

throughout Otago and Southland. These are either awaiting
the bringing-in of water or the liberation of water now used
on other areas. Throughout Central Otago this is especially
the case, and the preservation of the first rights of all water
in mining districts to the mining community will enable these
deposits to be worked, and prolong the life of this important
industry indefinitely. The extent and richness of the lead
which extends through St. Bathan's, Ida Valley, and Manu-
herikia Valley cannot yet be appreciated. The remarks of the
Hon. the Minister of Mines in 1895 are worthy of note: " The
immense areas of ground covered with auriferous gravels, both
on the West Coast and Otago, show that the largest percentage
of gold produced will be derived from the alluvial workings
for many years to come. The extent to which these workings
can be carried on is only limited by the quantity of water
that can be obtained to command the ground. "It is only in a
few localities where the washdrift is sufficiently rich to pay
for mining in the strict sense of the term — that is, by working
from shafts and adit levels. . . . The great factor for
carrying on alluvial mining operations of any description is
water. . . . The mining districts of Otago being prin-
cipally in the interior, where the rainfall is considerably less
than elsewhere in the colony, extensive water-races and reser-
voirs, although they may cost a considerable sum to construct
in the first instance, will be a valuable asset, as, when they are
not required for mining purposes, they can be fully utilised
for irrigation." Now, this is exactly the position of afiairs
in Central and other parts of Otago at the present day.
The alluvial-mining industry is yet an important and per-
manent one. There are extensive tracts of auriferous country,
but there is not at present sufiicient water available for the in-
dustry to expand over tlftse areas. The question of the aliena-
tion of water-rights from (he mining community, and the
acquisition of these rights by the agricultural settlers, is one
of grave moment. It is vet too early to speak of the' decline
of the mining industry; judged from its past and present re-
cords, and its high promise for a prosperous future, it should
he fostered in every legitimate way.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 215

Alleged Destruction of Agricultural Lands by Alluvial

Mining.

Throughout the length and breadth of Otago and South-
land alluvial mining, by sluicing, is carried on in sixty sub-
districts or localities, in which about one hundred and forty
fair-sized claims are at work, as well as numerous smaller
ones. But only in two cases can the assertion so often made
regarding tlie destruction of agricultural land be supported.
This refers to the operations of the Island Block Sluicing
Claim and the past operations of the Golden Run Hydraulic
Sluicing and Dredging Company. Both these properties are
situated within seven miles of Miller's Flat, and the land is
certainly of exceptional quality. In a few cases the disposal
of tailings and dirty water has been the source of litigation,
but suitable arrangements have generally been arrived at
between the interested parties.

Some Particulars of Hydraulic Elevating' and Sluicing

Claims.

Big Beach, Arthur's Point, Shotover River. — Area, 20
acres. This property is owned by James P. Phelan and party,
and B acres has been worked since operations were commenced
Water is supplied from the company's dam (200 ft. hj 40 ft.)
by a water-race fourteen miles in length, together with
2,220 ft. of lluming and pipes, and the face is operated on
by one nozzle, under an average supply of four heads, at a
head-pressure of 330 ft. The gold is fine, and is saved on
60 ft. of tail-race. During the year 1905 the gold won
amounted to 150 oz., valued at £577 10s. The capital actually
called up is £1,551 15s. Id. ; approximate value of plant, &c.,
£250. Secretary, James McMullan, jun., Arthur's Point,
Queenstown.

Blue Jacket, opposite Deep Creek, Maori Point. — Area,
28 acres' (hydraulic river claim, 20 acres ; sluicing claim,
8 acres). Work was first commenced by the owners (Timothy
and J. S. Collins) in March, 1892, on the sluicing portion of
the property, and in April, 1898, in the river. The materials

216

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

are lifted 12 ft. by a suction pump, and water is conveyed
over races five miles and a half in length. The face is operated
on by two nozzles, an average supply of nine heads being avail-
able in spring, when water is plentiful, and five heads in
summer, at a head-pressure of 150 ft. in sluicing claim, and
350 ft. vertical in river claim. The gold, which is coarse and
fine, is saved with longitudinal bars and perforated steel
plates, with cocoanut matting underneath plates, and scrub
and matting under the ripples. During the year 1905 the
ground operated on was as follows : River, 300 ft. in length
by 70ft. in width, material raised, 3,888 cubic yards; on
sluicing claim, 150 ft. by 100 ft., and 130 ft. in depth. Yield
of gold, 155 oz. 10 dwt. ; value, £598 13s. 6d. Four acres
have been worked since the claims were opened up, the total
yield of gold obtained from this area being 976 oz., value
£3,758. Approximate value of plant, £7,500.

Blue Spur and GairieVs Gully Consolidated, Blue Spur. —
Gold was discovered in Gabriel's Gully bj' Gabriel Read in the
year 1861, when operations were conducted in the alluvial
deposits lying in gullies and on the neighbouring terraces.
In 1862 the miners commenced to extract gold from the
breccia - conglomerate deposit forming the divide between
Gabriel's Gully and Munro's Gully. For many years the
richest parts of the deposit were driven out and the material
crushed in stamper-batteries. In 1881 the Blue Spur and
Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company (Limited) started ■ opera-
tions in the bed of Gabriel's Gully, where there was an
accumulation of tailings deposited from the cement-workings
In order to treat these tailings profitably, the late Mr. J. R.
Perry introduced from California, and afterwards improved,
the system of hydraulic sluicing and elevating which became
general in use on the 0#go goldfields. This claim continued
operations until 1888, when, as the result of the amalgamation
of all the claims on the Gabriel's Gully side of the cement-de-
posit, the Blue Spur and Gabriel's Gully Consolidated Com-
pany was formed, having its headquarters in London. The
company was registered on the 1st February, 1888; its sub-
scribed capital is stated at £91,266, and scrip to the value of

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 217

£48,268 was given to the .holders of the various claims con-
solidated in the company's holding. Since registration
44,618 oz. of gold, value £169,334, was obtained; the total
expenditure in connection with mining operations, since
registration up to date of last balance-sheet, being £38,532.
Hydraulic sluicing was commenced in 1888, and has been
carried on continuously ever since. All the available area of
tailings was first worked, so as to carry up an underground
drainage channel, and also to have worked-out ground on
which to dump tailings from the cement- workings. The com-
pany acquired valuable water-rights from Beaumont and Wai-
pori watersheds, and was thus enabled to concentrate a large
body of water under efiective pressure upon the deposit, with
the result that part of the spur has been almost completely
broken down and sluiced away, while the historic Gabriel's
Gully itself has been filled with tailings from the claim to u
depth of from 90 ft. to 100 ft. Work in the claims continues
to be carried on in the usual safe manner, the mine having
been practically free from accident during recent years. The
solid cement is shattered by heavy charges of roburite, being
subsequently sluiced away from the face and further broken
by the workmen with spalling hammers, thence conducted by
lengthy paved races to the elevators, where final runs of boxes are
in use with gold-saving appliances for recovery of the balance
of fine gold which had not been retained by the paved sluic-
ing-runs. Twenty-eight men employed in and about claims.

The following interesting extracts are from the last
annual report of the general manager to the London board
of directors: "The mean value of the gold p'er cubic yard
of cement works out this year at 3'7 gr., a slight improvement
on last year, and, I believe, a world's record for low-grade
dirt worked without loss. The 1,722 oz. of gold saved would
form 4-644 cubic inches, and y o^1j?ooo °^ ^^^^ volume of
cement handled in getting it. The above reads uncommonly
like a newspaper snippet, but it illustrates in a way the pro-
portion of things at Blue Spur. The dirt is most undeniably
low-grade, and requires cautious handling to be made to yield
even the meagre margin of profit actually secured. Subjoined

^-1-8 NEW ZJBALAiSID MINING HANDBOOK.

are details of the year's work and results: Total gold won,
1904-5, l,524-8oz., value £6,062 6s. 2d.; total gold won,
1905-6, 1,721-9 oz., value £6,836 5s. 5d. : an increase of
197-1 oz., and £773 19s. 3d. Total expenditure, 1904-5,
£4,558 10s. Id. ; 1905-6, £4,895 10s. 2d. : an increase of
£337 Os. Id. The mean value of the gold-contents of
the cement treated for the year 1904-5 was 3-603 gr.,
or 7'lld. per cubic yard; for 1905-6, 3-717 gr., or
7-435d. per cubic yard: an increase of 0-114 gr., or 0-324d.
per cubic yard — a very slight difference of under ^d. per cubic
yard. No. 1 division was worth 3-331 gr., or 7-lld. per cubic
yard; No. 2 division was worth 3-717 gr., or 7-434d. per
cubic yar-d. One requires to be very familiar with low-grade
dirt to be able to view these figures without a shudder, when
the amount of heavy work necessary to save 1,722 oz. of gold
from 333,500 tons of hard-cemented breccia, all of which lies
below sluioing-level, is intelligently considered. The value of
the cement worked last year was 16s. 8d. per hour (4 dwt,
5 gr.) ; this year the value is 17s. 9d. per hour (4 dwt. ] 1 gr.) :
an improvement of 6 gr., or Is. Id. per hour. The cost •>?
winning the gold has been £2 16s. 6Jd. per ounce, or 71-61 per
cent.; last year the cost was £2 19s. 9jd. por ounce, or
75-19 per cent. : a decrease of 3-58 per cent. Thirty hours'
less pumping were necessary this year than last, the cost of
which has been, on the basis of what the water used for the pur-
pose would have earned had it been possible to use it for sluic-
ing : Pumping, 525 hours at 17s. 9d. per hour, £465 8s. 9d. ;
less 71-61 per cent., £333 6s. : cost of pumping, £132 2s. 9d.
Cost last year, £115 16s. 6d. : an increase of £16 6s. 3d. The
total quantity of water used for all purposes during 1904-S
was 626,321,300 cubic f^t in 7,228 hours sluicing and 555
hours pumping— 7,783 hours; during 1905-6, 613,879,000
cubic feet in 7,653-5 hours sluicing and 525 hours pumping —
8,178-5 hours: being 12,442,300 cubic feet less, 425-5 hours
7nore for sluicing, 30 hours less for pumping, and 395-5 hours
more altogether ; which exhibits a less water-supply more ad-
vantageously applied. In other words, the efficiency of both
elevators and pump has been increased by remodelling them

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 219

in such a manner as to allow the use of smaller jets, with the
result as shown above, that with 12J millions of cubic feet less
volume of water 395"5 hours more work has been done. The
pump has worked very well and has given no trouble; it has
maintained its previous efficiency. The ratio of sluicing and
pumping water is shown by the following figures : Sluicing-
water — No. 1 division 317,520,000 cubic feet. No. 2 division
275,569,000 cubic feet, total 593,089,000 cubic feet; pump-
ing, 20,790,000 cubic feet: total, 613,879,000 cubic feet, or
3'3866 per cent. Last year the percentage was 3'3910, a barely
perceptible difference of 0'G044 per cent. The head-races fur-
nished a water-supply for sluicing during 1904-5 of 903'o
eight-hour days; 1905-6, 956'8 eight-hour days: an increase
of 53'3 days. And this water was subdivided and applied as
under:— 190^5— No. 1, 565-6 days; No. 2, 338 days; total,
903-6 days. 1905-6— No. 1, 490 days; No. 2, 466-8 days;
total, 956-8 days: an increase of 53-3 days. The working and
up-keep of the head-races for the year has cost — Ordinary
wages, £605 16s. ; timber-cartage and wages extra, £38
16s. 5d. : total, £644 12s. 5d. Rather more roburite has
been used this year than last, more hours have been worked,
and consequently more blasting has been necessary. Explo-
sives in 1904-5 cost £426 4s. 8d. ; in 1905-6, £597 3s.:
an increase of £170 18s. 4d. Blast fired in No. 1 face,
24th February, £90; the cost of this blast should really be
debited to the current year, as no gold has been won from
the cement dislodged by it. Wages paid in 1904-5 amounted
to £3,001 Is. 2d.; in 1905-6, £3,175 9s. 2d.: an increase,
due to extra hours worked, of £174 8s. The following is a
statement of work and values for the year 1905-6: — Sluicing:
No. 1 division, 3,919-5 bonis; No. 2 division, 3,734 hours:
total, 7,653-5 hours. Cement: No. 1 division, 97,987-5 cubic
yards; No. 2 division, 124,342-2 cubic yar-ds : total, 222,329-7
cubic yards. Gold: No. 1 division, 680-15 oz. ; No. 2 divi-
sion, 1,041-74 oz. : total, 1,721-89 oz. Value per cubic yard :
No. 1 division, 3-332 gr., 6-66d.; No. 2 division, 4-021 gr.,
8-04d. : mean value, 3-7175 gr., 7-435d." General manager,
J. Howard Jackson; mine-manager, J. Uren.

220 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Butterfly Sluicing Claim, Teviot Survey District. — This
claim has an area of 3 acres, and is owned by Weatherall
Bros., who commenced to open up the ground in May, 1903,
The gravels, 12 ft. in depth, consist of rough yellow wash,
carrying large stones. The -dam covers an area of half an acre,
from which water is conveyed through two miles of water-race
and 160 ft. of fluming and 18 in. and 9 in. pipes, which main-
tain a supply of five heads on one nozzle, at an average pre-
sure of 20 ft. The gold is fine, and is saved with perforated
plates and oocoanut matting, the tailings being carried over
160 ft. of tail-race. From an acre operated on 52 oz. of gold
was obtained, valued at £194. Value of plant, &c., £100.
Mine-manager, Henry Weatherall.

Carroll and Ijynch's Claim, Bald Hill Flat. — This claim,
which was partly worked by the Last Chance Company, but
abandoned owing to poorness of returns, has an area of
8 acres, of which 2f acres have been worked since operations
were commenced in November, 1904. Water is conveyed over
races about seven miles in length and 2,000 ft. of fluming an-d
pipes. Two nozzles are in use — one at the face and one at the
tail — an average supply of six heads being available, when
water is plentiful, at a head-pressure of 280 ft. The gold is
medium-sized, and is saved with boxes and ripples. In the
year 190.5 the yield was 110 oz. 3 dwt. 18 gr., valued at £424
4s. 4d. Total yield of gold, 162 oz. 3 dwt. 18 gr., valued at
£624 8s. 4d. Value of plant, £600. Mine-manager, Patrick
Carroll ; secretary. Pierce Carroll, Bald Hill Flat.

Christian' s Claim, Livingstone. — Area, 8 acres. The wash
operated on consists of quartz gravel lying under greensand,
and is got at a depth of 2 ft. The dam covers an area of
4 acres, from which water is conveyed over twenty-seven miles
of water-races an-d 82 cnains of fluming and pipes, which
maintains a supply of eight beads on one nozzle, at an average
pressure of 190 ft. The gold is very fine, and is saved with
ripples and tussocks, the tailings being carried over 36 chains
of tail-race. During the year 1905 an area of half an acre was
worked. Value of plant, races, &c., £7,000. Mine-manager
and owner, John Christian.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 221

Commissioner's Flat Sluicing Claim,, Rozburgh. — Area,
25 acres. The present owners commenced operations in
December, 1901, but the claim was first opened up by Haugh-
ton and party about twelve years previously. There is one
elevator employed, and the materials are lifted 28 ft. Water
is conveyed over races about six miles in length and a quarter
of a mile of fluming. The face is operated on by one nozzle,
an average supply of ten heads being available, and, when
elevating, twenty heads can be got from water stored in the
dam, at a head-pressure of 100 ft. The gold is mostly fine,
and is saved with 2|^in. by fin. flat-iron bars made into
ripples, the tailings being carried over 640 ft. of tail-race.
During the year 1905 an acre was worked, yielding 322 oz.
lOdwt. 23 gr. gold, valued at £1,239 14s. 3d. During the
past three years between 3 and 4 acres have been operated
upon, yielding 940 oz. 16 dwt. 12 gr. gold, valued at £3,640
18s. 6d. Approximate value of plant, &c., £1,500. Four
men are employed. Owners, W. Coulter and party; secretary,
R. George, Roxburgh.

Cooper and Party's Claim, Horseshoe Bend. — Area, 7 acres.
The claim was first worked in 1863 by Mr. Stewart; the pre-
sent owners (Cooper and party) commenced operations in Octo-
ber, 1905. The dam covers an area of 4 acres, from which
water is conveyed over four miles of water-race, 2,000 ft. of
fluming, and 17 in. and 10 in. pipes, which maintain a supply
of three heads on one nozzle, at an average pressure of 50 ft.
The gold is mixed, and is saved with longitudinal ripples and
perforated plates, the tailings being carried over 10 chains
of tail-race. A total area of 5 acres has been operated upon,
and it is stated that gold to the value of £10,000 was taken
out by previous owners. Value of plant, races, &c., £300.
Mine-manager, J. Cooper.

Criffel Lead Sluicitig Company, Cardrona. — Area, 100
acres. This company was registered on the 30th September,
1906, and has a called-up capital of £4,054 8s. The cutting
■of a tail-race up to the lead was commenced in April, 1906.
with the view of working an alluvial lead or wash in the hill-
side. The lead apparently consists of an old river-bed, the

222 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

overlying strata being composed of debris or slips from the
mountain-side. The tail-race will be 300 ft. to 400 ft. in
length, and about 3,000 ft. of fluming and pipes (22 in. to
9 in.) will be required, the distance of the penstock from the
claim being about 1,000 ft. With a full supply of water there
should be thirty heads available, giving a pressure of about
500 ft. at the face. Twenty men will be generally employed.
Approximate value of claim, race, &c., £4,000. Mine-
manager, Dugald Macgregor ; secretary, Edward Trythall.
Dunedin.

Eagle and Gray's Claim, St. Bathan's. — Area, 3 acres.
Work was commenced on this claim in 1867. Water is con-
veyed over races six miles in length and 900 ft. of fluming and
pipes, the dimensions of the latter varying from 22 in. to 9 in.
The face is operated on by one nozzle, an average supply of
two heads being available at a head-pressure of 120 ft. The
gold is fine, and is saved -with iron ripples and matting, the
tailings being carried over 1,500 ft. of tail-race. For a period
of four years the claim was worked by tub an-d cradle, and
sinking and driving was carried on, but eventually ground-
sluicing was resorted to as being the most favourable way of
working the claim. Value of plant, &c., £700. Estimated
life of claim, twenty years, or sixty years from date of com-
mencement. Mine-manager, R. Wade.

Edinburgh Spur, Waikaia. — Area, 40 acres. This claim
started work in May, 1904. Five acres have been worked to
date, the depth of the auriferous gravel being 30 ft., and
180 oz. of gold was obtained, valued at £697 10s. A tail-race
132 ft. in length has been constructed, and the dam covers
an acre of ground. There is 1,000 ft. of fluming and pipes;
dimensions, 15 in. to 9 in. One nozzle is in use, and there
is a pressure of 170 ft. at the face. Value of plant, &o., £600.
Mine-manager, James Mutch.

Fordham and Gay's Claim, Cambrian's. — Area, 5 acres.
Work was commenced in December, 1904. Water is conveyed
over two and a half miles of water-race and 800 yards of
fluming and pipes. The face is operated on by one nozzle, an
average supply of three heads being available, at a head-pres-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 223

sure of 70 ft. The gold is fine, and is saved with a paved race,
the tailings being carried over a quarter of a mile of tail-race.
During the year 1905 an area of 900 square yards was operated
on, yielding 13 oz. 4 dwt. 13 gr. of gold, valued at £50
18s. 7d. Value of plant, races, &c., £1,000.

Golden Crescent Sluicing Company, Weatherstone's. — Area,
■90 acres. This company was registered in November, 1898,
and commenced work in March, 1900. There is one elevator
employed, and the materials are lifted 20 ft. to 30 ft. Water
is conveyed over races eighteen miles in length and 4,000 ft.
of lluming and pipes. The face is operated on by two nozzles,
an average supply of eight heads being available, at a head-
pressure of 260 ft. The gold is fine, and is saved with per-
forated plates, coir matting, and angle-iron bottoms, the tail-
ings being carried over 40 chains of tail-race. During the
year 1905 an area of about 4 acres was worked, yielding
480 oz. of gold, valued at £1,868 9s. 9d. Thirty-six acres have
been worked during the past five years, the yield of gold being
3,759 oz., value £14,576 3s. Dividends have been disbursed
amounting to £6,300. Amount of called-up capital, £3,500.
Value of plant, races, <tc., £4,000. Mine-manager, J. A.
McNeilly; secretary, J. C. Browne, Lawrence.

Golden Padlock, Mitchell's Flat, Waipori.— Area, 4 acres.
The nature of the material operated on consists of rotten reef
and quartz wash, taken from a depth of 6 ft. There is one
elevator employed, and the materials are lifted 12 ft. The
dam covers an area of about 4 acres, and water is conveyed
through twelve miles of water-race and 60 ft. of fluming and
pipes, which maintains a supply of four heads on one nozzh,
at an average pressure of 60 ft. During the year 1905, 136 oz.
9 dwt. 15 gr. of gold, valued at £545 8s. 7d., was obtained.
Value of plant, &c., £300. Owners, Gare and Sons.

Golden Rise, Weatherstone's. — Area, 40 acres. This claim
is owned by Messrs. Smyth, Donlan, and Adams. Work was
first commenced in the early part of 1895. There is one ele-
vator employed, and the materials are lifted 30 ft. Water is
conveyed over races eighteen miles in length and 3,600 ft. of
fluming and pipes. The face is operated on by one nozzle, an

224 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

average supply of four and a half heads being available, at
a head-pressure of 280 ft. The gold is fine, and is saved in
angle-iron bottoms, perforated plates, and cocoanut matting,
the tailings being carried over one mile of tail-race. During
the year 1905 an area of 10 acres was worked, the quantity
treated being 242,000 cubic yards, at a cost of Ijijd. per yard,
yielding 945 oz. of gold, valued at £3,686. Since the be-
ginning of operations about 80 acres has been worked. Capi-
tal called up, £2,500; approximate value of plant, races,
&c., £3,000. Seven men employed. Mine-manager and secre-
tary, William R. Smyth, Lawrence.

Island Block Gold-dredging and Sluicing Company, Island
Block, near Miller's Flat. — Area, 600 acres. This company
was registered in February, 1900, and commenced work .in
October of the same year. There are two elevators employed,
and the materials are lifted 70 ft. The dam covers an area of
85 acres. Water is conveyed over races four and a half miles
in length and three miles of fluming and pipes, the dimensions,
of the latter varying from 22 in. to 9 in. The face is operateiv
o.T by two nozzles, an average supply of twenty-six heads being-
available, at a head-pressure of 710 ft. The gold is fine, and
is saved with longitudinal iron ripples, cross angle-iron
ripples, with cocoanut matting underneath, the tailings being-
carried over a mile and a half of tail-race. During the year
1905 an area of 4 acres was operated on, yielding 1,459 oz. of
gold, valued at £5,715. Thirty acres has been worked during
the past live years ; the yield of gold obtained from this area
was 6,231 oz., valued at £24,290. Dividends have been dis-
bursed amounting to £2,403 ; capital called up, £24,030. It
is stated that the ground could be levelled after working, and
top-dressed with silt from the elevator, and so rendered avail-
able for fruit-culture or pastoral purposes. Approximate value
of plant, races, &o., £20,000. Fourteen men employed. Mine-
manager, David Weir ; secretary, James Brown, Dunedin.

Jev:ett's Gully, Round Hill, Colac Bay, Southland. — Area,
42 acres 3 roods 22 perches. The Jewett's Gully Gold-mining-
Company was registered in May, 1905, and commenced work
six months later. There is one elevator employed, and the

,)^^- '-
^h^ ^^^

■■V,gWi«»(?SI>*'>(HI>l!ja'J»l

IN Elevator of Champion Htdbaulio Company's Claim, Beaumont, Otaqo
Mining Handbook.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 225

materials are lifted 38 ft. Water is conveyed over water-races
two miles in length and 103 chains of fluming and pipes. The
face is operated on by two nozzles, an average supply of five
heads being available^ at a head-pressure of 240 ft. The gold
is fine, and is saved by ripples and mats, the tailings being
conveyed over 80 ft. of tail-race. During the year 190.5, 30 oz.
13 dwt. 2 gr. of gold, valued at £121 2s. lOd., was obtained
Capital called up is £1,800; approximate value of plant,
races, dams, &c., XI, 700. Four men employed. Mine-
manager, J. Thurgood ; secretary, L. W. Petchell, Riverton.

Johnstone's Sluicing Claim, Blackstone Hill. — Water is ob-
tained from the Government water-race, and oonvej'ed through
600 ft. of fluming and pipes. The face is operated on by one
nozzle, an average supply of four heads being available, at a
head-pressure of 150 ft. During the year 1906 prospecting was
chiefly carried on, 30 oz. of gold, value £11.") 10s., being ob-
tained. Owner, R. Johnstone.

Kitto and Party's Sluicing Clniin, Blue Spur, Tuapeka. —
Area, 21 acres. Work was commenced on this claim in 1870.
There is one elevator employed, and the materials are lifted
7.5 ft. Water is conveyed over races about forty miles in
length and 40 chains of fluming and pipes. The face is
operated on by two nozzles, an average supply of eighteen
heads being available, at a head-pressure of 450 ft. The gold
is fine, and is saved with angle-iron ripples and perforated
plates, the tailings being carried over 12 chains of tail-race.
During the year 1905, 441 oz. 15 dwt. 10 gr. of gold, valued
at £1,701 10s. 6d., was obtained. Approximate value of
plant, &c., £5,000.

Ladysmith Gold - dredging Company, Roxburgh East. —
Area, 55 acres 2 roods 18 perches. This company was re-
gistered in April, 1900, and commenced work in Decem-
ber following. There is one elevator employed, and the
materials are lifted from 20 ft. to 45 ft. Water is con-
veyed over races three r.nd a half miles in lengtli and
35 chains of fluming and pipes. The face is operated on
by one nozzle, an average supply of twenty heads being
available, at a head-pressure of 150 ft. The gold is fine,

8— Mining Handbook.

226 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

and is saved with iron ripples, the tailings being carried over
a qaart-er of a mile of tail-race. During the year 1905 an
area of 5 acres was worked, yielding 1,003 oz. 11 dwt. 6 gr. of
gold, valued at £3,86.3 13s. 9d. About 15 acres has been
operated on during the past five years ; the yield of gold from
this area was 3,292 oz. 6 dwt. 12 gr., valued at £12,675 5s.
Dividends have been paid amounting to £3,473 16s. ; called-
Utj capital, £3,964 Is. 9d. Value of plant, races, &c.,
£6,400. Mine-manager, William Donnelly; secretary, Jabez
Burton, Roxburgh.

Lnmmeriaw Flat Hydratihc Mining Company, Waipori. —
Area, 30 acres. This company commenced work in July, 1899.
There is one elevator employed, and the materials are lifted
20 ft. Water is conveyed over races thirty miles in length and
52 chains of pipes (dimensions 13 in. and 9 in.). The face is
operated on by two nozzles, an average supply of ten heads
being available, at a head-pressure of 240 ft. The gold is
coarse and fine, and is saved with Venetian ripples, perforated
plates, and matting. During the year 1905 an area of 3 acres
was operated on, yielding 147 oz. 13 dwt. 23 gr. of gold,
valued at £568 12s. 5d. Forty-five acres has been worked
during the past six years ; the yield of gold obtained from this
area was 1,857 oz. 14 dwt. 21 gr., valued at £7,156 13s. 3d.
Dividends have been disbursed amounting to £1,408; capital
called up is £1,500. Value of plant, races, dams, &c., £3,100.
Mine-manager, Henry Blackmore; secretary, F. W. Knight,
Waipori.

Manuel Bros.' Clnim, Coal Creek Flat.— Area, 12 acres.
The overlying strata is composed of gravel, stones, and sand
from surface to u, depth of 60 ft. There is one elevator em-
ployed, and the materials are lifted 18 ft. to 20 ft. Water is
conveyed over races thr^e miles in length and 200 ft. of fluming
and pipes. The face is operated on by one nozzle, an average
supply of twelve heads being available, at a head-pressure of
75 ft. The gold is fine, and is saved with iron ripple-bars,
tha tailings being carried over 600 ft. of tail-race. During the
year 1905 a quarter of an acre was worked, yielding 203 oz. of
gold, valued at £781 lis. Value of plant, races, &c., £500.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 227

Estimated life of claim ten years, or forty years from date of
commencing work. There is a scarcity of water at times, which
prevents the claim being worked constantly, but the owners
contemplate constructing a race higher up the lange.

Matakaiiui Gold - mining Com-pany, Matakanui. — Area,
4o acres. This company was registered in January, 1902, and
commenced work the same month. One elevator is employed,
and the materials are lifted 64 ft. Water is conveyed over
races fourteen miles in length and a mile and a half of fluming
and pipes. The face is operated on by two nozzles, an average
supply of twelve heads being available, at a head-pressure of
200 ft. The gold is fine, and is saved with ripple-plates,
matting, and boxes, the tailings being carried over three-
quarters of a mile of tail-race. During the year 1905 about
half an acre was worked, yielding 538 oz. 18dwt. 14 gr. of
gold, valued at £2,074 16s. Total yield of gold, 2,315 oz.

1 dwt. 16 gr., valued at £8,870 9s. 5d., out of which dividends
have been disbursed amounting to £1,924 3s. 6d. ; capital
called up, £7,000. Value of plant, races, &c., £6,000. Mine-
manager and secretary, W. Norman, Matakanui.

Mount Morgan Sluicing Gomyany, Matakanui. — Area,
60 acres. This company- commenced work in October, 1903.
There is one elevator emploj-ed, and the materials are lifted
25 ft. Water is convej-ed over races ten miles in length and
one mile of fluming and pipes. The face is operated on by two
nozzles, an average supply of ten heads being available, at a
-head-pressure of 120 ft. The gold is fine, and is saved by
means of gold-boxes 40 ft. in length and 3 ft. in width, the tail-
ings being carried over 60 ft. of tail-race. During the j'ear
1905 an area of 2 acres was worked, yielding 188 oz. 8 dwt.

2 gr. of gold, valued at £725 6s. lOd. Eight acres has been
worked during the past two years ; the yield of gold from tliis
area was 537 oz. 4 dwt. 4gr., valued at £2,067 9s. Capital
called up, £1,010. Value of plant, races, A-c, £3,404. Four
men emploj-ed. Mine-manager, James Percy; secretary, J. D.
Nicolson, Matakanui.

Mitnro and Party's Claim, Post-oiSce Creek, Waipori. —
Area, 27 acres. One elevator is emploj-ed, and the materials.

228 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

which consist of fine hard gravel, are lifted to a height of 50 ft.
Water is conveyed over races fourteen miles in length and
2,400 ft. of fluming and pipes. The face is operated on by
one nozzle, an average supply of four heads being available, at
a head-pressure of 2.30 ft. The gold is fine, and saved with
ripples and perforated plates, the tailings being carried over
5 chains of tail-race. During the year 1905 half an acre was
operated on, yielding 367 oz. 4 dwt. of gold, valued at £1,413
14s. 5d. Value of plant, £2,000. Mine-manager, A. Munro;
secretary, H. S. George, Berwick.

Murray and Gaii-'s Claim, Adams Gully, Bannockburn. —
Area, 3 acres. The wash consists of rough gravel 20 ft. in
depth. Water is conveyed over a race one mile in length and
900 ft. of fluming and 9 in. and 7 in. pipes. The face is
opej-ated on by one nozzle, an average supply of five heads
being available, at a head-pressure of 50 ft. The gold is fine,
and is saved with tail-race and box, the tailings being carried
over 100 yards of tail-race. During the year 1905 a quarter of
an acre was worked, yielding 22 oz. of gold, valued at £84 14s.
Value of plant, races, &c., £150. Mine-manager, Henry
Murray.

New Skipper's Slnicini/ Conipnny, Skipper's. — Area,
82 acre.s. This company was registered in September, 1902,
and commenced operations the same month. The gravels,
160 ft. in depth, consist of mica schist with quartz and iron-
stone boulders, some of which are several tons in weight, over-
lying the true bottom. The dams owned by the company cover
an area of IJ acres, from which the water is conveyed over seven
and one-eighili miles of water-races and 7,060 ft. of fluming
and pipes (30 in. to 11 in. diameter), which maintain a supply
of fifteen heads of water on two nozzles, at an average pres-
sure of 160 ft. The gold isyjoarse, and is saved with iron rails,
with brush imdorneath, the tailings "being carried over
3,400 ft. of tail-races. During 1905, 1-J acres was operated
on, yielding 163 oz. of gold, valued at £622. About 12 acres
has been worked during the past three years; the yield of
gold obtained from this area was 658 oz., valued at £2,504.
Capital called up, £3,414. Value of plant, races, dams, &c.,

NEW ZEALAND MINING HAXDBOOK. 1^29

estimated at £10,000. Mine-manager, Jolin Corbett; secre-
tary, H. E. Wilson, Dunedin.

Nokoinai Hydrattlic Sluicing Company, Nokomai Creek,
Southland. — Area, 211 acres (embracing two claims). This
company was registered in March, 1898, and commenced work
the following month. There are two elevators employed, and
the materials are lifted 75 ft. by No. 1 and 50 ft. by No. 2
lift. Water is conveyed over races fortj'-eight miles in length
(twenty-seven miles Nos. 1 and 2, and twenty-one miles of race
for Lion Claim) and 6,700 ft. of fluming and pipes. The face
is operated on by three nozzles, an average supply of eighteen
heads being available at No. 1 and twenty-four heads at No. 2
claim, at a head-pressure of 650 ft. and 250 ft. respectively.
The gold is coarse and fine, and is saved with Venetian ripples
and oocoanulr matting, the tailings being carried over a mile
of tail-races. Electric light is installed in both claims, the
annual cost for wages, materials, repairs, &c., being £500.
During the year 1905 an area of 2| acres was operated on in
each claim, yiel-ding 2,619 oz. 6 dwt. of gold, valued at £9,925
2s. -id. Fifty acres has been worked during the past eight
years ; the yield of gold obtained from this area was 13,166 oz.
12 dwt., valued at £50,243 4s. 8d. Dividends have been dis-
bursed amounting to £17,783 lis., and £2,351 expended over
and above the called-up capital (£24,000) in developing the
property. Approximate value of plant, races, &c., £26,351.
Thirty-six men employed. Mine-managers, William Robinson
and Charles Atkinson ; secretary, Kum Poy, Dunedin.

Norwegian Sluicing Chiim, Waitahuna Gully. — Area,
29 acres 3 roods. The nature of the wash operated on is hard
gravel, locally known as " Maori bottom," also a breccia con-
glomerate similar to the Blue Spur formation, having a depth
of 20 ft. to 60 ft. The overlying strata is composed of yellow
clay. One elevator is at work, the height of lift being 43 ft.
The total length of water-races in connection with the claim is
forty miles; area of dams, about 3 acres; dimensions of pipes,
18 in. to 7 in. Eight heads of water are available, and one
nozzle is in use, the pressure of the elevator-jet at the face
being 250 ft. Gold has been won to the extent of 452 oz.

230 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

9 dwt., valued at £1,741 17s. lOd. The gold is fine; the ap-
pliances for saving it consist of angle-iron ripples and per-
forated plates over cocoanut matting, with boxes 100 ft. by
3 ft. in width. Five men employed. Value of plant, &o.,
£3,000. Mine-manager and secretary, Charles Thomson, Wai-
tahuna Gully.

Ourawera Gold-mining Company, Eound Hill, Southland.
— Area, 40 acres. This company was registered in May, 1895,
and commenced work in December of the same year. One
elevator is employed, and the materials are lifted 67 ft. Water
is supplied from the company's dam (an acre in area, depth
7 ft.) by a water-race eighteen miles in length, together with
143 chains of fluming and pipes, the latter being 13 in.
diameter. The face is operated on by one breaking-down and
one tail nozzle, under an average supply of ten heads, at a head-
pressure of 446 ft. and 300 ft. respectively. The gold is fine,
and is saved with steel ripples and cocoanut matting. During
1905, 1^ acres was operated on, yielding 881 oz. 12 dwt. 22 gr.
of gold, valued at £3,557 17s. Twelve acres has been worked
during the past six years ; the yield of gold obtained from this
area was 7,842 oz. 6 dwt. 12 gr., valued at £31,101 4s. 4d.
Dividends have been disbursed amcunting to £10,915; capital
called up, £3,000. Value of plant, races, &c., £3,000. Eleven
men employed. Mine-manager, James Couling ; secretary,
John Erskiue, Invercargill.

Our Mutual Friend, Galvin's Terrace, Nevis. — Area, 20
acres. This claim, taken up in 1894, is owned by W. Masters
and party. One elevator is emploj^ed in the main ground, and
occasionally two in the deepest ground, the raaterials being
lifted 36 ft. Water is conveyed over races twelve miles in
length, together with 100 ft. of fluming and half a mile of 7 in.
and 9 in. pipe-line. The •ace is operated on by four nozzles,
an average supply of twenty-five heads being available, at a
head-pressure of 300 ft. The gold is of a rough description,
and is savad with ordinary cobble-stones, the tailings being
carried over a quarter of a mile of tail-race. During the year
1905 a quarter of an acre was operated on, yielding 210 oz. of
gold, valued at £803 10s. Value of plant, races, &c., £5,000.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 231

Patearoa Sluicing Claims Patearoa, Maniototo County. —
Area, 56 acres. Work was commenced in February, 1900.
One elevator is employed, and the materials are lifted 30 ft.
Water is conveyed over races three and a half miles in length
and a mile and three-quarters of fluming and pipes. The
face is operated on by one nozzle, an average supply of eight
heads being available, at a head-pressure of 202 ft. (hydro-
static) and 192 ft. (hydraulic). The gold is medium-sized,
resembling bran, and is saved with angle-iron ripples and per-
forated plates. During the j'ear 190.5 an area of 3|- acres was
operated on, jdel-ding 709 oz. 6 dwt. 22 gr. of gold, valued at
£2,776 16s. lid. Twelve acres has been worked during the
past five years ; the yield of gold obtained from this area was
2,306 oz. 13 dwt. 6gr., valued at £9,043 4s. 7d., and divi-
dends have been paid amounting to £2,750. The gold is ob-
tained principally ofi the bottom, from which prospects up
to as much as 16 oz. to the dish have been obtained. Some
parts of the bottom are covered with a film of gold-particles.
There is no recognised lead of gold, but most of the ground
worked has paid well since operations were begun in the creek-
bed, which is about 6 chains in width. A peculiar feature
of this claim is that it is right in the heart of the Patearoa
Township, which has been in existence for forty years, and
the rich gold has lain there undiscovered until five or six years
ago. Value of plant, races, (fee, £1,600. Nine men em-
ployed. Mine-manager, Douglas C. Stewart; secretary, R. T.
Stewart, Waikaia.

Pleasant Valley HydnniUc Claim, Coal Creek. — Area,
10 acres. There is one elevator employed on this claim, which
is owned by McPherson Bros., and the materials are lifted
20 ft. Water is conveyed over races a mile and three-quarters
in length and 15 chains of fluming and pipes. The face is
operated on by one nozzle, an average supply of eight heads
being available, at a head-pressure of 300 ft. The gold is
fine, and is saved with boxes and ripples, the tailings being
carried over 900 ft. of tail-race. An area of a quarter of an
acre has been worked since September, 1905, yielding 37 oz.
of gold, valued at £142 9s. Approximate value of plant, race,

232 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

&c., £400. Mine-manager, F. Swanwick; secretary, Robert
McPherson, Coal Creek Flat.

Private Enterprise, Cardrona Valley. — Area, 10 acres.
The wash consists of clean gravels, which is taken from a
depth of 21 ft. One elevator is employed, and the materials
are lifted 36 ft. Water is conveyed over races seventeen and
a half miles in length and 33 yards of fluming and pipes,
the dimensions of the latter varying from 24 in. to 9 in. The
face is operated on by two nozzles, an average supply of
twelve heads being available, at a head-pressure of 320 ft.
The gold is fine dust, and is saved with ripples and hopper-
plates, the tailings being carried over 27 yards of boxes.
During the year 1905 three-quarters of an acre was worked,
yielding 129 oz. of gold, valued at £504. Value of plant,
races, &c., £1,600. Owner, Walter Little.

Rogers and Johnston's Claim, Upper Shotover. — Area,
14 acres. Work was first commenced on this claim in Decem-
ber, 1897. One elevator is emploj-ed, and the materials are
lifted 27 ft. Water is conveyed over races a mile in length
and 4,000 ft. of fluming and pipes. The face is operated on
by two nozzles, an average supply of fifteen heads being avail-
able, at a head-pressure of 300 ft. The gold is coarse and
fine, and is saved with angle-iron .-ipples, the tailings being
carried over 300 ft. of tail-race. During the year 1905 an
area of a quarter of an acre was worked, yielding 100 oz. of
gold, valued at £385. Three acres has been operated on
during the past eight j^ears ; yield of gold, 1,000 oz., valued
at £3,850. Approximate value of plant, races, &c., £1,200.

Bound Hill Mining Company, Round Hill. — Area,
140 acres. This company was registered in 1891, and com-
menced work the same year. There are sometimes four ele-
vators employed, the heignt of the present lift varying from
64 ft. to 68 ft. (vertical). Water is conveyed over races fifty-
six miles in length and 160 chains of fluming and pipes.
The face is operated on by two nozzles, an average supply of
twenty heads being available, at a head-pressure of 300 ft.
(1301b.). The gold is fine, and is saved with angle-iron
ripples and cocoanut matting, the tailings being carried over

G
rn

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK., 233

10 chains of tail-race. During 1905 an area of 10 acres was
operated on, yielding 2,5-36 oz. 5 dwt. 16 gr. of gold, valued at
£10,210 13s. 8d. Since work first commenced the total gravels
sluiced comprise an area of 70 acres, for a yield of 22,306 oz.
18 dwt. 5 gr., valued at £88,988 6s. 8d. Dividends have been
disbursed amounting to £1,972 3s.; called-up capital,
£28,245. About 12 oz. of platinum per year is saved on this
claim, which is the only one in the colony that has system-
atically looked after the saving of this valuable metal. Ap-
proximate value of plant, rsces, dams, &c., £50,000. Mine-
manager, Frederick Hart ; secretary, Alfred Reynolds, Round
Hill, Colac Bay.

Sailors' Gully, Waitahuna Gully. — Area, 71 acres 3 roods
39 perches. The Sailors' Gully Gold-mining Company was
registered in June, 1896, and commenced work the same
month. One elevator is employed, and the materials are lifted
20 ft. Water is conveyed over races seventeen and a half miles
ip length and 20 chains of fluming and pipes. The face is
operated on by two nozzles, an average supply of eight heads
being available, at a head-pressure of 220 ft. The gold is
fine, and is saved with angle-iron ripples, the tailings being
carried over 106 ft. of tail-race. During the year 1905 an
area of 5 acres was worked, yielding 345 oz. 18 dwt. 14 gr.
of gold, valued at £1,339 13s. Id. Twenty-five acres has been
operated on during the past ten years ; the yield of gold from
this area was 2,270oz. 12 dwt. 13 gr., valued at £8,448
18s. 2d. Dividends have been disbursed amounting to
£2,150; called-up capital, £1,900. Approximate value of
plant, races, &c., £1,500. Mine-manager, Andrew Barr ;
secretary, Alfred Crooke, Lawrence.

Scandinavian Water-race Claims, St. Bathan's. — Area,
140 acres (in several claims). The Scandinavian Water-race
Company was registered in 1868, and commenced work the
same year. Two elevators are employed, and the materials
are lifted 140 ft. Water is conveyed over races (from which
several claims are supplied) ninety-six miles in length and
two and a half miles of fluming and pipes. The face is
operated on by two nozzles, an averatre supply of twenty-five

234 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

heads being available, at a head-pressure of 380 ft. The gold
is fine, and is saved with ordinary angle-iron ripples, but ths
tail-race is chiefly depended upon, the tailings being carried
over five miles of tail-race. During the year 1905 an area
of three-quarters of an acre was operated on, yielding 1,029 oz.
of gold, valued at £4,014. Dividends have been disbursed
amounting to £15,666; capital called up, £12,000. Mine-
manager and secretary, Neil Nicolson, St. Bathan's.

Smith Gold-mining Gomipany, Round Hill. — Area, 39 acres
1 rood 29 perches. The company was registered in October,
1898, and commenced work in 1899. One elevator is em-
ployed, and the materials are lifted 35 ft. Water is conveyed
over races two and a quarter miles in length and 60 chains
of fiuming and pipes. The face is operated on by one nozzle,
an average supply of five heads being available, at a head-
pressure of 190 ft. The gold is fine, and is saved with ripples
and mats, the tailings being carried over 70 ft. of tail-race.
During the year 1905 the yield of gold was 195 oz. 19 dwt.
10 gr., valued at £774 Is.; total yield, 1,093 oz., valued at
£4,317. Called-up capital, £1,700. Value of plant, races,
&c., £1,720. Mine-manager, David Smith; secretary, L. W
Petchell, Riverton.

Spring Vale Sluicing Claim, Spring Vale. — Water is con-
veyed over a race twelve miles in length .and 4,000 ft. of
fluming and 13 in. to 9 in. pipe. The face is operated on by
one nozzle, an average supply of fourteen heads being avail-
able. During the 5'ear 1905, 65 oz. of gold, value £252, waa
obtained. Value of races, &c., £3,000. Owner, James Gartly.

Surface Hill Sluicing Claim, Livingstone. — Area, 5 acres.
Work was commenced on this claim in November, 1901
Water is supplied from the dam, 2 acres in area, by a water-
race four miles in length, Together with 651 ft. of fluming and
pipes, and the face is operated on by one nozzle, an average
supply of four heads being available, under a head-pressure
of 70 ft. The gold is fine, and is saved with perforated iron
plates and matting, the tailings being carried over 440 j'ards
of tail-race. During the year 1905 half an acre was worked,
yielding 37 oz. of gold, valued at £142 17s. During the past

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 235

four years 2 acres has been operated on, yielding 148 oz. of
gold, valued at £571 16s. Value of plant, &c., £500. Owner,
James Meikle.

Another claim of 5 acres is held at Surface Hill, at the
foot of Ben Ledi, Livingstone, by George Meikle, who worked
a quarter of an acre last year and turned over 3,000 cubic
yards, at a cost of 4d. per cubic yard, for 30 oz. of gold,
valued at £115 10s. Since commencing operations in Decem-
ber, 1901, an area of li acres was worked, yielding 112 oz.
of gold, valued at £426 4s., the depth of the auriferous wash
taken from the true bottom varying from 10 ft. to 40 ft.
Four heads of water are available, at a pressure of 40 ft. ;
and the gold, which is of fine quality, and worth £3 17s. per
ounce, is saved by means of perforated plates and matting.

Tallahurn Hydraulic Shncing Claim, Miller's Flat. — Area,
85 acres. Work was commenced in November, 1904. Water
is conveyed over five miles of races and two miles of fluming
and pipes, giving an average supply of twenty heads to two
nozzles, under a head-pressure of 400 ft. One elevator is
emploj-ed, the height of lift being 25 ft. The gold is fine, and
is saved by ripples, hopper-plates, and matting. Value of
races, plant, &c., £1,500. Mine-manager, John Whelan ;
secretary, Barbara Bennet, Miller's Flat.

Tinkers Gold - mining Company, Matakanui. — Area,
87 acres. This company commenced work in March, 1902,
and was registered in June the sam.e year. One elevator is
employed, and the materials are lifted 60 ft. Water is con-
veyed over races six miles in length and three-quarters of a
mile of fluming and pipes. The face is operated on by two
nozzles, an average supply of twenty heads being available,
under a head-pressure of GOO ft. The gold is fine, and is saved
with boxes, ripple - plates, and matting, the tailings being
carried over three-quarters of a mile of tail-race. During the
year 1905 half an acre was operated on, yielding 739 oz. 3 dwt.
16 gr. of gold, valued at £2,845 15s. lOd. Ten acres has been
worked during the past three years, the yield obtained from
this area being 2,823 oz. 19 dwt. 2 gr. of gold., valued at
£10,872 2s. 5d. Dividends have been paid amounting (■„->

236 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

£5,437 10s.; called-up capital, £15,000. Value of plant,
races, dams, &c., £20,000. Seven men employed. Mine-
manager, Joseph Naylor ; secretary, T. Duggan, Matakanui.

Twdue-mile Sluicing Claim, Glenorohy. — Area, 2 acres.
The material worked consists of heavy wash and huge boulders.
During the year 1905 about 5,000 yards was treated, givin='
a return of 54 oz. 14 dwt. of gold, valued at £210 13s.; total
value of gold won since T/ork iirst commenced, £400. There
is one elevator employed, the height of the present lift being
30 ft. Total length of tail-races, 132 ft.; length of fluming
and pipes, 500 ft., the dimensions of the latter being from
13 in. to 9 in. There are eight heads of water available, and
one nozzle is in u-e, the pressure of tlie elevator-jet at face
being 40 ft. Value of plant, £110. Owners, Valpy Bros.

Unilnvnfed Gold -niiniii rj Company, Matakanui. — Area,
114 acres. This company v^as registered in March, 1898, and
commenced work the same month. Two elevators are some-
times employed, the materials being lifted from 45 ft. to 60 ft.
Water is conveyed over thirty miles of races and 2,150 yards
of fluming and pipes, the dimensions of the latter varying
from 22 in. to 7 in. The face is operated on bj' three nozzles,
an average supplj- of thirty-five heads being available, when
there is sufficient water, at a head-pressure of 420 ft. and
320 ft. from two lines of pipes. The gold is fine, and is saved
with bags and cocoanut matting, the tailings being carried
over eight miles of tail-race and one channel. During the
year 1905, IJ acres was operated on, yielding 618oz.
2 dwt. 14 gr. of gold, valued at £2,449 6s. 8d. Since the
claim first commenced work until the 31st March, 1906,
11 acres has been worked, yielding 7,870 oz. of gold, valued at
£30,628 2s. 3d. The called-up capital has amounted to
£15,000, and the divid*ids declared to £12,000. Value of
plant, races, dams, &c., £17,000.

The mine-manager an-d secretary of the Undaunted Com-
pany (Mr. Thomas C. Donnelly), in a note covering the above
details, furnishes the following interesting information:
' ' Matakanui was better known amongst the early diggers as
'Tinkers,' and is so called by manj- persons to the present

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 237

day. It is computed that 100,000 oz. of gold has been won
by private parties and companies on this rich field. At pre-
sent there are four limited-liability companies carrying on
sluicing operations — viz., Undaunted, £20,000 capital;
Tinkers, £15,000; Matakanui, £7,000; Mount Morgan,
£2,800. These four companies hold unworked ground to the
extent of about 300 acres, and it is estimated that there is a
further area of 1,000 acres of auriferous ground in the
locality. The 100,000 oz. of gold already won has been got
from a comparatively small area."

United M. and E. Water-race Company, St. Bathan's. —
Area of claim, 24 acres. This company was registered in 1872
for the purpose of supplying water to various claims at St.
Bathan's. .Hydraulic elevating was not commenced till fifteen
years ago. The top materials have been stripped off 15 acres.
An acre of ground was treated during the past year for
951 oz. 7dwt. 18 gr. of gold, valued at £3,662 16s. 7d. The
materials operated on consist of water-worn quartz gravels,
lying at an angle of 45° on a slaty reef, the true bottom not
having been yet found, though a depth of 200 ft. has been
reached ; the overlying strata is composed principally of
water-worn gravel to the sui face. One elevator is employed,
the height of present lift being 60 ft. Fifteen heads of water
are conveyed from the company's dam, covering an area of

2 acres, over twenty-five miles of water-races and 3,000 ft. of
fluming and pipes (diameters varying from 22 in. to 7 in.) to
three nozzles, the pressure at the elevator-jet being 400 ft.
The gold is fine, and three tail-boxes, each 14 ft. in length and

3 ft. in width, are placed at the end of the tail-races to save
it. The company has a called-up capital of £7,600, and
£3,078 has been paid in dividends. The estimated life of the
claim is twenty-five years, or forty years from date of com-
mencing operations. When worked the ground can, it is
stated, be utilised for grazing or tree-growing. Value of
races, plant, claim, &c., £6,000. Mine-manager, Patrick
O'Regan ; legal manager, William Pyle, St. Bathan's.

Upper Waikaia Gold-mining Syndicate, Upper Waikaia
River. Area, 4 acres 2 roods. Work was commenced on the

238 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

claim in March, 1905, 36 oz. 5 dwt. being obtained to end of
year. One elevator is employed, and the materials are lifted
30 ft. Water is conveyed over races two miles in length and
l;000ft. of fluming and pipes. The face is operated on by
one riozzle, an average supply of twelve heads being available,
under a head-pressure of 300 ft. The gold is coarse and fine,
and is saved with angle-iron ripples, the tables being 80 ft.
in length and 2 ft. 6 in. in width. Approximate value of
plant, &c., £500. Four men emploj'ed. Mine-manager, J. S.
Phillips ; secretary, H. A. Tamblyn, Coal Creek Flat.

Ufiper German Flat Company, Lawrence. — Area, 14 acres.
Work was commenced by the owners (S. Johnston and party)
in May, 1904. One elevator is employed, and the materials
are lifted 22 ft. Water is conve3"ed over races four miles in
length and 32 chains of Huming and pipes. The face is
operated on by one nozzle, an average supply of eight heads
being available. The gold is coarse, and is saved with angla-
iron and matting, the tailings being carried over 60 ft. of
tail-race. During the year 1905 the yield of gold was 112 oz.,
valued at £431 4s., the total won since commencing opera-
tions being 215 oz., valued at £827 15s. Mine-manager and
secretary, F. Bell, Lawrence.

Vinegar Hill Hydraulic Sluicing Company, Vinegar Hill.
— Area, 62 acres. This company was registered in September,
1900, and commenced operations the same month. One ele-
vator is employed, and the materials are lifted 82 ft. Water
is conveyed over races twenty miles in length and one mile of
fluming and pipes. The face is operated on by two nozzles,
an average supply of from twelve to fifteen heads being avail-
able, with a head-pressure of about 500 ft. The gold is fine,
and is saved with boxes 60 ft. in length and 3 ft. in width,
ihe tailings being carriea over two miles of tail-race. During
the year 1905 about 2 acres was worked, jdelding 360 oz. of
gold, valued at £1,387. Ihe total amount of gold won since
work first commenced is 1,568 oz., value £6,075 lis. 7d.
Dividends have been disbursed amounting to £600 ; capital
called up, £6,500. Value of plant, races, dams, &c., £6,500.
Seven men employed. Mine-manager, Thomas Morgan; secre-
tary, Edward Morgan, Cambrian's.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 239

Winding Greek Sluicing Claim, Winding Creek, Waikaia.
— Area, 80 acres. This property is held by the Round Hill
Mining Company, which commenced work in October, 1904.
One elevator is employed, and the materials are lifted 11 ft.
and 58 ft. Water is conveyed over races nineteen miles in
length and 60 chains of fluming and pipes. The face is
operated on by one nozzle, an average supply of ten heads
being available, at a head-pressure of 280 ft. The gold is
coarse and fine, and is saved with angle-iron ripples and cocoa-
nut matting, the tailings being carried over 12 chains of tail-
race. Since the claim was first opened up 3 square chains has
been worked, yielding 354 oz. of gold, valued at £1,397 4s. 6d.
Cinnabar is found in the wash, but none is saved. Value of
plaut, races, dams, &c., £19,000. Mine-manager, John Ram-
say ; secretary, Alfred Rejmolds, Round Hill, Colac Bay.

Zala.'s Shiicing Claim, Cardrona Valley. — Area, 4 acres
Work was first commenced on this claim in August, 1901.
During the year 1905 a quarter of an acre was worked, yield-
ing 34 oz. of gold, valued at £129 4s. 4d. There is one nozzle
in use, the pressure of the elevator-jet at the face being 60 ft.
The tail-race is 2,100 ft. in length.

METALS AND MINERALS FOUND
IN SLUICING CLAIMS.

Is forms sent to the various managers of sluicing claims in
Nelson, West Coast, Otago, and Southland information was
sought by the Editor of the Mining Handbook as to traces
of platinunL or other metals or minerals found in the course
of mining operations. The following affirmative replies have
been received : —

Nelson District.

Pniapara, Collingwood. — Some native lead is found in the
wash.

Tahaka, Pupu, Waitapu, Golden Bay. — Platinum in very
small quantity is present.

West Coast.

Kiri Momotut, Maruia, Burnett Surrey District. — Iron-
pyrites.

Mon.t d'Or, Sailors' Gully, Boss, Westland. — No platinum;
only ironsand.

New Nine-mile Creek, near Ten-mile Creek, Grey Valley. —
No trace of platinum. Ironsand and a little ruby tin in small
quantities.

Otago and SouTnLAND.

Blue Jacket, oppos-^ Deep Creek, Maori Point, Shotover
Eiver. — Small particles of silver occur in the wash.

Butterfly (Weatherall Bros.), Teviot Survey District. — A-
few small rubies.

Jeirett's Gully (J. Thurgood), Round Hill, Colac Bay. —
Platinum.

Ladysmith, Roxburgh East. — Only ironsand.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 241

Lammerlaw Flat (F . W . and W . E . S. Knight), Waipori. —
Scheelite and cinnabar.

Munro and Party, Post-ojfice Creek, Waipori. — Cinnabar,
fine ; not saved.

Nohomai, Nokomai Creek, Southland. — Silver and gun-
shot.

Ourawera, Round Hill, Colac Bay. — Platinum and silver.

Our Mutual Friend, Galvin's Terrace, Nevis. — Black sand
only.

Round Hill, Round Hill, Colac Bay. — Platinum; about
12 oz. per year saved.

Sailors' Gully, Waitahuna, Tuapeka County. — Ironsand.

Smith, Round Hill, Golac Bay. — Platinum.

Undaunted, Matakanui. — There is a lot of ironsand in the
auriferous wash.

United M. and E. Water-race, St. Bathan's. — None other
than iron-pyrites.

Winding Creek, Winding Creek, Waikaia. — Cinnabar;
none saved.

THE GOLD-DREDGING INDUSTRY IN
OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

By Robert McIntosh, A.O.S.M., Assistant Inspector of Mines for the
Southern Mining District.

A GOOD deal of information has been recorded from time to
time regarding the rise and development of the dredging in-
dustry in New Zealand. The informatiou hereafter detailed
has been chiefly culled from the official annual reports of In-
spectors of Mines, Wardens, and other goldfields officials.

The earliest gold-discoveries by Europeans in Otago and
Southland are accredited t<> the year 1851. From that year
small discoveries of gold-bearing gravels took place in difierent
localities, until in the j-ear 1861 payable gold was found iu
the Waitahuna and Tuapeka River watersheds. Prospectors
extended their operations further afield, and in the year 1862
the Dunstan, Nokomai, Waikaia, and Wakatipu goldfields
were opened out. Other auriferous tracts were located from
time to time, until the existence of extensive areas of gold-
bearing country in Otago and Southland became an esta-
blished fact. The chief alluvial districts lie in the valleys of
the Taieri, Waitahuna, Waipori, Tuapeka, Molyneux (or
Clutha), Kawarau, Arrow, Shotover, Mataura, Waikaia, Wai-
kaka, Nevis, and Maerewhenua Rivers. On each of these gold-
fields the first gold was won by the primitive methods of the
prospector, consisting ^f tin dish, cradle, long-torn, and other
simple appliances. As Ihe claims became more difficult to
work, ground-sluicing was adopted where sufficient water for
sluicing and plenty of room for disposal of tailings were
available. Shaft-sinking and tunnelling were also adopted
to work deep ground. To deal more effectively with deep wet
ground and low-grade deposits, hydraulic sluicing and elevat-
ing was the next system brought into use; but even this pro-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 243

cess had its limitations. In many cases water was not pro-
curable, while in others the cost of race-cutting was prohibi-
tive. The necessity arose for an eiEcient method of winning
■gold from the beds of rivers and streams, and from deep wet
ground. The first appliances used in this connection were
very primitive, but one improvement followed another until
the present dredge was evolved. This system was first tried
on the Molyneux (or Clutha) River. Although gold was found
iti the lower reaches of the river in the year 1852, the earliest
reference to the production of a quantity of gold from this
river, as recorded in tlie "Handbook of New Zealand Mines,
1887," states that two Californian miners. Hartley and
Reilly*, lodged at the office of the Gold Receiver at Dunedin
1,047 oz. of gold. The locality proved to be that portion of
the river lying between the confluence of the Kawarau and
Manuherikia Rivers with the Molyneux, a distance of about
twenty miles. It was not long before a large population
was located in the diggings known as the Dunstan, and
other parts of the river were found to be gold-bearing
also. The gold was first obtained from the shallow bars and
beaches, and foliowed from there into the deeper river and
into the terraces on the river-banks. The river gold not being
procurable by the then existing appliances, the miners turned
their attention to sluicing away the terraces, material being
sluiced into the river. The natural result was that this
enormous quantity of dehns, .and, in addition, the vast
amount of material washed in by climatic influences, in time
raised the bed of the river and .smothered the auriferous
gravels. Previous to this, when the rivers were low, it is
recorded that men would wade into such rivers as the Shot-
over, Kawarau, and Arrow, and with a shovel dig up the
auriferous wash. This was known as "blind stabbing."

The next step ahead of this method was the spoon dredge,

* Generally spelt Riley in the=e days, as in the " Hartley and Riley
Dredging; Company." But in Mr. Vincent Pyke's report, published in the
"Apnendix to the Journals of the Hou^e of Rjp e entatives, 1863," and
included amongst the despatches p-in*cd by the Secretary of State for the
Colonies, the name is spelt several times "Reilly." — Editor, Minino
Handbook.

244 NEW ZEALAND MINIJSTG HANDBOOK.

worked by hand-labour, and a very primitive means at first,
but gradually improved. This was, however, a very slow
method, and could only be used in shallow, calm water, as
currents and travelling drift militated against efficiency.
Several spoon dredges were in operation for a few years, work-
ing with varying success, so far as can be learned, but, at
any rate, proving the existence of gold-bearing wash in various
parts of the river.

The increasing amount of travelling drift in the river was
gradually bringing to an end the spoon dredge, and it was
a natural step forward to the adoption of the current-wheel
dredge in 1868, which, deriving its power from the current,
was enabled to work in midstream. This type of dredge con-
sisted of two parallel wooden pontoons, braced apart, w'ith i\
clear waterway or well-hole running between them. The
current-wheels were set on the outside of each pontoon, and
the power was transmitted through a horizontal shaft to the
top tumbler, which imparted motion to an endless chain of
buckets working in the well-hole. Hand-winches were placed
on deck to work the mooring-Iines, and to raise and lower the
buckets. The material brought up in the buckets was washed
in a sluice-bos, the water being obtained by a water-wheel,
wliich raised it to the level of the sluice-box. This type of
dredge was improved upon from time to time, and a con-
siderable number was at work for some years on various
parts of the river. In 1901 a modern dredge was equipped
with current-wheels to operate in the gorge below Alexandra,
where the current is very strong. When the dredge had been
working some time a diminution of current was experienced,
due, no doubt, to the stacking of tailings behind the dredge,
and it was found aecessary to procure additional power by
the installation of an oil-engine to drive the centrifugal
pump.

It was early recognised that the most effective power was
not derived from cur rent- wheels. These only acted in mid-
stream, so that it was impossible to follows leads or runs of
gold into still water or into the beaches. It was then resolved
to adopt the use of steam-power. The earliest record of the

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 245

application of steam-power to bucket dredges is attributed
to the case of the Dunedin dredge, which was designed and
erected in 1881 by the late Charles McQueen, of Kincaid and
McQueen's Foundry, Dunedin, to work on the Clutha River,
near Alexandra, although ifc is recorded that a steam spoon
dredge was in operation in 1870. The Dunedin was the first
dredge to be built on an elaborate scale, having due regard
to the amount of material to be lifted, and to the efi&ciency of
the appliances for washing the material and saving the gold.
Although many improvements have taken place since 1881 in
tlie construction of dredge machinery, still the chief features
of the Dunedin dredge have been retained on all dredges to
the present day. As a result of the successful construction
and working of this dredge, more attention was given to the
possibility of raising larger quantities of gravel, and thus
treating profitably low-grade gravels. The increasing amount
of drift brought down by the river made it imperative thai
large, powerful machines should be employed, and during the
nexffew years more dredges were built.

In the year 1887 a Welman, or suction, dredge was erected
at Alexandra, and several others were afterwards erected on
the West Coast ocean-beaches. Although proved capable of
dealing with fine sand and shingle, these dredges were not
suitable for working where large stones and coarse gravel
existed. In consequence they did not come into permanent
use.

Among other systems tried during this period on the West
Coast may be mentioned Taylor's dredge, worked on a dry-
land principle — a combination of a Priestman grab and a
cataract pump; and Brown's dredge, which consisted of an
American type of pump, known as the Cataract pump.

All these years the industry was progressing quietly, and
it was not until 1889 that a decided advance took place. In
that year Sew Hoy, a Chinese merchant in Dunedin, took up
a claim on the Big Beach, Shotover River, and erected a
dredge thereon. This enterprise was attended with great suc-
cess, and something in the nature of a dredging boom took
place. Many more dredges were placed on the Shotover

246 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

River and the upper reaches of the Kawarau River ; some of
tliese were successful, while others were not. Several of these
early dredges are still in operation, having been shifted to
and re-erected on claims on the Clutha, Manuherikia, and
Waikaka Rivers.

In 1890 the first application of electric motive power to a
dredge was undertaken at the Sandhills dredge. Upper Shot-
over River. The installation proved successful, and the plant
worked well. About this time several dredges on the Welman
principle were working on the ocean-beaches of the south-east
coast. These dredges were considerably improved on the
original tj'pe, but failed owing to the difficulty of saving the
extremely fine gold with the ordinary gold-saving appliances.
It was in this j'ear that the possibility of working by dredges
wet, fiat land with small streams of water running through it
was first demonstrated. The Upper Waipori alluvial dredge
was built to work a flat claim at Waipori, and the success
attendant on this venture proved that ground could be worked
in which dredges would have to depend to a great extent on
the drainage of the surrounding country. This brought
within the scope of dredges large areas of auriferous ground
of this nature in Waikaka, Waikaia, Waipori, Tuapeka, Wai-
tahuna, Nevis, and otlier districts. At first these flat-land
dredges were constructed en the sluice-box principle, and this
principle is adopted to the present day wherever practicable.
In tLe case of deep ground and high faces above water-level,
the question of the disposal of tailings arose. This was satis-
factorily solved in 1894 by the invention of Cutten's elevator,
which, fitted at the stern of the dredge, received the washed
material from the revolving screen and stacked it to the de-
sired height. Electors, differing in construction, have been
since designed by other dredge engineers, the most recent and
successful patent being "Payne and Peck's Centrifugal Ele-
vator." As showing what the application of the elevator
meant to the dredging industry, claims are now being worked
in which the face of gravel is 25 ft. below and 45 ft. above
water-level, the material being stacked GO ft. above water-
level.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 247

From 1894 the industry continued to expand, and the
profitable working of many of the dredges on the Clutha River
made this branch of mining at that time one of the most im-
portant in Otago. A great many claims were pegged out in
1895 on the Clutha and Kawarau Kivers, and several addi-
tional dredges were in course of construction. It was about
this time that the No. 1 Electric dredge — a private concern —
was reported to be dredging rich wash, and, in consequence,
considerable activity in securing claims was displayed all
through the district. In 1897 two dredges (Perry's and
McGill's) started operations on. the Waikaka field, and the
Golden Crown dredge at Waikaia. There are now (in 1906)
twenty-six dredges on the Waikaka field, and sixteen on the
Waikaia field.

At the end of March, 1899, the number of working dredges
in Otago and Southland was seventy. Four were undergoing
removal, nine were standing for various reasons, and about
thirty were in course of construction. These dredges were not
confined to the Clutha River, but were spread over Waimumu,
Gold Creek, Waikaka, Waikaia, Shag River, Macrae's, Chatto
Creek, Ophir, Glenore, Waipori, and Tuapeka. About this
time there was a decided tendency on all sides to build dredges
of a larger and more efficient type. It was hardly to be ex-
pected that every venture would be attended with success, and
this want of success was due in some cases to lack of gold suffi-
cient to pay expenses, and in other cases to inefficient manage-
ment, or to the class of dredge not being suitable for the claim.
Many concerns which went into liquidation passed into other
hands, and became successes in later years, while several pri-
vate parties acquired expensive and up-to-date dredges very
cheaply and worked them with success. However, as time
went on weaknesses in machinery were detected and overcome,
new methods were evolved, and many improvements were ap-
plied. A large number of men were gaining experience in the
working of dredges, and thus capable men were available to
command the different dredges.

Writing now in 1906, it can be safely said that the dredg-
ing industry is conducted on a sound basis, and has proved

248

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

itself to be a legitimate branch of the mining industry. In the
accompanying notes reliable data will be found regarding the
dredging industry from the time of the spoon dredge up to
the present day. Descriptions are given of improvements in '
all matters of interest appertaining to the industry. It is
impossible to enter fully into details, the desire being to afford
a general idea of the localities where dredging is being
carried on, the rise or fall of the industry in each place, and
the present and future prospects of the fields.

The following table shows the numerical strength of the
dredging fleet from 1877 to the 31st December, 1905. Prior
to the year 1877 there were a number of spoon dredges and
current-wheel dredges at work on various parts of the Clutha
(or Molyneux) Eiver : —

Year.

Otago.

South-
land.

Chief Improvements.

1877

1
6

1878

1879

1880

1881

1882

1883

1884

1885

1886

1887

1888

1889

1890

1891

1892

1893

1894

Dredges driven by current-wheel.

Introduction of steam-power on Dunedin
dredge by Charles McQufeen.

Introduction of Welman suction dredge at
Alexandra.

Introduction of Welman suction dredge at
Waipapa.

Extension of use of dredges to work fiat
^and at Waipori.

Application of electro-motive power, Sand-
hills dredge, Shotover.

A large number of current-wheel dredges
converted to steam.

Cutten Bros, designed tailings-elevator, thus
widening scope of application of dredges.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

249

Year.

Otago.

South-
land.

Chief Improvements.

1895

1896

1897

1898

1899

162

Tendency to build larger and more powerful
dredges.

1900

187

Application of electro-motive power, Earns-
cieugh No. 3 dredge, Alexandra.

1901

183

Adaptation of O'Brien's system of water-
power to work dredges.

1902

163

Payne and Peck's centrifugal elevator de-
signed.

1903

144

Johnson's submerged-jet dredge started.

1904

131

1905

117

Introduction of shaking - table to replace
screens.

Clutha (or Molyneux).

In dealing with the dredging industry in the Clutha
Valley, the whole district will be divided into sections, and
each section separately dealt with.

TuAPEKA Mouth, Beaumont, Miller's Flat, Dumbarton,
Roxburgh, and Coal Creek — a distance of about Forty
Miles.

The earliest attempt to win gold from the deeper portions
of the river was by means of the spoon dredge, operated by
hand-labour. These were first used prior to 1868, in which
year it is recorded that a man named Ward introduced the
current-wheel dredge at Miller's Flat. This dredge had a
string of buckets, as in the modern dredge, the power being
derived from the current by means of the current-wheels.
This was soon a popular method of dredging, and several
more were built. In 1870 Seideberg applied the use of steam
on a spoon dredge, but the current-wheel system continued to
be used for many years. In the year' 1880 Warden Carew
reported, " Two steamboats, the ' Ino ' and the ' Jane,' each

250 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANnBOOK.

of about 30 tons and 10-liorse power, are now in the Clutha.
River, a few miles above Tuapeka Mouth, and are being fitted
up for dredging the river -bottom. This enterprising under-
taking is well thought of, as vessels working with steam-
power will have great advantage over the current-wheel
dredges. They can be moved about and their positions
changed with greater ease, work in eddies where current-wheel
dredges would be useless, and put through a much larger
quantity of drift. It is generally admitted that, even with
the ordinary boats, dredging would yield highly payable re-
sults but for one great impediment — that the smallest flood
in the river now brings down by the force of the current im-
mense quantities of tailings and other debris, which fills up
the dredging-buckets to the exclusion of the gravel from the
older deposits that contain gold in quantity." There were
four current-wheel dredges at Roxburgh during 1881, all
doing well ; but several dredges placed on the river betweea
Beaumont and Tuapeka Mouth could not work successfully.
At this time the Pride of Dunkeld, at Beaumont, was getting
good returns. About the same number of dredges continued
here and there on the river until 1886. In that year Gibson's
suction dredge, at Alexandra, was being erected, and several
claims were pegged out in anticipation of it turning out a
success. During 1887 there were five current-wheel dredges
upon the river between Roxburgh and Horseshoe Bend, while
four special claims were granted on the river above Beaumont.
These were, however, awaiting the results from the suction
dredge at Alexandra. Cowan and party's dredge, at the
Beaumont, continued to work during 1887. Owing to the
non-satisfactory results of the suction dredge, the four claims
held at Beaumont by the Austral Company, Mr. Brown, Mr.
Woods, and Mr. To(ftel were abandoned in the year 1888.

During the same year there were six dredges at work be-
tween Beaumont and Coal Creek, while the Dunedin dredge
was being re-erected at Coal Creek. Warden Revell states,
" From reports I believe that this class of mining still con-
tinues to give satisfactory results for the capital and labour
expended." The six dredges at work belonged to Brazil and

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 251

party, Bennet and party, Pringle and party, Macdonald and
party, Valentine and party, and Crookston and party. The
Dunedin steam dredge, the Dunedin current-wheel, Telford
and party, all between Dumbarton Eock and Coal Creek Flat,
continued to work until 1890. The Ettrick gold steam dredge
was erected during the year, as was also the Miller's Creek
steam dredge. Other dredges were Aitken and party's cur-
rent-wheel, Brazil and party's steam dredge (formerly current-
wheel), Pringle and party's current-wheel, Bennet and party's
steam dredge (formerly current- wheel). Adams and company
also built a dredge below Steele's farm. The lowest dredge
was the small steam -dredge of the Clutha Dredging Company.
Cowan and party's dredge was removed from Beaumont to
Pomahaka Kiver.

In 1892 there were ten steam and one current-wheel
dredges at work on the river between Horseshoe Bend and Coal
Creek, representing a plant-value of ,£2.5,000, and employing;
continuously sixty-five men. Sis of these dredges were owned
by registered companies, and 'the remainder by private
parties. It would appear tbat about this time the majority
of the dredges were getting handsome returns. The conver-
sion of several of the current-wheel dredges to steam was ren-
dered imperative by the necessity of working independent of
the current, current-wheel dredges being only suitable for
working in places where the current is strong, and not
adapted for working near the beaches or in eddies.

During the period 1893-95 the industry continued to
expand, and good returns were obtained. Many new dredges
were built, among them being the Golden Treasure, Edina,
and Golden Gate. The industry progressed smoothly until
1899. During that year every available portion of the river,
from Tuapeka Mouth to Coal Creek, was pegged for dredging.
On the same stretch of river there were about ten dredges at
work and twenty-one in the building stages. All the work-
ing dredges, .with the exception of one current-wheeler, were
driven by steam-power, the only electrically driven dredge,
formerly at work on the Upper Shotovcr, being in course of
re-erection for the Timmaburn Electric Gold-dredging Com-
pany at Miller's Flat.

252

HEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

During 1901 several up-to-date dredges were completed
to work on various portions of the river, -while others were
in the building stages. At the end of 1901 there were twenty-
one dredges working in this district, and a number building.
By the end of 1902 several additional dredges were got to
work, and the number of working dredges was thirty. Dur-
ing the year the Paul's Beach, Golden Gravel, Britannia, and
Teviot companies went into liquidation and were recon-
structed ; the dredges started work again on the original
claims. Around the Beaumont the gold-returns were small,
but all the dredges around Roxburgh averaged good returns,
while at Miller's Flat the industry was prosperous. Warden
McCarthy furnishes the following particulars of four divi-
dend-paying dredges: —

Number

Average

Interest
on

Name.

Capital.

Gold won.

of
Weeks
worked.

per
■Working-
week.

§.-5
S

Capital
invested

Cent.

Oz. dwt. gr.

Oz.dwt. gr.

£ s.

Golden Gate . .

2,500

l.,70e 3

35 14 11

4,825

193

Majestic

6,500

1,0S8 7

27 4 4

1,687 10

Molyneux Kohi-

10,500

619 17 11

23 16 17

481 5

Dooir

New Roxburgh

Y,500

1,450 13 17

76 7

1,125

Jubilee

As regards the -dredging industry around Roxburgh
during 1903, Warden Burgess remarked, " Although a few
dredging companies in this portion of the district have
perished for want of the necessary capital, and fewer dredges
are now in operation, 1 think the industry is in a sounder
condition at present than at any time during or since the
boom. There are srateen dredges at work in the river be-
tween Coal Creek and the Island Block, and with the excep-
tion of the Teviot (idle at present) all are working steadily
and with very satisfactory results. The Endeavour dredge
and the Gold King dredge fell into the hands of Mr. Joseph
Sparrow, who lost no time in getting them to work. The re-
turns are not published, but I am credibly informed that both

Nnw zbaJjAnd mining handbook.

253

are getting above 40 oz. per week. The Golden Gate, during
the year, paid in dividends £2,125 — an amount closely ap-
proximating to the total capital of the company. The Golden
Run, Golden Bed, Ettrick, Golden Treasure, and the Island
Block are all obtaining satisfactory returns, and most of them
are paying dividends. At Iloxburgh the Jubilee is a very per-
sistent gold-getter, and has paid stea.dily since commencing
work, while the Lady Roxburgh and the Molyneux Kohinoor
are obtaining returns which leave a handsome margin of pro-
fit." At the end of 1903 there were seventeen dredges at
work from Coal Creek to Beaumont, but during that year
seven ceased operations, five of these being removed to other
claims, one going to A'^ictoria.

In his report for 1904 Warden Burgess indicates that
dredging in the Roxburgh and Miller's Flat district has im-
proved very much.

Number

Average

Name of Company.

Capital.

Amount of
Gold won.

of
Weeks

Dividends
paid.

per
Worldng-

worked.

woek.

£,

Oz. dwt. gr.

Oz.

Roxburgh Jubilee . .

7,500

2,254 4

38 6,750

<jo!den Bed

12,700

1,809 8

41 i 1,270

Lady lioxburgh

6,660

1,754 10 7

42 1,603

Otago No. 2 1
Otago No. 1 )

5,000-,

1,643 10
763 7

to I B75
42 )

(41
(18

Ettriok ..

10,250

1,098 6

39 1 1,015

Golden Gate

2,500

797 1

46 ' 500

At the end of 1904 there were eighteen dredges at work on
this portion of the river. The Golden Treasure and Otago
companies discarded their old dredges and purchased up-to-
date machines. Eighteen dredges were at work at the end of
1905; eight of this number were under private ownership,
some being owned by parties of working shareholders. A
regrettable accident was the loss of the Roxburgh Jubilee,
which unaccountably sank at her moorings on Sunday, the
18th February, 1906.

It may safely be said that the dredging industry will be
represented in this district by many dredges for years to come.

254 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

There are still stretches of the river which will pay small
parties well to work with modern dredges. Around Miller's
Flat also it has been ascertained that the river-banks are
payably auriferous, and it is reasonable to expect that the
areas will be found to be extensive. The question of the
disposal of the silt in working these bank claims has been
successfully answered by the application of the silt-elevator
wheel, which lifts the silt from the sump and discharges it
into the main elevator. With the exception of several dredges
around Miller's Flat, the machines are mainly operating on the
river itself. Several dredges at Miller's Flat are working the
river-banks, and, being of the elevator type, the restoration
of the land to its former state is next to impossible with the
present appliances.

Inoluding Coal Creek to ALEXA>"DnA Goege, Alexandea,
Clyde, Ceoiiwell, Lowbuhn, Kawaeau, Manuheeikia, and
Shotover.

Prior to 1880 the dredging industry went through the
stages of spoon and current-wheel bucket dredges. In 1880,
at Alexandra, two large areas of river-bed were applied for,
and steam dredging plants were to be erected on new prin-
ciples. These two dredges were got to work in 1881. One of
these was the Dunedin dredge, designed and erected by Mr.
Charles McQueen, of Dunedin.* After working on the river
near Alexandra for some years this dredge was shifted to a
claim on the Clutha Biver near Coal Creek. An impetus was
given to the industry in 1886, when all the available portions
of the Clutha Kiver from Alexandra to Cromwell were pegged
02. This was on account of the erection of one of AVelman's
dredges at Alexandra. During 1887 there were one steam and
three current-wheel flredges at work between Clyde and Alex-
andra. No dredges were erected on the special claims taken
up in 1886, on account of the non-working of the Welmati
dredge at Alexandra: the first dredge was too small, and

*The late Mr. McQueen's interesting account of the start of the
steam dredge will be found in the New Zealand Mines Record of the
16th June, 1906, pages 459^60.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 255

larger parts were being substituted. During 1888 the Dun-
edin steam dredge was removed to Coal Creek, leaving only
two current-wheel dredges at work near Alexandra. It was
unfortunate, at this time, that the Welman dredge sank before
it had a fair trial. No advance was made in the district
around Alexandra and Clyde during 1889, but Coote and
Horn floated a company to work claims on the Kawarau River.
Kloogh and party were also working a current-wheel dredgs
at Lowburn, on the Clutha River. It was in 1889 that Sew
Hoy and Co. placed the first dredge on the Big Beach, Shot-
over River. Its operations were successful, and led to claims
being taken up on the Kawarau, Shotover, Arrow, and Car-
drona Rivers ; also on the Dart River, Twenty-five-mile Creek,
Twelve-mile Creek, and Bucklerburn. It was during the year
1890 that the industry made a decided advance. Apart from
the pegging-out of claims, new dredges were built. Three
were built for the Sew Hoy Company, one for the Talisman
Company, and one for the Frankton Beach Company. Two
others were at work below the Shotover River on the Kawarau
River. The Sandhills Company also constructed a dredge to
be worked by electro - motive force : the claim was situated
on the Upper Shotover. In the same year the only advance
made around Alexandra, Clyde, and Cromwell was the grant-
ing of several special claims in these districts.

The only item of interest in the lower part of the district
during 1891 was the construction of a pneumatic dredge to
work in the gorge of the Clutha River below Alexandra: this
was the property of a Melbourne syndicate. No new dredges
were added to this district during that year, either in the
lower or upper portions of it. If the wholesale cancellation
of the claims in various parts of the district can be accepted
as a criterion, then the industry received a decided set-back
in 1891. It is claimed, however, that the bursting of the
"boom " in the upper portion of the district was an import-
ant factor in promoting the permanency of the industry, be-
cause many of the dredges were purchased and removed to
claims between Alexandra and Clyde in 1892. Here they
became successful gold-producers. Spencer and party pur-

256 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

chased the Kawarau Big Beach dredge, Hj^de and party pur-
chased the Frankton Beach, and other dredges were removed
from time to time. The pneumatic dredge previously men-
tioned did not fulfil expectations. From this year the in-
dustry began to expand slowly, the extension of the applica-
tion of dredges to auriferous gravels being assisted by the
tailings-elevator designed by Cutten Bros., consulting engi-
neers, Dunedin, and first erected on the Enterprise dredge
at Alexandra in 1894. Dredges fitted with the tailings-
elevator were enabled to work deeper ground, and also banks
above water-level, as this application enabled them to disposa
of their tailings to better advantage.

The late Mr. John Gow, Inspector of Mines, reporting in
1895, states, " The addition to the fleet of, dredges on the
Clutha River has been going on apace." New dredges were
erected at Alexandra, Manuherikia, and Lowburn. The pro-
fitable working of many of the dredges on the Clutha River
during 1895 made this branch of gold-mining for the time
being the most important in Otago. It was in the year 189&
that the first Electric dredge was built and started to work,
but it was not until 1896 that gold was struck on Cornish
Beach. An interesting account of the history of this famous-
stretch of river will be found in Mr. James Horn's communi-
cation on the subject to the writer of this paper. It will bo
sufficient here to say that the apparently successful working
of this dredge led to another period of claim-pegging. Tha
Kawarau River was pegged out from Cromwell to the gorge,
and the Clutha River from Cromwell to Rocky Point. The
claims on the Clutha stretch of river were held awaiting re-
sults from Crookston and party's new dredge, which was about
to start work. _

Rapid strides were made in the industry in 1896, as it
was found that there was practically no limit to the ground
which could be worked by dredges. Beaches, banks, and flats
could now be operated on with the greatest ease. The Manor-
burn Company's dredge got to work on the Manuherikia
River, and at the end of the j-ear there were twelve dredges-
in active operation on the river around Alexandra and Clyds.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 257

It was said at the end of 1897 that the prospects of the dredg-
ing industry had never been so good as at that time. Thir-
teen dredges were at work around Clyde and Alexandra, three
on the Manuherikia, and an additional five were being con-
structed on the Clutha at Alexandra, and three on the Manu-
herikia. All those working were doing remarkably well. On
the other hand, a great measure of success had not attended
operations on the Clutha at Lowburn, due, doubtless, to the
depth of the ground and the smallness of the dredges. Below
Cromwell the Hartley and Riley dredge was ready to receive
machinery at the end of 1897. The Electric Nos. 1 and 3
were working, and No. 3 was nearly completed. The Golden
Terrace Nos. 1 and 2 (formerly the Sew Hoy Big Beach) con-
tinued to work on the Lower Shotover, near Queenstown.

During 1898 there was a general tendency to build larger
and more powerful dredges, and as examples majr be taken
the Magnetic and Electric No. 3 dredges, at Cromwell ; the
Earnscleugh No. 2 and the Golden Point dredges, at Alex-
andra. In later years still more powerful dredges were built
— viz., the Dunstan Lead, Alexandra Lead, Earnscleugh No. 3
(electric), Rise-and-Shine, Rising Sun, (tc.

During the year 1900 the phenomenal yields of the Hartley
and Riley dredge and the dredges of the Electric Company
caused a decided rush for dredging claims on all parts of the
Clutha, Kawarau, Shotover, and other rivers and streams in
Otago. At the end of 1900 there were fifty-one dredges at
work in the Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, and Queenstown dis-
tricts.

During the six years which have followed the year 1900
numerous changes have taken place. While some companies
met with success from the start, and became dividend-paying
concerns, it is to be regretted that very many were failures.
The causes contributing towards this were many, chief among
these being inefficient management, and in some cases still
more inefficient machinery. However, as time went on, the
weaker concerns became weeded out, as it was impossible for
them to survive. The failures were most noticeable in the
gorges of the various rivers. Experience has proved that the

9 — Mioing Handbook.

268 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

machine to work these claims successfully must be of a superior
class to any that have yet been tried on these claims. In the
gorges many things have to be contended with, such as hard
bottom, tight wash, travelling drift, and short seasons. Judg-
ing from a hard crust broken through in the Alpine Consols
Claim below Cromwell, and in the Meg and Annie Claim at
Waitiri, below which good gold was found, it is possible that
the operations of the gorge dredges have been carried on over
this false bottom. There are long stretches of the river in
the Alexandra Gorge, in the Cromwell Gorge, and in the Ka-
warau River, which, in spite of several dredges having been
tried on them, are practically untried. The dredge to work
these stretches must be large, powerful, and co.stly.

The most successful and permanent locality has been the
large basin between Clyde and Alexandra, and here powerful
dredges have been built to work the Dunstan and Earnscleugh
Flats. By the adoption of machinery suitable to deal with
deep, heavy ground, the liPe of dredging has been indefinitely
prolonged in this district. The same remarks apply to the
Clutha Basin around Lowburn. Here, again, powerful
dredges have been working with success, and many more are
being started. Beside these huge dredges the original vessels
on the field are mere toys. There is an extensive field here
for dredging should prospecting reveal the existence of pay-
whip, auriferous wash.

With regard to improvements in methods of working, there
are several worthy of note. Electricity has been successfully
applied to drive the Fourteen-mile Beach and Earnscleugh
No. 3 dredges ; Payne and Peck's centrifugal elevator has
been fitted on a large number of dredges, and has been proved
to do satisfactory work, while at the same time minimising
wear-and-tear. Thd latest idea is the substitution of the shak-
ing-box in place of the revolving screen. As applied to the
Rising Sun dredge, this appliance has been found to deal
effectively with the material, while at the same time lessening
the enormous wear-and-tear associated with the revolving
screen.

Mr. James Horn, of Bannockburn, near Cromwell, wHo is

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 259

the Electric Gold-dredgiiig Company's local director, and who
was one of the original promoters, has supplied the following
graphic and intere.^ting information respecting this company's
claims and two dredges: '' Electric Claim, containing 75 acres
3 roods 32 perches, and about one mile and three-quarters of
the Kawarau River, starting near the rocky outlet of the Kawa-
rau Gorge and extending down to near the Macandrew Bridge
at Bannockburn, is one of two cl'dims originally taken up by
Me,5srs. Coote and Horn in January, 1890, under section 114
of ' The Mining Act, IIS^^G.' It was held by the original
owners for five years, and, although several attempts were
made to float a company to work the ground, it was not till
January of 1895 that final arrangements were concluded for
the working of this now famous property. The failure of the
fleet of dredges in the upper reaches of the Kawarau in 1888
and 18(S9 had given this river a bad name, and it was only
by the faith and determination of the owners that Messrs.
Horn Bros, and William Roy, of Bannockburn; Mr. Henry
Young, of Cromwell j Messrs. Stewart Bros., of Scotland;
and Messrs. McGeorge Bros., P. Duncan, B. Thorp, Barr,
and Crow, of Dunedin, were induced to form a private part-
nership of thirteen shares in order to build a prospecting
dredge. This dredge, known as No. 1, was built at the cost
of £3,000, and started to work on the lower claim, known as
the original Magnetic (now the New Cromwell) ground in
August, 1895, but no gold was got till January of 1896, five
months after the dredge started, when gold was got at the
Cornish Beach in the present Electric Company's claim.
No. 1 dredge worked on this claim from January, 1896, to
November, 1897, and won 2,763 oz. of gold, valued at
£10,657. This enabled the partnership to take up a third
claim at Cromwell and build No. 2 dredge, which was placed
on No. 3 claim, at the junction of the Kawarau and Clutha
Rivers ; also No. 3 dredge, which was launched by Lord Ran-
furly, and named by him the ' Lady Ranfurly,' in 1898. This
dredge started work in October, 1898, and won 755 oz. of gold
for the first four weeks' work. In September, 1899, the part-
nership was formed into a registered company, or rather two
9»

260

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

companies — the Electric Gold-dredging Company and the
Junction Electric Gold-dredging Company — ^the two lower
claims, with No.s. 1 and 2 dredges, being the Junction Electric
Company, and the top claim, with the ' Lady Ranfurly '
dredge, the Electric Gold-dredging Company. Meanwhile —
from October, 1898, to the date of registration of the com-
panies (September, 1^*99) — the 'Lady Ranfurly,' for a period
of eleven months, had won for the partnership 3,467 oz. of
gold, valued at £13,317 i9s.'; this, added to the gold won by
the No. 1 dredge, £10,637, gives a total of 6,250 oz., valued
at £23,954 19s. Working for the company in July, 1900,
the ' Lady Ranfurly ' broke all previous dredging records for
a week's work with 1,234 oz. In July, 1902, the Electric
Company purchased the Magnetic Gold-dredging Company's
dredge (sister ship to the 'Lady Ranfurly '), and since that date
there have been two dredges working on the claim. In Feb-
ruary, 1904, the newly acquired dredge lowered the ' Lady
Ranfurly's ' record with a return of l,265i oz. This dredge's
return for a period of four weeks also established a new re-
cord for a month's work — viz., 30th January, 1904, 620 oz. ;
5th February, l,265Joz. ; 15th February, 611 oz. 15dwt. ;
20th February, 530 oz. : grand total for four weeks, 3,027 oz.
5 dwt., valued at £23,204 18s. 3d. In November, 1904, the
' Lady Ranfurly ' again topped her sister ship with a return
of 1,273 oz. for one week's work, but she failed to break the
four weeks' record, her return being — 15tli October, 367 oz.;
22nd October, 529 oz. ; 29th October, 606 oz. ; and 5th No-
vember, 1,273 oz. . total for four weeks, 2,775 oz., being
252 oz. short of No. 2 dredge's record. The total gold woo
out of this claim from January, 1896, to date of last yearly
balance (31st August, 1905) is as follows : —

♦ £ s. d.

Amount won for partnership . . 23,954 19

Amount won for Electric Gold-
dredging Company . . . . 149,960 8 11

Total . . . . . . 173,915 7 11

No. 1 dredge was the first steam dredge to work in the Crom-
well district, and the ' Lady Ranfurly,' when built, was by

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 261

far the largest dredge in the colony, and at the present day is
among the best-equipped on the river."

Nevis.

Very little information has been recorded regarding the
rise and progress of the dredging industry in the Nevis, but
an intimate knowledge of the district enables the following
narrative to be given : —

A considerable amount of gold was obtained by hand-
labour and by hydraulic sluicing, until the advent of dredg-
ing in 1896. In that year nearly every available dredgable
area of the Nevis River was taken up, but the erection of
dredges proceeded slowly until the maximum number of six
was reached. The ground has never been very rich, although
fair returns have been obtained from time to time. The richer
parts of the flat had been worked by hand-labour, and when
the dredge came along this worked ground was reworked along
with the poorer solid ground left by the early miners. Nature
has provided this treeless tract of country with several seams
of coal of good quality and thickness. These seams are all
semi-vertical. The Lower Nevis dredges receive their coal-
supply for about 12s. per ton delivered. Tlie foregoing ap-
plies to that portion of the Nevis lying below the gorge which
separates it from the Upper Nevis. At the Upper Nevis there
is an extensive tract of flat and terrace land, covering several
thousand acres. There are four sluicing claims working suc-
cessfully at the Upper Nevis on the line of drift, skirting the
foothills of the Remarkables Range; but what little dredging
has been done there, as far as can be gathered, has been a
failure up to the present. The line of drift alluded to is in
close proximity to a fault-line, which is said to traverse the
country, and the Upper Nevis apparently has geological con-
ditions which are at present little understood. However,
during the summer season of 1906-7 this extensive tract of
country is to receive thorough prospecting on behalf of com-
panies holding claims thereon. Prospecting hitherto has been
retarded chiefly owing to the necessity for pumping-appliances,

262 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

as the flat is very wet. Should payable ground be found,
there will be an extensive field on the Upper Nevis, but every
portion will require to be well prospected, as in the case of
Waikaia.

Warden McCarthy reports that in 1896, at the Nevis River,
the Nevis Gold-dredging Company put up a 10-horse-power
dredge, wliich, for the short time it worked before the frost set
in, got fairly good returns. Two other dredges were being
built OA. the Nevis, and were expected to be ready to start in
the early spring of 1897. The first machine placed on the
Nevis River was the Nevis dredge, owned by the Nevis Gold-
dredging Company. Formerly at the Kyeburn River, it was
removed to Nevis, and started work in 1897. Unfortunately,
the boiler and engine were too small for the work to be done
at the Nevis. The ground was not rich enough for a dredge
of this class, but with a powerful dredge would have yielded
fair returns. Area of claim, 98 acres.

The New Nevis Gold-dredging Company was registered in
November, 1901, to take over the assets of the Nevis Company
(in liquidation). The working-expenses were about Boz.
weekly. The dredge continued in operation until April, 1903,
when the company sold the dredge to the New Era Gold-dredg-
ing Company, consisting chiefly of working shareholders. The
dredge is still in operation in 1906, and has three years' work
ahead yet. The results obtained are now satisfactory to the
shareholders. The ground averages 8 ft. to 15 ft. in depth.
Weekly cost of running, £39. 296,000 cubic yards turned
over in 1905. Being a private company, the returns are nor
published.

The Ngapara No. 2 dredge, owned principally by the pro-
prietors of the Ngapara dredge at Alexandra, started work on
Nevis Flat about 1897, and has continued to operate with suc-
cess ever since. There are still some years' work ahead of this
company.

The Carriok dredge, owned by a registered company, was
built to work a claim on the river at the Upper Nevis. The
dredge did not make a success of the claim, and was trans-
ferred to a new claim about four miles below Nevis Township,

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. ti^S

where operations were resumed until 1903, when the dredge
was purchased by the Crewe Gold-dredging Company, and
shifted back to a claim higher up on the Nevis River. The
dredge was fitted with a screen and elevator, and, as deep
ground was struck, but little success was met with. During
the summer of 1905 the screen and elevator were discarded,
and the dredge was transformed into the sluice-box type.

The Success (Nevis) dredge started work in March, 1899,
on a claim adjoining the Carrick. Operations were continued
until 1902, when the company went into liquidation, and the
dredge and claim were bought by the Crewe Gold-dredging
Company. Since then the dredge has worked continuously
during the dredging seasons with fair success, and is still in
operation in 1906. As before stated, the Crewe Company hold
the Crewe No. 2 dredge, on the Upper Nevis.

The Ngapara No. 3, owned by a registered company,
started work early in 1900, and worked along without success
until the summer of 1905-6, when the dredge was closed down
permanently.

The Remarkables Gold-dredging Company purchased the
Golden Spec dredge, Naseby, and transferred it in 1900 to ji
claim on the Nevis River, opposite the township. After a short
period of work the dredge was unable to prove the claim pay-
able, and was closed down. In 1903 the dredge was purchase 1
by James Horn and party, and transferred to a claim at the
Lower Nevis, owned by ihe Nevis Crossing Company. The
dredge has been at work during the past three seasons with
moderate success, and has several j'ears' work ahead yet.

Mr. John Hayes, Inspecting Engineer, reporting for 1898,
records that Allen and Aitken's claim of 22 acres at the mouth
of the Nevis, where it junctions with the Kawarau River, was
prospected by the Victoria Bridge dredge in 1898. Although
coarse gold was obtained, the prospects did not warrant the
expenditure on a new dredge. The Grand Junction No. 1
dredge also entered the Nevis-mouth in 1904 from the Kawa-
rau River, but the ground was not found payable.

The Nevis district is about 1,800 ft. above sea-level, and
the winters are very rigorous. Dredging operations generally

264 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

cease about May or June, and are not resumed until August
or September — that is, the dredges only work about thirty-two
weeks in the year.

The ground operated upon is totally unfit for anything but
grazing purposes, and therefore tho question of the restoration
of the surface is not considered; the dredges, being provided
with elevators, leave the heavy open material on top.

The cost of working in this district runs about Id. per
cubic yard dredged.

There is now a sufficient number of dredges and hydraulic
plants on the Lower Nevis Flat ; but, as before slated, sys-
tematic boring, such as has been carried on at Waikaia with
reliable results, would prove the existence or otherwise of an
extensive dredging-field on the Upper Nevis.

Cardrona.

As a dredging-field Cardrona was first brought under public
notice in 1890, when, in sympathy with the Sew Hoy Big
Beach "boom," 1,190 acres were taken up in twelve special
claims for -dredging purposes. Some prospecting was done
with boring-rods during that year. No dredges were, however,
erected in this locality, and the holders abandoned their claims
in 1891. In 1899 dredging claims were again taken up, and
the Boiling Stone dredge started to work below Branch Creek.
The whole valley was then pegged out for dredging, and in
1900 the White Star dredge was erected, and started to work
with a fair show of success. The operations of the Rolling
Stone did not meet with success, and the -dredge was closed
down after a few months' work. Several other dredges were
erected during 1 901^ but only two were working at the end
of the year. The Cardrona field, so far, had proved a disap-
pointment, but it was reasonably believed that the dredges
were not suitable for the class of ground. The only represen-
tatives of the industry in the district in 1906 are the Lone
Star and Tuohy's Creek. The latter dredge is worked by
O'Brien's system of applying water-power to dredges, and the
former is now being converted from steam to the same power.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 265

The opinion is still held by those who know the district that
the whole length of the valley — a distance of.over twenty miLis
— will pay for working, provided that the extent of auriferous
wash is located by boring-rods, and suitable machines with
large engine-power and bucket-capacity put on to work.

There is no agricultural land in this valley being dredged,
as the ground is only suited for rough grazing purposes.

Naseby, Ophir, Matakanui, Taieri, and Cambrian's.

Spoon dredging was first tried on the Taieri River, near
Hyde, by a Dunedin syndicate in 1889, and a number of dredg-
ing claims were taken up in the vicinity. The industry made
slow progress until 1895, when a small bucket dredge was work-
ing at Hyde. Operations were, however, unsuccessful, and the
dredge was removed to Kyeburn. In 1897 dredges were at
work at Ophir and Naseby, and from that year the industry
began to expand, dredges being built at Naseby, Kyeburn,
Cambrian's, Matakanui, and Ophir. Warden Dalgleish re-
ported in 1899 as follows-. "A great deal of attention has
been paid to dredging, leading to very noticeable activity in
many portions of the district, but I regret very much that I am
not in a position to report favourably on the results so far.
Several of the companies which have been inaugurated for that
class of mining have been compelled to cease operations
Whether this has been caused by an actual scarcity of gold in
the wash treated, or that defective dredges were built and
placed on the claims, I cannot say with certainty, but I incline
to the latter opinion. So far as I am informed, undoubtedly
good prospects were obtained in every case before dredges
were built and placed on the claims, but the issue in several
cases has not been by any means equal to the prospects. I
am of opinion that the preliminary prospecting carried out
was not suflSciently exhaustive in many cases, and too hasty
conclusions as to the payable nature of large areas were
arrived at when only small portions of the whole were ex-
ploited. Many more dredging claims have been and still are
teing taken up, and there appears to be little or no doubt

266

NE"\V ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

that most of them will be given a good trial. 1 may say that
the whole district %eems, in a mining sense, to be in a state of
transition from a sluicing and elevating system to dredging."
The state of the industry at the end of the year 1900 mav
be gathered from the following report by Warden McEnnis :
'' It must be admitted that dredging has so far not been a
success, such ventures having up to the present proved
failures. The Naumai dredge, which has just commenced to
work on the Main Kyeburn Creek, alone remains, and ft is
premature yet to say what its results will be. All other
dredges in the vicinity have been dismantled, and removed
from the district. On the Kyeburn Diggings some dredging
claims have been taken up, and, no doubt, if the Naumai
dredge should pay, dredges will be put on these claims. At
Matakanui, dredging, as a method of extracting the preciou-;
metal, has not been successful. Great hopes were entertained
from the operations of the Klondike dredge, but, unfortu-
nately, either the gold was not in the ground or the saving ap-
pliances were not efficient. P'rom the many reports as to the
payable prospects obtained from the claim before the dredge
commenced to work, I should be inclined to think that our
present method of treating the wash obtained in dry-lanrt
dredging is not sufficiently advanced. The Blue Duck dredg.
has also made a start in Thompson's Creek, but so far its re-
turns do not warrant great expectations. Several claims have
been taken up in Ida Valley for the purpose of dredging.
One company has been formed, but so far the directors have
not thought it advisable to place a dredge on the claim. It
is understood that the prospects were good, but the grounJ
generally is shallow, and water not plentiful. At Ophir
(Black's) the field is now left to a few fossickers. At the Ser-
pentine the Pile-up Company, it is said, intends to place a
dredge on ground in this locality. A number of dredginy^
claims have been taken up on the Taieri River near Middle-
march, and a dredge (the First Taieri) was placed on a. claim,
but after working some time turned out a failure, chiefly, I
think, because the dredge was too small and not powerfjl
enough."

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 267

There are now, in 1906, only two dredges at work in the
above districts — one at Poolburn, and one at Black's. The
chief cause of failure of so many dredges may be set down to
all or any of the following reasons : Hard, rough bottom ;
tight wash; scarcity of water; inefficient machinery and gold-
saving appliances; or non-aurifejous character of the ground.
The .district is essentially suited for sluicing, and this class
of mining, assisted bj' the Government water-conservation
scheme, has been successfully carried on for many j-ears.
There are still extensive tracts of auriferous ground which
only require water to make thern productive.

Macrae's and Shag Valley.

Dredging operations were first started in these districts
in 1898. In the former district one dredge was started in
1898, and another in 1902. Neither of these dredges was
successful. The chief causes of failure may be attributed to
the presence of very stifE clay, and to the absence of a stream
of running water. Under these conditions, it was impossible
to properly treat the material anil save the gold. In 1899
there were four dredges at work in the Shag Valley, above
Palmerston ; two of these continued to work until 1904, ob-
taining moderate returns. In the Shag Valley the depth of
the ground worked by the dredges averaged 20 ft. The gold
is found at that depth on a false bottom, consisting of pipe-
clays and sands.

The land being dredged is fit for agricultural purposes,
but no steps have been taken to restore the soil or loam to the
surface. The dredges were fitted with elevators, and the
material is piled up, with the larger material on top. The
finer material is washed over the gold-saving tables, and
finally escapes at water-level, the larger material covering it
as the dredge advances. With the sluice-box dredge all the
material is discharged together, and the ground has some like-
lihood of reverting to its original state in time.

At Macrae's a large area of auriferous ground, partly
worked and partly unworked, is lying idle, awaiting a suit-
able appliance being designed for its efficient operation.

268 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

North Otago: Maereishenua.

The following is an extract from Warden Keddell's report
in 1901: "The Pioneer Company, holding a claim on the
Maerewhenua River, on the Duntroon Road, purchased the
Macrae's Flat dredge in 1900, and removed it to the claim,
where work was started early in 1901. After working three
or four months the ladder was found to be insufficiently long
to bottom the ground, and the result was a, failure. This was
disheartening, not only on account of want of success in finding
the gold which the company's former prospecting efiorts had
shown to exist, but because its failure will discourage other
owners of dredging-areas to put on machines. In fact, the
Maerewhenua Claim has never been properly tested yet. The
Premier No. 1, a claim on the Awamoko, also started a dredge
in 1901, and it was confidently expected it would be a success.
The chief drawback to its success was the opposition to its
being worked on any large scale, the Awamoko and its water-
shed generally passing through private lands, whose riparian
rights would be afiected. This venture was not successful."
These dredges were removed from the district, and the in-
dustry has been at a standstill. Rich alluvial ground has been
worked for many years on the Maerewhenua and Livingstone
diggings, and it is reasonable to expect payably auriferous
ground to exist in the valley of the Maerewhenua River.

Tuapeka.

It is recorded that gold was first discovered in Tuapeka in
1856, on what is now known as Evans Flat Stream, but it was
not until 1861, whe% Gabriel Read found gold in Gabriel's
Gully, that the real auriferous character of the district be-
came known. During the years that followed the flats were all
turned over by hand-labour. When the ground became too
poor to pay by this method, hydraulic sluicing and elevating
was adopted. Dredging was first started in 1896, when Uren
and party's dredge was constructed to work on Tuapeka Plat
In the same year James Robertson took up a special claim oq

NEIV ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 269

Weatherstone's Flat,* and started to re-erect a dredge pur-
chased from McKenzie and party at Coal Creek. In 1898
there were five dredges working throughout the year — namely,
the Record Reign, Harris and party's, Evans Flat, Tuapeka,
and Balclutha dredges; while Smythe and party's dredge (late
Robertson's) was working on Weatherstone's Flat. During
1900 the Record Reign was removed to Berwick, and the Re-
liance dredge was built. These dredges continued to work, the
number being increased in 1901 by the erection of the Happy
Valley dredge at Weatherstone's. Several of the dredges
changed hands from time to time, and were dismantled when
their claims were worked out.

During 1906 the Taniwha (formerly the Balclutha) dredge
came to the end of its career on Labes's Flat, where the heavy
clay and poor returns forced it to cease operations. The
dredge was bought by the Labes Bros., who are dismantling
her and selling the machinery, &c., as purchasers are fouml.
The Reliance dredge (Harris and part}') is now the only repre-
sentative of an industry once represented by seven dredges.

The greater part of the ground turned over by these
dredges consisted of old ground, 10 ft. to 14 ft. in depth,
worked by hand-labour, assisted by Californian and Spear
pumps. Much of it had been turned over several times by
Europeans and Chinese. The dredges were thus enabled to
put through a larger amount of material than would have been
the case had solid ground been worked. This applies to a

* Wentherstone' 1 is variouslv spelt in different publications. Mr.
James MoKerrow, F.G.S.-, late Surveyer-General, on being asked by the
Editor of the Mining Handbook as to the correct orthography, cour-
teously replied as follows : " In reply to your letter as to the proper spelling
of Weatherstone, the name of a small settlement on a flat two miles from
Lawrence on the road to Waipori, I have to state that a family of that
name, in the enrlv sixties, lived in » house on the line of the mountain-
track, halfway between Dunedin and Port Chalmers. I did not know
them, hut I believe I am correct in stating that it was one of them who
was the first to discover and open out a, claim on the flat which now bears
the name of Weatherstone's, just as in a similar manner the gully where
Gabriel Read discovered gold was, and ii, known as Gabriel's, situated
close to, and partly in, Lawrence. The place where the Weatherstones
had their houao. on the truck between Dunedin and Port Chalmers, is
also known as Weather.'stone's. In the late Profe=sor Hutton's 'Geology
of Otagn,' publithed in 1879, he refers to Wentherstone and Weatherstone's
in his explanation of the geology of the Tuapeka district. The other
spellings which you give are evidently corruptions of Weatherstone."

270

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

great extent to the Waipori, Waitahuna, and Glenore dredg-
ing-fields also. The dredges were all of the sluice-box type,
and by their operations transformed areas of mounds and
hollows into level areas fit for cultivation, grass-growing, or
tree-planting. As an instance of a typical dredge for this
class of claim may be given the case of the Tuapeka Flat
dredge. The pontoons were 60 ft. long and 24 ft. wide over-all,
and were 4 ft. 6 in. deep. The buckets were of 3^ cubic feet
capacity, and the ladder was 36 ft. long, and could dredge
to a depth of 20 ft. The average depth of the ground was
12 ft. ; the weekly expense of running about 6^oz. ; the gold-
saving appliances consisted of a long sluice-box, 60 ft. in
length by 4 ft. in width, and fitted with ripples and perforated
steel plates on top of cocoanut matting and calico. The future
working of the deposits in this district must be mainly on the
extensive terraces which lie in the valley of the Tuapeka
River. Powerful pumping plants are required in order to
raise the necessary sluicing- water.

IVaipori.

The Waipori Goldfield was discovered in December, 1861,
when gold was found on the Yerterburn, afterwards named the
Post Office Creek. It developed into a rich and important
alluvial field. The Waipori Valley is about twelve miles in
length, and has an average width of half a mile. The Wai-
pori River is a stream of considerable dimensions, and the flat
is very wet ; this prevented systematic working of the flat by
hand-labour. Dredging was first introduced into this district
in 1889, and solved the problem of the efficient working of wet
auriferous ground. The industry was hampered considerably
in 1893 by litigation regarding the alleged pollution of the
stream, but ten years fifter there were thirteen dredges in the
district. Waipori is the birthplace of two notable adapta-
tions of water-power to dredges — namely, O'Brien's and John-
son's systems, each of which is detailed hereafter. Now, in
1906, with the exception of the holdings of the Consolidated and
Perseverance companies, all the other claims are either worked
out or only the poorer fringes left, and the dredges are passing

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 271

into the hands of semi-private companies or parties of work-
ing shareholders. There are at present seven dredges in the
district, only six of which are working. As regards the future
prospects of the Waipori alluvial goldfield, there still remain
possibilities for the investing capitalist. A deep, tortuous
ravine, fdled with gravel, traverses the entire length of the
valley, proved to a. depth of at least 80 ft by Charles McQueen
in 1889. This may not have been the bottom, but it was
proved that the whole distance passed through was more or
less auriferous. During the present year J. T. Johnson has
been operating the Bakery Flat water-power to bottom this
deep lead with the hydraulic sluicing plant. A depth of over
60 ft. has been reached, and the material passed through Is
pay ably auriferous. It was to work this deep lead that John-
son's submerged-jet dredge was designed and constructed. It
it certain that the dredging industry will be represented by
one or more dredges for some years yet. Local people con-
fidently look forward to the day when a cheaply worked plant
of large dimensions, capable of raising and treating efficiently
a very large amount of material, will be set to work to turn
over the old worked ground in a wholesale manner. The
power would require to be procured cheaply, and partake of
the form of electricity, O'Brien's, Johnson's, or any other
improved sj'stem.

The adaptation of water-pressure to the work of driving
dredge machinery was applied by W. O'Brien, of Waipori,
with considerable success in 1901. The patentee supplies the
following particulars: "The pressure is obtained as in any
ordinary hydraulic claim — viz., the water being conveyed in
pipes down the slope of a liill. The water is conveyed on to
tlie dredge from the bottom of the hill or edge of the paddock
l)y means of a floating column of pipes, coupled with revolving
joints, each joint to be fixed and supported by means of float-
ing pontoons. The water-pressure, when conveyed on board
the dredge, will work the turbine, Pelton wheel, or any other
water-motor to drive the dredging machinery. The length of
pipes and position of pontoons of floating column will be so
arranged as to take up the smallest space up and down the

272

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

hull of the dredge when close to the bank. The pontoons will
be worked from the dredge, and can be so manipulated as to
permit of the dredge being moved from side to side of the
run or face with ease by the ordinary gear on board the
dredge. A dredge can be built to work by the above method
at a considerably less cost than those which are worked by
steam-power, as there will be no expensive engines and boilers
to provide for. The turbine or Pelton wheel will be placed
at the same elevation as the sluice-boxes. The water dis-
charged from the turb'ine or Pelton wheel, after working the
machinerj', will wash the stufi discharged from the buckets.
The water-pressure provides a power which can be turned on
at any moment. Water-power, where available, is the cheapest
power known, and when used direct very poor ground can
be made to jsay. Advantages claimed : No fuel will be re-
quired ; no engine and boiler to keep in repair ; less oil and
wear-and-tear ; less labour required, as when the water-motor
is once set to work it does not require attendants — ^therefore
the second man on the dredge can attend to the lines, sluice-
boxes, &c., and give any assistance which may be required."

In 1903 a new departure in dredge mining — applicable,
however, to those places only at which hydraulic power is
available — was made by J. T. Johnson, of Waipori, who sup-
plies the following particulars: "The principle of the sub-
merged-jet dredge is simply that of the hydraulic elevator
adapted to the requirements of a dredge, and consists of
ordinary dredge-pontoons, divested of boiler, engine, and
bucket-ladder, these being replaced by an hydraulically driven
Pelton wheel to work the winches, an hydraulic elevator in
place of a bucket-ladder to raise the material to the shoots,
and a breaking-dowii nozzle working on the submerged face
to disintegrate the material. The power-supply is conveyed in
a main pipe-line, as in ordinary sluicing, to the level line, sup-
ported by floats. The idea of submerging the line is to relieve
the floats of the weight of the water in the pipes, and to enable
a longer span of pipes to be carried from float to float, thus ex-
tending the length of the face reached by the flexible pipe-
line. By carrying the last span underneath the dredge, the

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 273

machine is enabled to pass the flexible line to work first on one
side of it and then on the other, thus doubling the length of
face that can be reached when the flexible line works only on
one side of the dredge. The flexible line connects on deck
with a deck-pipe supplied with valves, by which the water is
deflected as required to the elevating-jet, breaking-down
nozzle, and Pelton nozzle. The first dredge of this type wa.s
worked at Waipori for seven weeks, the available quantity of
water being fifteen heads. To utilise this, a f in. tip was used
on the Pelton-wheel nozzle, a f in. tip on the breaking-down
nozzle, and a 4 in. jet for elevating. The throat was 12 in. in
diameter, and 15 in. outside diameter, with 15 in. disc for
elevating-pipes. A right-angle bend on top deflected the dis-
charge on to a drop-plate, 4 ft. by 6 ft., from whence it spread
over a spreading-table 12 ft. by 12 ft., and from thence into
three shoots, totalling 600 ft. of gold-saving area. The tables
and shoots were fitted with perforated plates - and angle-bar
ripples. On starting, the lifting-power of the dredge proved
too great for even the large shoots provided, and a regulator
had to be provided at the intake to lessen the inrush of gravel,
while, to break the force of the stream of water and material
on the shoots, a hood was so placed as to moderate the current
before it left the spreading-tables. I estimate the lifting-
power of the dredge elevator at 1,000 tons per hour, while the
capacity of the tables was 250 tons per hour, and no difiiculty
was experienced in gravel formation in keeping the tables
going at their maximum treating-oapacity. The same water
used in hydraulic elevating to advantage lifted less than one-
fifth of the material per week in the ordinary way."

The greater part of the Waipori Flat had been turned over
by hand-labour, and before the advent of dredging hollows
and hummocks covered the surface. The sluice-box type of
dredge restx)red the ground to its former level surface, and
vegetation is now springing up. Owing to the severity of the
climate the district is only of use for grazing purposes.

It is now well recognised that future mining operations
on Waipori Flat and the neighbouring gullies and terraces
must be conducted on a large and cheap scale, in order to

274

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

make low-grade ground pay for working. The improvement
of some water-rights, and probably the amalgamation of
others, is now occupying the attention of water-race owners.
To this end also Messrs. W. and F. Knight are constructing a
large storage-reservoir in Nardoo Creek, at a cost of £1,000.
This water will be employed either for hydraulic sluicing and
elevating or for driving dredges by water-power.

Waitahuna.

During the early part of the j'ear 189-3 Mr. Perry had a
dredging plant on the Waitahuna River, opposite the Town of
Havelock. This, however, dealt only with the more superficial
deposits. Clays, lignites, and quartz drifts underlie the
modern river-gravels over Waitahuna Flat, but the lower beds
of these have never been prospected. In the lower grounds
this would be a work of some difficulty, on account of the pre-
sence of water in greater quantity than could easily be dealt
with, but towards the margin of the basin it might be possible
to reach bottom. In the meantime nothing is being done to-
wards prospecting these beds. This dredge continued to work
under different ownerships until 1897, when a new and more
powerful dredge was erected. Other dredges were also erected,
and in 1902 there were five at work.

A notable example of the inefficiency of the bucket dredge
to recover gold from rooky bottoms is the case of the Waita-
huna Gully dredge. Since the closing-down of this dredge the
claim has been worked by hydraulic elevating and sluicing,
and is said to be paying well.

During the present year (1906) the Havelock and Imperia'
dredges still continue operations on their respective claims
The re.sults of the hydraulic plant's operations on the Waita-
huna Gully claim are quite satisfactory, and prove again the
decided advantage sluicing has over dredging on hard and
uneven bottom.

Before dredges were put on this ground the surface was
ju^t as the diggers and Chinese had left it. Now that the
sluice-box dredges have passed through it, the surface is com-
paratively even, and were it not for the severe floods which

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 275

visit this river the dredged area would be capable of growing
good grass and clover. It is the intention of the Forestry De-
partment to procure an area of the worked ground for tree-
planting purposes.

Regarding future prospects of this district, as far as can
be learned, apart from the present sluicing claims, which will
last for many j-ears to come, the lower beds of the valley below
the false bottom may be worthy of prospecting by boring or
otherwise.

Glenore.

Glenore is situated on the branch railway-line from Milton
to Lawrence. Gold is said to have been discovered here by
Edward Peters ("Black Peter") about 1858. In 1894
Warden Hawkins reported that Messrs. Nelson and party were
busily engaged with their dredge at Glenore in working the old
bed of the rirer, with most satisfactory results. This dredge
worked up-stream from the Glenore Bridge. The depth of
the ground operated on runs from 20 ft. to 3.5 ft., but
no solid bottom has yet been touched. The lowest depth
reached consists of a very stiff yellow clay, in which it is
thought a small quantity of gold exists, and, of course, is
being left behind at present. It is, however, intended at an
early date fco sink a prospecting shaft to the rock bottom a
short distance below the bridge, in order to arrive at the value
of the subsoil and yellow clay to the rock, and with the view
also of opening another claim in that locality. The present
dredge is said to be lifting about 12 yards per hour. The
Gold Bank dredge was erected in 1896,. and in 1897 Robert-
son and party's dredge was erected. These three dredges were
very successful in their operations, some of the weekly returns
from the Stirling and Woolshed dredges being as high as
40 oz.

The Riverbank and Adams Flat dredges were erected
during 1899, but about this time the industry was consider-
ably hampered by the opposition of the farmers and land-
holders on the Tokomairiro Plain. It was alleged that the
dredging operations caused pollution of the stream. By the
end of 1900 there were two dredges at work — namely, the Gold

276 ^fEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Bank and the Stirling — and these continued to work up to
1905, when the Stirling sank. The Gold Bank, now working
under private ownership, continues to work with moderate
success.

Several of the dredges in this district were operating on
agricultural land, but, owing to the fact that they were fitted
with elevators, no attempt was made to restore the surface of
the land to its former condition. As is the case with all dredg-
ing operations where elevators are used, the fine silt and loam
is buried under the loose, clean tailings. Where silt-elevators
are used, discharging into the main elevator, the material be-
comes more intermixed, but the surface is not levelled, as is
the case with sluice-box dredges.

Tapanui.

Dredging operations have been carried on from time to
time on the Pomahaka River, Tapanui district. In 1887
Gannon and party had a small dredge on the river, but it did
not pay. One or two other dredges were started later on, and
in 1896 there were three dredges, with buckets of 1 cubic foot
capacity, at work above Conical Hills ; but these dredges were
all too small to be successful. In 1900 the Ardmore dredge,
a privately owned concern, started work. This was also a
rather small dredge, but it proved the ground to be payable,
so that in 1904 the owners dismantled it and erected a power-
ful up-to-date dredge, which is still at work. This district has
lately attracted renewed attention as a dredging-field, and
several claims have been pegged out. A new dredge was
started during 1906, and more will follow should its operations
be attended with success. Each claim should, however, be
thoroughly prospected to ascertain the value and extent of
the auriferous wash before a dredge is put on.

The Ardmore dredge has been operating mainly on private
lands which are used for agricultural purposes. A hinged ex-
tension of the sluice-box is used sometimes for top-stripping
to restore the soil to the surface. Dredging operations in this
district should be so conducted that agricultural areas would
be restored to their former state as far as possible.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 277

SOUTHIiAND DISTRICT.
Waikaka.

This is a valley about nineteen miles in length, and con-
taining over 5,000 acres of dredgable land. The main Wai-
kaka Stream traverses the valley the greater part of the length,
but at the Forks the Big Waikaka and Little Waikaka Streams
join together. It was in 1896 that the late J. R. Perry took
up a special claim and erected a dredge thereon. About the
same time William McGill also applied for a special claim and
prepared to place a dredge upon it. These two dredges con-
tinued to work with satisfactory results in 1897 and 1898, and
during the latter year J Marr and partj- and W. Little and
party were engaged building dredges for their claims. Other
claims were also taken up, as it was recognised that a very
large portion of the land was suitable for dredging. During
1 899 much interest was taken in dredging operations, and a
good deal has been done in the development of that industry,
particularly in the valley of the Waikaka, where five dredges
were at work and six were in course of construction. Dredg-
ing operations were considerably hampered by the opposition
of the settlers and Messrs. Wallis Bros., fellmongers, to the
application which was made to have the Waikaka River de-
clared a sludge-channel. At the end of 1900 there were eleven
dredges at work in the Waikaka Valley, and two in course of
construction. Thirteen dredges were in operation at the end
of 1901, and one in course of erection; three of these were
privately owned. During 1902 there was every indication
that the industry was in a prosperous condition and likely to
expand. There were nineteen dredges at work at the end of
that year, six of these being privately owned. Several dredges
were built in the lower portion of the valley, the earlier
dredges being situated on the Big or the Little Waikaka, or
at the Forks. The number of dredges increased during 1903
from sixteen to twenty, twelve of these being owned by parties
of a private or semi-private nature. Messrs. McGeorge Bros,
acquired large areas of land on the Big Waikaka, and erected
dredges with large power and bucket-capacity. The ground

278 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

requires to be turned over rapidly to secure good returns.
The number of dredges continued to increase during 1904
and on the 31st December there were twenty-eight dredges in
this field ; but this number dropped to twenty-seven during
1905. Although there are large areas of land in the lower
valley which have not yet been dredged, it is safe to assume
that the number of dredges on this field will never be much
larger. New dredges may yet be brought into the district, but
several of the older ones are fast working out their claims.
Perry's -dredge, the pioneer of the field, ceased operations
recently, and has been dismantled. This district has been for-
tunate in possessing large deposits of lignite, which can be
mined and conveyed to the dredges at a reasonable cost. The
ground averages 12 ft. to 14 ft. in depth, and consists mainly
of a heavy layer of clay overlying a few feet of auriferous
gravel. Large areas of tlie land are low-lying and swampy,
and practically useless even for grazing purposes.

The advent of the sluice-box dredge may be looked upon as
a blessing in this locality. The actual result of dredging is
that these areas are drained, the gravels and clays become in-
termixed, and the surface is raised several feet higher than the
original surface. This ground is fit to grow root-crops, grass,
clover, or trees. Extensive tree-planting has been done in
the lower part of the valley. Several dredges on the Big Wai-
kaka are probabl}' dredging the best agricultural land in tho
district, but Messrs. McGeorge Bros, have taken steps to re-
turn the finer material to the surface of the dredged tailing.'
by means of a silt-distributor. This appliance has been
adopted on several dredges with apparently satisfactory re-
sults.

Vraikaia.

In 1890 Gow's Creek was the scene of dredging operations,
but the ground was too poor to pay working-expenses, and the
several claims taken up were abandoned on that account. In
1894 Messrs. Munro and party placed a dredge on the Dome
Creek, where good prospects were said to have been ob-
tained. This venture was also a failure, and the dredge

NKW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 279

was removed from the district. Tiie next dredge to be
built belonged to the Golden Crown Gold - dredging Com-
pany, and cost £3,500. This dredge was erected in
1897, but failed to make a success of the claim, and
was closed down, being subsequently removed to Shag Valley.
In 1898 renewed attention was paid to this district, and claims
were taken up at Glenary and Growler's Flat, Upper Wai-
kaia. The Nugget Company's dredge. Growler's Flat, started
to work in 1899, and continued to work until 1900, during
which year the Dome Creek dredge was also built. Neither of
these dredges turned out a success, and both were closed down
during the year. In spite of these failures the Garvey Burn,
Da) Dawn, and Switzers dredges were in the building stages
during that year. Warden Cruickshank reported for the year
1901 . " Dredging, so far, has been a failure in this district.
For the nine months ending the 31st December, 1901, no less
than twenty-seven special-claim licenses were surrendered and
the claims given up. The Mystery Flat Dredging Company's
dredge has recently started, and gives promise of turning out
a success, having obtained 72 oz. of gold for one week's work.
The above dredge is the onl_v one at work in the district."
For the year 1902 Warden Cruickshank reports: "Mining
in this locality has maintained a fairly even tenor throughout
the year. The dredges at work-— viz., the Mystery Flat and
the Muddy Creek — have yielded yery consistent payable re-
turns for some time past, and in consequence of these returns
a lot of prospecting has been done, and the results having
proved satisfactory four new dredges are being built, one for
each of the following companies : Fairdown Dredging Com-
pany, Garryowen Company, Nugent Wood Company, and
Hessey Dredging Company. I have ascertained on reliable
authority that about 2,600 oz. of gold has been won in this dis-
(liot for the year."

The result of prospecting by means of boring was to prove
extensive and rich gold-bearing leads traversing the valley
through freehold properties. These lands were sold to the
dredging companies on cash and royalty terms, and the erec-
tion of dredges was proceeded with during 1903. When these

280 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

dredges got to work they obtained good returns, and the suc-
cess of the district as a dredging-field began to be assured. In
]904 Warden Cruickshank stated in his annual report: " The
dredging industry in this subdistrict, I am pleased to report,
has gone on improving, and there are now ten dredges work-
ing in the locality, all on payable gold, some of them getting
very handsome returns, and paying the owners and share-
holders large dividends. The revenue collected by the Re-
ceiver of Gold Revenue for rents, (fee, amounted to £300 for
the year. I am informed on good authority that the local bank
at AVaikaia purchased 5,200 oz. of gold during the year, and
it is estimated that at least 1,600 oz. have been disposed of
outside the bank, making a total of 6,800 oz., valued at about
£27,000, which, I think, must be considered very good indeed.
Of course, the hydraulic elevating and sluicing claims in the
district have assisted in the above production."

At the end of 1905 the dredges in this district were the
Argyle, Hessey's, Mystery Flat, Masterton, Duke of Gordon,
New Fairdown, Te Aroha, Waikaia, Waikaia Kia Ora, Lady
Annie, Lady Gordon, Muddy Creek (Limited), Nugent Wood.
Garryowen, and Magnum Bonum.

During the year 1906 the Argyle Hydraulic Sluicing Com-
pany's dredge, driven by water-power, was erected, and dredg-
ing was commenced. The system of applying the motive power
is an improvement on the practices in other districts. la
O'Brien's application small wooden pontoons are introduced
to support the pipes and sv-ivel connections. In the system
adopted on the Argyle dredge these pontoons are discarded.
The main pressure-line is 11 in. in diameter. At the 11 in.
terminal a swivel joint is placed. Thence the water is con-
veyed through a *pa3 of 9 in. piping, 66 ft. in length.
Another swivel joint is placed at the end of this span, and un-
derneath the swivel a wheel is placed which travels on a single
rail curved to a 66 ft. radius. The water is finally conveyed
on board the dredge in 9 in. piping. The main machinery Is
driven by a 4 ft. Pelton wheel, placed upon the deck, with belt
connections. Water for the sluice-box is procured by means
of an ordinary jet elevator, thus doing away with the wear-

Prospecting at Waikaia, Southland: Glossop's

Bot!ing-platform:.
Mining Handbook.

y-.\

A Riffle fou saving Platinium Sand.
Mining Handbook.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 281

and-tear attached to centrifugal pumps. A small 22 in.
Pelton wheel drives the dynamo for the electric lights. This
claim was worked for several years by hydraulic sluicing and
elevating, but since dredging has been commenced the company
is convinced that the present system is the better method, both
with regard to cost and treatment of the ground. The method
has since been applied to the Golden Beach dredge, Alexandra
South, with success.

Prospecting by means of boring is still being carried on,
and dredges are being erected as the gold-bearing runs are
located. There is still an extensive field here for prospecting
both above and below Waikaia Township. The district has
been provided with good deposits of coal, and the dredges are
supplied with fuel at a reasonable cost.

When the dredges first started on this field their operations
were confined to the river-bed and low-lying parts adjacent
thereto, and the question of restoring the soil to the surface did
not crop up ; but since the extension of dredging operations
away from the river on freehold agricultural lands this ques-
tion has arisen. In two cases, where the dredges are fitted with
elevators, the ground is apparently being destroyed for all
time. The majority of the dredges are of the sluice-box type,
and at least leave the surface level behind them. The soil in
this district is light; hence it will be a long time before the
surface of the tailings becomes covered with soil. The use ot
a silt-distributor, as used on Waikaka, would, by throwing the
silt on the tailings, assist in the restoration of the surface.

Charlton Creek, Gore.

The Charlton Creek Company's dredge started work about
the beginning of 1900, and yielded satisfactory returns from
the commencement. The Central Charlton was being erected
during the year. The Lady Charlton was erected in 1901, and
these three dredges were in operation at the end of that year.
The number of dredges was increased by the addition of the
MacCharlton and Charlton Valley dredges, which were at work
during 1902. In 1903 the Lady Charlton and the Charlton
Valley companies went into liquidation, and their dredges

282 NEW ZEALAND 1[INING HANDBOOK.

ceased operations. In 190-1 the Lad}- Charlton was removed
from the valley, but the Mill Creek Freehold dredge was
erected and put to work, and the Charlton Valley dredge re-
sumed operations under private ownership. The other three
machines continued to operate successfully, and there are still,
in 1906, five dredges at work in the Charlton Valley.

The ground operated on is for the greater part low-lying,
and only suited for grazing purposes. As in other parts of
Southland, the sluice-box dredge has considerably improved
this land by draining it and raising the surface in height.
The ground is now fit for growing good grass or trees.

Waimumu.

The Waimumu Gold-dredging Company's -dredge com-
menced to work in 1899. This was the first dredge to start,
but others followed in quick succession until, in 1901, there
were seven dredges at work in the valley. Several of these
were very successful in their operations, while others were not.
At first these dredges were all owned by public companies
Now, in 1906, there are five dredges at work in the district,
three of which are privately owned. There is a good supply of
lignite in the neighbourhood, and this fuel is delivered at the
dredges at a cheap rate.

With regard to the restoration of the land after dredging,
much can be said in favour of the dredging operations in this
valley. Before dredging commenced the valley was low-lying
and swampy, and totally unfit for agricultural purposes.
Owing to its swampy nature it was also a menace to cattle.
Since the advent of the dredges the ground has been turned
over, raised in height, and drained, and is now capable of
being converted into pasture lands.

Mataura River.

In 1889 a dredge was placed on die Mataura River, about
three miles and a half above the Township of Fortrose, by an
Invercargill syndicate. They leased the bucket dredge from
the Invercargill Harbour Board, and fitted it up with appli-
ances for gold-saving. The operations were mostly of a pro-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 283

specting character, and sufficient gold was not obtained to pay
working-expenses. In 1900 Crookston's Mountaineer dredge
was at work on the Eureka Claim, Mataura. The Otama
dredge was also working on the Mataura River, and the Mile-
stone dredge started work at the junction of the Nokomai
Creek with the Mataura Kiver. Messrs. Graham Bros, built
a dredge in 1899 to work a claim about a mile above Gore,
but being privately owned the returns were not made public.
During 1900 the Mataura River, from Mataura Township to
Riversdale, a distance of about thirty miles, was taken up
under special dredging claims or prospecting licenses. In the
same year the Central Mataura Gold-dredging Company pur-
chased the dredge and claims of Graham Bros., and erected a
second dredge. There was also the Mataura Consolidated (late
Eureka) dredge, working at Mataura Island. During 1901
the industry received a decided set-back on this river ; most of
the claims granted were surrendered, and the only dredges at
work were the Central Mataura No. 2 and the Mataura Con-
solidated. None of the above-mentioned dredges were suc-
cessful in their operations, and all ceased work and were re-
moved from the river, with the exception of the Central
Mataura No. 2. This dredge changed owner.ship several times,
and is now held by a private party, who are said to be working
with moderate success.

It is quite apparent that the valley is payably auriferous
in places, but it is wide, and the runs of gold are too far apart
to make it possible to work the claims to advantage with the
present appliances. There is an enormous area of dredgable
ground in the Mataura Valley, but only by systematic borini;,
can the payable areas be located. Suitable dredges to work
this ground would require to have large power and bucket-
capacity. An up-to-date dredge is being erected this year
(1906) about two miles below Gore Township.

Waipapa : Waiau.

Two special claims, having frontages of half u mile, were
taken up in 1887 at Bushy Point, with the intention of work-
ing them with Welman dredges. The Waipapa Creek Gold-

284 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

raining Company got a Welman suction dredge to work satis-
factorily in 1888, but the dredge started in old worked ground
near the Waipapa Creek. There were six special claims held
on the Waipapa Beach at that time, for some of which
machines were ordered. The Waipapa Creek Company con-
tinued dredging operations during 1889 on poor ground.
This was the only beach claim using a Welman dredge, but
four of these machines were on their way from England.
The Lake Brunton Dredging Company, on Waipapa Beach,
expected to commence operations in June, 1890. Steps were
also being taken about this time to get other claims worked at
the mouth of the Waiau River, as it was believed that the Wel-
man dredge would inaugurate a new and prosperous era in
gold-mining. Warden Rawson reported in 1891 that the Wai-
papa Creek Gold-mining Company had been wound up and re-
formed under ihe name of the Waipapa Dredging Company.
The yield of gold for the year ending the 31st March, 1891,
was 190 oz. lldwt. The Lake Brunton Gold-dredging Com-
pany commenced work in February, 1891, as a beach-dredg-
ing company, and the Six-mile Beach Dredging Company in
March, 1891, while the machinery for the Otara Gold-dredg-
ing Company arrived from England in May, 1891. Towards
the end of 1891 Ihe Waipapa Company installed a larger Wel-
man pump. It was stated that for the year ending September,
1890, this dredge obtained about 1,000 oz. of gold. The Lake
Brunton Company continued to work until early in 1892,
when operations were suspended. Two dredges were erected
during 1891 — one for the Otara Company and one for the
Bushy Point Company. These dredges were fitted with
Gwynne's centrifugal pump. The Six-mile Beach Company
carried on operations very successfully during 1891 on its
claim, five miles no#th of Waipapa Point. It was found, how-
ever, that while these dredges could lift the necessary amount
of material they could not effectively treat it with the gold-
saving appliances then in use ; the gold, being very fine, re-
quired special care in the saving process. These dredges were
consequently forced to cease operations. In 1895 the agents
of a wealthy South African syndicate secured special claims

• NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 285

on the Six-mile and Waipapa Beaclies. It was then stated that
the syndicate was prepared to spend .£25,000 to test these
beaches by the cyanide process ; but the proposal fell through.
In 1898 a number of dredging claims were taken up on the
Upper Waiau River, also on Lake George, near Round Hill,
and at Colac, and a suction dredge was erected on the Waiau
River. This principle was not a success, and the dredge was
converted to a bucket dredge in 1899. This dredge (the Bel-
mont) continued to work, ofi and on, on various portions of
the river with indifferent results, and was sold in 1902 to Mr.
Francis Jack, of Winton. The dredge was shifted to the mouth
of the Waiau River, and was unfortunately wrecked there in
1903. Owing to the want of success attending the operations
of this machine no other dredges were put on this river.

Since the wreck of the Belmont there have been no dredges
in the Wyndham, Orepuki, and W^aiau districts, but it is pro-
posed to erect a dredge at Lake George this year (1906). As
a dredging-field this portion of the district has great possibili-
ties, provided suitable appliances are available for saving the
fine gold.

Some Particulars of Dredging Operations.

Alexandra-EiireJcn , Molyneux (or Clutha) River, Alex-
andra. — Area, 60 acres. The Alexandra-Eureka Gold-dredg-
ing Company was registered in November, 1899, and com-
menced work the same month. The material, which is dredged
from a depth of 22 ft. to 23 ft., consists of three-fifths of sand
and gravel and two-fifths of stones. During the year 1905
the yield of gold was 1,440 oz. 5 dwt., valued at £5,873
lis. lid.; total yield of gold since dredge first commenced
work, 8, 807 oz. 8 dwt., valued at £33,981 2s. 9d., out of which
dividends have been disbursed amounting to £14,250. Cost
of dredge, £6,000 ; average weekly cost of work, £40; average
yearly cost of repairs, £300. Length of pontoons 95 ft.,
depth 5 ft. lOJin., beam 25 ft. 10 in. ; ladders capable of
dredging 31 ft. ; capacity of buckets (34), 4J cubic feet; rate
of discharge per minute, 11. Length of gold-saving tables,
loft.; breadth, 12ft. Peck and Payne's centrifugal elevator

286

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

in use. Height of unworlted face above water-line, 7 ft. to
12 ft. Average number of weeks worked, 47; average num-
ber of men employed, 6. Dredgemaster, Charles Curno;
secretary, Andrew Hamilton, Dunedin.

Alexandra Lead, Alexandra. — Area, 82 acres. The Alex-
andra Lead Gold-dredging Company was registered in July,
1899, and connnenced work in February, 1902. The claim
embraced a part of the Molyneux (or Clutha) River, abutting
on the Township of Alexandra, which is now worked out. The
dredge, whilst working in the river, won some handsome re-
turns, viz. : —

Week or period ending —

Oz. dwt.

gi^-

June 26,

1902

155 10

598

July 2,

253

974

,, 5,

348 12

1,342

„ 16,

366

1,409

,, 23,

216 13

834

,, 30,

148 6

570

Aug. 6,

413

1,590

„ 13,

190 9

731

„ 20,

160 9

617

„ 27,

166 15

642

Sept. 3,

204 18

788

„ 10,

220 11

849

„ 17,

213 14

822

„ 22,

302 8

1,164

For the six months ending the 28th February, 1903, the
dredge won 2,101 oz. of gold, valued at £8,221 ; but since
the bank was dredsed the returns have dropped down to an
average of about 22 oz. per week. The dredge is one of the
liugest operating on the Molyneux River, and is now working
a face of 45 ft. above water-level and 23 ft. (on soft rock bot-
tom) below water-level. Eventually the top stuS will have
to be sluiced off, and arrangements can be made for the lease
of water for that purpose. The Molyneux Hydraulic Com-
pany's dredge is working the adjoining ground, and is

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 287

getting fair returns. During the year 1905 the Alexandra
Lead dredge won 647 oz. of gold, valued at £2,506, making
a total of 7,064 oz., valued at £27,355. Dividends have been
paid amounting to £14,033, as against a called-up capital of
£17,521. The dredge cost £13,734, the average weekly cost
of working being £78 10s. The ladders are capable of dredg-
ing to a depth of 40 ft., and there are 34 buckets, each having
a capacity of 7 cubic feet, with an average discharge of 12
pel- minute. The materials now operated on are dredged
from a depth of about 23 ft., the average quantity raised per
hour being 130 tons. The pontoons are 125 ft. in length,
with a depth of 10 ft. and a beam of 46 ft. The average
number of weeks worked is 40, and 9 men are employed.
Dredgemaster, Charles Simonsen ; secretary, R. T. Wheeler,
Dunedin.

Ardmore, Scrubby Flat, near Kelso. — Area, 100 acres.
The dredge, which is privately owned, commenced work in
February, 1900, at Scrubby Flat, near Kelso, in Tuapeka
County. The material, dredged from a depth of 1 4ft. to 24 ft.,
consists of heavy wash, but without clay ; average quantity
raised per hour, 65 cubic yards. During the year 1905 an
area of 5 acres was worked, the quantity treated being 343,200
cubic yards; yield of gold, 641 oz. 7 dwt., valued at £2,469 5s.
Total quantity of gold obtained since dredge first began work,
2,616 oz. Odwt. 18 gr.; value, £10,073 5s.; out of which
dividends were disbursed up to the 31st December, 1905,
amounting to £1,650. Capital called up, £2,800. Cost of
dredge, £1,500 ; average weekly cost of working, £48 ; average
yearly cost of repairs, £300; yearly cost of fuel, £750.
Length of pontoons 95 ft., depth 7 ft., beam 29 ft.; ladders
capable of dredging 20 ft. ; capacity of buckets (32), 4J cubic
feet; rate of discharge per minute, 11. Average number of
weeks worked, 48 ; average number of men employed, 8.
Dredgemaster, Thomas Gillespie ; secretary and part owner,
J. F. Herbert, Kelso.

Argyle, Waikaka Valley. — Area, 130 acres. The Argyle
Gkild-dredging Company was registered in December, 1902.
The material is dredged from a depth of about 14 ft. ; average

288

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

quantity raised per hour, 75 cubic yards. During 1905 an
area of about 18 acres was worked, the quantity treated being
480,293 cubic yards; yield of gold, 1,090 oz.; value, £4,432.
Total quantity of gold obtained since dredge first commenced
work, 3,385 oz.; value, £13,517 16s. 2d. Capital actually
called up, £6,000; dividends declared, £3,600. Cost of
dredge (including cost of erecting), about £3,900; average
weekly cost of working, £50. Length of pontoons 80 ft.,
depth 6 ft. 10 in., beam 27 ft.; ladders capable of dredging
about 14ft.; capacity of buckets (30), 4J cubic feet; rate
of discharge per minute, about 12. Length of gold-saving
tables, 70 ft.; breadth, 4 ft. 9 in. Average number of weeks
worked, 49 ; average number of men employed, 10. Dredge-
master, David Caithress; secretary, Alexander Mutch, Wai-
kaka Valley.

Argyle, Winding Creek, Waikaia. — Area, 69 acres. This
dredge is owned by the Argj'le Hydraulic Sluicing Company,
which carries on hydraulic sluicing and dredging at Winding
Creek, Waikaia, in Southland. Rough gravel wash is ope-
rated on from surface ic> bottom, the depth dredged being from
16 ft. to 29 ft.; average quantity raised per hour, 80 cubic
yards. During the jear 1905 an area of 5 acres was worked;
yield of gold, 416 oz., valued at £1,622 8s. Amount of capital
called up, £1,200. Cost of dredge, £1,600; cost of other
plant, £2,640. Average weekly cost of working, £30; average
yearly cost of repairs, £150, and of water-power, &c., £125.
Length of pontoons 74 ft., depth 5| ft., beam 29 ft.; ladders
capable of dredging 28 ft. ; capacity of buckets (38), 4J cubic
feet; rate of discharge per minute, 12. Size of gold-saving
tables, 280 square feet. Number of weeks worked, 48 ; average
number of men employed, 7. Dredgemaster, J. W. Stewart;
secretary, R. T. S*wart, -Waikaia.

Central Charlton, Charlton Creek, near Gore. — Area, 100
acres. The Central Charlton Dredging Company was regis-
tered in December, 1899. Hard gravel is operated on to a
deptli of about 15 ft. ; average quantity raised per hour, 22|
cubic yards, or 30J yards including clay. For the financial
year October, 1904, to Octxiber, 1905, an area of 8 acres was

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 289

worked; quantity treated, 193,600 cubic yards; yield of
gold, 1,133 oz. ]2dwt. 6gr., valued at £4,378 3s. 9d. Total
quantity of gold won since dredge first ooiiunenced work iii
October, 1900, 4,767 oz. 5 dwt. 6 gr. ; value, £18,553 8s. Id
Fifteen dividends of Is. per share have been declared, amount-
ing to £5,250; capital called up, £5,300. Cost of dredge,
£5,000; average weekly cost of working, £50; cost of dredg-
ing for the year — wages £1,200, coal £500, repairs £550,
making a total of £2,250. Length of pontoons 57 ft., depth
5 ft., beam 25 ft.; ladders capable of dredging 15 ft.; capa-
city of buckets (28,), 3 J cubic feet ; rate of discharge per minute,
11, Length of gold-saving tables, 40 ft. by 3| ft. and 4J ft.
Average number of weeks wor]?ed, 47 ; average number of
men employed, 8. Dredgemaster, James McCorkindale;
secretary, H. F. M. Mercer, Dunedin.

Crewe No. 1, Nevis. — Area, lOO acres. The Crewe Gold-
dredging Company was registered in September, 1902, au.l
commenced work the same month. Ordinary river - wasli
is operated on to a deptli of 20 ft. to 25 ft. ; average
quantity raised per hour, 50 to 60 tons. During the
twelve mouths an area of 10 acres was worked, the
yield of gold being 543 oz. 10 dwt., valued at £2,081
8s. 9d. Total quantity of gold produced since dredge
first commenced work, 1,697 oz. 13 dwt. 7 gr., valued at
£6,494 9s. lOd. ; capital called up, £3,000. Cost of dredge,
£2,081 ; average weekly cost of working, £50 ; yearly cost
of repairs, £500. Length of pontoons 66 ft., depth 5 ft.,
beam 26 ft.; ladders capable of dredging 15 ft.; capacity
of budiets (29), 4J cubic feet ; rate of discharge per minute,
12J. Length of elevator, 40 ft. ; height of un worked face,
2 ft. to 10 ft. Average number of weeks worked, 40; average
number of men employed, 7. Dredgemaster, J. Williamson;
secretary, W. S. Laidlaw, Alexandra.

Creice No. 2, Upper Nevis. — Area, 100 acres. This
dredge is owned by the Crewe Gold-dredging Company. Or-
dinary river-wash is operated on to a depth of 25 ft. ; quantity
raised per hour, 50 tons. During the twelve months an area
of about 3 acres "was worked, yielding 43 oz. of gold, valued

10— Mining Handbook.

290 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

at £168. Cost of dredge, £2,078; average weekly cost of
working, £50; average yearly cost of repairs, £300. Lad-
d€rs capable of dredging about 35 ft. ; capacity of buckets
(30), 4| cubic feet. Average number of weeks worked, 37;
average number of men employed, 7. Dredge-master, J,
Bardsley ; secretary, W. S. Laidlaw, Alexandra.

Charlton Creek, Charlton Valley. — Area, 100 acres. The
Charlton Creek Gold-dredging Company was registered in
May, 1899, and commenced work in January, 1900. Quartz
gravels and boulders are dredged from a depth of 18 ft.;
;iverage quantity raised per hour, 30 yards of gravel, and 30
3ards of stripping done. During the year 1905 an area of
8J acres was worked, the quantity treated being 403,200 cubic
yards; yield of gold, 866 oz. 10 dwt., valued at £3,365 Os. 8d.
Total quantity of gold obtained since dredge first commenced
work, 5,378 oz. 7 dwt., valued at £20,846 8s., out of which
dividends amounting to £4,875 have been disbursed; capital
called up, £4,000. Cost of dredge, £3,256 lis. Id.; average
weekly cost of working, £35 ; average yearly cost of repairs,
£500; yearly cost of fuel, £515. Length of pontoons 66 ft.,
depth 5 ft., beam 21ft.; ladders capable of dredging 22 ft.;
capacity of buckets (30), 3| cubic feet ; rate of discharge per
minute, 11. Length of gold-saving tables, 60 ft.; breadth,
4 ft. Average number of weeks worked, 49 ; average number
of men emplo3'ed, 9. Dredgemaster, Charles Bennett; secre-
tary, Andrew Hamilton, Dunedin.

Electric No. 1 (Lady Eanfurly), Cromwell. — Area, 75 acres
3 roods 32 perches. The Electric Gold-dredging Company was
registered on the 2nd September, 1899, but the syndicate that
sold to the couipany began work in October, 1898. Quartzose
gravel and schist, with hard wash, stones, and ironsand are
<lredged from depths varying from 30 ft. to 50 ft., the average
qtiantity raised per hour being 75 cubic yards. During the
year 1905, 4 acres of ground was worked, and 380,250 cubic
yards treated by the two dredges, for 4,704 oz. of gold, valued
at £18,241 12s. 3d., making a total of 41,196 oz., valued at
£160,092, for the two dredges; and dividends were disbursed
amounting to £116,350. The capital called up is set down at

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 291

£26,000, which represents on the company's books the value
of claim and -two dredges. The ladder is capable of dredging
to a depth of 4=4= ft., and the elevator has a length of 35 ft.
Thirty-six buckets, aided by three grabs, discharge at the
rate of 10 per minute over gold-saving tables 17 ft. by 18 ft.,
each bucket having a capacity of 5 cubic feet. The pontoons
arc 108 ft. long, .with a depth of 7 ft., and a beam of 25| ft.
The materials treated are about equal portions of fine sand,
fine gravel, and heavy stones, the depth from which they are
dredged varying from 25 ft. to 50 ft. below water - line.
Dredgemaster, Williain M. Orr ; secretary R. T. Wheeler,
Dunedin.

Electric A'o. 2, Cromwell. — The Electric No. 2, originally
the Magnetic dredge, and sister ship to the Electric No. 1
(Lady Ranfurly), was built in 1898, and commenced work in
February, 1899, on the Magnetic Claim, immediately above the
Electric Claim, and gave very good results for the first year
or so ; but the returns gradually got poorer as the dredge
worked ahead. Eventually the Magnetic Company went into
liquidation, and the dredge was purchased for £2,750 by the
Electric Company in 1902, and worked for some months on
the old claim with indifferent results. She was then shifted
down to the Electric Claim, and commenced work there in
March, 1903, winning 2,126 oz. of gold for the season's dredg-
ing. Right at the start of the following season the dredge
struck very rich gold, and on the 5th February, 1904, broke
the record for the best week's return with 1,265 oz. ; also esta-
blishing the following other records: —

Oz. dwt. gr.
Fortnight ending 5th February, 1904 ... 1,885 15
Month ending 19th February, 1904 ... 3,025 17

Twelve months ending 31st December, 1904 7,366 18

The week's record was lost to the sister ship (Lady Ranfurly)
on the 4th November, 1904, with 1,273 oz., but the other re-
cords still remain unbroken. The later operations of the
Electric No. 2 dredge have not been so successful. The season
of 1905 only yielded 1,037 oz., while the results for the 1906
10' .

292 , NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. -

season have so far been only moderate. Dredgemaster, An-
<h-ew Hedle3^

Endeavour, Roxburgh. — Area, 80 acres. The Endeavour
Gold-dredging Company was registered in May, 1906. The
material operated on is very hard and tight, and is dredged
from a depth .of 40 ft. During 190.5 only fourteen weeks were
worked, the value of gold obtained being £1,793 15s. Cost
of dredge, £1,300; cost of coal, £60 per month. Length of
pontoons 110 ft., depth 7 ft., beam 30 ft.; ladders capable of
<lredging 45 ft.; capacity of buckets (40), 6 cubic feet; rate
of _ discharge per minute, 11. Length of elevator, 80 {{.
Number of men employed, 8. Dredgemaster, August Magnus;
secretary, P. R. Parker, Roxburgh.

Ettrick, Ettrick. — Area, 99 acres. The Ettriok Gold Steam
Dredging Compan}'' was registered in August, 1890, and com-
luenced work in September, 1891. Fine gravel wash is dredged
from a depth of about 25 ft. ; average quantity raised per hour,
150 yards. During the year 1905, 750,000 cubic yards was
treated, yielding 865 oz. 18 dwt. 7 gr. of gold, valued at
£3,333 14s. Total quantitj^ of gold since dredge first com-
menced work, 8,868 oz. 16 dwt. 11 gr., valued at £34,137
15s. 7d., out of which dividends have been paid amounting
to £5,240; capital called up, £8,366 5s. Cost of dredge,
£8,259 9s. 5(L ; average weekly cost of working, £54 10s.;
average yearly cost of repairs, £425 ; yearly cost of fuel,
£687. Length of pontoons 100 ft., depth 7 ft., beam 31ft.;
ladders capable of dredging 35 ft. ; capacity of buckets (40),
4i cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 12; length of
elevator, 75 ft. There are five gold-saving tables, each 16 ft.
in length and 3 ft. in width. Average number of weeks
worked, 40 ; average number of men employed, 8. Dredge-
master, Arthur P. Burton ; secretary, Jabez Burton, Rox-
burgh.

Firxt Chance, near Alexandra. — Area, 21 acres. The First
Chance Gold-dredging Company was registered in June, 1902.
River-gravels are dredged from depths varying from 10 ft. to
48 ft. ; average quantity raised per hour, 120 cubic yards.
Yield of gold during 1905, 559 oz. 12 dwt.- 9 gr. '; value.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 293

^2,165. Total quantity of gold since dredge iirst commenced
work, 2,825 oz.; value, £9,944. Total dividends declared,
J3,150; capital called up, £7,006. Cost of dredge, £7,000;
average weekly cost of working, £115; yearly cost of repairs,
£1,158; yearly cost of coal, £445. Length of pontoons
104 ft., depth 6 ft., beam lift. 10 in. ; ladders capable of
dredging 42 ft.; capacity of buckets (40), 4f cubic feet; rate
of discharge per minute, 1 1 . Length of gold-saving tables,
14 ft. by 17 ft. Average number of weeks worked, 22 ; average
number of men employed, 9. Dredgemaster, Samuel Hoy;
secretary, C. S. Beeves, Dunedin.

Golden Bed, Miller's Flat. — Area, 98 acres 3 roods. The
Colden Bed Dredging Company was registered in May, 1899.
Alluvial and river wash was operated on to a depth of 50 ft.
to 60ft., oO per cent, passing through fin. holes; average
quantity raised per hour, 3,000 cubic feet. During the twelve
months an area of ."ij acres was worked ; quantity treated,
16,743,000 cubic yards; yield of gold from the 1st June,

1905, to the 31st May, 1906, 2,682 oz. 17 dwt. 16 gr., valued
at £10,440 Ss. 4d. Toial quantity of gold since dredge first
■commenced work on 21st December, 1900, to the 31st May,

1906, 7,854 oz. 6 dwt. 21 gr., valued at £30,556 4s. ."id.; divi-
dends declared to that date, £7,004 16s., equal to lis. per
share on the capital, the amount actually called up being
£12,736. Cost of dredge, £9,126 13s. lid.; cost of other
plant and claim, £3,195 16s. 5d. Average weekly cost of
working, £88; average yearly cost of repairs, £1,300; yearly
cost of coal, £890. Length of pontoons 102 ft., depth 6 ft.,
heain 27 ft. ; ladders capable of dredging 45 ft. ; length of
elevators, 110ft. (centres); capacity of buckets (42), oi cubic
feet; rate of discharge per minute, 13; height of unworked

'face above water-line, about 25 ft. Length of gold-saving
tables, 12 ft. ; breadth, 21 ft. Average number of weeks
worked, 40; average number of men employed, 8. Dredge-
master, A. E. Maitland ; secretary, Edward Trythall, Dun-
edin.

Golden Gate, Miller's Flat. — Area, 45 acres. The Golden
G-ate Dredging Company, which was registered in March, 1895,

294 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

commenced work in November of tho same year. The wash is
dredged from a depth of 25 ft. ; average quantity raised per
hour, about 100 cubic yards. During the year 1905 an area
of 6 acres was worked, the quantity treated being about
500,000 cubic yards, yielding 732 oz. 17 dwt. 17 gr. of gold,
valued at £2,821 10s. lOd. Total quantity of gold since
dredge first commenced work, 13,049 oz. dwt. 11 gr., valued
at £50,250 Is. 3d., out of which dividends have been disbursed
amounting to £23,250, while the called-up capital has only
been £2,500. Cost of dredge, £2,986 13s. 6d. ; average
weekly cost of working, £44 ; average yearly cost of repairs,
£250; yearly cost of fuel, £462 lis. 3d. Length of pontoons
90 ft., depth 5 ft., beam 9 ft. each; ladders capable of dredg-
ing 30 ft. ; capacity of buckets (39), 4^ cubic feet ; rate of dis-
charge per minute, 12. Length of elevator, 30 ft.; height of
unworked face above water-line, 30 ft. Average number of
weeks worked, 50 ; average number of men employed, 7.
Dredgemaster, David Ballintyne; secretary, Jabez Burton,
Roxburgh.

Golden Bun, Miller's Flat. — Area, 80 acres 2 roods
35 perches. The Golden Run Dredging Company was regis-
tered in June, 1891, and commenced work in 1892. The
materials operated on, dredged from a depth of about 33 ft.,
consist of fine gravel with heavy body of sand, the richest
ground carrying red wash on a soft yellow bottom; average
quantity raised per hour, 400 cubic yards. During the year
1905, 2,128,000 cubic yards was treated, yielding 2,740 oz.
16 dwt. 13 gr. of gold, valued at £10,552 2s. 7d. Total yield
since dredge first commenced work, 16,983 oz. 2 dwt. 3gr. of
gold, valued at £65,383 12s. 3d., out of which dividends have
been disbursed amounting to £13,718 15s. ; capital called up,
£9,414. Cost of dfedge, £10,528 16s. 4d. ; cost of dam, £664
6s. 7d. ; water-race and dam, £182 Is. lid.; cost of electric
plant, £400. Average weekly cost of working, £88; average
yearly cost of repairs, £1,284; yearly cost of fuel, £1,017.
Length of pontoons 112 ft., depth 8 ft., beam 35J ft. ; ladders
capable of dredging 35 ft. ; capacity of buckets (39), 6J cubic
feet; rate of discharge per minute, 12. Length of elevatorj

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 295

SO ft. ; height of unworked face above water-line, 30 ft.
Average number of weeks worked, 37 ; average number of men
employed, 10. Dredgemaster, Charles H. Monson ; secretarj',
Jabez Burton, Roxburgh.

Golden Treasure, Miller's Flat. — Area, 90 acres 3 roods
6 perches. The Golden Treasure Dredging Company was re-
gistered in July, 1893, and commenced work in June, 1894.
Cement, loose gravel, and clay are the materials operated on,
and are dredged from a depth of 34 ft. below water-line and
20ft. above; average quantity treated per hour, 70 tons.
During the year 1905 an area of 5 acres was worked; quantity
treated, 435,600 cubic yards; yield of gold, 1,732 oz. 13dwt.
20 gr., valued at £6,670 15s. 6d. Total quantity of gold ob-
tained since the dredge first commenced work, 12,615 oz.
17dwt. 19 gr., valued at £48,570 Is. 2d., out of which divi-
dends have been disbursed amounting to £17,831 4s., while the
called-up capital has only reached £1,384 5s. 4d. Cost of
dredge, £2,231 9s. 7d. ; cost of other plant, £147 7s. 3d.
Average weekly cost of working, £45 ; average yearly cost of
repairs, £600; yearly cost of fuel, £717. Length of pontoons
100 ft., depth 6 ft., beam 28 ft.; ladders capable of dredging
40 ft. ; capacitj? of buckets (40), 5 cubic feet ; rate of discharge
per minute, 12; length of elevator, 75 ft. Average number
of weeks worked, 45; average number of men employed, 8.
Dredgemaster, John C. Cornish; secretary, Jabez Burton, Rox-
burgh.

Gold King, Dumbarton, Tuapeka County. — Area, 87 acres.
This dredge is owned by the Gold King dredging party, who
commenced work on a bank claim in August, 1905. River-
wash is dredged from a depth of 50 ft. ; average quantity
raised per hour, 120 tons. During the year 1905 an area of
half an acre was worked, yielding 386 oz. of gold, valued at
£1,491. Total yield of gold since dredge began operations,
854 oz., valued at £3,291. Capital actually called up (fully
paid), £10,500. Cost of dredge, £2,000; average weekly cost
of working, £50. Length of pontoons 113 ft., depth 7Jft.,
beam 33 ft. ; ladders capable of dredging 52 ft. ; capacity of
buckets (50), 6 cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 12.

296 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Length of elevator, 105 ft. ; heigtt of unworked face above
water-line, 40 ft. ; depth of auriferous gravel or wash below
water-line, 35ft. Dredgemaster, David Mitchell; chairman;
Edward Hart, Hoxburgh.

Graham and I'aritj, Waikaka Valley. — ^Area, 90 acres.
Work was commenced by the owners in July, 1903. White-
quartz wash is operated on to a depth of 10 ft. to 18 ft. j
average quantity raised per hour, 80 yards. Yield of gold
during 1905, 602 oz. ; value, £2,408. Total yield of gold,
1,758 oz.; value, .£7,032. Cost of dredge, £3,000; cost of
land, £1,000. Average weekly cost of working, £35; average
jrearly cost of repairs, £500 ; yearly cost of fuel, £360.
Length of pontoons 80 ft., depth 6 ft., beam 27 ft.; capacity
of buckets (34), 4|^ ctibic feet ; rate of discharge per minute,
10. Length of gold-saving tables, 64 ft.; breadth, 5 ft.
Average number of weeks worked, 46 ; average number of
men employed, 8. Dredgemaster, John Bradbury.

Grogaii and Party, Miller's Flat. — Area, 56 acres. This
dredge commenced work in June, 1904. The material ope-
rated on consists of drift wash, dredged from a depth of 30 ft.
During the j^ear 1905 an area of 6 acres was worked, the quan-
tity treated being 5,806,080 cubic yards. The dredge, which
was purchased second-hand, cost £200; average weekly cost
of working, £34 ; average yearly cost of repairs, £514; yearly
cost of fuel, £368. Length of pontoons 90 ft., depth 5 ft.,
beam 10 ft. ; ladders capable of dredging 45 ft. ; capacity of
buckets (40), 4 cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 12;
length of elevator, 40 ft. Average number of weeks worked,
42; average number of men employed, 6. Dredgemaster and
secretary, E. T. Eitto, Miller's Flat.

Harris and Party, Tuapeka Flat. — Area, 25 acres. Blue
gravels and clay are dredged fr-om a depth of 10 ft. to 14 ft.;
average quantity raised per hour, about 120 cubic yards.
During the year 1905 an area of 17 acres was worked; yield
of gold, 274 oz., valued at £1,059. Cost of dredge, £450;
average weekly cost of worlcing, £27 ; average yearly cost of
repairs, £90 ; yearly cost of fuel, £260. Length' of pontoons
70 ft., depth 5 ft., beam 25 ft.; ladders capable of dredging

^.■^^m- " /!aai>*i -^^

I.
-'J

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 297.

20 ft. to 25 ft. ; capacity of buckets (29), 3f cubic feet ; rate
of discharge per miuute, 12. Average number of weeks
worked, 44; average number of men employed, 7. Dredge-
master, John Harris.

Hartley and Riley,* Cromwell. — Area, .32 acres. The
Hartley and Eiley Beach Dredging Company was registered
in July, 1897. The nature of the material operated on varies,
and is obtained at an average depth of 35 ft., the quantity
raised per hour being about 100 yards. During 1905 an area
of 2 acres was worked, yielding 674 oz. 13 dwt. 18 gr. of gold,
valued at £2,608 Os. 6d. Total quantity of gold since dredge
started up to the 31st December, 1905, 27,564 oz.; value,
£106,625. Dividends were paid amounting to £79,625, equal
to £12 5s. per share; while the capital called up was only
£6,3UU. Two of the most successful week's returns from this
dredge were in March, 1900, 1,187 oz. 14 dwt., and in October,
1903, 1,158 oz. 19 dwt. 11 gr. Cost of dredge, £6,300; cost
of other plant and claim, £200. Average weekly cost of work-
ing, £65 ; yearly cost of repairs, £665 ; yearly cost of coal,
£589 2s. Length of pontoons 96 ft., depth 6 ft. 3 in., beam
26J ft. ; ladders capable of dredging 36 ft. ; capacity of
buckets (42), 4 J cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 11
(about 100 yards). Length of elevator, 40 ft. ; height of un-
woTked face above water-line, 20 ft. The dredge works about
nine months out of the year, and gives employment to nine
men. Dredgemaster, George McLay; secretarjr, D. Crawford,
Dunedin.

Hessey's Wailam, Waikaia. — Area, 100 acres. Hessey's
Gold-dredging Company was registered in July, 1902. During
the year 1905 an area of 12 acres was operated on, yielding
1,222 oz. 7 dwt. 10 gr. of gold, valued at £4,810 15s. 6d.
Total yield since the dredge first commenced work in July,
1903, 3,134 oz. 13 dwt., valued at £12,346 17s. 3d., out of
which dividends have been disbursed amounting to £4,000;
capital called up, £3,700. Cost of dredge, £3,700; average

*'Spelt Reilly in Blue-book at the period of early gold discoveries

298 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

weekly cost of working (including fuel, repairs, maintenance,
&c.), £59 8s. ; average yearly cost of repairs, £378 2s. 5d. ;
yearly cost of coal, £675 17s. lOd. Length of pontoons 81 ft.,
depth 5 ft., beam 25 ft.; ladders capable of dredging 23 ft.;
capacity of buckets (37), 3| cubic feet ; rate of discharge per
minute, 13. Average number of weeks dredge worked, 49;
average number of men employed, 10. Dredgemaster, George
Pettigrew ; secretary, W. E. C. Reid, Dunedin.

Hydraidic Mntor Dredge, Waipori, Tuapeka County. —
Area, 54 acres. The Hydraulic Motor Gold-dredging Company
was registered in February,, 1904, and during the following
year an area of 8 acres worked gave 357 oz. 10 dwt. of gold,
valued at £1,376 8s. lOd. ; but as the ground did not prove
suitable for dredging the company changed to hydraulic ele-
vating.

Ihbotson and Party, Little Waikaka. — Area, 64 acres.
This party commenced dredging in September, 1903. The
material is very difficult to work, as the greater portion is
heavy clay, only a small quantity -of wash being available.
During the year 1905 an area of 7 acres was worked, the quan-
tity treated being 33,000 cubic yards, yielding 622 oz. 19 dwt.
of gold, valued at £2,491 16s. Total quantity of gold pro-
duced, 1,300 oz. 16 dwt. ; value, £5,203. No dividends have
been paid, profits being devoted towards building two new
dredges. The first dredge owned by the party was purchased
for £500; its original cost was £2,500. Average weekly cost
of working, £33; yearly cost of repairs, £354 lis. 2d.;
yearly cost of fuel, £374 13s. Length of pontoons 66 ft.,
depth 3 ft. 5 in., beam 24 ft.; ladders capable of dredging
22 ft. ; capacity of buckets (30), 3 cubic feet ; rate of discharge
per minute, 10. IHngth of gold-saving tables, 60 ft. ; breadth,
3 ft. Average number of weeks worked, 50; average number
of men employed, 7. Dredgemaster and secretary, Donald
McKenzie, Little Waikaka.

Junction-Electric, Cromwell. — Area, 31 acres. The Junc-
tion-Electric Gold-dredging Company was' registered on the
2nd September, 1899, but work was commenced on this claim
in June, 1897. The company had three dredges working up

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 399

to Christmas, 1905; but in March, 1906, one of the dredges
was lost through foundering in the river, and another dredgo
was sold a month previous!}'. The dredge at present owned by
the company is working the No. 2 claim; the dredge that was
lost was working on No. 1 claim. Total quantity of gold
•obtained by the three dredges, 16,469 oz., valued at £63,753;
the yield for the year 1905 being 2,650 oz. 10 dwt., valued at
£10,277. Dividends have been disbursed amounting to
£22,750, as against a called-up capital of £26,000. The ma-
terials operated on are very rough, consisting of two parts of
gravel, one part of fine sand, and one part of heavy stones, and
arc dredged from depths varying from 15 ft. to 35 ft., the quan-
tity raised per hour by one dredge being 100 cubic yards; and
for the year 1905 about 100,800 cubic yards was treated. The
present dredge (formerly known as the Cromwell Company's
No. 2 dredge) was purchased for £750. The ladder is capable
of dredging to a depth of 51 ft. ; the buckets have a capacity
of 5 cubic feet, and discharge at the rate of 12 per minute.
The elevator is 33 ft. in length, and the pontoons 100 ft., with a
depth of 7 ft. and a beam of 26 ft. At the highest point the
-unworked face is 25 ft. above water-line, the depth of the wash
below water-line varying from 8 ft. to 20 -ft. Average cost of
■working, £75 ; number of weeks worked during year, 42 ;
number of men employed, 9. Dredgemaster, Alexander Ross;
secretary, R. T. Wheeler, Dunedin.

Kelso, near Kelso, Tuapeka County. — Area, 32 acres. The
Kelso Dredging Syndicate was registered in August, 1905, but
did not commence work until the following March. Heavy
gravel wash is operated on, the material Being dredged from
a depth of 18 ft. Cost of dredge, £1,275; average weekly
cost of working, £40; average yearly cost of repairs, £200.
Length of pontoons 85 ft., depth 5|ft., beam 25 ft.; ladders
capable of dredging 16 ft. ; capacity of buckets (33), 3 J cubic
feet ; rate of discharge per minute, 1 1 . Dredgemaster, George
Linklater ; secretary, Charles Todd, lleriot.

Lady Annie, Waikaia. — Area, 55 acres. The Lady Annie
"Gold-dredging Company was registered in November, 1904,
■and commenced work a few days after registration. Quarts

300 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

gravels are dredged from a depth of 25 ft., the average quan-
tity raised per hour being 2,100 cubic feet. During the year
1905 an area of 12 acres was worked, the quantity treated
being about 640,000 cubic yards, yielding 1,539 oz. 11 dwt.
11 gr. of gold, valued at £6,127 17s. lOd. Total yield of gold
since dredge first commenced work, 1,682 oz. 10 dwt. 3 gr.,
valued at £6,681 15s. Id., out of which dividends have been
disbursed amounting to £2,520. The company's nominal and
subscribed capital is £4,200, but only £14 was actually called
up in cash. Cost of dredge, &c,, £4,200; average weekly cost
of working (including fuel, repairs, and maintenance), £75
2s. lOd. ; average yearly cost of repairs, £727 16s. 7d. ; yearly
cost of fuel, £615 Os. Id. Length of pontoons 76 ft,, depth
5 ft., beam 25 ft. ; ladders capable of dredging 21 ft. ; capacity
of buckets (32), 3| cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute,
12J; length of elevators, 42 ft. (centres). Average number of
weeks worked, 49 ; average number of men employed, -8.
Dredgemaster, W. A. Johnston; secretary, W. E. C. Reid,
Dunedin.

Lee and Partji, Waikaka Valley. — Area, 100 aores. Work
was commenced in August, 1902. The wash consists of fine
gravel drift, dredged from a depth of 9 ft. to 11 ft. ; average
quantity raised per hour, 65 yards. During the year 1905,
266,000 cubic yards was treated, yielding 788 oz. of gold,
valued at £3,224. Total quantity of gold since dredge first
commenced work, 2,295 oz., valued at £9,166, out of which
dividends have been paid amounting to £518. Cost of dredge,
£3,000; average weekly cost of working, £50 ; average yearly
cost of repairs, £700 ; yearly cost of fuel, £500. Length of
pontoons 89 ft., depth 7 ft., beam 18 ft.; ladders capable of
dredging 18 ft. ; capacity of buckets (38), 3J cubic feet; rate
of discharge per minute, lOJ. Average number of weeks
worked, 45 ; average number of men employed, 8. Dredge-
master, S. W. Wilson; secretary, Miss C. Burns, Dunedin.

Lilliesleaf, Waikaka Valley. — Area, 166 acres. The Lillies-
leaf Gold-dredging Syndicate commenced work in April, 1901,
the material operated on consisting of loose wash dredged friW»
an average depth of 11 ft. During the year 19D5 an ajreR of

NEW ZEALAND MINING HAMDBOOK. 301

about 15 acres was worked. Cost of dredge, £3,450; cost of
other plant, £90, Average weekly cost of working, £44;
average yearly' cost of repairs, £540 ; yearly cost of fuel,
£720. Length of pontoons 72 ft., depth 5 ft., beam 24 ft.;
ladders capable of dredging 20 ft. ; capacity of buckets (32),
3| cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 11. Dredge-
master, R. S. White; secretary, W. Crawford, Waikaka
Valley.

Loch Lomond. — Area, about 20 acres on the Fraser Elver.
The Loch Lomond Gold-dredging Cojiipanj' was registered on
nhe 20th February, 1903. Ordinary river-wash is operated
on from an average depth of 10 ft. or 12 ft., the deepest
giound dredged being about 16 ft. Six acres was worked
during the year 1905 for 609 oz. 17 dwt. 5 gr. of gold, valued
at £2,350 7s. 5d., making a total to the 31st December, 1905,
of l,001oz., value £3,860 .3s. 3d. ; whilst the called-up capital
amounts to £1,975, and paid-up shares have been issued to the
value of £500. tThe dredge, which was originally known as
the Shepherd's Creek dredge, at Bannockburn, was purchased
for £500, and was taken to pieces and rebuilt on the claim,
lying back in the hills between Bannockburn and Clyde, on
the Fraser River. The dredge is rather small for the claim
she has to work, as the river is full of heavy stones ; but if
the machine can manage to drop back from where she is now
working, near the head of the claim, there is a piece of
ground, lately bought hj the company from a private party,
which is expected to turn out well; the difficulty in the way
is the tailings that have been stacked up along the course of
working, which may prevent the dredge getting down. The
ladder is capable of dredging to a depth of 20 ft., and there
are 26 buckets and two grabs, the buckets having each a
capacity of 3f cubic feet, and discharging at the rate of
10 per minute. The elevator is 45 ft. in length ; pontoons,
70 ft., with a depth of 5 ft. and a beam 26 ft. Average num-
ber of weeks worked during year, 34 ; number of men em-
ployed, 7. Average weekly cost of working, about £60;
yearly cost' of repairs, £300. Dredgemaster, Alexande.'-
McLean ; secretary, James Goodger, Cromwell.

302 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Lone Star, Cardrona. — Area, 100 acres. The Lone Star
Dredging Company commenced work in February, 1902, and
registered the following month. Rough, heavy wash and
gravels are dredged from a depth of 8 ft. to 20 ft. ; average '
quantity raised per hour, 45 cubic yards. The yield of gold
up to the end of the financial year (30th April, 1906) was
829 oz., valued at £3,269 16s. 6d. Total yield up to same
date, 2,746 02. 2 dvrt. 6gr., valued at £10,772 18s. 8d., out
of which dividends were paid amounting to £540; capital
called up, £600. Cost of dredge, £4,260; cost of other plant,
£189 14s. 9d. Average weekly cost of working, £44 17s. 9d. ;
3'oarh' cost of repairs, £386 8s. 6d. ; yearly cost of coal, £766
2s. lOd. Length of pontoons 70 ft., depth 5 ft., beam 24ft.;
ladders capable of dredging 24 ft. ; capacity of buckets (33),
Z\ cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 10. Average
number of weeks worked, iO ; average number of men em-
ployed, 10. Dredgemaster, John Williamson; secretary,
W. T. Monkman, Dunedin. •

McOeorge Bros.' Freeliold No. 1, Waikaka River. — Area,
198 acres. This dredge commenced work in November, 1902.
Fine quartz gravel is dredged from a depth of 12 ft., and
during the year 1905 an area of 20 acres was worked. Cost
of dredge, £5,000; average weekly cost of woidcing, £50;
average yearly cost of repairs, £500; yearly cost of coal,
£000. Length of pontoons 80 ft., depth 6 ft., beam 27 ft.;
ladders capable of dredging 20 ft. ; capacity of buckets (30),
6 cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 10. Average num-
ber of weeks worked, 48 ; average n umber of men employed,
8. Dredgemaster, J. B. C. Watt; secretary, Joseph
MoGeorge, Dunedin.

McGeorge Bros.' JFreehold No. 2, Waikaka River. — Area,
400 acres. This dredge commenced work in May, 1904. Fine
quartz gravel is dredged from a depth of 12 ft. to 14 ft., and
during the year 1905 an area of 20 acres was worked. Cost
of dredge, £5,000; average weekly cost of working, £50;
average yearly cost of repairs, £500 ; yearly cost of coal,
£600. Length of pontoons 80ft., depth 1\it., beam 27ft.;
ladders capable of dredging 20 ft. ; capacity of buckets (28),

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 303

6 cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 10. Average num-
ber of weeks worked, 48 ; average number of men em-
plojed, 8. Dredgemaster, George McVicker.

Manuherikia, Coal Creek, Alexandra Gorge. — Area,
27 acres 2 roods. The Manuherikia Gold-dredging Company
was registered in November, 1899, and commenced work in
October, 1900. River-wash is dredged from a depth of 45 ft.
tr> 50 ft. ; average quantitj' raised per hour, 40 tons. During
the year 1905 an area of 1| acres was worked, yielding 778 02.
17 dwt. of gold, valued at £2,924 6s. 4d. Total yield of gold
since dredge first commenced work, 14,939 oz. 2 dwt., valued
at .£45,568 2s. 6d., out of which dividends have been disbursed
amounting to £26,700; capital called up, £6,000. _ Cost of
dredge, £9,487 5s. 8d. ; average weekly cost of working, £50;
average yearly cost of repairs, £450 ; yearly cost of fuel,
£366. Length of pontoons 105ft., depth ^it., beam 27ft.;
ladders capable of dredging 54 ft. ; capacity of buckets (44),
5 cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 13; length of ele-
vator, 46 ft. Average number of weeks worked, 15 ; average
number of men employed, 8. Dredgemaster, Louis Anderson ;
secretary, Andrew Hamilton, Dunedin.

Marshall' s Freehold, Waimumu, near Mataura. — Area,
134 acres. Work was commenced in June, 1903. River-wash
and clay are dredged from depths varying from 4 ft. to 20 ft.,
heavy timber being sometimes met with during operations.
About 12 acres was worked during the year 1905, yielding
787 oz. of gold, valued at £2,939 13s. 5d. Total yield of gold
since dredge commenced work, 1,682 oz., valued at £6,376,
out of which dividends have been disbursed amounting to
£1,575 up to the 31st December, 1905, and £700 since that
date; capital called up, £3,500. Cost of dredge (purchased
second-hand) and erection, £1,950; cost of other plant, £70.
Average weekly cost of working, £34 ; average yearly cost
of repairs, £400; yearly cost of fuel, £421 7s. Length of
pontoons 66 ft., depth 5 ft., beam 25 ft.; ladders capable of
dredging 20 ft. ; capacity of buckets (30), 3J cubic feet ; rate
of discharge per minute;. 12. Average nupiber of . weeks
worked, 49 ; average number of men .employed, 9. Owners,.
Marshall Bros., Waimumu.

304' NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

- Masterton, Waikaia. — Area, 97 acres 2 roods. The Mas-
ferton Gold-dredging Company was registered in January,
1904. The materials operated on are marine, lake, ani]
alluvial river-wash, the depth varying from 14 ft. to 24 ft.
During the year 1905 an area of about 22 acres was worked,
yielding 2,112 oz. 4 dwt. 2-3 gr. of gold, valued at £8,295
8s. lOd. ; and since first commencing work in September,
1904, 2,810 oz. 4 dwt. 4gr., valued at £11,014 12s. 2d., out
of which- dividends have been disbursed amounting to £6,500;
capital called- up, £3,500. Cost of dredge, £3,100; averagfe
weekly cost of working (including fuel, repairs, mainten-
ance, &c.), £60 6s. 3d. ; yearly cost of repairs, £646 4s. 8d. ;
yearly cost of fuel, £726 12s. 4d. Length of pontoons 81 ft.,
depth 7 ft., beam 30 ft.; ladders capable of dredging 26 ft.;
capacity of buckets (30), 4J cubic feet; rate of discharge per
minute, 13. Average number of weeks worked, 45; average
number of men employed, 8. Dredgemaster, Edward Lawson;
secretary, W. E. C. Reid, Duriedin.

Matau, Molyneux River, below Clyde. — Area, 99 acres
and 33 perches. The Matau Dredging Company was regis-
tered in October, 1897. The gravels operated on are dredged
ftom various depths, and about 100 tons per hour are raised.
During the year 1905, 864 oz. of gold, valued at ^63,311
7's. 9d., was obtained, making a total of 9,460 oz., valued a^
£36,438 5s. lid. Dividends. disbursed amounted to £15,225,
being at the rate of £2 3s. 6d. per share, while the capital
actually called up in casli amounted to £6,200. Cost of
dredge, £6,450 6s. 3d.; cost of electric-light plant, £220.
About 15 oz. of gold pays all weekly expenses; average yearly
cost of repairs,. £479 ; yearly cost of fuel, £629. Length of
pontoons 100 ft., ^pth 6 ft.,' beam 29 ft.; ladders capable
of dredging to a depth of 40 ft. below water-level ; capacitj"
of buckets (38), 4 cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute,'^
\%; length of elevator, 48 ft. .Average number of weeks
worked, 36 ; , ^iverage number of men employed, 8. Dredge-
master, John Sanders; secretary, E. R. Smith, Dunedim '
Mill.Greeh,.Ch.&x\ton. — Area, 100 acres. The Mill Creek
Freehold was registered in November, ' 1903. Quartz' wasfi,

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 306,

laixed with grey and black sand, is dredged from depths
ranging from 10 ft. to 32 ft., the average quantity raised per
hour being 1,350 cubic feet. During 1 Dot's an area of about
10 acres was worked, the number of cubic yards treated being
290,822, yielding 715 oz. of gold, valued at £2,849 16s.
Total quantity of gold produced since dredge first commenced
work, 1,121 oz. 9 dwt. ; value, £4,475 12s. Capital called up,
£4,000. Cost of dredge, £2,747 13s.; cost of other plant,
£43 6s. The average weekly cost of working is set down at,
£59 2s. 4d. ; average yearly cost of repairs, £671 17s. 6d. ;
and the yearly cost of coal at £677 lis. lid. The length of.
pontoons is 85 ft., and the depth 6 J- ft., beam 24 ft.; ladders
capable of dredging 25 ft. ; capacity of buckets (37), 4J cubic
feet; rate of discharge per minute, 10. Average number of
weeks worked, 46 ; average number of men employed, 8,
Dredgemaster and secretary, James Brownlie, Gore.

Moa Wo. 2, Alexandra. — Area, 54 acres 2 roods 16 perches
. This dredge is owned by the Clyde Dredging Company, which
was registered in May, 1895. Ordinary river-gravel, inter-
mixed with rough boulders, is dredged from various depths.
The yield of gold for 1905 was 1,307 oz., valued at £5,058
14s. 8d., making a total of 13,504 oz., valued at £52,012
5s. Id. ; out of which dividends were disbursed amounting
to £22,700, being at the rate of £4 Os. 6d. on 4,000 shares,
and £1 2s. on 6,000 shares, as against a called-up capital .)f
£6,000. About 15 oz. of gold covers all weekly working ex-
penditure, including rent and office expenses. Cost of dredge,
£5,160 17s. ; yearly cost of repairs, £543 ; yearly cost of
coal, £619. Length of pontoons 108 ft., depth 7 ft., beam
30 ft.; ladders capable of dredging 45 ft.; capacity of
buckets (46), 4J cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 11
Length of gold-saving tables, 15 ft. ; breadth, 18 ft. ; save-all,
14 ft. by 2 ft.; length of elevator, 77|- ft. Average number
of weeks worked, 30; average number of men employed, 8.
Dijedgemaster, W. G. Nicholson; secretary, E. R. Smith;
Dunedin.
^rMolf/neux-Hydtaulic, Mex&nAxa.. — Area, 63 acres 1 rood.!
25 perches. The Molyneux Hydraulic Dredging Company wap

306 JSlEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

registered in May, 1900. River-wash is operated from a depth
of 30 ft., the dredge being oapable of raising 90 tons per
hour. During the year 1905 an area of li acres was worked,
yielding 839 oz. 3 dwt. 6 gr. of gold, valued at £3,246 14s. 8d.
Total quantity of gold since dredge first commenced work in
May, 1897, 5,899 oz., valued at £22,599 12s. 9d., out of
which dividends amounting to £2,800 12s. have been dis-
bursed, as against a called-up capital of £5,896. Cost of
dredge, £5,000; average weekly cost of working, £51 7s. 6d. ;
average yearly cost of repairs, £605 5s. 3d. ; yearly cost of
fuel, £509 19s. 6d. Length of pontoons 85 ft., depth 6 ft.,
beam 10 ft. and 12 ft.; ladders capable of dredging 32 ft.;
capacity of buckets (40), 4i cubic feet; rate of discharge per
minute, 12. Length of elevator, 80 ft. ; height of unworked
face above water-line, 30 ft. Average number of weeka
worked, 44; average number of men employed, 8. Dredge-
master, Samuel Cameron ; secretary, Lawrence Ryan, Alex-
andra.

Molyneux Kohinoor, Coal Creek Flat, near Roxburgh.—
Area, 59 acres 2 roods 30 perches. The Molyneux Kohinoor
Dredging Company was registered in January, 1900, and
commenced work in March, 1902. The material operated on
consists of river-bed formation, dredged from an average
depth of 30 ft., the quantity raised per hour being 75 cubic
yards. During the year 1 905 an area of 3i acres was worked ;
quantity treated, 200,000 cubic yards, yielding 314 oz. 3 dwt.
6gr. of gold, valued at £1,207 8s. 7d. Total yield of gold,
3,358 oz. 7 dwt. 22 gr., valued at £12,976 3s. 3d. Dividends
disbursed, £4,571 17s. 6d. ; capital called up, £6,523 15s.
Cost of dredge, £3,000; average weekly cost of working,
£45 ; average 3'earjjr cost of repairs, £350 ; yearly cost of
coal, £560. Length of pontoons 60 ft., depth 8 ft., beam
20 ft. ; ladders capable of dredging 25 ft. ; capacity of buckets
(37), 4J cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 11; lengtfi
of elevator, 25 ft. The average number of weeks worked
was 42 ; and the average number of men employed, 7.
Dredgemaster, David Hepburn ; secretary, Harry Shrimpton,
Dunedin.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 307

Muddy Creek, near Kiversdale, Southland. — Area, 65
acres. The Muddy Creek Dredging Company was regis-
tered in November, 1902, and commenced work in April,
1903. The material dredged consists principally of mica
schist, and is taken from an average depth of 22 ft., at the
rate of 2,000 ft. per hour. During the year 1905 an area of
6 acres was worked, yielding 1,512 oz. 18 dwt. of gold, valued
at £5,946 5s. 7d., making a total of 4,638 oz. 19 dwt. and
£24,059 Is. ; out of which dividends were disbursed amount-
ing to £2,767 10s., as against a called-up capital of £1,845.
Cost of dredge, £2,277; cost of other plant, £250. Average
weekly cost of working, £50 ; yearly cost of repairs, £500 ;
yearly cost of fuel, £1,000. Length of pontoons 80 ft., depth
4Jft., beam 28 ft.; ladders capable of dredging 22 ft.;
capacity of buckets (33), 4 cubic feet; rate of discharge per
minute, 11; length of elevator, 50 ft. Length of gold-saving
tables, 40 ft. ; breadth, 5 ft. Average number of weeks
worked, 48 ; average number of men employed, 8. Dredge-
master, F. Hamer ; secretary, H. G. Horn, Gore.

Mystery Flat, Waikaia. — Area, 98 acres 3 roods. The
Mystery Flat Gold-dredging Company was registered in July,
1900, and work was commenced in Januarj', 1902. The
material is dredged from a depth of 16 ft., the quantity raised
per hour being 2,700 cubic feet. During the 3-ear 1905 an
area of 10 acres was operated upon, the quantity treated being
807,300 cubic feet, yielding 1,874 oz. 9 dwt. 19 gr. of gold,
valued at £7,406 8s. 4d. Total amount of gold obtained since
dredge first began work, 4,862 oz. 10 dwt. 14 gr., valued at
£19,100 6s. ; out of which dividends amounting to £5,787 12s.
have been disbursed, as against a called-up capital of £4,512.
Cost of dredge, £4,512; average weekly cost of working, £62
5s. 5d. ; average yearly cost of repairs, £420 19s. 6d. ; yearly
cost of coal, £787 9s. 7d. Length of pontoons 75 ft., depth
5 ft., beam 24 ft. ; ladders capable of dredging 24 ft. ;
capacity of buckets (36), 4J cubic feet. Average number of
weeks worked, 48; average number of men employed, 8.
Dredgemaster, W. J. F. Ayson ; secretary, W. E. C. Reid,
Dunedin.

308 NEW ZEALAND MINIMG HANDBOOK.

Nevis Grossing, Lower Nevis. — Area, 100 acres. This
dredge is owned by Janies Horn and Co. The nature of the
material operated on is quartz and schist-gravel, taken from
a depth of 15 ft. to 20 ft. During the twelve months an area
of 6 acres was worked, the quantity treated being 2,16,000
cubic yards; yield of gold, 424 oz. , value, £1,633 14s. lOd.
Total quantity of gold produced since dredge first commenced
work, 1,139 oz.; value, £4,366. Cost of dredge, £1,200; cost
of other plant, £300; average yearly cost of repairs, £150.
Lengtli of pontoons 66 ft., depth 5 ft., beam 10 ft.; ladders
capable of dredging to a depth of 20 ft. ; capacity of bupkets
(26, and one grab), 3^ cubic feet ; rate of disch-arge per
minute, 11; length of elevator, 45 ft. Average number of
weeks worked, 32 ; average number of men employed, 7.
Dredgemaster, Archibald Ritchie ; secretary, James Horn.

New Alpine Consols, near Cromwell. — Area, 84 acres.
The New Alpine Consols Gold-dredging Company was regis-
tered in July, 1902, and commenced work the same, month.
River-wash is dredged from a depth of 50 ft. During the
year 1905 an area of 6 acres was worked; quantity treated,
300,000 cubic yards, yielding 1,040 oz. of gold, valued at
£4,050. Total quantity of gold obtained since dredge first
commenced work, 2,422oz. ; value, £9,400. Capital called up,
£3,750. Cost of dredge, £3,378; average yearly cost of re-
pairs, £450; yearly cost of fuel, £372. Length of pontoons
96 ft., depth 6ft., beam 22 ft.; ladders capable of dredging
50 ft. ; capacity of buckets (40), 4| cubic feet ; rate of dis-
charge per minute, 12. Average number of weeks worked,
18; average number of men employed, 9. Dredgemaster,
George Goodger ; secretary, C. S. Reeves, Dunedin.

Neiv GromwelL Kawarau River, between Cromwell and
Bannockburn. — Area, 30 acres. A private company was
formed to work the claim formerly held by the Cromwell
Dredging Company, and purchased the Junction-Electric
dredge for £600 at the beginning of March, 1906. The dredge
was taken up from Cromwell to the claim, but the high river
has prevented much work being done this season. The ladders
are capable of dredging 38 ft., and there are 36 buckets, each

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 309

having a capacity of 4 cubic feet, and an average discharge
of 12 per minute. Dredgemaster, William Wood; secretary,
James Goodger, Cromwell.

New Era, Nevis. — Area, 94 acres. The present owners
commenced dredging operations in April, 1903^ the early
miners having previously worked the claim by hand-labour.
The materials operated on consist of alluvial wash, dredged
from a depth of 8 ft. to 15 ft.; average quantity raised per
hour, 2,000 cubic feet. During the year 1905 an area of
12 acres was worked, the quantity treated being 296,000 cubic
yards, yielding 483 oz. 10 dwt. of gold, valued at £1,865
2s. 9d. Dividends declared, £1,074; capital called up, £540.
Cost of dredge and claim, £500 (original cost, £5,000)
average weekly cost of working, £39 ; 3-early cost of coal
£222 lis. Length of pontoons 66 ft., depth 5 ft., beam 20 ft.
ladders capable of dredging 18 ft.; capacity of buckets (25)
3f cubic feet; rate of discharge per mirvute, 11; length o:
elevator, 30 ft. Average number of weeks worked, 32
average number of men employed, 7. Dredgemaster, Thomas
Omond; secretary, A. P. Bremner, Coal Creek Flat.

New Fourteen-mile, Molyneux Kiver. — Area, 47 acres
2 roods, situated between Alexandra and Roxburgh. The New
Fourteen-mile Beach Gold-dredging Company was registered in
March, 1904. The materials operated on are a soft and hard
reef, dredged from a depth of 40 ft. to 45 ft. ; average quan-
tity raised per hour, about 85 tons. During the year 1905,
700 yards of the river was dredged, and yielded 1,335 oz.
6 dwt. of gold, valued at £5,196 10s. 5d. Total quantity of
gold obtained since dredge first commenced work on the 28th
April, 1904, 3,110 oz. 18 dwt. 16 gr., valued at £12,060 8s.;
out of which dividends have been disbursed amounting Ut
£5,991 5s., as against a called-up capital of £4,193 17s. 6d.
Original cost of dredge, about £9,000; average weekly cost
of working, £85 ; yearly cost of repairs, £400 ; yearly cost
of coal, £745 12s. Length of pontoons 110 ft., depth 6jft.,
beam 30 ft, 6 in. ; ladders capable of dredging 35 ft. to 36 ft. ;
capacity of buckets (42), 3J cubic feet ; rate of discharge per
minute, 11. Length- of gold-saving tables, 16 ft.; breadth.

!_310 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

16ft. 4. in. Average number of weeks worked, 26; average
number of men employed, 8. Dredgemaster, George Poulter ;
secretary, David Crawford, Dunedin.

New Monte Christo, Molyneux River, near Clyde. — Area,
32 acres. The New Monte Christo Dredging Company
was registered on the 21st July, 1904, to work the Monte
Christo Claim, situate at the mouth of the Clyde-Cromwell
Gorge. This claim has been worked for the past five or six
years, but with little or no success ; during the two years the
present company has been working the quantity of gold ob-
tained has been 470 oz. 8 dwt. 16 gr., valued at £1,545
16s. Id., the capital called up amounting to £1,500. Three-
quarters of the claim is shallow, with patches of gold, but no
lead has yet been met with, and all attempts so far made to
bottom it have failed. The ladder has just been extended by
8 ft., and every eSort will be made this season to get at the
bottom. The depth of the wash operated on is 30 ft. to 40 ft.,
122 cubic yards being raised per hour, and the lad-der is now
capable of dredging to a depth of 50 ft. There are 45 buckets,
each having a capacity of 5J cubic feet, and a rate of dis-
charge of 10 per minute, the gold being saved on tables 18^ ft.
by 13 ft. The dredge was purchased by the present company
for £1,500, but the original cost was £6,000. The average
weekly cost of working is £42; yearly cost of repairs, £600;
yearly cost of fuel, £325. Average number of weeks worked,
35 ; average number of men employed, 8. Dredgemaster,
Hans Olsen ; secretary, George Fache, Clyde.

Otaffo No. 1 and No. 2, Miller's Flat. — Area, 99 acres and
100 acres. The Otago Gold-dredging Company was regis-
tered in May, 1895, and the first dredge commenced work
that month. Ordinary river-wash is dredged from a depth
of 30 ft. to 35 ft. ; overburden, 25 ft. During the year 1905
the two dredges worked 19 acres, and treated 1,100,000 cubic
yards for gold to the value of £11,086. The total quantity
of gold won b)' both dredges since commencing operations
was 12,533 oz., valued at £48,357; out of which dividends
were disbursed amounting to £11,875, as against a called-up
capital of £2,000. No.. 1 dredge cost £8,000, and No.' 3

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 311

£8,500. The average weekly cost of working both dredges is
30 02. of gold, or about £112; yearly cost of repairs, £1,200;
yearly cost of coal, £1,829. Both dredges work about 45
weeks in the year, and employ sixteen men. The two dredges
are fitted with 78 buckets, those in No. 1 having a capacity
of 5 cubic feet and those in No. 2 6 cubic feet, with a rate of
discharge per minute of 60 ft. and 72 ii. No. 1 elevator is
75 ft. and No. 2 elevator 80 ft. in length. No. 1 pontoons
105 ft. and No. 2 pontoons 108 ft. in length. Gold-saving
tables in No. 1 are 17ift. by 16 ft., in No. 2 30 ft. by 12 ft.
Dredgemasters : No. 1, E. Reiderer ; No. 2, E. L. Westcombe.
Secretary, A. G. Fenwick, Dunedin.

Perseverance, Waipori. — Area, 66 acres. This dredge is
owned by McNeil and party, who commenced work in January,
1897. During the year 1905 an area of 11 acres was worked
and 212,960 cubic yards treated, yielding 1,129 oz. of gold,
valued at £4,347 lis. Total quantity of gold obtained since
dredge first commenced w-ork to the 31st December, 1903,
8,645 oz., valued at £33,285 10s. ; out of which dividends have
been disbursed amounting to £13,500, as against a called-up
capital of £1,500. Cost of dredge, £3,500; average weekly
cost of working, £40 ; average yearh' cost of repairs, £420 ;
yearly cost of coal, £700. Length of pontoons 75 ft., depth
5 ft., beam 22 ft.; ladders capable of dredging 20 ft.;
capacity of buckets (32), 3i cubic feet; rate of discharge per
minute, 11. Average number of weeks worked during year,
45; average number of men employed, 6. Dredgemaster,
Thomas Aiken; secretary, N. 0. Potts, Lawrence.

Phoenix, Waikaka. — Area, 78 acres. The Phoenix Dredg-
ing Company was registered in September, 1902, and com-
menced work the following month. Clay and fine gravel, in
the proportion of three to one, are dredged from a depth of
14 ft. to 16 ft. About 9 acres has been worked during the year
1905 to an average depth of 15 ft., yielding 453 oz. 15 dwt.
of gold, valued at £1,888 3s. 8d., making a total since dredge
first commenced work of 2,375 oz. and £9,500; out of whicJi
dividends were disbursed amounting to £3,300, as against a
ealled-up capital of £1,500. Cost of dredge, £1,500; average

312

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

weekly cost of working, about £40 ; yearly cost of repairs,
£1,621 ; yearly cost of ooal, £459. Length of pontoons 70 ft.,
depth 5 ft., beam 24 ft.; ladders capable of dredging 24 ft.-
capacity of buckets (34), 3| cubic feet ; rate of discharge per
minute, 11. Length of gold-saving tables, 70 ft. by 3| ft.
Average number of weeks worked, 46 ; average number of
men employed, 7. Dredgemaster and secretary, Malcolm
McCorkindale.

Pioneer. — First commenced work in April, 1905, on an
arfea of 40 acres, situate on the Waikaka River, the dredge be-
ing owned by Mrs. M. H. Grey. The material operated on is
a white-quartz gravel, and is dredged from a depth of 12 ft.,
the quantity raised per hour giving an average of 60 yards. In
1905, 5 acres of ground was treated, yielding 168 oz. 13 dwt.,
valued at £655. The original cost of the dredge was £1,500.
Average weekly cost of working, £120; yearly cost of repairs,
£200; yearly cost of fuel, £300. Length of pontoons 78 ft.,
depth 5 ft., beam 24 ft.; ladders 18 ft., which carry 33
buckets of the capacity of 3 cubic feet; rate of discharge, 13.
Dredgemaster and secretary, Hugh Rankin, Waikaka.

Pride of the Clutha, Miller's Flat. — Area, 31 acres. This
dredge is owned by Pringle and party, who commenced work-
in October, 1903. River shingle and gravel are dredged from
an average depth of 30 ft., the quantity raised per hour beiflg
100 cubic yards. During the year 1905 the yield of gold
was 1,019 oz., valued at £3,926, making a total of 4,727 oz.
8 dwt. 9 gr. and £18,700 10s.; out of which dividends have
been paid amounting to £6,000, as against a called-up capital
of £4,000. Cost of dredge, £3,000; average weekly cost of
working, £50 ; yearly cost of repairs, £50 ; yearly cost of
ooal, £625. Lengjjfi of pontoons 100 ft., depth 5 ft. 7 in.,
beam 31 ft. ; ladders capable of dredging 48 ft. ; capacity of
buckets (40), 5 cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 11.
Length of elevator, 77 ft. ; height of unworked face abovC'
water-line, 6 ft. to 12 ft. Length of gold-saving tables, 16ft.'j.
breadth, 16 ft. Average number of weeks worked, 40; average-
number of men employed, 7. Dredgemaster, Thomas^ R.
.Tones; secretary, .lohn Pringle,- /[Jrookston. • ,. ; : ■

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NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 313

Quitter and Party, Waipori. — Area, 20 acres. Quartz
gravel and clay are dredged from a depth of 9ft., the yield
of gold during 1905 being 70 oz., valued at £270. Cost of
dredge, £500; cost of otJier plant, £100. Average weekly
cost of working, £14; yearly cost of repairs, £20. Length
of pontoons 51 ft., depth 3 ft., beam 21ft.; ladders capable
of dredging 15 ft.; capacity of buckets (26), 2J cubic feet;
rate of discharge per minute, 9. Average number of weeks
worked, 44; average number of men employed, 2. Dredge-
master and secretary, W. Carr, Waipori. [In a note it is
stated that the claim is worked out and the dredge dis-
mantled.]

Revival, Lowburn, near Cromwell, Upper Clutha River.- —
Area, 67 acres 3 roods. The Revival Gold-dredging Company
was registered in August, 1903, and commenced work in Oc-
tober of the same year. The wash operated on consists of
20 per cent, of sand, 55 per cent, of gravel, and 25 per cent,
of stones, the materials being dredged from a depth 'of 35 ft.
During the year 1905 an area of 2 acres was worked, the
quantity treated being 265,700 cubic yards, yielding 568 oz.
18dwt. of gold, valued at £2,220 3s. 9d. Total yield of
gold since dredge first commenced work, 1,615 oz., valued at
£6,283 10s., out of which dividends were disbursed amount-
ing to £650 ; while the capital called up has amounted to
£1,800. Cost of dredge, £1,000; average weekly cost of
working, £40; yearly cost of repairs, £550; yearly cost of
fuel, £600. Length of pontoons 84 ft., depth 6 ft., beam
24 ft. ; ladders capable of dredging 35 ft. ; capacity of buckets
(30), 3 J cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 11 ; length
of elevator, 30 ft. Average number of weeks worked, 41 ;
average number of men employed, 8. Dredgemaster, Frank
Kitto; secretary, Andrew Hamilton, Dunedin.

Rise-and-Shine No. 1, Lowburn, near Cromwell. — Area,
100 acres. The Rise-and-Shine Gold-dredging Company was
registered in February, 1900, and commenced work in Janu-
ary, 1902. The material operated on contains a 6orisider-
able amount of stones, and an average quantity of 73 cubic
yards is dredged per hour from a depth of 50 ft. Tfie yield

314 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

of gold for the financial year ending the 31st March, 1906,
was 1,376 oz. 18 dwt. 12 gr., valued at £3,323 Is. 4d., making
a total of 7,102 oz. 18 dwt. 11 gr. and £27,369 5s. Sd.
Dividends have been disbursed from the proceeds of bot'i
dredges amounting to £2,400; capital called up, £10,000.
Cost of dredge, £9,410; average weekly cost of working,
£85; average yearly cost of repairs, £1,100; yearly cost of
fuel, £917. Length of pontoons 114 ft., depth 5J ft., beam
30 ft. 8 in. ; ladders capable of dredging 52 ft.; capacity of
buckets (39, and 3 grab-hooks), 6 cubic feet; rate of discharge
per minute, 11; length of elevator, 66 ft. (centres). Average
number of weeks worked, 40 ; average number of men em-
ployed, 10. Dredgemaster, C. D. Brent; secretary, W. T.
Monkman, Dunedin.

Rise-and-Shine No. 2, Lowburn, Clutha River, near Crom-
well. — Area, 42 acres. This dredge, which is owned by the same
company as the No. 1, commenced work in January, 1904.
The materials operated on consist of ordinary fine sand, river-
gravel, and heavy stones in equal proportions, dredged from
a depth of 36 ft. to 46 ft. ; average quantity raised per hour,
2,500 cubic feet. The yield of gold for the financial year
ending the 31st March, 1906, was 1,342 oz. 11 dwt., valued
at £5,190 4s. 3d., making a total of 2,459 oz. 11 dwt. 2 gr.
and £9,468 7s. 7d. Cost of dredge, £5,269; average weekly
cost of working, £85 ; average yearly cost of repairs, £960 ;
yearly cost of fuel, £879. Length of pontoons 100 ft., depth
7 ft., beam 27|^ ft. ; ladders capable of dredging 44 ft. ; capa-
city of buckets (41), 5 cubic feet; rate of discharge per
minute, 11; length of elevator, 65 ft. Average number of
weeks worked, 40 ; average number of men employed, 10.
Dredgemaster, N. P. Kloogh ; secretary, W. T. Monkman,
Dunedin. *

Eiverview (late Sheddan Rex), Mataura River. — Area.
100 acres. The Riverview Dredging Company, with a called-
up capital of £1,537 10s., has been formed for the purpose
of dredging a claim of 100 acres on the Mataura River. The
pontoons have a length of 80 ft.,- a depth of 5 ft., and a beam
of 24 ft., fitted with ladders capable of dredging to a depth

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 315

of 24 ft., and there are thirty-two buckets, each having a
capacity of 4|^ cubic feet. Secretary, John Latham, Gore.

Eosedale, Waikaka Valley. — Area, 100 acres. This dredge,
which is owned by the Eosedale Syndicate, numbering ten
shareholders, commenced operations in March, 1906. Cost
of dredge, £2,500; cost of other plant, £130. Average
weekly cost of working, £44. Length of pontoons 78 ft.,
depth 6 ft., beam 25 ft.; ladders capable of dredging 20 ft.;
capacity of buckets (32), 4J cubic feet ; rate of discharge per
minute, 9. Average number of men employed, 8. Dredge-
master, Thomas Falconer ; secretary, William Crawford, Wai-
kaka Valley.

Sailor Bend, Alexandra Gorge. — Area, 1 mile. The Sailor
Bend Dredging Company was registered in September, 1899,
to work a gorge claim situate betwixt the Manuherikia and the
Last Chance Claims, both of which have given good returns
and paid dividends. Under favourable circumstances, the
Sailor Bend Claim gives a yield of from 80 oz. to 100 oz. for
a week's dredging ; but coaling is a heavy item, as the distance
from the pit is over three miles, and the coal has to be boated
down the river to the dredge by a special crew for a mile and
a quarter. The Sailor Bend is known to contain payable de-
posits right through the claim, having been tested by the
dredge in several parts of the property. Unfortunately, tho
Sailor Bend, in common with a number of dredges whose
claim is in the Alexandra Gorge, has for the past four winters
only worked on an average on the bottom about four to six
weeks, which has crippled the finances and placed the com-
pany's dredges in the power of the mortgagee or the debenture-
holder. When the dredging boom was in full swing some
years ago, it was thought that the gorge dredges would be
able to work for at least six months ; but during the past four
seasons the average has only been eight weeks, and of these
two or three weeks have been taken up with opening a paddock
or dredging at a loss on a rising river, and it was not ex-
pected that dredging would commence this season before the
second week in July. Provided there are no heavy rains or
warm winds to melt the snow on the ranges, causing the river

3X6 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

to rise, the dredging season goes on to the last week- in Sep-
tember or the first week in October ; and if the frost does not
set in the latter end of February a short dredging season may
be expected. For the year 1905 the Sailor Bend dredge won
380 oz. 10 dwt. of gold, valued at £1,468, making a total
since work commenced of 2,908 oz., valued at £11,239; out
of which £2,(S00 was paid in dividends; while the capit^il
called up amounted to £8,000. The dredge cost £6,674
9s. lid., and the average weekly cost of working has been £70.
In dredging, rocks and large stones are met with, the gravels
being taken from a depth of 25 ft. to 30 ft. ; the ladders are
capable of dredging to a depth of 35 ft. There are 41 buckets,
each having a capacity of 4J cubic feet, discharging at the
rate of 12 per minute, the gold being saved over tables 14 ft.
by 17 ft. The pontoons are 105|^ ft. in length, with a depth
of 6 ft. 7 in., and a beam of 25 ft. 10 in. Average number of
men emploj^ed, 8. Dredgemaster, Dugald McGregor.; secre-
tary, R. T. Wheeler, Dunedin.

Star, Waikaka Valley. — Area, 100 acres. This dredge is
owned by the Star Gold-dredging Syndicate, which commenced
work in Febriiary, 1904. The material operated on consists
of gravel wash and white and grey stones (40 per cent, of fine
sand, 40 per cent, of fine gravel, and 20 per cent, of heavy
stones), dredged from a. depth of 13 ft., the quantity raised
per hour being 50 cubic yards. An area of 18 acres was
worked during the year 1905, the quantity treated being
377,520 cubic yards, which yielded 1,691 oz. of gold, valued at
£6,610. Total quantity of gold produced since dredge first
commenced work in Februarj', 1904, 4,046 oz. 3 dwt. ; value,
£15,952 16s. Dividends paid, £9,192; capital called up,
£2,208. Cost of dredge, £2,500; average weekly cost of
working, £40; yetrly cost of repairs, £400; yearly cost of
lignite, £450. Length of pontoons 82 ft., depth 5 ft., beam
25 ft. ; ladders capable of dredging 22 ft. ; capacity of buckets
(37), 3f cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute, 9|. Length
of gold-saving tables, 66 ft.; breadth, 4 ft. Average num-
ber of weeks worked, 50 ; average number of men employed,
8. Dredgemaster, John A. S. Aitken ; secretary, P. R. Blue,
Knapdale, Gore.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 317

Success, Waipori. — Area, 18 acres. This dredge, which is
owned by Wilson and party, oommenced work in May, 1905.
Gravel, clay, and soil are dredged from a depth of 12 ft. ;
average quantity raised per hour, 75 yards. Yield of gold
during 1906, 273 oz. 6 dwt. 19 gr., valued at £1,052 7s. 2d.
Total quantity of gold produced since dredge first commenced
work, 677 oz. 2 dwt. 6 gr. ; value, £2,607 13s. Cost of dredge,
£160; cost of plant, &c., £30. Average weekly cost of work-
ing, £33; yearly cost of coal, about £450. Length of pon-
toons 90 ft., depth 5 ft., beam 24 ft.; ladders capable of
dredging 20 ft. ; capacity of buckets (31), 3^ cubic feet ;
rate of discharge per minute, 12. Plain box, 50 ft. long and
4 ft. wide, used for saving gold. Average number of weeks
worked, 29; average number of men employed, 6. Secre-
tary, G. McCluskey.

Teviot, Roxburgh. — Area, 50 acres. Work was commenced
in August, 1904, by Mr. Joseph Sparrow, the present owner.
The material operated on consists of river-wash (stones and
■cement) taken from a depth of 18 ft., the average quantity
raised per hour being 60 tons. During 1905 an area of 4
acres was worked; quantity treated, 11,520,000 cubic yards;
yield of gold, 830 oz., valued at £3,202. Total quantity of
gold produced since <lredge first oommenced work for pre-
sent owner, 2,004 oz. ; value, £7,572, Original cost of dredge,
£7,800; bought by present owner at £2,030. Average weekly
•cost of working, £50 ; average cost of repairs, £800 ; yearly
oost of fuel, £576. Length of pontoons 103 ft., depth 6 ft.
9 in., beam 31 ft.; ladders capable of dredging 40 ft.; capa-
•city of buckets, 4| cubic feet; rate of discharge per minute,
11. Length of elevator, 60 ft. ; height of unworked face above
water-line, 20 ft. Length of gold-saving tables, 16 ft.;
breadth, 15 ft. Average number of weeks worked, 40 ; average
number of men employed, 8. Dredgemaster, James Rich-
mond

Waihaia Venture, Wendon District, near Waikaia. — Area,
100 acres. The Waikaia Venture Gold-dredging Syndicate
has not yet commenced operations, the dredge being in course
■of- erection. The pontoons will have a length of 82 ft., a

318

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

depth of 7^ ft., and a beam of ,31ft., fitted with ladders
capable of dredging a depth of about 18 ft. ; each bucket will
have a capacity of 5 cubic feet. Dredgemaster, James
McErlean; secretary, Alexander Mutch, Waikaka Valley.

Waikaka No. 1 and No. 2, Waikaka Valley.— The Wai-
kaka Syndicate was registered in December, 1901 ; the first
dredge commenced work in February, 1903, and the second
in July, 1905. No. 1 dredge worked 10 acres during the year
1905, and No. 2 turned over a similar area for the six months,
the yield of gold won by both dredges being 1,654 oz. 8 dwt.,
valued at £6,484 18s. 7d., making a total (both dredges) to
the 31st December, 1905, of 3,755 oz. 13 dwt., valued at
£14,800 3s. 8d. The called-up capital is £3,000, and £2,800
has been paid in dividends. The profits are now devoted to
purchase of second dredge. In the No. 1 claim the material,
dredged from a depth of 11 ft., consists of 6 ft. of yellow clay
and 5 ft. of light wash, and in No. 2 the material consists of
one-quarter fine sand, one-half fine gravel, and one-quarter
heavy stones. The No. 1 dredge cost £3,360 2s. Id.; the
No. 2, purchased from the Sheddan Company for £1,100,
originally cost about £4,000. The average weekly cost of work-
ing both dredges (including repairs, maintenance, &c.) is £126
18s. 9d. ; repairs on No. 1 cost for the twelve months £496
14s. 4d., and on No. 2 for six months £558 4s. 3d.; cost of
fuel on No. 1 for twelve months £590 15s. 8d., and on No. 2
for six months £328 18s. 3d. Both dredges are fitted with
ladders capable of dredging to a depth of 20 ft., fitted with 32
buckets, having a capacity of 4| and 4| cubic feet each, and
discharging at the rate of 9 and 11 buckets per minute.
Each pontoon has a length of 80 ft., a depth of 5 ft., and a
beajn of 25 ft. For saving the gold No. 1 has a sluice-box
50 ft. by 3 ft. 4 inf and No. 2 has tables 28 ft. by 3 ft. 9 in.
and 38 ft. by 6 ft. Average number of men employed, 18;
the number of weeks worked during j-ear 1905 on No. 1 was
49. Dredgemasters : No. 1, R. Henderson; No. 2, Thomas
Stevenson. Secretary, W. E. C. Reid, Dunedin.

Waimumw Venture, Waimumu. — Area, 52 acres. This
dredge is owned by the Waimumu Venture Syndicate, which

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 319

commenced work in March, 1905; and up to the end of the
year an area of 13 acres was operated on, 209,729 cubic yards
being treated at a cost of 2Jd. per cubic yard, for 800 oz. of
gold, valued at £3,207 17s., out of which dividends were dis-
bursed amounting to £504; capital called up, £1,323. The
pontoons are 80 ft. in length, 5 ft. in depth, with a beam of
26 ft. ; ladder capable of dredging to a depth of 11 ft. ; capa-
city of buckets (29), 3 J cubic feet; rate of discharge per
minute, 9. Length of gold-saving tables, 60 ft. ; breadth,
4 ft. 3 in. Cost of dredge, about £1,800; average weekly
cost of working, £44; average number of men employed, 8.
Dredgemaster and acting-secretary, James Currie.

Note. — In statements as to cost of fuel, repairs, and number of weeks
worked, the averatje cost is generally meant. Forms, soliciting informa-
tion, were senl out to all secretaries and dredgemasters in Otago and
Southland. The above detailed particulars have been compiled from the
information courteously furnished by secretaries and dredgemaster.^;. In
some instances the forms have not been returned, and in others the
information was of too meagre a character. Tabulated returns will be
found in the larger edition of present work, entitled " New Zealand
Mines and Minerals." Space does not permit of the tables being given
in this edition. — Editor, Mining Handbook.

THE UTILISATION OF DREDGED
GROUND,

For Agricultural, Pastoral, or Other Purposes.

In connection with tlie publication -of the Mining Hand-
book, forms were sent out to dredgemasters and secretaries
01 companies, asliing for information, and amongst the ques-
tions submitted were the following: —

(1.) How much of surface soil is put by and placed on the
tailings after ground is dredged?

(2.) Can the ground be utilised afterwards for fruit or
vegetable culture, or for agricultural or pastoral
purposes?

Where answers have been given in the affirmative to either
question, they are herewith appended.

Otago and Southland.

Ardmore, Scrubby Flat, near Kelso, Tuapeka County. —
(2.) Yes; trees would do well.

Argyle, Waikaka Valley. — (2.) Yes.

Central Charlton, near Gore. — (2.) Either.

Charlton Creek, near Gore. — (1.) Mixed with gravel. (2.)'
Good for pasture and forestry.

Graham and Party, Waikaka Valley. — (1.) Mixed. (2.)-
For forest trees or pastoral purposes.

Ilessey's Waikaltd. — (2.) Pastoral.

Ibbotson and Party, No. 2, Little Waikaka. — (1.) Most of
the surface remains on ihe top. (2.) Yes; good pastoral,,
and with a little labour can be made good agricultural land.

Lady Annie, Waikaia. — (1.) ]^ot any; all is mixed to-
gether. (2.) Yes; the stones are for the most part rotten,
and will break up in time.

»'

-f

ffi

<7J

'-^

: P^

;<'

f*i

r-,

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 321

Lee and Party, Waikaka Valley. — (1.) Very little, unless
we are in clay. (2.) Pastoral purposes and tree-growing.

Lilliesleaf, Waikaka Valley. — (1.) Three inches. (2.)
Yes.

McGeorge Bros., Waikaka Valley. — (1.) Surface soil and
wash was treated together ; but, by means of a sand-shoot,
about 6 in. to 1 ft. of soil and sand is distributed over the
surface. (2.) Yes; when sown, is good grazing.

Marshall Bros.' Freehold, Waimuimi. — (1.) Depends on
various circumstances; average perhaps one-half. (2.) Fair
feed, although uncultivated ; should do well for flax.

Masterton, Waikaia. — (1.) All mixed. (2.) Yes; fruit
and pastoral purposes.

Mill Creek, Charlton. — (2.) Could be used for pastoral
purposes; grows clover and grasses.

Muddy Creek, Wendonside, ten miles from Riversdale,
Southland. — (2.) Pastoral.

Mystery Flat, Waikaia. — (2.) Fruit and forest trees.

Nevis Crossing, Lower Nevis. — (2.) Not for a long period;
country only fit for pasture.

Otago, Miller's Flat. — (2.) Yes, portions of it.

Phcenix, Waikaka. — (2.) Yes; in this part the grass does
very well on the tailings, as there is very heavy clay.

Pioneer, Waikaka. — (2.) For pastoral purposes.

Pride of the Clutha, Miller's Flat. — (2.) Portion of bank
claim may be utilised after working.

Eosedale, Waikaka Valley. — (2.) Yes.

Star, Waikaka Valley, — (1.) Not much surface soil is left
on top, but we leave 4 in. or 5 in. of silt, which grows good
clover, &c. (2.) Good for pastoral purposes.

Success, Waipori. — (2.) Pastoral purposes.

Waikaka Syndicate No. 1, Waikaka Valley. — (1) and (2).
Varies according to circumstances. Would grow good grass,
timber or fruit trees.

Waikaka Syndicate No. 2, Waikaka. — (1.) None; it is all
mixed up. (2.) Yes.

Waimumu Venture Syndicate, Waimumu, near Mataura.
— (2.) For agricultural purposes.

11 — Mining Handbook.

322 NEW ZEALAND MINin HANDBOOK.

West Coast.

North Beach, near Greymouth. — (2.) Yes; grows grass in
places.

Prince of Wales, Eobinson' s Creek, Donoghue's, near Boss.
— (2.) Yes, for grazing purposes.

Stafford, Waimea Creek, Stafford, Westland. — (2.) Fruit-
culture.

Ansnrers from Hydraulic Elevating and Sluicing Claims
to Question No. 2 only.

Otaqo and Southland.

George Guilford, Carrick Mange. — For pastoral purposes
only.

Golden, Bise, Weather stone's, Tuafeka. — Not for some
years, on account of its gravelly nature, unless by digging
holes and filling same with soil, when fruit or other trees might
be grown.

Island Block, Beaumont Biding, Tuafeka. — Ground could
be levelled and top-dressed with silt from elevators.

Jewett's Gully, Bound Hill, Colac Bay, Southland. — Yes,
to a moderate extent.

Matakatiui, Uatakanui (or Tinkers). — Parts of it would
grow trees.

New Skipper's Sluicing Company, Skipper's. — Pastoral.

Norwegian Sluicing Claim, Waitahuna Gully, Tuapeka. —
Grazing.

Ourawera, Bound Hill, Colac Bay. — It might at a future
date be suitable for pastoral purposes, but not for a long time.

Private Enterprise, Cardrona Valley, Lake County. — Pas-
toral.

Bound Hill, Bound Hill, Colac Bay. — Yes.

Tallahurn, Gurrie's Flat, near Beaumont, Tuapeka
County. — Part fit for pastoral purposes.

Undaunted, Matakanui. — Yes.

United M. and E . Water-race, St. Bathan's. — When worked
out, ground could be used for grazing or tree-growing.

new zealand mining handbook, 323

West Coast.

Barrytown, Barrytown Flat, Grey Valley. — Yes.

Madeod's Terrace, Mokihinui Biver, Westland. — Grasses
will grow on tailings.

Minerals (Limited), Arahura, Blue Spur, Westland. —
Yes.

Uont d'Or, Sailors' Gully, Eoss, Westland. — Yes; 150
acres tailings-site, used for grazing cattle, carries 50 head
all year round.

New Nine-mile Creek, near Ten-mile Creek, Grey Valley. —
Tailings-site greatly improves tlie land.

Repuhlic, Healey's Gully, Moonlight, Grey Valley. — Part
of it.

Boss United, Jones's Flat, Boss. — Yes; for fruit-growing
and grazing.

MINERALS OCCURRING IN OTAGO.

By E. R. Green, Inspector of Mines for the Southern Mining District.

Cinnabar.

Samples of cinnabar were found in the early alluvial
diggings in Nevis, Nokomai, Waipori, and Waitahuna. A
sample assayed in 1875 f}om the Carrick Range contained
82 per cent, of the metal, while samples from Waipori and
Waitahuna were found to contain 70 to 75 per cent, of mer-
cury. Some promising samples were discovered at the Upper
Nevis in 1883. It is here found associated with gold in the
alluvial washings. When tested the samples yielded 84 per
cent, of quicksilver. Some prospecting was done for the lods
at Nevis, but it was never found. A discovery of this mineral
was made in the year 1899 between Waipori and Waita-
huna, in Tuapeka County. Systematic prospecting was
undertaken, and a low-level tunnel was being driven
in 1900. This level met the lode in 1901 at a dis-
tance of 231 ft., but as the capital of the company was
exhausted the mine was locked up pending company recon-
struction. A contract was let in 1901 to drive 300 ft. along
the lode. This was done, but no ore was met with in the lode-
formation. The mine was closed down during 1903. As there
were 190 ft. of backs available, it would have proved the pro-
perty better had a rise been put through to the surface. The
mine has not been reopened since 1903.

Antimony.

According to Button and Ulrich's "Geology of Otago,"
samples sent from the Carrick Range prior to 1875 yielded
50 to 54 per cent, of antimony, while a sample assayed from
Miller's Flat, Tuapeka, contained 58 per cent, metallic
antimony. A specimen sent from Arrowtown contained only

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 326

34 per cent. In October, 1875, about 60 tons of antimony
was shipped to England from the mine at Waipori. In 1879
a new lease was applied for, as the trial shipment to England
gave a satisfactory return o!: gold. A company was formed,
but after raising and exporting some ore the work was sus-
pended in 1880. The drawback was the general inaccessibility
of the mine. During the summer of 1881 work was resumed,
twenty-eight men being employed ; machinery was erected,
and a payable lode proved. In 1882 operations were again
at a standstill. In 1883 a bonus of £500 was offered
by the New Zealand Government for the production of
the first 250 tons of antimony regulus to be sold in
a foreign market at a fair market price, but no applica-
tion was made for it, and it lapsed. In 1886 two licenses were
granted to search for antimony in the Silver Peak and Mount
Hyde Survey Districts respectively. Two additional licenses
were granted in 1887 — one in each of these districts. In 1888
Johnson and party took up the Waipori lode, on the Lammer-
law Ranges, and proved the extension of the lode from the
original shaft. Two tons and a half of ore was sent to Lon-
don for assay, with a view to floating a company in that
market. There is a good supply of water and peat on the
ground. Nothing further was done to prospect the antimony-
lode at Hindon during 1889, but in that year the Lammerlaw
Antimony Company took up an area of 59 acres on the
original claim. James Campbell was granted a mineral
license over 320 acres adjoining the company's licen'Sed hold-
ing.

The' Antimony Company, Waipori, was registered in 1891,
and contracts were let for sinking a new shaft and cutting a
water-race. In the early part of 1890 a parcel of 3J tons,
which yielded 47 per cent, of antimony, was sent to the Dun-
edin Exhibition ; this was afterwards shipped to England for
Bale. Some of the ore will go as high as 80 per cent. In 1891
a lode, 2 ft. to 5 ft., was struck at a depth of 60 ft. in the com-
pany's area, the yield from which was from 70 to 80 per cent,
of antimony. The company carried on continuous operations
during 1892.

326 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Antimony was also found on the Carrick Range.

The existence of an antimony lode on the west bank of the
Molyneux Kiver, at Alexandra, was known years ago, but
vtry little attention was paid to it. In 1900 the shaft was
cleaned out, and a few tons taken out and sent to Melbourne
for assay. Some samples taken from the lode were assayed at
the Otago and Thames Schools of Mines, and by the Government
Analyst. According to the latter, these contained 73'5 per
cent, sulphide of antimony, equal to 62"8 per cent, metallic
antimony. The Thames School of Mines reported the ore
equivalent to 50 per cent, of metallic antimony, and the Otago
School of Mines found that the sample sent there contained
65 per cent, metallic antimony. The Antimony Exploration
Syndicate continued to prospect the lode by shafts and
tunnelling during 1901. Several trial shipments were made
to Melbourne during that year. However, it was found that
the cost of production and the heavy freights in conveying the
mineral to a seaport town had absorbed the profits, and ths
mine was closed down.

Although lodes occur at Alexandra, Waipori, Mount Stoker,
and the Carrick Range, none of them has been worked since
1901. These lodes are in out-of-the-way localities, and the
cost of production and transit, together with the fluctuating
nature of the antimony market, has so far prohibited the pro-
fitable working of the ore.

Copper.

Prior to 1875 copper-ore containing 13"5 per cent, of
metallic copper was found on the Carrick Range. Samples
from the Arrowtown district yielded 11 per cent, of metallic
copper. Copper-ore containing 24 per cent, metallic copper
was discovered at Moke Creek, while gold was found in
samples sent from Moke Creek, Wakatipu, and Waipori.
(Hutton and Ulrich's " Geology of Otago.")

Copper was discovered at Reedy Creek, near Waipori, in
1866. This lode was prospected during 1880 by a shaft 50 ft,
in depth and by tunnels. A parcel of undressed ore sent to
New South Wales was reported to have yielded 11 per cent, of.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 327

copper. Machinery was erected in 1881, and thirteen men em-
ployed to thoroughly test the lode. The drainage was heavy,
and for various causes the work was discontinued in 1882.
A discovery of a copper-lode was made in 1882 in the Waka-
tipu district. An attempt was made to float a company in
Australia, but, although the lode was proved, the expense of
placing it on the market in a proper state was then too great,
and the lode was allowed to lie idle. Some further prospecting
was done on this lode during 1900; but no copper was mined
in Otago during 1901.

Several licenses were granted to prospect for copper on the
Alalvern Hills, Canterbury, during 1902, but nothing even-
tuated.

In 1904 a quantity of ore was taken from the Wakatipu
lode, and parcels sent to Dunedin and Thames for valuation
of the ore; but development was not continued. None of
the lodes at Carrick, Wakatipu, or Waipori is now being
worked.

Platinum.

This metal is associatsd with the auriferous deposits at
Round Hill, Southland, and is found on the black-sand beaches
south-west of the Waiau River. About 20 oz. of platinum was
sold by the Round Hill Gold-mining Company during 1903;
8 oz. 11 dwt. 10 gr. was recovered from the above claim in
1904; and during 1905, 14 oz. 6 dwt. 12 gr. was saved. This
is a metal that should be looked for in other places, as it has
a high value at the present time.

Silver.

It is recorded that a sampl of native silver was found at
the Matatapu, Lake Wanaka, many years ago; also in the
Wakatipu district and Kawarau Gorge.

Manganese.

Manganese was found in Waipori in 1864, but the samples
tested did not yield more than 8 per cent. Rich samples were
found near the mouth of the Taieri River, Otago, in 1873.

328 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Owing to the low and variable price ruling for this mineral
the search for deposits has never been carried on for any length
of time. The mineral at Taieri Beach contains 90 per cent
dioxide of manganese.

Scheelite.

Coarse pieces of scheelite were found in the alluvial work-
ings in Waipori in 1865. A lode was discovered in Nardoo
Creek in 1887. A sample sent to London gave an assay value
jf 77 per cent, tungstic acid. Some attention was given to-
wards prospecting during 1899, as London firms were offering
£22 per ton, delivered in Dunedin. This mineral also occurs
at Macrae's in the quartz reefs, and in 1891 Messrs. Kitchener
and Donaldson sent Home a trial shipment of 6J tons. The
mineral was also found on the Lammerlaw Heights, at the
Antimony Mine, and at the head of Burnt Creek. A large lode
was discovered at the head of Lake Wakatipu.

Messrs. Donaldson Bros., of Macrae's, have been consistent
producers of this mineral during the past few years, and
several hundred tons have been exported from this mine, the
total value aggregating to about £24,000. Special concen-
trating appliances are installed at this mine.

Scheelite also exists in the Alta Mine, Bendigo, but none
has been produced for export.

The lode at Glenorchy, Lake Wakatipu, was reopened in
1906, and scheelite is now being produced.

Tin.

Reports had been circulated from time to time that tin had
been discovered iifthe colony, but it was not until 1888 that
tin-stone (cassiterite) was discovered in the Remarkables,
Stewart Island. The country rock is a granitoid gneiss.
The ore was found in bands of qxiartz running through
a micaceous rock. Wolfram was found in connection with the
cassiterite. Both these minerals were found associated in the
stream deposits in Pegasus Creek. About 7,000 acres were held
in 1889. Many claims were worked in that year, both on the

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 329

lode-formation and in the alluvial drifts. It was, however,
found that the deposits were not large, and the supposed rich
discoveries were not verified. Only small areas of drift
ground could be found, and there was a scarcity of water for
sluicing purposes. Very little ore was produced, and opera-
tions have never risen above the prospecting stage.

Graphite.

Graphite, in various stages of purity, is found at Malvern
Hills, Canterbury, and Gibliston, Otago, where it is of fair
average quality.

Complex Ores.

A complex ore occurs at Tarawera Mine, Isthmus Sound,
Preservation Inlet. It is an admixture of iron, copper, lead,
zinc, gold, and silver. When dressed to a high percentage this
ore yields 100 oz. to 120 oz. of silver to the ton, and as much
as 7 dwt. of gold. Refractory ores occur in the deep levels of
the mines on the Carrick, Bendigo, Nenthorn, and Hindon ;
the foreign mineral present may be iron, antimony, or arsenic.
Some of the quartz in the Rough Ridge Reef is heavily charged
with iron-pyrites and zinc-blende.

Auriferous Ironsands.

Auriferous ironsands (chiefly magnetic oxide) are, for the
most part, confined to the west, south, and south-east coasts
of the Middle Island of New Zealand. These beach sands have
afforded profitable employment for very many years, and con-
tinue to do so. Not only gold, but platinum, iridium, and
other valuable minerals occur in these sands. There is a vast
field here for research as to the most suitable means of treating
these sands to recover a maximum percentage of their values at
a minimum cost. A bonus of £2,000 was offered by the New
Zealand Government in November, 1901, and the ofier was
continued up to January, 1904, for a suitable machine or ap-
pliances to treat these sands, but was unclaimed, although
many inquiries were received by the Mines Department from
various parts of the world.

33,0 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK,

Greenstone.

The deposit of marmolite, or tangiwai, in lode-formation,
long known to occur at Anita Bay, Milford Sound, was ex-
ploited in 1904. A quantity of the stone has been brought to
Dunedin for lapidary treatment, and is now being prepared
for the market. The demand for this class of stone ornament
in a manufactured state is said to be fairly large, especially
among the Natives of the North Island ; also amongst tourists,
and others outside the colony.

Mica.

Mica occurs at an altitude of 12,000 ft. above sea-level
in the mountains at the head of George Sound, Western
Otago. Samples were produced, and a company was formed
for the exploitation of the deposit, but full developments were
not proceeded with.

Asbestos.

A license was granted in 1886 to search for this mineral in
lh-3 vicinity of Milford Sound. The deposit was discovered,
but apparently its position was too inaccessible for economic
working. This mineral has also been found on Mount Cairn-
muir and Mount Pisa, in Otago Central, but none has ever
been produced.

Marble.

A very pretty grey marble, streaked with white, is found
in abundance at Blue Mountain, in the Horse Range, where
it is burnt for lime. Although much jointed at the surface,
it may improve as the quarry is developed, and I think that
blocks of sufficient size to make chimney-pieces, pillars, &c.,
could be obtained — ^flutton and Ulrich's " Geology of Otago."
It is recorded in the "Handbook of New Zealand Mines,
1887," that a marble was found outcropping on the Nokomai.

Retinite.

The occurrence of this fossil resin in abundance in some
of the lignites of Otago and Southlan<l was indicated in Hutton

NEW ZEALAND MININQ HANDBOOK. 331

and Ulrich's "Geology of Otago." It was suggested that it
would probablj- pay to colloct it for the manufacture of
varnish.

Grinding and Polishing Materials. - •■' •

According to Hutton and Ulrich's ": Geology of Otago,"
good sharp sandstone, or gritstone, suitable for grindstones,
if, found in the Horse Range, while, whetstones and scythe-
stones could probably be supplied from some of the more
arenaceous mica-schists, as at Mount Alta. Hone-slate and
Lydian stone are not uncommon in the Kakanui and Kai-
koura formations, and poU.shing-powder (diatomaceous earth)
is found in Strath Taieri, and probably in some of the other
old lake-basins.

THE AURIFEROUS IRONSANDS OP
NEW ZEALAND.*

By Alexander McKay, F.G.S., Government Geologist.

AuRiFEEOUS ironsands (chiefly magnetic oxide) are for the
most part confined to the west, south, and south-east coasts
of the Middle Island of New Zealand, commonly known and
hereafter to be spoken of as the South Island.

The titanic ironsands of the west coast of the North Island,
though mixed with magnetite, are not usually gold-bearing,
and south of Auckland have not been ascertained to contain
gold in sufficient quantity to pay for working such deposits.
For the most part these sands have been derived from volcanic
rocks of younger Tertiary date, associated with which, except
on the western flanks of Mount Egmont, there are no lode&
carrying gold.

On the east coast of Cape Colville Peninsula, at Mercury
Bay, there are deposits of black sand that contain gold, and
which it has been proposed to work for the precious metal.
Possibly, also, there are other similar deposits on the west shore
of the Bay of Plenty, where such sands have been derived from
auriferous rocks. The magnetic and titanic ironsands of the
North Island are, however, not usually regarded as a reposi-
tory of gold in paying quantities.

On the west coast of the South Island, from near Cape
Farewell to Preservation Inlet, the sea-beaches, formed of
material of moderOTe fineness of grain for the most part, show
the presence of magnetic ironsands, and often such sands form
a considerable part of the total material of the beach between

* These notes on the auriferous ironsands of New Zealand were
written a few years ago in reply to a request for information by a
resident of Victoria, British Columbia, who stated that he was the
inventor of a process for extracting gold from black sand and other
earthy bodies.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 333

high- and low-water mark. Such sands are at almost all places
auriferous, and for the past thirty years have been worked for
gold. At first these deposits were extremely rich, and were
worked again and again, as often as the material was acted
upon by a heavy surf during storms, or rearranged more slowly
by the ordinary action of the tides. Often the auriferous
sands would be covered by a variable depth of grey-quartz
sand, which, if not too deep, would be removed to reach the
auriferous layer ; but as frequently the auriferous sands
would appear at the surface, varying from a few inches or a
mere skimming to a foot or more in thickness. Such de-
posits, when formed, were treated as rapidly as possible, or,
at all events, removed beyond the action of the tide, as they
are apt to be suddenly swept away by a change in the direc-
tion of the wind or by a varying force or direction of the
tide and sea-currents. Gradually, in the course of years,
these beach deposits became less auriferous ; but they still
yield, on all the more important beaches, a profitable return
to miners expert at this form of mining.

Beach-workings of this description are carried on from
thirty miles north of the mouth of the Buller River to the
southern extremity of the Island, and east along the northern
shore of Foveaux Strait and the south coast of Otago to the
mouth of the Molyneux River, and along the east coast in a
northerly direction to the boundary of the Otago Provincial
District.

Usually, where magnetic ironsands are found on the beach,
deposits of the same kind, now no longer acted upon by the
tide, are present on the higher grounds inland, or lie buried
under grey sands between tide-mark and the foot of tlje first
terrace. These beach leads have been a great source of gold at
many parts on the west coast of the South Island. At many
places, near the mouths of rivers and large creeks, the ground
is wet, and by dredging or other means it is that considerable
areas have yet to be worked. This first horizon above or in-
land of tide-mark has deposits of ironsand in all favourable
situations along the west and south coasts of the Island, and
these are notably developed near the mouths of the larger

334 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

rivers. Usually they have proved very rich in gold, and but
for difficulties such as have been alluded to most of them had
already been worked out. At many places they are covered
by flood deposits from rivers or by ppolian sands drifted back
fiom the beach, and thus it is that discoveries are likely jet
to be made.

At higher levels successive terraces of auriferous ironsands
are met with, principally between the mouths' of the Duller
and Hokitika Rivers, and s-ome of the larger rivers in South
Westland. These have been more particularly described in
the "Geological Reports" for 1892-3 and 1895-6, and the
descriptions of the blocks reserved for mining purposes, for
which see joint report by I\Lessrs. Gordon and McKay. Hera
it will suffice to mention Addison's Flat, Charleston, and
Brighton ; Darkie's Terrace and Rutherglen, near Greymouth;
Ballarat Hill, in the Waimea Valley'; and the Houhou Lead,
near Hokitika.

On Addison's Flat and at Charleston the ironsand deposits
are developed on a most extensive scale, and have yielded, and
still yield, great quantities of gold. At both places further
oxidation of the magnetite has taken place, and rusty-coloured
ironsan-d cements are the results. This fact has entailed an
enormous loss of gold to the claim-holders working the cement,
as the gold coated with iron-oxide escapes being caught by the
means employed for that purpose, and, finding its way into
the tailings-channels and streams, a part of such escaped gold
is again recovered by various contrivances placed so as to in-
tercept it, and a part carried to the seaboard tends to enrich
the black-sand deposits within tide-mark. Between Charles^
ton and Biighton these deposits rise to a height of 600 ft. above
the sea ; more to the south they gradually attain to lesser ele-
vations, and south oLHokitika are but little above sea-level.

On the shores of Foveaux Strait, it is only at Orepuki and
near the mouth of the Waiau River that these deposits reach
any distance inland, or more than a very moderate height
above the level of high-water mark. East of the Bluff, and
from the vicinity of Dunedin to the northern boundary of the
Otago Provincial District, the auriferous black-sand deposits

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 335

are confined to the limits between high- and low-water mark,
or to less than 25 ft. above that.

Along the east coast, within the Canterbury Provincial
District, it is only between Lake Ellesmere and the mouth of
the Rakaia River that auriferous sands payable to work are
found. These, however, do not contain notable quantities of
magnetic ironsand, but for the most part they are grey or
garnetiferous. North of Christchurch, while at places it is
evident that great elevation (in modern times) of the land has
taken place, and old beaches can be traced up to at least 400 ft.
above the sea, only traces of gold have been found, and black
sand does not abound.

The great richness in gold of these sands enabled them to
be worked with profit when the means employed were both
costly and of a rude description. At many places the yield
was phenomenal, and thus there has been impressed on the New
Zealand miner the full importance of the deposits, and black-
sand claims are still in favour. Many deposits are rich only
in particular parts, or are poor generally, and any means that
tended to lessen the cost of extraction of the gold would be a
boon to the black-sand miner, and should be hailed accord-
ingly-

AURIFEROUS IRONSANDS ON THE WEST
COAST.

By Alexander McKay, F.G.S., Government Geologist.

North Westland. — Littoral Deposits.*

These comprise the black-sand beaches at low levels along
the present coast-line. Generally they are limited by a terrace
escarpment of the more elevated lands on the inward side,
which runs nearly parallel to the coast-line, but near the
mouths of the larger rivers they recede inland, and become

*" Geological Explorations of the Northern Parts of Westland,"
Mines Reports, 1893, C.-^, p. 161.

336 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

less marked, and here the deposits of the littoral zone blend
with those brought down by the rivers.

These littoral deposits have been a great source of gold
on the West Coast. From the mouth of the Grey River to the
Mikonui the active living beaches at all places yield gold, and
at many localities have proved extremely rich. By the con-
tinued action of the surf the heavier materials — gold and black
sand — are associated together, and there, between high- and
low-water mark, accumulate to what appears as a stratum of
black sand, which, varying in thickness, may be either ex-
posed at the surface or buried under a variable thickness of
ordinary grey sand. The gold usually is very fine, and special
means for saving and collecting the same had to be devised.
At one time a large population of miners were remuneratively
employed on this and the other inland beaches between the
tide-mark and the terrace escarpment marking the limits of
Pleistocene erosion and the last elevation of the land. This
elevation has been but slight, and the strip of low land between
the terrace escarpment and the sea indicates rather a cessation
of erosion than an elevation of more than a few feet. As a
consequence — the rivers supplying the material — ^the beaches
were built out from the foot of the cliffs, and the auriferous
black-sand beds, whether at the surface or covered to a vari-
able depth as above described, were further covered up by de-
posits of drift sand carried inland from the beach within tide-
mark by the westerly winds. There has thus been formed a
line, and often a double line, of low sandhills between the pre-
sent beach and the higher grounds. These seolian deposits are
underlain by old black-sand beaches, not differing from and
often continuous with that formed and exposed by the action
of the sea at the present time. Where the sandhills form a
double line the deprffision between is sometimes bared of drift
sands by subsequent action of the winds, or swamps and
shallow lagoons may be present. Between the sandhills and
foot of the terrace escarpment, where present, there is usually
a swampy depression, on the inland edge of which, so far as it
could be worked seawards, gold under similar conditions to
that on the beach and under the sandhills has occurred, but

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 337

the water at present prevents this being further worked with-
out the application of special dredging and pumping appli-
ances. It is not the function of this report to point out how
the remaining gold is to be won ; but, being well satisfied
that a large amount of gold is yet to be obtained from these
deposits, the appliances in use will have to be perfected so
far as to cope with the difficulty of its extraction in a satisfac-
tory manner.

Along the different lines that have been worked these
deposits are usually spoken of as "black-sand leads," but
to me the term is misleading, as I am well satisfied that a
more or less continuous stratum of gold-bearing sand will be
found from the foot of the cliffs to the present beach, or, where
these are absent, from the point where the fluviatile deposits
of the rivers give place to the deposits o ' the littoral zone.

The source of the black-sand gold within high-water mark,
and the lower black-sand leads parallel thereto, is supposed
to be mainly the fine gold carried along the beds of the larger
rivers and distributed to the different beaches by the action
of the sea. That gold in this manner -does reach tht ast-
line, and is so distributed, is not to be doubted ; and as an
instance in illustration the Arahura River may be cited, the
beaches of which for the first ten miles up the valley were rich
in gold. The New River also is proof of the same thing.
However, in the one case — to wit, the Arahura — the gold may
have been directly derived from the rocks in situ; in the other
case, that of the New River, it has been derived from pre-
existing auriferous gravels. But, apart from such considera-
tions, to refer the whole of the beach gold to the golden sands
carried along the beds of the rivers to the sea implies a greater
richness of these than seems to be borne out by the facts which
have already been cited, and such rivers as the Teremakau
and the Hokitika, apparently, do not play an important part
in the accumulation of gold upon the beaches — ^that is, if we
judge of them by the comparative barrenness of their gravels
along the greater part of their courses. It is more probable
that no inconsiderable part of the gold found on the beaches
must be referred to the action of the sea in cutting away and

338 NEW ZEALAND MINING UANDBOOK.

reassorting the older deposits of the more elevated black-sand
leads, and the auriferous gravels of older Pliocene or Miocene
date, where these latter have been or are exposed to its action
Where the high-level marine gravels are absent, as, for in-
stance, between the mouths of the Hokitika and Totara Rivers,
and glacier deposits are present, to these latter must be re-
ferred no inconsiderable part of the gold found on the black-
sand beaches.

Nelson-'Westland,— Ijittoral.'

These deposits consist of the moving sands and shingle
of the tide-way between high- and low-water mark, an-d the
series of but slightly raised beaches that generally lie at the
foot of a higher terrace or bold rocky land, and which do not
exceed 25 ft. above sea-level. Such deposits are found along
the coast-line from the mouth of the Jlikonui to the Hokitika
River, and along this part the gold is generally obtained from
within, at, or near high-water mark; but towards the mouth
of the Hokitika black-sand deposits, rich in gold, lie at a con-
siderable distance inland from the coast-line ; those on Craig's
Freehold, on the south side of the river, have yielded during
the last three years (1892-95) a large amount of gold. On the
north beach, and thence to the mouth of the Arahura, the same
character of deposit generally prevails — viz., layers of black
sand, containing gold, overlain or underlain by grey sand,
tlie overlying grey sands being often drifted on to the black-
sand layer by che action of the winds, which drives inland
from the tideway the lighter sand grains. Of such character
are the deposits along the coast-line between the Three-mile,
north of Hokitika, and the mouth of the Arahura. North of
the Arahura the back leads usually rest on or are contained in
shingle, as may b# seen in the ground worked along the foot
of the higher terrace between the Kumar a Railway-station
and the beach opposite that place.

North of the Teremakau to the mouth of the Grey River
this is also the general character of the deposits immediatel/

* " Geoloay of the South-west Part of Nelson and the Xorthern
Part of the W'estland District," Mines Reports, 1895, C.-13, pp. 17, 18,
21, 22, 23.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 339

inland of the tideway. , South of Greymouth, as far as the
.moutli of the New River, these workings are very extensive,
and sometimes the amount of gravel removed to reach the
gold-bearing stratum has been considerable. Like conditions
prevail north of the Grey River to Point Elizabeth, an.d on
the Seven-mile and Nine-mile Beaches. Away from the
vicinity of the mouths of the larger rivers, and from an
abrupt coast-line, the shingle passes into sands on the low
sloping beaches, and the bluck-sand auriferous deposit under
the action of the tide separates into distinct beds. This is
the condition of the auriferous deposits on the Seventeen-mile
Beach abreast of Barrytown, and of all the beaches up to the
Fox River. Nor is it greatly difierent between the Fox River
atid Cape Foulwind. North of the Buller the shingly type of
beach again makes its appearance, and continues to the Wai-
mangaroa, beyond which for the present it is not necessary
to trace this series of deposits.

The amount of gold raised from these littoral deposits
has been very great, and though "beach-combing" must
gradually become less and less remunerative and the black-
sand leads not so easy to work, and possibly also, what are
left of them, not so rich in gold, yet from these deposits there
has yet to be won, perhaps, more gold than has hitherto been
obtained from them. Dredging of the back leads, between the
beach and the high ground at the back thereof, has not been
attended hitherto with a ^eiy marked degree of success ; but
it is not to be thought of that the ground will remain un-
worked when the proper machinery for, and the correct
methods of, working the giound has been ascertained. At
some places these back leads should prove very rich, gene-
rally where the accumulation has taken place on the side of a
Uufi or projecting point of land.

Marine Gravels containing Black-sand Leads.

Like the littoral deposits already described, these beds are
developed parallel, or approximately parallel, to the coast-
line. They are not clearly indicated as present in the district
south-west of the Hokitika River. They are first distinctly

340 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

met with at the eastern edge of the Big Paddock in the Hou-
hou Lead, at the bottom of the series of gravels forming ths
terrace-flat to the westward.

The Houhou Lead yielded a very great amount of gold, but
was lost at the southern edge of the Blue Spur Flat, being, in
fact, cut away by the action of the Three-mile Creek.

On the opposite side of the valley it was traced in Scotty's
Terrace, but not by the miners recognised as a continuation
of the Houhou Lead, from the fact that the original deposit
was much disturbed, or destroyed altogether ; and the gold
in and under a thin deposit of gravel was left clinging to
the steep slope of Tertiary clays that form Blue Spur. A little
further west, where the blue-reef bottom dips rapidly to the
seaward, the line of lead remains intact ; and in Simpson's
claim, opposite the Blue Spur Township, the nature of the
material forming the wash can be studied to advantage, there
being here heavy beds of black sand mixed with flat beach-
stones, and overlain by gravels evidently of marine origin.
In Simpson's claim the golden bands were not remarkably
rich ; and, for this reason again, it was not generally sup-
posed that this was a continuation of the Houhou Lead, which,
nevertheless, undoubtedly it is. The lead was therefore, de-
spite these evidences, considered to stop short on the southern
side of the Blue Spur Flat ; but within the past few years it
has been traced to the Arahura slope of the Blue Spur, and
recent developments in that quarter show that it was here very
rich in gold, i)robably richer than at any other point of the
line to the southward.

There is little doubt that the lead extends east to or be-
yond the Black^ridge, and thence dips to the westward, and
in this direction is covered up by the more modern gravels of
the Arahura Valley. Over Ihe low grounds of the Arahura
Valley the lead has been carried away by the river, and it is
not likely to be again met with till passing to the north-east
of Flowory Creek, where it should again be present in, and
for some distance into, the flat west of Ballarat Hill, which

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 341

is the line of its continuation to the north-east, at or near the
ieTel of the Houhou and Blue Spur portions of the lead.

On Ballarat Hill the lead was fully developed, but the
richer part of this area has now been worked. North-east of
this the Waimea has broken through and destroyed the lead,
and it is not met with till Scandinavian Hill is reached,
although the terraces at the back of Staffordtown should afford
some indication of it, as being formed of the same marine
gravels, which are gold-bearing on the south-west side of the
Waimea. As far back as workings have been carried to the
eastward, on Ballarat Hill, beds of black sand, partly oxidized
and cemented, axe found interbedded with the coarser gravels,
thus indicating the marine character of the beds.

On the continuation north-east of the line of this old raised
beach, between German Gully and Sandy Creek, there are a
series of terraces, denominated second, third, fourth, and
fifth terraces. These appear to be the line of lead, cut down
to various levels by the action , of the different streams that
are tributaries of German Gully Creek or Sandy Creek.

The Lamplough Lead, within the Kapitea watershed, lies
on the same line, and is distinctly on a continuation of the
Houhou Lead thus far.

Further to the north-east, between the Kapitea Creek and
the Teremakau River, the line of black-sand old beach deposit
has at one time been continuous, but in times more recent the
action of the Teremakau has either destroyed or covered up
the marine beds. Workings along the high terrace banks of
the river, and in Drake's Terrace and Hughes's Creek, indi-
cate that here portions of the lead yet remain.

Between the Teremakau and Rutherglen, in the watershed
of Saltwater Creek, there seems to be two lines of black-sand
leads, either of which maj- be considered as the direct con-
tinuation of the Houhou Lead. Practically, both are con-
tinuations of the Houhou Lead, which may be said to be of
greater breadth here than farther to the south. New River
and Saltwater Creek have broken through and almost de-
stroyed the lead, scattering its gold in the more recent gravels
now occupying the low grounds of their valleys.

•342 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Towards Greymouth this line of black-sand deposits is
not so well marked, possibly through, the action of the Grey
River ; but towards Point Elizabeth it is again distinctly
and characteristically present on Darkies' Terrace.

On the northern side of Point Elizabeth the action of the
Seven-mile Creek has destroyed the continuity of the lead,
but between the Seven- and Nine-mile Creeks it is present as
a high terrace of marine gravels, which are known to be gold-
bearing, and which would ere this have been extensively
■worked had there been facilities for bringing water on to the
ground at a moderate cost.

The coast-line is now abrupt and high ; consequently the
200 ft. to 300 ft. line is much nearer the tideway than farther
to the south ; hence this lead approaches the coast as it is
followed towards the north. Between "the Ten-mile and the
Twelve-mile Creeks (north of Greymouth) it simply rests on
the brow of the cliffs overlooking the sea, or stretches as a
narrow terrace at the foot of the steeply rising hills.

Between the Twelve-mile Creek and the Fourteen-mile
Bluff, since its deposit, this line of black-sand leads has been
completely destroyed by the action of the sea in cutting back
the coast-line.

At Barrj'town the lead runs along the lower slopes of the
slate ranges, between the coast-line and the Grey Valley,
and from Baker's Creek to the northern slopes of Hawera
Mountain, to the north-east of Barrytown, it has been cut
through by numerous small streams, so that the auri-
ferous gravels are found only on the points of the spurs in-
termediate between the different creeks and larger gullies.
The average height of the lead at Barrytown is a little over
200 ft. above the sea. It appears to be thoroughly broken —
in fact, destroy* altogether — between the Punakaiki River
and the mouth of the Fox River. This has been owing to the
action of the numerous small streams that, find their way from
the higher part of the Paparoa Range to the coast-line. Where
the rivers are larger, as in the case of the Fox, Nile, and
Totara, a greater distance lies between the streams, and thus
there is a greater chance of the marine beds being preserved

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 343.

on -the blufis and high lands intervening. There is even thus a
probability of areas being between the Punakaiki and the
Fox Rivers where these deposits are preserved. One such is
said to be on the high ground near Razorback.

North of Brighton and St. Kilda the elevation above the
sea of the black-sand leads rapidly increases, till before reach-
ing the Four-mile (from Charleston) Creek these deposits reach
to between 500 ft. and 600 ft. above the sea. Between the Four-
mile and Candlelight the highest point reached by the black-
sand deposits is somewhat less, some 450 ft., and this height
is practically maintained to Bald Hill, overlooking the Lower
Buller Valley.

In the neighbourhood of Charleston these deposits are of
great extent, and occur at all levels up to that stated, and
from them an enormous quantity of gold has been obtained.
The " Back Lead " at Charleston lies along the foot of the
limestone range between the Nile River and the Four-mile
Creek. Along this line the ironsands have oxidized to some
extent, and cements have thus formed, necessitating the use
of crushing machinery to again liberate the gold. But. the
gold is not thus completely set free, and a considerable per-
centage finds its way with the tailings into the creeks, where,
as it progresses along the difierent tail-channels, it is gradu-
ally liberated from contact with the ironsands, and, as free
gold, is caught on tables called "fly-catchers" placed in the
channel to intercept the gold.

There are large areas of black-sand and gravel deposits in
the Charleston district that are as yet untouched, but all of
them lie to the west of the limestone range.

East of the limestone lange, between that and the foot of
the Paparoa Mountains, lies a depression lower than the
country to the west, yet over this there are no black-sand de-
posits. This fact may be explained by supposing that the
marine sands have been removed by the more energetic denu-
dation of the eastern low-lying lands, or by the inequality of
elevation affecting the areas east and west of the limestone.
The first of these suggestions, from the evidence met with
north of the Totara River, would seem to be the correct one,

344 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

since on the high terrace at the back (east) of Addison's Flat
the black-sand deposits are yet preserved. To the north of
the Buller the higher level of the terraces between the granite
range and the coastal plain is also to be considered a continua-
tion of the high-level black-sand lead. This series of old
raised-beach deposits in the beginning has been spoken of as
the Houhou Lead ; but it will now be evident that such local
designation fails entirely to indicate the true character and
the great importance of the deposit, and in future it will be
best to speak of this as " marine beds of Pliocene age," the
difierent auriferous parts of which might still retain their
local designation, as "Houhou Lead," " Lamplough Lead,"
"Darkies' Terrace," &c.

So far as this report is concerned, the deposits under con-
sideration may be said to terminate, at Fairdown, on the lower
slopes of Mount Rochfort, where extensive works are at pre-
sent being carried on for the proper development of their de-
posits, the success of which will probably lead to future and
even more extensive undertakings.

Note. — For more detailed information the reader is referred to
" Mines Reports," 1893 and 1895, to be obtained from the Government
Printer, Wellington ; price, 5s.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 345

TREATMENT OF AURIFEROUS BLACK
SANDS.

Bonus of £2,000 offered by the Neiv Zealand Government.

It has been frequently asserted that, whilst the Mines De-
partment has done a great deal for the encouragement and
development of quartz-mining and hydraulic elevating and
sluicing, it has ignored the dredging industry, and particu-
larly that branch of it relating to the saving of the fine gold
lost in the tailings. To show how groundless these assertions
are, it may be stated that an offer of a bonus of £2,000 was
made for an invention to save the gold from black sands, and
a notification to that effect was published for a period of two
years in the New Zealand Gazette and New Zealand Mines
Record, and this notification was widely copied by mining
and technical journals in Australia, the United States,
Canada, Great Britain, and the Continent of Europe. The
first notice was published in the Gazette of the 14th November,
and the Nerv Zealand Mines Record of the 16th November,
1901, and the bonus was made payable up to the 1st January,
1904. Although a very large number of inquiries were re-
ceived from many difierent parts of the world, the bonus was
never claimed. It is clear, therefore, that those who charge
the Department with negligence in this matter must either
not be aware of the facts or else totally ignore them. It
may also be stated that in the annual reports of the oflScers
of the Mines Department, laid before Parliament and widely
circulated, attention was called year after year to the loss of
fine gold that occurred in connection with dredging opera-
tions, and it is probably due to the efforts of the Department
that more attention is now being paid to this important
matter.

QUARTZ-MINING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Quartz-mining has for some years past been gradually assum-
ing the position of a steady industry, and the yields from
the principal mines have been increasing, and are likely to
still further increase in the future. Some interesting details
are appended of the operations and yields of the various
mines, and other particulars are given in the earlier portions
of the Handbook by the Inspectors of Mines and Wardens.

Hauraki Goldfields.

Auckland, Whangamata. — Area, 349 acres. The mine is
opened by four tunnels driven a total distance of 2,080 ft.,
and crosscuts have been driven 450 ft. There is a 10-stamp
mill and one rock-breaker. The gold is saved by amalgama-
tion and cyanide, three tailings-vats, 20 ft. b}- 4 ft., being ic
use. During the. year 1905 about 1,000 tons was crushed,
yielding 2,186 oz. of bullion; value, £4,368 8s. 2d. Total
capital actually called up, £1,875; total expenditure to 31st
December, 1905, £3,140 lis. lOd. Forty-seven men employed
in the mine, battery, and surface works. Value of mining
plant, &c., £1,500. Owners, Auckland Gold-mining Com-
pany; mine-manager, D. Sheehan ; battery-superintendenl
and metallurgist, G. S. Orbell ; secretary, H. Gilfillan, jun.,
Auckland.

Bay Dawn and Norfolk, Tararu.— Area, 159 acres. The
reef operated on is from 3 ft. to 4 ft. in width, opened by
tunnels driven a distance of 1,000 ft.; old levels and adits
■were driven 5,000 ft. The battery consists of 30 stamps,
1,0001b. each, with an average duty per stamp of 2 tons per
diem. The gold is saved by amalgamation and cyanide; there
are four 100-ton vats and three 40-ton agitators. During the
year 1905 the yield of gold from 865 tons was 441 oz. 17 dwt.,
value £1,257 17s. 6d. Total amount of expenditure by pre-
sent holders, £12,500; value of plant, Ac, £6,000. Twelve

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 347,

men employed. Owners, Agnes Graham Trower ; superin-
tendent, R. W. Powell; mine-manager, E. Cartwright; secra-
tary, W. Barton, 34 Clement's Lane, Lombard Street, Lou-
don, E.G.

Golden Drop, Punga Flat, Thames. — Area, 8 acres. The
reef operated on is opened by two tunnels, driven a distance
of 500 ft. During the year 1905, 3 tons of ore yielded 22 oz.
of gold, value £57 10s. Id. Total yield, 247 oz. 16dwt; value,
£622 13s. 3d. Owner, George Fisher.

Golden Pah, Kauri Block, Coromandel. — Area, 22 acres.
There is a three-compartment shaft, 11 ft. by 7 ft., sunk to a
depth of 200 ft. During the year 1905 about 16J tons was
crushed for a yield of 132 oz. of gold, value £368. The mine
has been worked by six tributers. Value of plant, £1,200.
Mine-manager, A. N. Jamieson ; secretary, H. Gilfillan, jun.,
Auckland; owned by syndicate.

Great Barrier, Great Barrier Island. — Area, 188 acres.
One reef, about 18 in. in width, is being operated on. There
is a 5-stamp mill in use with an average duty per stamp of
2'8 tons per diem, and one rock-breaker. There are nine tail-
ings-vats — four 22 ft. by 7 ft., three 14 ft. by 7 ft., and two
20 ft. by 4 ft. Total expenditure to 31st December, 1905,
£30,000. Thirteen men employed. In the year 1901 the
Barrier Reefs Company, which held this property, went into
liquidation. Since then the mine has been privately owned,
and early this year work was restarted. Mine-manager, J. G.
Vivian; secretary, H. Gilfillan, Auckland.

Kapoioai, Gumtown, Mercury Baj. — Area, 35 acres.
Three reefs are operated on, varying in size from 6 in. to
16 ft. in width, and are opened by three tunnels driven a dis-
tance of 200 ft., and crosscuts 200 ft. The battery consists
of 8 heads, the average duty per stamp being 2 tons per day.
During the year 1905, 1,190 tons was crushed, yielding 969 oz.
6dwt. 20 gr. of gold; value, £2,469 17s. 7d. Total quantity
of ore crushed 2,819 tons, yielding 2,333 oz. of gold; value,
£5,599 4s. Total expenditure to 31st December, 1905, about
£5,000. Value of plant, &c., £2,000. Thirteen men em-
ployed. Mine - manager, John Carroll ; owner, Michael
O'Connor.

348 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Komata Beefs, Komata, Ohinemuri County. — Area, 144
acres — 64 acres, Te-Ao-Marama ; and 80 acres, Komata Reefs
Special Claim. The mine is opened by one three-compart-
ment shaft 800 ft. in depth. Five reefs are being operated
upon, varying in width from a few feet to 20 ft., the distance
driven on the course of the lodes being : Te-Ao-Marama No. 1
reef, 2,460 ft. ; No. 2 reef, 3,460 ft. ; Wilson's Lode, 4,920 ft. ;
Hartridge's Lode, 840 ft. ; Lavington's Lode, 410 ft. ; Ko-
mata Lode, 320 ft. The total length of crosscuts driven
through country is 6,250 ft. The battery consists of 20
stamps, each weighing 1,0001b., the average duty per stamp
being 3J short tons (2,0001b.) per diem; two rock-crushers;
and one tube mill : the capacity being 72 tons per day.
Fourteen tailings-vats, 22 ft. in diameter and 8 ft. deep, are
in use, seven of which are fitted with agitating gear for slimes,
and there are two vacuum filters. The gold is saved bv
amalgamation over copper tables, and cyaniding of sands anfl
slimes. During the year 1905, 16,820 tons (2,2401b.) yielded
8,870 oz. 4 dwt. of gold and 39,629 oz. of silver, value
£42,336 10s. lOd. ; out of which dividends amounting to
£13,333 6s. 8d. have been disbursed, making a total of
£26,666 13s. 4d. The total quantity of ore crushed is
90,400 tons; total sands treated, 52,590 tons; slimes, 37,000
tons; yield, 37,831 oz. of gold and 181,257 oz. of silver;
total value, £180,357. Expenditure to 31st December, 1905,
£197,479 7s. lOd. Capital called up, £200,000. The first
claim operated on by this company was the Komata Reefs,
upon which active work was commenced in 1897. A 20-stainp
dry-crushing battery was erected (driven by water-power),
and this began running in September, 1897.

The manage)^ of this property (Mr. F. C. Brown)
furnishes the following further particulars : In March

1898, the process was changed to wet crushing. During the
years 1898 and 1899 a low-level tunnel, 3,000 ft. in length,
was driven to open up 400 ft. of new ground in the Komata
Reefs Claim, and for a portion of the time that this tunnel
was being driven the battery was closed down (from October,

1899, to March, 1901). Early in 1902 the company acquired
the Te-Ao-Marama Claim, lying to the north of the Komata

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 349

Reefs Claim, and during the last three years most of the work
has been confined to opening up this ground. The most im-
portant work done has been the extension of the Komata Reef
low level to the Te-Ao-Marama shaft, and the connecting of
this level with the bottom of the shaft. This has made avail-
able 400 ft. (vertical) of untouched ground. There are two
reefs being worked in the Te-Ao-Marama ground, called
Nos. 1 and 2. The chief levels at present are Nos. 3 and 4.
At No. 3 level both reefs are being driven on northwards, and
the outlook is very encouraging, as No. 1 reef is 7 ft. wide,
and No. 2 reef 20 ft. wide, both reefs carrying payable ore.
At No. 4 level the No. 2 reef is being driven on, and is carry-
ing payable ore 6 ft. wide. Most of the ore now sent to the
battery is at present being stoped from the No. 3 level. During
the four months ending 26th June, 1906, a small electric rock-
drilling plant (two rook-drills) has been in operation, and the
results are so satisfactory that it is the intention to instal a
complete drilling plant of this class. All the ore broken in the
Te-Ao-Marama Claim is trucked out of the No. 8 level tunnel,
and tipped over a "grizzly" into two storage-hoppers — one
for the coarse and one for the fines. From these hoppers it is
trammed to the battery, a distance of three-quarters of a mile.
The tram-line is down grade (3 per cent.) to the foot of an
incline at the battery, and the trucks are hauled up this in-
cline by means of a friction -hoist operated by the battery ma- -
chinery ; each truck holds 4 tons. The battery consists of 20
stamps of 1,0001b. each, two rock-crushers, and one tube mill.
The capacity is 72 tons per day. The treatment is — (1) rock-
crushers, (2) stampers, (3) tube-mill grinding, (4) amalgama-
tion over copper tables, (.^j) separation of sands from slimes,
(6) cyaniding of sands in percolation-vats, (7) filter-pressing
(vacuum system) of the slimes before cyanide treatment,
cyanide treatment by agitation method, and filter-pressing of
slimes after treatment. The cyanide-solutions are precipi-
tated in the usual way by zinc shavings. The clean-up is by
the sulphuric-acid method, the bullion-slimes being melted in
benzine furnaces. Power is supplied by a Marshall and Son
horizontal steam-engine and by a 6 ft. Pelton wheel working

350 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

under 175 ft. head. Arrangements are being made to increase,
the capacity of the battery by the addition of a suction-gas
plant of 100-horse power and a second tube mill and extra
treatment plant. Benzine is exclusively used for fuel at the
assay office, and there is a benzine-furnace of special design
at the mine for tool-sharpening, and is found to be highly
satisfactory, as it is economical, and there is no danger of
overheating the steel. One hundred and sixty men are em-_
ployed in mine, reduction-works, and surface. Approximate
value of plant, £20,000. General manager, F. C. Brown;
mine-manager, James H. Benney; battery-superintendent,
Samuel D. McMiken.

Kuranui, Shotover Creek, Thames. — Area, 73 acres
3 roods 5 perches. The reef operated on is 1 ft. to 5 ft. wide,
opened by three tunnels, driven a total distance of 2,626 ft.,
and crosscuts 2,300 ft. There is a 20-stamp mill and ten
berdans in connection with this mine, but the battery has not
been worked for some years. Capital called up, £9,612 12s. ;
total expenditure to 31st December, 1905, £9,580 Is. 5d.
Value of plant, £882. Mine-manager, G. W. Horn; secre-
tary, J. W. Nichol, Auckland; owners, Kuranui Gold-mining
Company.

Kuranui-Caledonian, Thames. — Area, 29 acres 3 roods 30
perches. The mine is opened by one three-compartment shaft
474 ft. in depth. Three reefs— 18 ft., 2 ft., and 1ft. 6 in. in
width — are being operated upon, and very extensive drives,
and crosscuts have been carried out. During the year 1905,
196 tons yielded 396 oz. 14 dwt. of gold; value, £764 13s.
Capital called up, £30,000. Eighteen men are employed in
the mine. Value of plant, £1,000. Mine-manager, Matthew
Paul; secretarj^H. Gilfillan, jun., Auckland; owners, Kura-
nui-Caledonian (Limited).

Mahara-Royal, Waipotukahu, Tapu Creek. — The reef
operated on is 6 ft. in width, opened by three tunnels, the dis-
tance driven on the course of the lodes being about 3,000 ft. ;
length of crosscuts through country, 2,500 ft. There is a
20-stamp mill and one rock-breaker. During the year 1905,
1,400 tons was crushed, yielding gold to the value of £1,364-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 351

Nine men are employed in the mine and reduction-works.
Value of plant, £1,000. Mine-manager, W. G. Martin; secre-
tary, J. B. Sheath, Auckl.and; owners, Mahara-Royal Gold-
mining Company.

Miner's Right, Puriri, Thames County. — Area, 60 acres.
Total length driven on course of leaders, 350 ft. ; crosscuts,
540 ft. During the j^ear 1905, 12 tons of ore yielded 31 oz.
of gold, value £85. Total quantity of ore crushed, 629 tons;
yield, 589 oz. of gold; value, £1,619 15s. There is a
6-head battery. Mine-manager and battery-euperintendent,
John Mclnnes ; owners, George Greenaway and John Mclnnes.

New BunJaer's Hill, Coromandel. — Area, 3 acres and 12
perches. The mine is opened by a tunnel driven a distance
of 540 ft., and 93 ft. has been driven on a reef formation.
There is a three-compartment shaft, 10 ft. by 4 ft., sunk to a
depth of 280 ft. Mine-manager, Samuel Carlyon ; acting-
secretary, A. J. Denniston, Auckland; owners. New Bunker's
Hill Gold-mining Companj'.

New Four-in-Hand, Kennedy's Bay, Coromandel County.
— Area, 89 acres 3 roods 20 perches. The reef operated on ia
from 1 ft. to 5 ft. in width, opened by a tunnel carried a dis-
tance of 700 ft. During the year 1905 the battery (7 stamps)
crushed 95 tons of ore, yielding 86 oz. of gold. Value of plant,
&c., £2,000. Mine-manager, W. Moorcraft; secretary, R. A.
Aicken, Auckland ; owners, New Four-in-Hand Gold-mining
Company.

New May Queen, Waiokaraka, Thames. — Area, 93 acres.
This property is opened by a three-compartment shaft (12 ft.
by i\ ft.), which is sunk to a depth of 520 ft. During the year
1905, 69| tons of ore yielded 237 oz. of gold; value, £679 8s.
Total expenditure to 31st December, 1905, £2,770. Value of
plant, £500. Ten men employed. Mine-manager, W. Baker;
secretary, J. W. Nichol, Auckland; owners. New May Queen
Gold-mining Company.

New Moanataiari, Moanataiari and Waiotahi Creeks,
Thames. — Area, 77 acres 2 roods 20 perches. A three-com-
partment shaft, 12 ft. by 5 J ft., has been sunk on this property
to a depth of 500 ft. The reef now being worked has a width

352 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

of 20 ft. Total length of drives on course of lodes, 10,000 ft. ;
length of crosscuts, 4,000 ft. ; estimated quantity of ore in
sight, 20,000 tons. During the year 1905, 160 tons of ore
yielded 106 oz. of goldj value, £280 2s. 7d. Average number
of men employed, 16. Total expenditure to 31st December,
1905, £4,000. Value of plant, £1,300. Mine-manager, G. S.
Clark; secretary, H. Gilfillan, jun., Auckland; owners, New
Moanataiari Gold-mining Company.

'New Saxon. — Area, 62 acres and 30 perches. A three-com-
partment shaft has been sunk to a depth of 452 ft. One reef,
varying from 2 in. to 6 in. in width, is being operated upon;
distance driven on course of lodes, 15,040 ft. ; total length of
crosscuts, 5,940 ft.; winzes sunk 1,400 ft. During the year
1905, 213 tons yielded 294 oz. of gold; value, £846 2s. 4d.
Capital called up, £2,916 13s. 4d. Value of mining plant,
£3,000. Mine-manager, J. Rickard ; secretary, J. B. Sheath,'
Auckland ; owners, New Saxon Gold-mining Company.

New Una, Karaka Creek, Thames. — Area, 54 acres. Three
reefs are being operated on — No. 2, 15 in. ; No. 3, ISin. ;
No. 4, 2 ft. in width. The mine is opened by several tunnels,
driven a distance varying from 300 ft. to 1,500 ft. The
battery consists of 15 heads, with an average duty per stamp
of 2 tons per diem. Tables, blankets, and berdans are used
to save the gold. During the year 1905, 200 tons of ore yielded
163 oz. 6dwt. of gold; value, £458 13s. 6d. Capital called
up, £2,400. Total expenditure to 31st December, 1905,
£3,082 16s. Mine-manager, James Thomas; secretary, H.
Gilfillan, jun., Auckland; owners. New Una Gold -mining
Company.

New Zealand Crown Mines, Karangahake. — Area, 404
acres. Two ree^, 4 ft. and 3 ft. in width, are being operated
upon. Nineteen main tunnels have been driven, the total
drivages on course of lodes being 24,910 ft. ; while drives
and crosscuts total 3,844 ft. The pump-shaft is down to
a depth of 506 ft., and the pumps have a capacity of
36,000 gallons per hour. At the reduction-works there
is a 60-stamp mill, each stamp having a daily capacity
of 1 ton 18 cwt. when fully employed; two rock-breakers;

HOUND Hll,L GoLD-MIKINLi UOiMPANY
Hilling Handbook.

JNOZZLES AND HtDRAULIO ILLEVATOB.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 353

thirty-four tailings-vats, 22 ft. 6 in. diameter; and three
filter-presses. The ore is crushed wet, a small percentage
of cyanide of potassium being used in the mortar-boxes.
During the year 1905, 19,069 tons (2,2401b.) yielded
8,906 oz. of gold and 6,679 oz. of silver; value, £38,662.
The total quantity of ore crushed since 1891 was 27-4, ij59
tons, for a value of £625,434, and of this amount £532,380
was obtained since the jear 1896, while dividends have
been paid to the extent of £70,000 since 1896. Capital
called up, £200,000, in 200,000 shares (principally held
in Scotland and England) of £1 each fully paid, of which
£50,000 was provided for working - capital. Total ex-
penditure in connection with mining o] erations from Janu-
ary, 1896, to 31st December, 1905, £504,260. Approximate
value of mining plant, reduction-works, &c., £77,000. One
hundred and seventy men are employed in connection with
the mine, reduction-works, and surface. General manager,
F. R. W. Daw ; mine-manager, George N. McGruer ; battery-
superintendent, James J. Barrett.

Old Alhurnia, Thames. — Area, 191 acres and 2 perches.
The mine is opened by a three-compartment shaft 400 ft. in
depth. During the year 1905, 375 J tons was crushed, yield-
ing 686 oz. of gold; value, £1,828 15s. 8d. Total capital
called up, £8,250; total expenditure to 31st December, 1905,
£8,368 5s. lid. The mine is worked by twenty-eight tri-
buters, and twelve men on wages. Value of plant, £3,000.
Mine-manager, H. Kendall: secretary, J. B. Sheath, Auck-
land; owners. Old Alburnia Gold-mining Company.

Old Hauraki, Coromandel. — This mine, which had pheno-
menal yields in the past, and paid large dividends, is opened
by a three-compartment shaft, 11 ft. by 7 ft., sunk to a depth of
400 ft. During the year 1905, 59^- tons yielded 258 oz. 6 dwt.
of gold; value, £775 lis. 9d. The mine is being worked by
nineteen tributers, who have confined their operations to the
surface portion of the mine, where the leads are very small,
and so far few of the tributers have made more than ordinary
wages. The company has assisted some of them by paying
half wages and taking half shares in their tributes ; in other

12— Mining Handbook.

354 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

cases the company has taken one-third interest and paid one-
third wages and other expenses. Until the mine is unwatered
and mining operations are resumed at some depth, it is un-
likely tliat aiiylbing of much importance will be discovered.
Approximate value of plant, £4,000. Mine-manager, John
Goldswortliv ; secveUuy, H. Gilfillan, Auckland; owners. Old
Hauraki Gold-mining Company.

R/sii'o Sini, Owharoa, Ohiuemuri County. — Area, 58 acres
1 rood 21 ]ierches. The reefs operated on are from 18 in. to
■' ft. in width, opened by two drives, the top level crosscut
being 200 ft. and the lower level 940 ft. Total length driven
on course of various lodes: Main reef — top level 160ft., low
level 95 ft. ; footwall reef — low level, 360 ft. Seven men em-
ployed. .Mine-manager, Thomas Goldsworthy ; secretary, J. H.
Jackson, Auckland ; owners. Rising Sun Gold-mining Company.

Royal Oak of Hnnralfi, Tokatea, Coromandel. — Area,
114 acres 3 roods 11 perches. During the year 1905 the
company's 10-stamp mill crushed 219 tons of ore and 1,2571b.
of picked stone for a yield of 801 oz. 10 dwt. of gold, value
£1,656. Total expenditure by present company to 31st
December, 1905, £1,629 17s. Value of plant, £500. Twenty-
eight tributers were at work during the last six months of
the year 1906, and twenty wages-men for the previous six
months. Mine-manager, George McNeil ; secretary, H. Gil-
fillan, jun., Auckland; owners, Royal Oak Gold-mining Com-
pany (Limited), Auckland.

Sunbeam, Blind Bay, Great Barrier Island. — Area,
100 acres. The mine is opened by two tunnels, No. 1 being
560 ft. and No. 2 100 ft. on reef. The total distance driven
on course of lode, which is 2ft. Bin. wide, is about 650ft.,
and crosscuts driven through country 1,000 ft. There is a
6-stamp mill, %ne rook-breaker, three agitation-vats, and
three sand-vats, each having a diameter of 16 ft. Amount of
capital called up, £11,486 5s. Value of plant, £4,000. Mine-
manager, James A. Gordon; secretary, J. H. Jackson, Auck-
land ; owners. Sunbeam Gold and Silver Mining Company.

Talixinaii Consolidated, Karangahake. — Area, 507 acres.
The mine is opened by tunnels and a four-compartment shaft,
which is now 445 ft. below river-level. The reef at present

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 355

operated on varies in width from 4 ft. to 20 ft., the distance
driven by tunnels and crosscuts being 5,075 ft., while tlie rises
and winzes total 1,953 ft. There is a 50-stamp mill, each
stamp having an average duty of -j'17 tons per diem, four
rock-breakers, and sixteen tailings-vats (diameter 22 ft.). The
gold is saved by amalgamation, C3'aniding,'and concentration.
During the year 1905, 44,726 tons yielded 290,786 oz. of
bullion, value £129,088. Total quantity of bullion obtained,
993,055 oz. ; value, £446,875. Dividends amounting to
£30,000 were disbursed in 1905, the total dividends nov
paid amounting to £45,000. Amount of called-up capital,
£270,000. Value of mining plant, &c., £50,000. Two hun-
dred and thirty-five men employed in mine, reduction-works,
and surface. General manager, H. Stansfield ; mine-manager,
.J. McCombie ; battery - superintendent, G A. Chappell ;
metallurgist, H. E. Phillips; owners. Talisman Consolidated
(Limited), composed of colonial and English shareholders.

Tokatea Consolidated, Tokatea, Coromandel. — Area, 40
acres. The mine is opened by five tunnels, driven a total
distance of 1,200ft. Three reefs about Gin. in width are
operated upon, the various lodes being driven on for a dis-
tance of 600 ft. During the year 1905, 35 tons yielded 225 oz.
lOdwt. of gold, value £639 19s. There are 3 stamps and two
berdans in connection with this mine, the value of plant being
estimated at £350. Mine-manager and battery - superin-
tendent, R. H. Harrison ; secretary, C. R. Walker, Auck-
land ; owners, Tokatea Consolidated Gold-mining Company.

Victoria, Thames. — Area, 41 acres 3 roods 10 perches
The mine is opened by two shafts — Imperial, 600 ft., and
Tookey, 400ft. in depth. Two reefs are being operated on,
varying in width from 1 ft. tp 3 ft. ; estimated length of
crosscuts through country, 4,000 ft. During the year 1905,
162 tons was crushed, yielding 250 oz. of gold; value, £684
4s. 3d. Total quantity of ore crushed, 4,200 tons, yielding
0,150 oz. of gold; value, £14,075. Total expenditure to 31 it
December, 1905, £29,713 4s. 2d. Capital called up, £18,775
Value of plant, &o., £500. Eight men employed. Mine-
manager, Thomas Moyle; secretary, J. J. Macky, Auckland;
owners, Victoria Gold-mining Company.

356

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Vulcan Extended and Eclipse, Tararu, Thames. — Area,
200 acres. This mine is now let on tribute. Gold obtained
during the year 1905, 1,12.3 oz.; value, £3,154 9s. 9J.
Total quantity of gold obtained, 1,42-3 oz.; value, £4,021
19s. 9d. Dividends paid, £1,250. Total capital called up,
£10,000; total expenditure to 31st December, 1905, £6,792
Is. lid. Value of plant, £2,000. Secretary, H. Gilfillan,
jun., Auckland; owners. New Eclipse Gold-mining Com-
pany.

Waihi. — Area, 874 acres. Six shafts have been sunk on
tliis property — No. 1 (winding), 708^ ft. in depth; No. 2
(pumping and winding), 732 ft. ; No. 3 (winding, not in use),
348 ft. ; No. 4 (winding), 703J ft. ; No. 5 (main pumping-
shaft), 863 ft. ; and No. 6 (winding), 553^ ft. in depth. The
pumps have a capacity of 135,000 gallons per hour. Fourteen
reefs are operated on, varying in width from 2 ft. up to 98 ft
During the year 1905 drives, crosscuts through country, and
winzes sunk totalled 18,678 ft., equal to 3"537 miles; the total
drivage in mine to end of 1905 on reefs and main crosscuts
(excluding crosscuts through reefs) being 18J miles. There
is a 90-stamp mill at Waihi, 200 stamps at Victoria Mill,
and 40 stamps at the Union Mill, the average duty per stamp
being 3'124 tons per diem. There are eight rock-breakers
(five at the Victoria Mill, two at Waihi, and one at the Union
Mill), fifty-six tailings-vats at the Waihi Mill, seventy at Vic-
toria Mill, and thirty-one at the Union Mill, and eighteen
filter-presses. During the year 1905, 298,531 tons (2,0001b.)
was crushed, yielding 1,192,046 oz. of bullion; value, £728,521
10s. 2d., or an average of 12s. 6d. per ounce. Dividends
were disbursed during the year amounting to £346,228
10s. 3d., making a total to 1st June, 1906, of £2,122,981.
The value of goldfcand silver obtained from this mine to end
of 1905 was £4,573,701 ; and during the year 1906 up to
19th May, £301,711. Amount of capital called up, £495,907.
Total number of men employed in mine, reduction-works,
tramways, and water-races, 1,396. The following table, com-
piled from the last annual rei>ort of the directors, gives a
concise summary of the company's operations: —

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

357

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358 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

The amount of inoome-tax is added to the total dividends, as
it is virtually a saving of that amount to the shareholders
Secretary, Charles Rhodes, Auckland ; attorney, Berkeley H.
Stafford, Auckland; superintendent, H. P. Barry, Waihi;
mine-superintendent, R. E. Williams; mine-manager, J. L.
Gilmour ; battery-engineers, S. E. Eraser (Victoria Mill), and
W. M. Russell (Waihi and Union Mills); metallurgist, E. G.
Banks ; owners, Waihi Gold-mining Company, shares being
principally held in England.

Waihi Beach. — Area, 216 acres. The mine is opened by a
shaft, 4 ft. by 3 ft. 10 in., sunk to a depth of 365 ft. The reef,
which has been driven on a distance of 465 ft., averages 36 ft.
in width. Total expenditure to 31st December, 1905, £2,303
17s. 6d. Twelve men employed. Mine-manager, H. W.
Moore; secretary, Henry J. Lee, Auckland; owners, Waihi
Beach Gold-mining Company (No Liability), Auckland.

Waihi Consolidated. — Area, 300 acres. The Waihi Con-
solidated (Limited) holds three claims (the Favona, Brilliant,
and Key West), each containing 100 acres. The shaft is a
three-compartment one, lift, by 6ft., and is down a depth
of 350 ft. Total amount of capital actually called up,
£16,875; total expenditure up to 31st December, 1895, in
connection with mining operations, £3,531 13s. 2d. Twenty
men are employed, nine being engaged in sinking shaft.
Mine-manager, J. H. Evans; secretary, J. H. Jackson, Auck-
land.

Waihi Extended. — Area, 100 acres. The mine is opened
by a three-compartment shaft 650 ft. in depth. One reef,
5 ft. in width, is being operated on, the distance driven on
course of lodes being 285 ft., while crosscuts total 700 ft. The
underground work carried on during the past twelve months
has been the driving of two crosscuts and driving on the ore-
bodies. The crosscut known as the No. 2 was driven in a
south-westerly direction. When a distance of 300 ft. had been
driven an ore-body was intersected. At the point where this
ore-body was touched it was found to be passing underfoot
on its easterly trend. The reef was driven on for a length of
176ft., the width averaging about oft., and the ore being

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 359

heavily raineralised. At this distance another lode was pierced
at an angle, and was followed for a length of 109 ft. The
ore showed highly mineralised contents, and looked remark-
ably well, the full width of the drive being in ore. The
general appearance of the ore-bodies is considered very en-
couraging by the management. Total expenditure to .31st
December, 1905, £20,052 5s. 3d. ; called-up capital, £27,181
10s. 4d. Value of plant, £1,473 14s. Twelve men employed.
Mine-manager, Thomas Johns; secretary, J. W. Nichol, Auck-
land; owners, Waihi Extended Gold-mining Company.

Waimangu, Whangamata, Thames County. — Area, 100
acres. Four tunnels and crosscuts have been driven a distance
of 280 ft., 200 ft. being on the course of the lode, which varies
from 1 ft. to 7 ft. in width, and a winze has been sunk 50 ft.
Capital called up, £6,800. Six men employed since February,
1906. Mine-manager, H. P. Horn'ibrook; battery-superin-
tendent, H. H. Adams; secretary, J. H. Jackson, Auckland;
owners, Waimangxi Grold-mining Company.

Waiotahi, Thames. — Area, 23 acres. This mine, which
has been on the dividend-list for a long period, is opened by
two three-compartment shafts, the main one being 428 ft.,
and Mary Ann 390 ft. in depth. Two reefs, 12 ft. and 2 ft.
in width, are worked, the distance driven on the course of
lodes being 1,055 ft., while drives and crosscuts total 1,377 ft.
and depth of winzes sunk 495 ft. There is a 60-stamp mill,
each stamp having an average capacity per diem of 1'37
tons, and two rock-breakers. During the year 1905, 4,986
tons, and 54 cwt. and 40 lb. of picked specimen-stone, yielded
27,148 oz. 6dwt. of gold; value, £73,884 9s. 7d. ; out of
which dividends amounting to £51,300 have been disbursed,
making a total of £91,800. The value of the gold obtained
from this mine up to 31st December, 1905, was £266,997
15s. 9d. ; while the total expenditure was £173,513 12s. 4d.
The called-up capital amounts to only £15,000. During the
year 1905 fifty-two men were employed in mine, reduction-
works, and surface. Mine-manager, George Warne ; battery-
superintendent, Frederick Challis; secretary, G. S. Kissling,
Auckland ; owners, Waiotahi Gold-mining Company.

360 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Waitaia and Waitaia Extended, Kuaotunu, Coromandel
County. — Area, 106 acres 3 roods 16 perches. Fourteen
tunnels have been driven on this property for a total distance
of 7,750 ft., while tlie various lodes have been driven on
6,220 ft., and crosscuts through country 1,500 ft. The reef
at present operated on varies considerably, from 3 in. to 7 ft.
During the past year 718 tons was milled for a yield of
991 oz. 12 dwt. of bullion, valued at £2,941 lis. 6d. The
total quantity of ore crushed up to 31st December, 1905, was
5,130 tons, which, together with 3,122 tons of sands cyanided,
yielded 7,872 oz. 12 dwt., valued at £22,867 12s. 6d. The
value of the cyanide bullion varies from £1 17s. 8d. to £2
Ids. 3d. per ounce, and the battery bullion from £3 Is. 5d,
to £3 5s. 6d. per ounce. Before the present company bought
the Waitaia Claim the old company and tributers took out,
between the years 1891 and 1898, 483 tons of ore, yielding
859oz. 19 dwt. of bullion, valued at £2,437 15s. 2d. The com-
pany has a 10-stamp mill: also one tailings-vat, 17ft. in
diameter and 3 ft. 9 in. deep. The total expenditure up to
31st December, 1905, was £27,394. During the past four
years nineteen men have been constantly employed. Mine-
manager, C. H. Bennett ; battery-superintendent and metal-
lurgist, Eugene Draffin ; secretary, W. H. Churton ; owners,
Waitaia Gold-mines (Limited).

Waitangi, Wiseman's Gully, Thames. — Area, 63 acres.
The mine is opened by a tunnel driven a distance of 700 ft.
Two reefs, about 3 ft. in width, are at present operated on.
Mine-manager, Robert Wilson ; secretary, H. J. Lee, Auck-
land ; owners, Waitangi Gold-mining Company.

Note. — These mines do not by any means cover the ground ; they
merely represent those whose managers had the courtesy to forward
information asked lor. In addition to the mines enumerated, there
is a further area'of 6,249 a. 1 r. 17 p. held under special claims,
17 a. 1 r. 20 p. under licensed holdings, and 62 a. 2r. 7 p. as special
sites, &c.

Pjtoi;

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diss Ali^ES OF New Zealand, Rekfto^': Siimiox of Water-hace
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NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

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366 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Marlborough Goldfields.

Quartz reefs are abundant in the country lying north, of
the Wairau River, and a great many carry gold. They are
for the most part found at considerable altitudes above sea-
level, and owing to the expense of working them have not so
far been proved to any depth. Claims have been taken up
at various times, but want of adequate capital has led to
their abandonment. The following are some of the reefs
known to exist: — At Top Valley: The Baden Powell Reef,
averaging 6 in. to 1 ft., and estimated to yield 6 dwt. to the
ton; the Albion Reef, .3ft., gold-bearing; the Just-for-Luck
Reef, 2 ft. in the face, gold and scheelite, gold said to average
8 dwt. to the ton. At Jackson's Creek: The Shotover Reef,
averaging 1ft.; gold, patchy. At xirm-chair Creek: The
Duke of York Reef, 18 in. wide, gold and scheelite, gold 7 dwt.
to 8 dwt. per ton ; right-hand branch of Arm-chair Creek, a
gold-bearing reef.

The only claims at present being worked are those owner]
by the Wairau Valley Gold-mining Company, whose property
consists of tlie Jubilee Mine and Lord Hopetoun Claim, 11^0
acres in extent. The property has been worked at intervals
during the past six years, want of capital having, however,
greatly retarded its systematic development. Some 950 oz.
of gold, of the value of £3,548 Is. 8d., has been won. Dur-
ing the past two years a low-level tunnel has been in course
of construction, small contracts having been let as funds per-
mitted, the object being to open up the reef and secure at
least 400 ft. of biicJvs. The estimated length of the tunnel
required is 1,200ft., and of this about 470 ft. has been driven,
leaving 729 ft. to drive before reaching the point at which it
i,3 expected the ^ef will be reached. The estimated cost of
completing the tunnel is £2 per foot, or £1,458. A winze
sunk on the reef showed very rich gold, its estimated value
being upwards of several ounces to the ton. A portion of the
mine is let on tribute, and is being worked by the tributers
for botli gold and scheelite ; their first return was 2 tons 6 owt.
of scheelite and 12 oz. of gold from 40 tons of stone. The
company possesses a 10-stamp batterj-, aerial tram, cyaniie

NKW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 367

plant, and all necessary adjuncts. It has also a 10-stamp
battery on the Wellington Claim, and plenty of water supplied
by water-races. For the purpose of pushing on operations
in the low-level tunnel a rock-drill has been imported.

The Wakamarina, Waikakaho, and Jackson's Head may
also be mentioned as likely fields for the capitalist interested
in quartz-mining, the Wakamarina, where the Golden Bar
Claim is situated, being considered especially worthy of ex-
amination. Waikakaho and Jo,ckson's Head have been the
scene of previous mining ventures of an unsuccessful nature;
but with adequate capital to thoroughly test tuese localities,
and the application of modern methods of treatment, the re-
sult might possibly be different.

Antimony.
Owing to the high price now obtainable for antimony, a
good deal of attention is being devoted to the deposits at
Endeavour Inlet. These were worked hj different companies
some years ago, and a very extensive crushing and concentrat-
ing plant was erected. Principally owing to depreciation in the
price of antimony, success did not attend the operations of
these companies, wliich then dropped out of existence, the
machinery being for the most part removed. There is but
little doulit that valuable lodes exist in this locality, but a.
good deal of capital is necessary for their development. To
place the mine in the same order as before and supply the
necessary mining plant and appurtenances would, in the view
of one authority, entail an expenditure of over £20,000, and
efforts are now being made to induce outside capitalists to
embark on this venture.

Inangahua Goldfield.

Consolidated Goldpields op New Zealand (Limited).

This company, whose shares are principally held in Great:
Britain, hold the following properties: —

Wealth of Nations Mine, 118 acres 1 rood 13 perches, near
Reef ton .

368 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Golden Fleece Mine, 238 acres 1 rood 20 perches, Black's
Point, near Reef ton.

Welcome Mine, 69 acres 3 roods 5 perches. Specimen Hill,
near Capleston, Reef ton.

Inkerman 'Mine, Merrijigs (not now working).

Humphrey's Gully Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, .344 acres
2 roods 12 perches, near Hokitika.

In addition to these holdings, the Consolidated Company is
largely interested in the Progress Mine, at Devil's Creek, near
Reef ton, this being a separate company floated some years
ago by the parent company. The following summary of re-
sults of the compan3''s operations -does not include the Pro-
gress : —

Total quantity of gold obtained up to 31st December, 1905,
64,767 oz. 2 dwt. 7gr., valued at £267,594 7s. 2d.

Total amount of dividends paid to shareholders up to 31st
December, 1905, £125,487 5s.

Amount of dividends paid during year 1905, £12,118 17s.

Total amount of subscribed capital, £242,378.

Total expenditure in connection with mining operations
up to 31st December, 1905, £425,530 18s. Id.

Wealth of Nations. — Quartz was discovered on the outcrop
of this lease, at an altitude of 600 ft. above the Inangahua
River, a few months after the discovery of the Ajas and
Golden Fleece Reefs. Stimulated by the values exposed, the
original shareholders continued to exploit the lodes by adits
and otherwise, and in February, 1872, the Wealth of Nations
Company was registered as a mining concern. Having thus
obtained sufficient subscribed capital, water-race construction
and other important works were soon in active progress, and
in November of ^e same year crushing was commenced with
a 15-stamp battery, the mill being further increased to
20 heads within the succeeding twelve months. By this time
surface prospecting had exposed two separate lodes, 130 ft,
;ipart east and west. The west reef having a northerly s.trike
towards the north boundary adjoining the Energetic lease, it
was eventually intersected by the Energetic shaft at a depth
of 150 ft. From this point of intersection the lode was con-

F-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 369

tinued, and worked by the Energetic Company on an unbroken
line of underlie to a depth of 540 ft. At this depth the strike
changed southward, and finally pinched out on a main fault-
line, and the lode has not yet been intersected on any of the
deeper levels. The east lode was practically vertical, and
maintained an average width of 6 ft. for a length of 200 ft.,
but also pinched out within the boundary of the Wealth of
Nations lease at a depth of 350 ft. below the outcrop. During
the extraction of these ore-bodies the 20-stamp mill was con-
stantly employed, yielding lucrative results for a period jf
five years. At this juncture prospecting was again vigor-
ously maintained, absorbing about £25,000, of which £17,000
was oalled-up capital. Amongst the principal works done was
the driving of the battery level for a distance of 1,600 ft.
The proceeds of this development resiilte-d in cutting a small
block of quartz and some small leaders on line of adit. Sink-
ing was then commenced on the reef-track at a distance of
800 ft. from the mouth of tunnel, and at a depth of 200 ft.
the east lode was intersected at a driven distance of 700 ft.
from the shaft, thus proving a vertical faulting of 450 ft. At
this depth the width and grade of the lode showed a falling-ofi
as compared with the surface values, but again indicated a
decided improvement as depth was attained. The strike also
turned southward, which is a very unusual occurrence in the
district, and just below the 350 ft. level the strike changed
north, leaving a vertical fault of 30 ft. and considerable dis-
turbance in the underlie. In 1896, while working the lode
on the 500 ft. level, the property was purchased by the Con-
solidated Goldfields of New Zealand. Future development
was afterwards directed to the Murray Creek side of the field,
and the Energetic shaft was sunk to a total depth of 1,600 ft.
from the surface and 1,175 ft. below the battery level. The
surface plant comprises powerful double-cylinder hoisting-
engines of the Tangye type, air-compressors for actuating
rock-drill machines, and complete electric-light plant, the
light being chiefly used in the mine-chambers and surface
works. It may be noted that, although the lode has been some-
what erratic at depth, and the strike has changed twice west-

370 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

ward, the ore-body at a depth of 1,600 ft. maintains a higher-
grade value than at a depth of 200 ft. from the surface, but
not quite equal to the first blocks directly below the surface.
During the year 1905, 11,970 tons of stone was milled for
3,304 oz. 12 dwt. 17 gr. of melted gold, valued at £13,662
19s. 6d., or at the rate of 5 dwt. 12| gr. per ton; while the
concentrates and slimes shipped to the smelter realised £764
14s. lOd. At the cyanide-works 8,320 tons of sands (repre-
senting 69J per cent, of the tonnage crushed) were treated
for 1,397 oz. 10 dwt. 9 gr. of precipitate, valued at £.5,420
16s. Id., or at the rate of 13s. O^d. per ton, the cost of treat-
ment being about 2s. S^d., leaving a profit of lOs. 7-1 d. per
ton. The total quantity of stone crushed since the present
company took over the mine is 66,592 tons, and 41,719 tons
of sands were cyanided, for 27,301 oz. dwt. 14 gr., value
£109,553 18s,, the value of the gold being £4 Is. 2d. per
ounce. Sixty-five men were employed during the j'ear 1905 —
forty- four in mine, ten in reduction-works, and eleven on
surface. Approximate estimate of the ore in sight, 24,000
tons; total length driven on course of lodes, 10,860 ft. ; cross-
cuts through country, 11,600 ft.; depth of winzes sunk,
1,600ft. (vertical); depth of shaft, 1,606ft.; number of
stamps employed at battery, 20, averaging nearly 2| tons
(2,2401b.) per diem. Mine - manager, Thomas Watson;
battery-superintendent, Andrew P. Watson.

Golden Fleece Mine. — Operations were commenced in this
mine by the Golden Fleece Company on the 1st December,
1871, and gold to the value of £121,542 was won up to 31st
March, 1886, whilst dividends amounting to £55,000 were
paid, as against a called-up capital of £6,773. Development
on a large scale^ias gone on since the mine became the pro-
perty of the Consolidated Goldfields. The shaft has been sunk
to a depth of 1,700 ft. ; the battery level has been extended to
a distance of 8,500 ft.; crosscuts driven through country
total 19,060 ft.; drivages on course of lodes total 11,060 ft.;
and winzes sunk a total vertical depth of 3,350 ft. During
the year 1905 the 20-stamp mill crushed 13,985 tons of stone
for- 5,670 oz. 5 dwt. 12 gr. of melted gold, valued at £23,165

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 371

lis. 8d,, while the sulphurets and slimes shipped to smelter
realised £1,955 8s. 8d. At the cyanide-works 9,475 tons of
coarse sands (representing 67| per cent, of the tonnage milled)
were cyanided, yielding precipitate to the value of £3,342
Is. Id., or at the rate of 7s. 0|d. per ton, the cost of treat-
ment being nearly 2s. 3d. per ton, leaving a profit of a frac-
tion over 4s. 9|d. per ton. The total quantity of ore crushed
has been 71,517 tons, and of sands cyanided 50,045 tons, for
35,889 oz. 5 dwt. 6gr., value £142,145 5s. 7d., the average
value of the gold being £4 Is. 0|^d. per ounce. Since com-
mencing operations the present company employed an average
of about ninety men, but only twenty men were employed last
year. Mine-manager, P. H. Woods; battery-superintendent,
Andrew P. Watson.

Welcome Mine, — Operations were first commenced in this
mine on the 17th September, 1873, and up to the 30th Sep-
tember, 1886, gold to the value of £226,424 was obtained,
enabling the old Welcome Company to pay £103,500 in divi-
dends, as against a called-up capital of £3,750. The follow-
ing is a summary of the work carried out by the Consoli-
dated Goldfields of New Zealand (Limited) : Depth of shafts
sunk, 645 ft. and 285 ft. ; total distance driven on course
of lodes (varying from 1ft. to 12 ft.), 10,650 ft.; crosscuts
through country, 12,950ft.; winzes sunk, 1,800ft. (vertical);
total quantity of stone crushed, 3,886 tons, and of sands
cyanided, 2,593 tons, for 3,179oz. 16dwt. 7gr., value £12,177
18s. 7d.— including 621oz. Idwt. 3<gr., value £2,335 Os. Id.,
won by tributers (F. McKenzie and party), who pay to the com-
pany a minimum of 10 per cent. There is a 5-stamp mill on
this property, the average duty per stamp being IJ tons per
diem; two tailings-vats, 20 ft. by 6 ft., and one sump, 20 ft.
by 6 ft.

Humphrey's Gully Hydraulic Sluicing Claim.. — This pro-
perty was taken over by the Consolidated Goldfields in 1896,
but work was first started on the claim in 1883. During the
year 1905 the gravels sluiced yielded 827 oz. 6 dwt. 4 gr. of
gold, valued at £3,226 9s. 9d., making a total, since the pre-
sent company began operations, of 12,966 oz. 15 dwt. 7gr.,

372 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

value £50,171 13s. 2d., the gold being worth £3 18s. per
ounce. The auriferous gravels vary in depth from 10 ft. to
200ft., and are known under the designation of the "Hum-
phrey's Gully gravels." The dam covers an area of 6 acres,
and there are eighteen miles of water-races in use, 16 chains
of fiuming, and 10,000 ft. of pipes (including siphons), forty
heads of water being available, giving a pressure at the face
of 12.51b. Two and sometimes three nozzles are employed, the
distance of the penstock from the claim being 1,200 ft. There
are thirty-six gold-saving tables, each 8 ft. by 7 ft., covered
with oocoanut matting, and 5,400 ft. of tail-races. The claim,
which is estimated to last twenty to thirty years, is let on tri-
bute to Messrs. Harris, Mills, and McCabe, and sixteen men
are employed. Mine-manager, W. Greenbank.

The Progress Mines of New Zealand (Limited).

This company carries on operations at Devil's Creek, about
four and a half miles from Reefton. The property includes
the Globe, Progress, Progressive, Rose, Wedge, Ballance, Lar-
nach, Carroll, and Deep Special Claims, the total area being
810 acres and 15 perches. The Globe Mine paid £40,000 in
dividends, and the Progress £17,400, prior to being take.a
over by the present company. The Progress Company was
floated in December, 1896, with a nominal capital of
£275,000, in 275,000 shares of £1 each, of which £50,000
was provided for working-capital. The amount paid in divi-
dends by the present company is £226,876, including
£34,375 disbursed during the year 1905, when the company's
65-stamp mill crushed 60,000 tons (2,2401b.) for 18,147 oz.

11 dwt., value £75,408 9s. 5d., and 37,000 tons of sands
were cyanided*for 4,032 oz. 17 dwt., value £10,204 14s. 7d.,
making a total for the year of £96,851 8s. 6d. The total
quantity of ore crushed since the commencement of opera-
tions by the Progress Mines Company was 130,121 tons, which
yielded 184,129 oz. 17 -dwt. 14 gr. of gold, value £742,631
15s., or an average value of £4 3s. IJd. per ounce; while
130,121 tons of sands were cyanided for 24,897 oz. 13 dwt.
15 gr. The following summary shows the working-cost of

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 373

milling 60,000 tons, cyaniding 37,000 tons, and chlorinating
],105 tons during the year 1905: —

Total working-cost, £53,977 18s. 9d. ; or 17s. ll-911d.
per ton.

Profit, £44,325 lis. 6d. ; or 14s. 9-303d. per ton.

Total, £98,303 10s. 3d. ; or £1 12s. 9-214d. per ton.

The gold is saved by amalgamation, concentration, cyani-
dation, and chlorination. There are 232 men employed in
the mine, thirty-six at the reduction-works, and twenty-five
on surface, making a total of 293. Three rock-breakers are
worked in connection with the 60-stamp mill, the average
duty of each stamp being 2'86 tons per diem. In the cyanide
department there are fifteen tailings-vats, 25 ft. by 6 ft. ; two
sumps, 25 ft. by 6 ft. ; and one sump, 20 ft. bj' 6 ft. Steam
is used for hoisting, and water-power at the reduction-works.
The total depth of shafts sunk is 3,102 ft. — viz., A, 836 ft.;
B, 1,436 ft.; C, 230 ft.; Old Progress, 600 ft. The total
length driven on course of various lodes is 26,520 ft. ; cross-
cuts through country, 34,270 ft.; and winzes sunk, 5,830 ft.
(vertical). The ore in sight is approximately estimated at
96,310 long tons. General manager, Ernest W. Spencer, Reef-
ton ; mine-manager, James Martin ; battery-superintendent,
John E. Lovelock; metallurgist, Henry A. B. Leipner.

374

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

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NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 375

Otago Goldfields.

Barewood, Barewood, Nenthorn District. — Area, 57 acres

3 roods 2 perches. The mine is opened by a three-compart-
ment shaft 250 ft. in depth One reef, varying in width from

4 ft. to 10 ft., is operated upon, the distance driven on the
course of the lode being 1,280 ft. in the three levels. There
is a 5-stamp mill, each stamp having an average duty of
2| tons per diem. The cyanide process is used to save the
gold, four tailings-vats, two rectangular vats each 12 ft. by
9 ft. by 6 ft., and two round vats 6 ft. by 6 ft., being in use.
During 1905, 2,653 tons was crushed, yielding 1,112 oz. of
gold; value, £4,213 9s. 5d. Total yield from 7,706 tons,
4,603 oz. of gold; value, ,£17,872 4s. 5d. Total dividends
paid, £2,800; total expenditure to 31st December, 1905,
£16,071 5s. 5d. The foregoing information refers to the pre-
sent owners of this property — the Barewood Gold-mining
Company, which started operations in August, 1902. Seven-
teen men employed in the mine, battery, and surface works.
Value of plant, £2,200. Mine-manager, Herbert S. Moli-
neaux; secretary, S. E. Brent, Dunedin.

Bendigo, near Cromwell. — Area, 71 acres. The mine is
opened by a three-compartment shaft 500 ft. in depth, and
there is a 20-stamp mill on the claim. During the year 1905
42 tons was crushed, 3rielding 32 oz. 12 dwt. 10 gr. of gold;
value, £111 2s. This mine yielded verj' rich returns in the
early seventies. It was at that period one of the best gold-pro-
ducers in the colony, and some of the shareholders were re-
ported to have received in dividends amounts variously stated
at from £50,000 to £80,000 each. Secretary, C. S. Reeves,
Dunedin.

Hamilton and Parly, Caledonia Gully, near Macetown. —
Area, 20 acres. The reef, which is 15 in. in width, is opened
by a tunnel driven a distance of 300 ft. During the year
1905, 103 tons yielded 81 oz. of gold; value, £303 15s. 8d.
Total quantity of ore crushed, 439 tons; yield, 188 oz. of
gold; value, £719 14s. Id. There is a 10-stamp battery, the
average duty per stamp being 2 tons per diem. Approximate
value of plant, &c., £500. Secretary, D. McKay, Macetown.

376 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Last Chance Mine, Table Hill, near Milton. — This mine has
an area of 51 acres, and is owned by Messrs. Park and party.
The property is opened by two shafts, 100 ft. and 40 ft., each
shaft being 8 ft. by 4 ft. The reef worked is 6 ft. in width,
and a 10-stamp mill crushes the ore. During 1905, 1,992 tons
of ore yielded 1,088 oz., valued at £3,808. The total quantity
of ore crushed was 2,774 tons, yielding 1,378 oz. of gold,
valued at £4,823. The total expenditure up to 31st December,
1905, amounted to £3,923; dividends paid to shareholders,
£600. Five men are employed in the mine, three in the re-
duction-works, and seven on surface. Value of mining plant,
Ac, £600. Mine-manager, J. L. Hawkins; secretary, John
Park, Table Hill.

Mount Highlay, Hyde. — Area, 20 acres. This mine is
owned by Messrs. Gilmour and Matheson. The reef operated
on varies from 1 ft. to 4 ft. in width, and is opened by a
tunnel driven a distance of 200 ft., the quantity of ore avail-
able being estimated at 400 to 500 tons. The battery (driven
by steam) consists of 10 stamps, 5 of which are in use. The
■gold is saved by amalgamation on the ordinary copper plates.
During 1905, 200 tons of ore yielded 33 oz. 6 dwt. 19 gr. of
gold; value, £126 4s. Total expenditure to 31st December,
1905, £400. Value of plant, &c., £1,000. Mine-manager and
secretary, J. 0. Gilmour.

QUARTZ-MINING IN CANTERBURY.

By E. R. Green, Inspector of Mines for the Southern Mining District.

•QuAHTZ-MiNiNG in Canterbury has practically been confined to
that region of the Southern Alps in the neighbourhood of
Browning's Pass, Upper Rakaia district, where some pro-
specting and driving had been done in bygone days. After
a period of abeyance closer attention has latterly been paid
to the reef-sTstems there, but, being among the higher alti-
iudes, continuous work in winter is impossible owing to the

Me. Rivers's Dam at Speahgrass Ckeiik, neah Alexandra, Otaoo.
Inner Face of Wall and Accujiulatinc. Water shown.
ilining Handbook.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 377

inclement weather-conditions, frost and snow. In "The
Geology of Canterbury and Westland," page 260, Haast de-
scribes the finding of a piece of auriferous quartz in the
Opawa River in the year 1862, but search for other specimens
was unsuccessful. Recently an Albury resident claimed to
have discovered gold - bearing stone which, after careful
analysis at the School of Mines, Dunedin, was found to con-
tain gold to the value of Is. to Is. 3d. per ton of rock en
masse. It was proved, however, that the gold occurred asso-
ciated with thin films of iron-pyrites in the joints of the rock,
but there was no gold in the rock itself — a kind of slate — in
which no trace of lode-formation could be seen. Similar stone
has also been sent for analysis from Waimate district, so that
it appears this class of rock covers a considerable area. Gold-
bearing quartz has also been reported from the Mount White
district, but although inquiries were being made as to methods
of acquiring prospecting licenses and mining leases, no parcels
of stone from this locality have been forwarded for analysis,
so far as is known, to the Mines Department.

Note. — The reader is referred for further information re. quartz-
mining to the papers contributed by the Inspectors of Mines, Wardens
tor the Goldfields, &c.

FINENESS AND YALUE OF NEW
ZEALAND GOLD.

Some years ago, in consequence of complaints made to the
New Zealand Government that a fair price was not given by the
banks for gold, five samples of about 12 oz. each were obtained
from Reefton and Kumara, on the west coast of the South Is-
land ; from the Island Block Company's claim, Clutha Valley,
Otago; from Mr. Leijon's dredging claim, Alexandra; and
from St. Bathan's, Otago, and were forwarded to the Sydney
Mint. The returns furnished by the Deputy Master of the

378

HEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Mint showed that the gold from Reefton was worth £i
2s. lOJd. per ounce; from Kumara, £4: Is. 4Jd. per ounce;
from Island Block, £i Is. 7|-d. per ounce ; from Alexandra,
£4: Os. 11 Jd. per ounce; and from St. Bathan's, £4 2s. 7Jd.
per ounce. The whole of the samples were above the standard
value, the Reefton gold being highest with r424 carats, and
Alexandra lowest with 0'860 carats, over the standard of
22 carats. The exjsense of forwarding the gold to Sydney, in-
eluding Mint charges, amounted to Is. 6d. per ounce. The
freight on the small quantity sent across, which was the
heaviest item in the expense incurred, would have been no
more had the quantity been 500 oz. ; and as each parcel had
to be assa^'ed separately in order to ascertain its value, there-
fore the expense in connection with forwarding the gold to the
Sydney Mint was far in excess of what it would be if large
parcels were sent. In the following statement laid on the table
of the House of Representatives in 1891 by the Hon. the Minis-
ter of Mines full particulars are given : —

Place from where Gold

Weight of

Gold as

taken at

Colonial

Laboratory.

Weight of
GoM re-
ceived at
Sydney
Mint.

Weight
of Gold

after
Melting.

Loss of
Gold

Assay Report :
Decimal.

Fineness

was sent.

in
Melting,

Gold.

Silver.

of Gold.

Kumara . .
Island Block
St. Bathan's
Alexandra
Reefton

Oz. dwt. gr.

11 19 21

12 U

11 19 21

12 5
12 20

Oz.

1199
12-04
11-99
12-01
12-04

Oz.
11-84
11-50
11-72
1179
11-77

Oz.
015
0-54
0-27
22
0-27

0-9570
09605
0-9780
0-9525
0-9760

0-035
0-030
0-020
0040
0-015

Carats.
22-968
23-052
23-332
22-860
23-424

Totals

60 1 9

60-07

58 62

1-45

Place from where
Gold was sent.

Standard
Gold.

Mint Value
per Ounce.

Value at
Svdney
Mint.

Mint
Charges.

Net Value
after deduct-
ing Mint
Charges.

Purchase-
moDey.

Kumara . .
Island Block
St. Bathan's
Alexandra
R'efton . .

12-361
12-050
12-440
12-251
12-532

£ s. a.
4 1 4J
4 1 7t
4 2 7J
4 llj
4 2 lOf

£ s.
48 3

46 18 ]
48 8

47 14 ]

48 15

d.
2

9
1
1

£ a. d.
5 2
5
5 2
5 1
5 3

£ B. a.

47 18

46 13 10

48 3 7

47 9 10

48 9 10

£ 8. i.
46 17
46 8 6
48

46 i

47 6 9

Totals

61-634

240

15 8

238 15 1

234 16 3

Note.— Bypenses : Freight, £2 26.; insurance, 18a. 3d.; incidental, 2s.; puiolia,se-iii(iiiey
£-234 16s. 3d. ; tolal, £237 18s. Gd.

COAL-DEPOSITS OF NEW ZEALAND.

All the formations in New Zealand which contain workable
seams of coal may be said to belong to the Secondary or
Mesozoic and to the Tertiary or Cenozoic epochs. The quality
of the coal of the same class found in this colony is extremely
varied, some of it being for all practical purposes equal, if
not superior, to much of the coal used in other parts of the
world; while, on the other hand, a great deal is of a compara-
tively inferior description, though it still has a great local
value as a fuel in the districts where it occurs. The coals
found in New Zealand have been divided into two groups,
under the terms hydrous and anhydrous coals, or those which
cx)ntain a large percentage of water chemically combined with
them, and those which may be assumed to have been deprived
of that water by a chemical change.

I. Htdkous Coals.

The hydrous coals may be conveniently distinguished as
lignites, pitch-coals, and glance-coals. A point worthy of re-
mark is that whereas in Europe the deposits of brown ooal (or
lignite, as it is usually termed) occur in beds of immense
thickness, and are generally confined to limited areas, those of
New Zealand form regular seams of moderate thickness, and
associated with them are alternating beds of clay, shale, and
sandstone, as is the case with the older coal formation of Car-
boniferous age elsewhere. As a rule, the hydrous coal-
measures lie on the eastern slopes of the axial rocks in the
South Island, and to the west of the main axis in the North
Island ; whereas the anhydrous coals are confined chiefly to
the west coast of the South Island. The hydrous coal is of »,
brown colour, but hard and glossy, and frequently contains
a quantity of fossil resin, this being due to the remains of an
Araucaria somewhat allied to the kauri of the North Island.

380 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

The principal defect of the hydrous coal is its weight in
proportion to bulk, and its tendency to crack and break into
small fragments by desiccation and exposure to the atmo-
sphere. The difierent varieties of hydrous coals, however,
are not all equally subject to this defect, and some of the
better qualities of glance-coal are scarcely affected in this way.
Partly on this account the hydrous coals may be divided into
three sub-groups: —

1. Lignite, or common brown coal, containing a high per-
centage of water, and in which a woody structure is very ap-
parent.

2. Pitch-coal, in which there is still a high percentage of
water, and frequently a woody structure to be seen. Its aspect
is glossy, dark-brown, or black, and it does not soil the fingers.
Usually this coal desiccates freely on exposure to the atmo-
sphere.

3. Glance-coal is hard and semi-laminated with bright and
dull laminae, as in the case of bituminous coals ; contains a
smaller percentage of water generally than the other two sub-
groups, and does not desiccate by exposure to the atmo-
sphere ; seldom shows woody structure ; and constitutes an
excellent steam-coal for stationary engines and railway pur-
poses, but is inferior in this respect for ocean-going steamers
to the anhydrous coals.

The hydrous coals are extensively developed throughout
the coastal and interior regions of southern and eastern Otago,
while an inferior but useful quality of lignite is abundant in
Central Otago. The better-known fields are: Nightcaps, in
Southland; Kaitangata, in Bruce County; Green Island,
near Dunedin ; Shag Point, in Waihemo County; in the
Oamaru district, north-eastern part of Otago, at Big Hill;
the Waiau Valley, in Southern Canterbury; the Ashbur-
ton district and Malvern Hills, in Central Canterbury; and,
on the west coast of the South Island, the higher seams in
the Brunner field. In the Inangahua Valley most of the seams
must be regarded as pitch and glance coals ; while the coals of
Puponga and West Wanganui belong to these subdivisions,
those of Puponga being a high-class glance-coal, or, according
to some authorities, a bituminous coal.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 381

On the west coast of the North Island the coals of the
Mokau' Valley are glance-coals : the field extends east to the
Wanganui River, in which part the coals are not of quite
equal value. Pitch-ooals are found in the district of Kawhia,
on the north-west .side of the range from the Mokau Valley.
In the Lower Waikato Valley there are extensive deposits of
both glance and pitch coals, of which Taupiri exemplifies one
form (glance-coal) and Miranda and Surrey Redoubt the other
(pitch-coal). These coal-measures extend along the west coast
of Auckland, between Kawhia Harbour and the Waikato
Heads. Glance-coals are foun-d abundantly in the neighbour-
hood of Whangarei, and from thence to Hikurangi, where,
and also at Ngunguru, glance-coal of a superior description
is found, and is sometimes classed as semi-bituminous.
Lastly, the well-known coal of Kawakawa, which is semi-
bituminous, is the most northerly of the hydrous coalfields
of New Zealand.

II. Anhydrous Coals.

Under this group have been classed all the coals found in
New Zealand which resemble in quality the coals imported
from England and Australia. The composition of the coals
comprised in this group is very varied, but is not more so
than is usually found in different coal-seams in other countries.
The only point in which as a class they are deficient in any
of the charaoferistics which are laid down as requisite for a
perfect steam-fuel is in the solidity and toughness which
enables the coal to withstand the constant attrition it must
experience from frequent handling. This defect is, how-
ever, comparatively insignificant, and is more than com-
pensated for (except in a few instances) by the purity of the
coal, its tendency to cake, and the facility with which com-
plete combustion can be effected ; so that the loss by the for-
mation of cinders will be much below the average.

The most important development of the coal-seams in this
class is on the west coast of the South Island, where the for-
mation occurs resting on a surface generally of metamorphic
and crystalline rook. Beginning in the south, the first deve-

38^ NEV/ ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

lopment of this coal is between the Haast and Paringa Rivers ;
next, the Grey Valley coalfields, consisting of the Brunner
area, Coal Creek, and Blackball, and an as yet unexplored
area on the west side of Paparoa Range, near the source
of Bullock Creek ; then the Mount Rochfort, Ngakawau, and
Mokihinui coal areas, lying between the lower parts of the
BuUer and the Mokihinui Rivers. The Wallsend and Paka-
wau Mines, in the CoUingwood district, also contain bitu-
minous coals, but the actual extent of the area has not yet been
explored.

III. Anthracite Coals.
In connection with both the hydrous and anhydrous coals
there are developments of anthracite. Associated with the
hydrous coals there are the anthracite coals of the Acheron
River, within the Rakaia Valley, in Canterbury, and of the
Broken River, in the Waimakariri basin ; these are, however,
local and unimportant. In oonnijction with the bituminous
coals there is a 6 ft. seam of anthracite in the valley of the
Fox River, ten miles south-west of Charleston ; and it is re-
ported that at Mount Davy, in the Paparoa Range, there is
a considerable deposit of anthracitic coal.

COAL-MINING IN NEW ZEALAND.

By John Haxes, F. S. Sc, late Inspecting Engineer, Mines Department,
New Zealand.

On liis first introduction to the coalfields of New Zealand,
tlie mining engiueer whose experience has been confined to
the coalfields of Great Britain or other countries where the
coal-bearing strata are found in rocks of tlie Carboniferous
era, is at once confronted with vastly different geological con-
ditions, and also very varying characteristics and qualities of
the coals themselves. It may at once be stated that in New
Zealand no coal is so far known to exist in the deposits of the
Carboniferous period. Thin seams of bituminous coal, having
a very large percentage of ash, have been discovered in the
Jurassic (secondary) rocks, which, forming an irregular
triangle, cross a portion of the South (or Middle) Island from
near Mount Hamilton, on the western side of the Island, to
the east coast, the coast-line from a few miles south of the
mouth of the Mataura River to the mouth of Catlin's River
(northAv<ird) forming fhe perpendicular of the triangle.
Nothing of commercial importance has yet been found in this
belt of country.

The bulk of New Zealand coals is found in strata which
have been classed by the late Director of the Geological Survey
(Sir James Hector, K.C.M.G., F.R.S.) as belonging to the
Cretaceo-Tertiary period. Large deposits of lignite of more
recent date are also found in many localities.

The coals vary in quality from a dull-burning brown ooal
of low evaporative power — suited only for use in the locality in
which it is obtained — to a sj)lendid coal equal to many of the
best British coals for steaming, gas, and coking purposes.
They may be divided into two groups — viz., hydrous and

384 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

anJiydrous. By the first of these terms is meant those coals'
which contain a large percentage of water in chemical com-
bination, and by the latter term the coals which have been de-
prived of a considerable portion of their water by chemical
change.

Hydrous coals include glance-coal, pitch-coal, brown coal,
and lignite, and are principally found on the eastern side of
the mountain chain which traverses the Middle or South Is-
land, and to the west of a line drawn from Cape Palliser, near
Wellington, through Cape Colville (the head of the Hauraki
Peninsula) in the North Island. Lignites and brown coak
are light in proportion to their bulk, and, on account of the
water contained, desiccate somewhat rapidly on exposure to
sun and wind. Some of the pitch and glance coals stand th&
weather very well, and are comparatively little affected by ex-
posure. These varieties are sometimes classed as "semi-
bituminous," and are very useful for domestic purposes, loco-
motives, and land boile^rs generally, as well as for coastal
marine work, but are not used to any extent on steameraj
making long voyages.

Anhydrous coals are those which may be said to compare
with the coals of Great Britain. The deposits are chiefly con-
fined to the west coast of the SoutE Island, Westport and
Greymouth being the ports of shipment. Ocean-going steamers
obtain their supplies from these ports, and coals from this dis-
trict are in demand for the use of the British Squadron in
Eastern waters.

In explanation of the fact that both anhydrous and hydrous
coals (recent lignites, of course, excepted) belong to the same
geological era, it may be remarked that many parts of New
Zealand have undoubtedly been subjected to great changes
by volcanic ^d other forces, and it is not improbable that
the varying characteristics and qualities of the coal-seama
themselves are due, in some measure at least, to their beinar
subjected to these influences. As an illustration of this, the
conditions which exist in the Malvern Hills, Rakaia Gorge,
and near Lake Coleridge, in Canterbury, may be mentioned.
In those localities a brown-coal deposit of very ordinary

iiiK [ippEit Incline, Denniston (VVESTrortT Coat, Company, Limited).
ii'iiiiig IIaiull,n<.:.,

NKW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 385

quality has been tilted by volcanic action, and tile coals sub-
jected to distillation by the molten lava ejected (which would
retain its heat for a considerable time), and now overlies the
coal-measures in the form of a thick sheet of dolerite. The
resultant efEect of this distillation has been to evaporate the
hydrous constituents, and also the hydrocarbons, contained
in the coal, leaving very little besides fixed carbon and ash.
In this manner a brown coal has become altered into an
anthracite, the roof strata immediately above the coal is-
found changed into a somewhat coarse plumbago (suitable,
a< all events, for foundry use), and the clay below the coal
baked like pottery-ware. This is, perhaps, an extreme case
of metamorphism, but serves to show very clearly how the
quality of coal may be changed by mechanical and chemical
processes. The comparative analyses given will further eluci-
date this point.

Average of Four Anthracite from

Sampler of dinary Lake Coleridge,

B own CohI. Canterbuiy.

Fixed carbons ... 4:3'28 per cent. 84:'12 per cent.

Hydrocarbons ... 38-35 ,, 1-96 ,,

Water ... ... 15-68 ,, 1-80

Ash ... ... 2-69 ,,' 12-12

100-00 100-00

At Malvern Hills four seams of coal were cut in a tunnel
which was driven for the greater part through a deposit of
dolerite. The first seam cut (which was the highest in the
series, and naturally the most recent of the four) was found
altered into anthracite, as already described ; the other three
seams, being further from the molten lava deposited by the
eruption, were altered to a lesser extent, but sufficiently so to
show that the heat from the lava had a far-reaching effect, as
these " altered brown coals " gave on analysis as high a per-
centage as 68-5 of fixed carbon and an evaporative power equal
to that of a good average bituminous coal.

The coal-mining industry of New Zealand has, during th^

13— Mining Handbook.

386 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

past few years, made rapid strides, the following figures
sliowing the expansion at intervals of five years: —

Tons.
Output for 1885... ... ... 511,063

1890... . . ... 637,.397

1895... ... ... 726,654

1900... ... ... 1,093,990

1905... ... ... 1,585,756

Notwithstanding the production of coal within the colony,
a considerable tonnage is imported from New South Wales, the
imports for last year (1905) being 168,757 tons from that
colony.

From the official statistics for last year it is found that em-
ployment was given to 3,269 persons at the various coal and
lignite mines of the colony. These number 177 in the aggre-
gate, but many are mere quarries — worked on a very small
scale — for the supply of lignite for purely local requirements-
The number of mines employing more than twenty persons
was twenty-eight, and these require to be under the supervision
of a manager holding a first-class certificate. Twenty-six mines
employed over six but not more than twenty persons. At such
mines a person holding a second-class certificate may act as
manager, whilst at mines employing six persons and under
the person in charge, if not the holder of a certificate of either
class, must have an authority or permit from the Inspector of
Mines for the district. Thus some reasonable guarantee is
afforded that the persons upon whom the charge of mining
operations devolves are qualified for the responsible nature
of their work, and their supervision, together with careful
examination )ty Government Inspectors of Mines, has resulted
in the working operations of New Zealand collieries being con-
ducted and maintained on very safe lines. Within the past
five or six years more general attention has been paid to the
better ventilation of underground workings, and, taken as a
whole, the atmosphere of the mines more than favourably com-
pares with that of the general run of workshops, mills,
factories, &c. Explosions in the collieries of New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 387

have fortunately been few in number, and it is a significant
fact that explosive gases are not met with at most of the pits
in the colony. Still, the coal-mines of New Zealand are not by
any means immune from the presence of inflammable gases in
the coal or adjacent strata, and at a few collieries these are
given off more or less ; but, taken in comparison with what are
admittedly " fiery " mines in Great Britain, the experience
so far gained of New Zealand colliery workings is (with the
single exception of a colliery not now in work) that the in-
dustry in this colony is not seriously troubled by reason of
inflammable gases in large quantities. Two serious explosions
have occurred in the colony — viz., at Kaitangata (Otago), in
February, 1879, and at Brunner (West Coast), in March, 1896.
The former is said to have been due to the ignition of an ex-
plosive mixture of inflammable gas and air, and the latter
(which the writer very exhaustively investigated by instruc-
tions from the then Premier, the late Right Hon. R. J. Seddon)
was undoubtedly caused by a blown-out shot, and carried on
by coaldust.

The largest and most important collieries in the colony are
those of the Westport Coal Company (Limited), situated at
Denniston and at Millerton, near Westport, on the west coast
of the South (or Middle) Island. Last year these collieries
produced 500,231 tons. The conditions under which both
collieries are worked are most interesting. Although situated
near the sea, the workings are from 1,500 ft. to 2,000 ft.
above the sea-level ; consequently, instead of the coal having
to be raised up deep shafts by powerful winding-engines, it
is lowered down steep inclines to the main line of railway,
which connects the collieries with the port. At Denniston
Colliery the incline is constructed so that the railway-wagons
go right up the hill, the loading-bins being at an elevation of
1,700 ft. above the railway-level at the foot of the incline,
which is about a mile in length. This incline is in two divi-
sions, the upper one being 33 chains long (horizontal m'-asure-
raent), with a vertical fall of 830 ft. The lower portion is
50 chains long, vertical fall 864 ft., and maximum gradient
1 in 2-2. The average grade throughout is 1 in 3-23. Fifteen

388 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

wagons per hour are delivered at tlio foot of the incline, a
single wagon being run at a time, the descending full wagon
pulling the empty one up. For such steep grades special
brake-power is necessary, and the lowering plant used ap-
pears, at first glance, not unlike an ordinary pair of hori-
zontal winding-engines, with the drum in the usual position.
The action, however, is quite different, water being used to
check the motion of the pistons instead of steam to move them.
These hydraulic brakes have proved most successful in use.

From the top of the upper incline communication with
the adits which open into various sections of the colliery is
by the ordinary mine-tubs hauled by endless rope, driven by
steam-power, the main haulage-road being about two miles in
length. There are also two branch roads leading to the two
main sections of the colliery, and the " under-rope " system
is adopted, the tubs being attached to the rope with lashing-
chains.

The seam being worked is of excellent quality, and is
from 15 ft. to 20 ft. thick as a general rule. Occasionally it
has been found of much greater thickness, 35 ft. and upwards
not being unknown. In mining, the bord-and-pillar system
is adopted, holing being done by percussive coal-cutting
machines actuated by compressed air. Electrically driven
machines have been tried, and also coal-cutters on the chain
principle, but these have been discarded in favour of percus-
sive or " pick " machines and cornpressed air. Ventilation
is maintained by fans.

At the company's Millerton Colliery the seam is thick, and
the general mining arrangements are much the same as at
Denniston Collierjf, percussive machines actuated by com-
pressed air ]^ing largely iLsed for " holing." The mine is
entered by adits, and divided into two distinct sections for
the purposes of ventilation, fans of modern types being used
for exhausting. The railway-wagons do not run up to the
colliery (as in the case at Denniston), but the coal is conveyed
to the bins and screens — 1,500 ft. below the brake-head — ad-
Joining Granity Railway-station, by means of a self-acting end-
less-rope tramway, hydraulic brakes being used. The storage-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 889

bins have a capacity of about 3,000 tons. Tlie sidings, work-
shops, and offices are also situated at the foot of the in-
cline. Hydraulic power is used for actuating the workshops
machinery, hoists, rams for working the slides for loading
wagons from the bins, the electric-light plant, &c., pressure
being obtained from a reservoir several hundreds of fe^t
higher up the hill.

The Westport Coal Company's collieries produce coal of
excellent quality for gas-making and steam-raising purposes
especially. The company hold a large area under lease from
the Crown, and the mines have many years' working-life
ahead.

In point of output, the collieries next in order are those
of the New Zealand Government, at Seddonville, near West-
port, and Point Elizabeth, near Greymouth. These form the
subject of a separate article, to which the reader is referred.

The other principal collieries in the West Coast coalfields
are those at Brunnerton and Blackball. At the former place,
which is situated some seven or eight miles from the Port of
Greymouth on the banks of. the Mawhera (now known as the
Grey) River, coal-mining operations have been conducted for
upwards of forty years. Formerly, several companies were
actively engaged in the industry — the Brunner, Coal-pit
Heath, Tyneside, and Wallsen-d Mines — but eventually these
all came under a general proprietary. The Tyneside and
Wallsend Mines were closed down and their plants dismantled,
the Coal-pit Heath Colliery — which adjoined the Brunner
Colliery — being worked in conjunction with the latter. Coal-
pit Heath Mine was practically worked out some years ago,
and at the present time the same remark holds good in respect
to the Brunner Mine so far as the known seam is concerned.
At this colliery an important trade has been done in coke for
smelting purposes and in high-grade fireclay goods. As
already mentioned, Brunner Colliery was some ten years ago
the scene of a disastrous explosion bj"- which sixtj'-five persons
lost their lives.

The Tyneside Colliery has been reopened within a com-
paratively recent date by a new proprietary, who have erectei

390 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

winding, pumping, screening, aad ventilating plant. The
seam, which is generally considered as being identical with
that worked at the other collieries adjoining, is about 12 ft.
thick, and the output last year was 44,047 tons. Generally
speaking, the coal has practically the same characteristics as
that of the Brunner Collier}^, which has had an excellent repu-
tation for steam, gas, and smithy purposes.

Blackball Colliery, situated on the eastern side of the
Paparoa Range, is some eighteen miles from Greymouth. The
coal is generally in two divisions aggregating something like
17 ft. in thickness, and is worked on the bord-and-pillar sys-
tem — a method general on the West Coast coalfields. Its prin-
cipal use is for steam purposes, large quantities being used
on the ocean-steamers of the New Zealand Shipping Company
(Limited). Pending the construction of a branch railway from
Ngahere up the Blackball Valley, connection is made with the
railway at Ngahere by means of an aerial tramway of about
three miles in length. Drainage is efiected by a water adit
lately driven from the bed of Ford's Creek; this has rendered
the use of pumps unnecessary. Ventilation is by fan. Last
year's output was 64,713 tons.

The ports of Westport and Greymouth are, and must con-
tinue to be, the chief centres of shipment, as, in addition to
the collieries at present working, new collieries on an extensive
soule will shortly be opened up in the vicinities of both ports.
At one of these, coal of a quality which corresponds with-
that of the celebrated South Wales coal will probably be won.

There are several small pits, worked purely for local re-
quirements, in the neighbourhood of Reefton, at some of which
a most excellent house-coal is obtained. A new colliery (which
is included ^ the West Coast district) is situated at Puponga,
near Cape Farewell, the most northern point of the Middle (or
South) Island, and upwards of a hundred miles nearer than
Westport to the City of Wellington and other northern ports,
One seam of coal is at present being worked. This averages
about 7 ft. in thickness, and in quality is pre-eminent as
u domestic fuel, for which it is in extensive demand.
Mechanical screening is practised, and the small coal washed

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 391

and graded into " nuts " for house and steam purposes. Fan
ventilation has been adopted, and the plant generally is being
augmented to meet trade requirements. The coal is shipped
at the company's own wharf, which connects with the colliery
by a light railway of less than two miles in length. Harbour
improvements of an extensive character are being prepared
for, and these, when completed, will admit of the employment
of much larger steamers than those at present engaged.

On the eastern side of the dividing-range of the Mid-dlo
Island — known as the Southern Alps — brown coal, pitch-coal,
and lignite are worked over a very large area, but the mines
are, with few exceptions, on a limited scale. In Canterbury,
the Homebush Colliery, at Glentunnel, is the principal mine
row at work. A brown coal is obtained, the output last year
being 15,415 tons. There are a few other small mines which
produce coal for purely local requirements. At Mount Somera
there is a very thick seam of brown coal which yielded 7,588
tons during 1905. At some future time this deposit may be
more extensively operated upon.

In north Otago, the Shag Point Colliery was for many
years the chief producer, the coal being a pitch-coal of excellent
quality. In all, seven distinct seams have been discovered
in this coalfield, most of which may be classed as thin. To
some extent the workings of the Shag Point Colliery were sub-
marine, and the large flow of water met with some six years
ago led to the abandonment of the under-sea workings and
subsequent dismantling of the colliery. The Allandale
Colliery, a property which adjoins the Shag Point area, is
now the scene of active mining operations, three seams, vary-
ing from 4 ft. to 6 ft. in thickness, being operated upon. In
quality the coal is very similar to that which was mined at
Shag Point. Mechanical ventilation is in vogue, and electrical
transmission of power for underground haulage and pumping
has been adopted. In the latter connection it is worthy of
note that the first installation in this colony of high-lift cen-
trifugal pumps for mining purposes was made at Allandale
Colliery, the venture being reported eminently satisfactory.
Last year's output was 19,5.33 tons.

392 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

South of Dunedin the first coalfield is that of Green Island,
where colliery operations have been conducted for many years.
Several mines formerly worked are exhausted or closed down
for other reasons, but quite a number are now working,
the principal properties with their respective productions for
the year 1905 being enumerated as follows: Saddle Hill
Colliery, Saddle Hill, 27,594 tons; Freeman's Colliery,
Abbotsford, 21,285 tons; Jubilee Colliery, Walton Park>
16,928 tons.

The coal of this locality is an ordinary brown coal, and
the deposits are, generally speaking, of considerable size,
seams 20 ft. thick being operated upon at a few of the
pits.

Some fairly extensive deposits of a similar class of coal
occur in the Tokomairiro district, between the Town of Milton
and the sea-coast. These are also of considerable thickness,
and have been worked on a small scale for many years. A
branch line of railway, privately owned, now connects the
mines with the main line of Government railways at Milton,
and it is expected that by this improved means of outlet the
production of the mines will be increased.

The next coalfield is that of Tuakitoto and Kaitangata,
where the Taratu-Kaitangata Railway and Coal Company
(Limited) and the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company
(Limited) have collieries. The former is a recent undertaking,
and, at the present time, a seam of good brown coal some
20 ft. in thickness is being opened up, last year's output being
18,189 tons. The New Zealand Coal and Oil Company
(Limited) own the collieries formerly operated by the Kai-
tangata Railway and Coal Company (Limited) and the Castla
Hill Coal Company (Limited) at Kaitangata, as well as the
shale-mine'and oilworks at Orepuki, Southland. This com-
pany's collieries are the largest in this part of the colony, the
output for 1905 being 119,744 tons. The seams generally
are of considerable thickness, a maximum of something like
40 ft. having been attained in some places. Extensive plant
of modern type has been installed, the endless-rope system of
haulage and also for the transmission of power for pumping

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 393

being adopted in addition to other methods of work. Com-
pressed air is also largely used as a secondary power for
operating winches used in the workings. A superior brown
coal is produced which is in considerable demand for domestic
purposes as well as steam-production, and the screening plant
at the Castle Hill Colliery (a working model of which is to be
seen at the Mines Department exhibit of colliery workings at
the International Exhibition, Christchurch) is probably the
most perfect plant of its class to be found in the colony.
Mechanical ventilation is adopted at the Kaitangata Colliery,
and furnace ventilation at Castle Hill. In February, 1879,
Kaitangata Colliery was the scene of a disastrous explosion,
by which thirty-four persons lost their lives.

Central Otago contains numerous deposits of lignite and
brown coal, some of which are being worked for the supply
of purely local demands. In many instances the mines are
merely open quarries operated on a very small scale ; others
are worked by the ordinary methods of underground mining.
Some of the lignite-deposits are of great thickness, that at
Coal Creek, near Roxburgh, being fully 80 ft. at two opencast
mines, whilst at an adjoining mine (where the deposit is
practically vertical) the horizontal distance across the seam
is approximately 100 ft. Several instances occur where the
seams are from 30 ft. to 40 ft. in thickness. The lignites of
the interior of Otago provide a cheap, if low-grade, fuel in
a district which would otherwise be destitute of firing-
material, and are correspondingly valued. Of late years the
gold-dredging industry in Central Otago has given an impetus
to coal and lignite mining, and during the year 1905 the out-
put (from underground workings) of the three principal pro-
prietaries was as follows: Cromwell and Bannockburn Col-
lieries Company, Bannockburn, 11,14-2 tons; Mathias Bros.
and Hunter, Alexandra, 9,553 tons; Alexandra Coal Com-
pany, Alexandra, 8,959 tons.

In Southland there are also a large number of small lignite-
pits for the supph' of local requirements pure and simple.
The mines having the largest output are in the vicinity of
Gore and Mataura, the principal producers being Green's

394 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

mine, at Gore, which had an output of 11,314 tons during last
year, and Sleeman's mine, at Mataura, which produced 9,419
tons. Several other mines put out from 2,000 to nearly 6,000
tons during the same period, the gold-dredges in the Gors,
Waikaka, and Waikaia localities being fairly large consumers.
The principal colliery in Southland is that of the Nightcaps
Coal Company (Limited), at Nightcaps, which had an output
of 45,500 tons of good-quality brown coal during the year
1905. This property is freehold. The seam is divided into
three sections, having an aggregate thickness of 36 ft., of
which 24 ft. is ordinarily worked. The mine is worked level-
free (drainage being effected by a low-level tunnel), and venti-
lation maintained by a fan of modern design.

Turning to the North Island, it may be remarked that
some 3'ears ago fairly extensive operations were conducted at
Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, but the area leased is now prac-
tically exhausted, and no prospecting of any moment appears
to have been done to prove the continuation or otherwise of
the coal-bearing measures. The Maoris have reported the
existence of coal on Native lands between Kawakawa and
Hokianga, but nothing has yet been -done to prove or develop
the field. The coal worked at Kawakawa was friable, but of
excellent quality for steaming purposes.

The principal coal-producing centres in the North Island
are those of Whangarei and Taupiri. The former district is
approximately thirty miles south of Kawakawa, and ninety
miles north of the City of Auckland. Excellent coal of semi-
bituminous character is mined at Hikurangi and Kiripaka,
townships situated some few miles from the Town of
Whangarei. Two collieries are at work at Hikurangi, the
oldest being t%at of the Hikurangi Coal Company (Limited),
which last year had an output of 50,410 tons. The seam is
from 7 ft. to 10 ft. in thickness, and is reached by a short
incline having a very moderate grade, the workings being
under rough moorlands of no particular value. This feature
admits of the total extraction of the seam without any ques-
tion of surface-damage arising. A colliery which has been
more recently opened out is that of the Northern Collieries

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 395

Company (Limited). This is situated on hill country north
of the Hikurangi Coal Company's mine, and last year pro-
duced 37,733 tons from a seam about 6^ ft. in thickness. It
is worked level-free, and the coal conveyed from the mine to
the railway by tramway, worked partly by locomotive-power
and partly by gravitation.

At Kiripaka, two small mines (the Ngunguru and the
Panipo) have been worked for some years ; the former is now
exhausted, and, as its owners held property in close proximity
to the latter, an amalgamation of the two proprietaries (and
also that of the Northern Collieries at Hikurangi) has been
effected and operations commenced for the purpose of develop-
ing the Panipo Colliery on a much larger scale than that
hitherto attained. The seam is variable in thickness, with an
average of approximately 10 ft. A tramway connects the mine
with the shipping staiths on the Ngunguru River. Last year's
output at Kiripaka was 19,591 tons.

South of Auckland the Taupiri Coalfield at present holds
first place. Three collieries belonging to the Taupiri Coal-
mines (Limited) are worked in the neighbourhood of Huntly,
the combined output for last year being 118,612 tons. The
■coal is a superior class of brown coal of great thickness, a
maximum of 70 ft. being attained in places. There are very
few faults, and the inclination of the seam is very moderate.
The method of working is by bord-and-pillar, but no pillars
are extracted, as the coal underlies water-logged strata, and
portions of the workings are under the Waikato Eiver and
adjacent lakes. A large thickness of roof-coal is also left for
the protection of the mine-workings. At two of the pits th^e
<:oal is raised through vertical shafts, and at the third an
incline tunnel connects the workings with the surface.
Mechanical screening is adopted in the preparation of the
coal for market, and the mines are ventilated by fans.

Operations for the opening of a new colliery have recently
been commenced near Lake Waahi. There are also large tracts
of undeveloped brown-coal areas between Huntly, Raglan, and
Kawhia.

396 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

The Mokau Coalfield has not as yet been developed to any
fixtent. One small mine is at work several miles up the
Mokau River, but the difficulties of transport due to the
shallowness of the river are such that only boats of small
tonnage can be employed for the conveyance of coal from the
mine.

The coal-mining industry of New Zealand is steadily
growing year by year, and has already become a very im-
portant factor in the progress and welfare of the colony.

NELSON AND IflTEST COAST DISTRICTS.

By Robert Tennent^ Inspector of Mines.

Takaka and Collingwood.

Coal-mining may be regarded as an institution founded in
the early history of Collingwood. In the first working, coal
for local purposes was mined for several years on the elevated
terraces behind the Township of Ferntown, but owing to
local conditions operations were finally abandoned some years
previous to 1897. To meet the requirements of Collingwood
and suburban districts, Jir. Caldwell opened a new coalfield
at Pakawau, the seam here maintaining an average thick-
ness of 3 ft., parted with a middle band of stone 10 in. in
thickness. Hampered, however, by the thinness of the seam,
and the very primitive system of transit and shipping,
mining here was suspended as being non-paying. In 1900,
and under #ie ownership of young Mr. Caldwell, a new mine
was opened, and fitted with screening and washing appliances,
while transit and shipping facilities received more approved
attention. Again, in 1905, Mr. Pilcher, of Wellington,
having acquired the mining titles, reopened the mine, and
continues to carry on operations on a small scale.

The Golden Bay Goal Gompnmj has reopened its pro-
perty for the purpose of coal-mining and the manufacture of

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 397

Portland cement. In connection with the development of the
property, a coal-seam 5 ft. in thickness has been opened by a
dip heading, and lime-kilns constructed, the limestones in
t'lis region being abundant, and possessing superior quali-
ties for building purposes.

The Fuponga, Coalfield, situated near the head of Golden-
Bay, was leased and registered in 190-3, under the title of
" The Puponga Coal and Gold Mining Company (Limited),'/
Mr. Sydney George Hayward, of Nelson, being resident
attorney for the company. The coalfield is opened from the
outcrop by a dip inclined heading, on an average gradient of
1 in 4, to a total distance of 20 chains, _ the seam maintaining^
an average quality and thickness, especially as operations pro-
ceed eastward. The underground haulage is actuated by
steam-power, while the screening and washing installations
consist of modern and approved appliances. Mine-ventila-
tion is also controlled by a steam-driven fan of the colonial
type. To connect the colliery with the shipping-basin a mile
and a half of 2. ft. gauge tramway waS constructed suitable
if-t light locomotive traffic, while the jetty extension on same
line of rail gives an additional 39 chains of haulage. Since
tlie initiation of the company a gross tonnage of 37,979 tons
oF marketable coal has been produced for commercial pur-
poses. The coal-seam is highly bituminous, and commands a
ready market for household and steaming purposes. Shallow-
ness of water in the loading-basin is a chief drawback.

"West lATanganui.

In the West Wanganui mining district two seams of brown
coal occur on the Patarau River, holding a thickness of 12 ft.
and 6 ft. respectively. These seams are of average qualify,
but beyond exposing the outcrops nothing further has been
done. At Pa Point, on the western entrance to the inlet, a
ccal-soam, 4 ft. in thickness, was worked by a Wellington
syndicate about twenty years ago, but owing to shipping and
other incidental difficulties the company surrendered its
rights to the Taitapu Gold Estates (Limited). Extending-
south of the Patarau the coal becomes more or less patchy.

398 XEW ZEALAl^D MINING HANDBOOK.

especially on the low-bill country located between the Patarau
flats and Lake Otuhie. In the locality of the Golden Ridge the
miners use a 3 ft. seam as a household fuel, and on Malone's
Creek the Golden Blocks Gold-mining Company mine a i ft.
seam for steaming purposes at its crushing plant. Coming
to the eastern bank of the inlet, coal of average quality has
been examined and reported on on behalf of an Otago syndi-
3ate.

IfiTestport District.
Denmstoii Mines. — The WestiJort Coal Company was regis-
tered in 1881, with a capital of 80,000 shares at £5 each,
to acquire for a term of ninety-one years all mining rights,
titles, and interests of two Crown leases, named Coalbrookdale
and Granity Creek respectively. The Coalbrookdale lease,
comprising 2,480 acres, extends from the head of the Wharea-
tea Creek to some distance north of the Waimangaroa River,
and is exploited by the Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge Mines,
which produce an average output of 1,050 tons per day of
eight hours, whilst the gross tonnage raised during the history
of the mines is approximately 4,167,605 tons. In the matter
01 natural conditions, coal-mining on the Buller Coalfield is
somewhat unique compared with maav parts of the world, as
the mining and general operations connected therewith are
conducted at altitudes ranging between 1,800 ft. and 2,000 ft.
above sea-level. Hence, as a natural sequence of the field, the
continuity of these elevated seams is much broken and inter-
sected by deep ravines, while uniformity of inclination is
varied by the influences effected by Nature's potent agency
in bygone ages. Consequently, to maintain production at a
catisfactory commercial standard, the exploitation of these
coal-seams demands development of an expensive and excep-
tional character, and, as a leading factor in the working
economics, considerable engineering skill. But this enter-
prise and skill have had their reward, as shown by the fact
that these highly bituminous seams of superior-quality coal
pusilv command a steady and reliable market. Speaking
tjenerallv, the coal-seams vary in thickness from a few feet
to 40 ft., and are economically worked on the bord-and-pillar

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

399

system, the working and natural conditions being favourable
to win the coal either by hand - labour or coal - cutting
machinery. Compress'ed aid being the power applied to
actuate coal-cutting machines and all other underground
mechanical appliances, each mine has a separate installation,
suitably erected on the surface.

Drainage of the mines is effected by deep-level adits,
specially determined, and driven from daylighL points in the
deep gorges to the lowest main levels in the mine-workings.
Thus heavy and expensive pumping, is set aside for the more
favourable advantages of free drainage by adits. To effect
free drainage in the Ironbridge Mine an adit was driven
30 chains in length, of which 28 chains are rock-driven ; area,
6 ft. by 6 ft. This system of drainage is positively essential
during the extraction of pillars, as the thin overlying strata,
which is much intersected by deep gullies and creeks, freely
admits considerable quantities of water through the broken
ground during heavy rainfalls ; but, as these water-drives
have ample capacity to drain off immense volumes of water,
the total exhaustion of large pillar areas is effected without
obstruction or loss of coal, which would otherwise be im-
practicable to win.

These mines are classed as non-gassy ; but, the importance
of ventilation having been duly considered, efficiency is amply
maintained by three steam-driven exhaust-fans, capable of
inducing continuous air-currents at an aggregate measure-
ment of 200,000 cubic feet per minute.

Haulage and other machinery are largely and economically
employed, while the steam-boiler equipment connected there-
with has an aggregate total of 1,.300-horse power. It may be
worth noting that the total length of steel-wire rope in daily
operation, including that used on jigs, direct and endless rope
haulage, inclines, &c., is 12| miles, as follows: 70 chains of
4 in., 808 chains of 3^ in., and 142 chains of 2 in. rope.

To connect the mines with the screening and loading plant
at Denniston, the main surface tram-line, equipped with end-
less-rope haulage, extends from the brake-head terminal to
the junction known as "Wooden Bridge," a distance of a

400

NEW ZEALAND MINING" HANDBOOK.

mile and a half. At this junction the subsidiary endless-
rope haulage delivers the coal from tlie respective mines — that
of Coalbrookdale Mine a mile and three-quarters in length,
and that of Ironbridge 1 mile 14 chains. The roads are laid
with steel rails, 30 lb. to the yard, to a gauge of 2 ft., and the
mine-tubs, with a capacity of 12cwt., are attached by chain
clips to the rope running underneath the tubs. The main
haulage-rope referred to can readily deliver loaded tubs at the
screens at the rate of eighteen score per hour, on gradients
varying in parts frora 1 in. 5-75, 1 in 8, and 1 in 10, with
over half a mile practically level.

The coal is loaded at the screens into Government wagons,
which are brought from the sidings at Conn's Creek Station,
and thereto returned by an inclined railway laid down the
mountain-spurs. This inclined mining railway is doubtless
one of the steepest in the world, having a maximum grade of
1 in 1-34, and a ruling grade of 1 in 2-2.5, with a total length
of 85 chains. The incline is operated on in two sections,
known as the upper incline, 35 chains in length, and the lower
or second section, 50 chains, each section having distinct con-
trolling-power. The motive power is obtained by the weight
of the full wagon against the empty one. These wagons have
ii carrying-capacity of 8 tons, with an approximate tare of
4J tons. Patent plough-steel wire ropes of 4 in. are used on
the upper and steeper incline, and 3^ in. ropes of a similar
quality on the lower incline. The lowering and raising of the
wagons is controlled by hydraulic-brake power, a separate
plant being at the brow of each section. The cylinders of the
hydraulic brakes are 12 in. diameter and 4 ft. stroke, with
suitable by-pass valves, &c. The rope-drums are 9 ft. and
10ft. diameter respectively. Both sections run concurrently;
therefore, when an empty wagon is being delivered at Dennis-
ton a full wagon is arriving at Conn's Creek, at which
terminal the requisite trains of coal are made up for haulage
by Government locomotives to the port of shipment. This
system works very efiectively, as an average of 120 tons of
coal per hour can be lowered to Conn's Creek terminal.

At Denniston bin storage-capacity is provided for some

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 401

2,800 tons of coal. These bins are fitted with shaker screens,
which operate in oonni^ction Y,-ith steel-plate travelling picking-
belts that run longitudinally with the bin. These belts are
fitted with automatic tippers, and can thereby be regulated
to deliver the coal into any desired part. Steel-plate con-
veyers, running the whole length of tiic bin, underneath each
row of openings, are operattd to load the coal into the railway-
wagons. The doors of these openings are (tpetied and shut
by hydraulic power. The necessary engineering, black-
smithing, and carpentering workshops are established.

The whole of the works are lighted by electricity, as also the
inclines, which are often in operation before and after daylight.
An up-to-date workmen's club-house at Denniston, erected
and subsidised by the company, embodies a splendid library,
lecture-room, billiard-room, games-room, &c. This building
i,i well equipped to meet requirements.

The Uillerton Collieries, owned by the Westport Coal Com-
pany (Limited), are situated on an elevated plateau, eighteen
miles north from the town and port of Westport, and about
seven miles north, as the crow flies, from the Denniston
collieries. The area held under Crown lease for coal-mining
purposes (known as Granity Creek) comprises 3,026 acres,
whilst the gross tonnage raised to date is 1,878,000 tons. Re-
ferring to geological data of the Buller Coalfield, the coal-seam
worked in the Granity Creek, or Millerton, lease is scientific-
ally confirmed to be the continuation of the Coalbrookdale
area, extending northward in one unbroken series from the
southern boundary at the head of the Whareatea Creek. ¥7ith
respect to quality and heating properties of these highly bitu-
minous coal-seams, comment shall not form part of this
paper, as their calorific values for commercial and maritime
purposes are facts in their economy too widely known over the
Australasian Colonies. The following gives the average
Analytical test : — Per Cent-

Fixed carbon . . . . • . • • 74'83

Volatile matter . . - • • • 20-50

Ash 3-51

Moisture . . • • • ■ 1'16

100-00

402 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

In compaviiig the altitudinal position of the coal-seam
above sea-level, and the rugged and deeply intersected surface-
characteristics of the Millerton lease with Coalbrookdale, it
may be stated that development has entailed exceptional ex-
penditure in the construction of heavily inclined tramways,
efficiently equipped for endless-rope haulage. This sysfem of
haulage is universally installed over the field, with carrying-
capacities capable of maintaining an average output of
1,000 tons per day of eight hours, on gradients which vary
from 1 in 2'7 to 1 in 3 and 1 in 15. The tram-lines, covering
an aggregate total length of two miles and a half, comprise
B2 chains of rock-tunnelling, and employ five miles of patent
plough-steel rope 4^ in. and 3^ in. circumference. Hydraulic
brakes are separately installed to control the motion.

In connection with the haulage and mining operations,
one of the chief economics of this property lies in the fact
that the coal is filled by the miner at the working-face, is
conveyed over the various systems of haulage to the screening
plant, and loads direct into the Government railway-wagons
on the siding at Granity Station, Granity being the acknow-
ledged headquarters of the colliery offices and general work-
shops for fitting and effecting repairs to the mining plant.

The leasehold so far developed is divided into three main
working districts, known as the " East Dip," " Mine Creek,"
and " New Tunnel " areas. The latter, or western, division
of the coalfield was recently opened by an inclined tramway,
equipped with endless-rope haulage, branching on a southerly
course from the intersection of Nos. 1 and 2 inclines, con-
struction of which comprised 18 chains of rock-tunnelling,
II ft. by 7 ft., on a gradient of 1 in 5. Strike and thickness
of coal-seam are somewhat variable — thickness 6 ft. to 35 ft.,
lying on a natural trend of 1 in 8 north-easterly, this ratio
of inclination being considered a favourable working-condi-
tion both for coal-hewing by hand-labour and coal-cutting
machinery. Computing the extent of seam operated on, both
by solid and exhausted pillars, the total does not exceed
222 acres, of which the greater part is yet standing on pillars;
therefore, the life of the mine is a consideration worth noting.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 403

Bord-and-pillar is the system worked, but, in order to pro-
vide more effective and improved precautions against the possi-
bilities of spontaneous combustion, the panel system was lately
introduced into the Mine Creek area. The principfe claimed
for this system is that affected districts are more easily cut ofi
with a minimum of danger. Holing and cutting machinery,
actuated by compressed air, are largely and successfully em-
ploj'ed in the solid work, round coal maintaining an average
percentage equivalent to that produced by hand-labour. The
holing-machines in use are of the percussive type (made by
Leyner, of Denver, Colorado), and the shearing-machines,
Siskol (late Champion). Free drainage is amply provided
by rock adit, 1,260 ft. in length, and ventilation is efficiently
maintained by two steam-driven exhaust-fans, which induce
an aggregate air-current of 150,000 cubic feet per minute.
The power-stations, ftted for generating steam, compressed
air, and electricity, are separately and suitably installed on
the surface, electricity being freely used in lighting the more
important centres of underground haulage traffic.

The storage-bins, of 3,000 tons capacity, are fitted with
the latest screening and sorting appliances, including jiggers
and picking-belts; and the slide doors in use for freeing the
coal into the railway-wagons are controlled by hydraulic rams,
operated under a head pressure of 600 ft., hydraulic power
being used to operate all screening-appliances, workshop tools,
electrical plant, &c.

The Westport-Stockton Coal Companj/ (Limited), (G. H.
Broome, mining manager), was incorporated under " The
Companies Act, 1903," on the 3rd August, 1905, with a
capital of £150,000, in 300,000 shares of 10s. each, to acquire
and work a Crown lease of 1,577 acres, situated in the Nga-
kawau Basin of the Buller Coalfields Reserve, Westport, and
adjoining the Granity Creek lease, owned bj' the Westport
Coal Company. The area is conveniently situated for con-
nection with the Government railway (Westport-Mokihinui),
T^ith which the company proposes to connect the workings bv
a series of inclined tram-lines suitable for endless-rope and
electrical-motor haulage. Development is now in active pro-

404

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

gress, and the manager is sanguine tliat, witli the advantage
gained by his previous linowJedge of the coalfield, every effort
necessary to command and maintain a commercial and
economic'al system of working will be advanced. Meantime,
drivings are being extended on several outcrops to develop and
improve the field, and it is pleasing to note that thickness,
quality of seam, and general working-conditions give decided
promise of a successful venture. Ventilation is very eflficientiv
niaintained in the various drives by exhaust-fans, actuated
by means of oil-engines.

Reefton Coal-mines.

Coid-mining in the Eeefton district seems to attain no
higher sphere in commercial circles than ordinary household
consumption, while the small coal is utilised for steaming
purposes at the Golden Fleece crushing-battery and the Keep
it-Dark winding-engine. The seams worked at the Murray
Creek, Phoenix, and Lankey's Gully mines maintain a thick-
ness of 10 ft. to 20 ft., and their highly bituminous qualities
n-ot only procure a ready sale for local use, but considerable
consignments find their way by rail to Kumara and Hokitika.
The total output raised from these mines to the 31st Decem-
ber, 1905, was 49,121 tons, and for the whole district 98,585
tons. The coal is sold in the town at £1 2s. per ton, and the
same price is obtained for consignments on the railway-
wagons at Keefton Station. A small mine was recently opened
in the township reserve, but development so far is not im-
portant.

Boatm^in's and Bourke's Creek Mines, near Eeefton. —
Coal-mining at Boatman's is confined to two small mines
owned and worke.c^ by Mr. F. W. Archer and Mr. John
Coghlan on their freeholds. The seam, having a similar
quality and thickness to the Murray Creek mines, is carted
and sold in Reefton at local rates, the small coal being largely
used for steaming on the Boatman's Creek dredges. Needless
to say, these dredges have been a considerable boon to the dis-
trict. Bourke's Creek Mine (owned by Messrs. Cairns and
McLiver) has been worked at a very low ebb during the last

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 405

two years, but on the opposite side of the terrace Mr. Locking-
ton (sawmiller) has recently opened and fitted a very complete
mining plant. On the north bank of the Waitahu River Mr.
James Scarlett, of Reefton, has opened a mine, the coal being
freely sold in town.

Progress Mines take their coal-supplies for steaming pur-
poses at the Globe quartz-mine from their own leasehold on the
Merrijigs Road. The coal is carted to a shoot, thence trucked
to the main shaft, and hoisted to the surface. On the adjoin-
ing leasehold about 300 tons a year is mined by Mr. Stephen
Loughnan, and delivered for household fuel in Reefton.

Buller Road Coalmines.

During the dredging boom Mr. George Walker, of Rock-
lands House, reopened the old Coal Creek Mine, but suspended
operations owing to the failure of dredging on the Buller
River.

Mr. Job Lines, of White Cliffs, continues to take coal from
his lease on the Buller Road for the supply of the Old Diggings
and Buller Junction dredges.

Mr. Stefano de Filippi, Three-channel Flat, has been
somewhat successful with his mine in the supply of steam-coal
to the Mokoia and New Feddersen dredges. The coal is soft,
but very useful for steaming.

Coal-mining in Paparoa Range.

The Paparoa Coal-mining Company (jMnited) was filed
with the Registrar of Joint-stock Companies, Wellington, on
the 22nd December, 1905, with a capital of 100,000 shares of
£1 each, to acquire for a term of sixty-six years a Crown
leasehold of 1,000 acres, f:ituated on Mount Davy, Paparoa
Range, at an altitude of 1,500 ft. above sea-level, and about
two miles and a half north from the Township of Blackball.
The field comprises six seams, with average thicknesses of 5 ft.,
10 ft., and 10 ft. 6 in., making a total of 63 ft. of coal. The
quality of the coal is somewhat remarkable, and, according to
the following analysis by the Government Analyst, Nos. 1
and 2 seams may be classed amongst the anthracite coals.

406 NE-VV ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

whilst the other seams compare equally -with the West Coast
coalfields : —

Seam Seam Seam Seam Seam

No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. No. 5. No. 6.

Per Gent. Per Oent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent.

Fixed carbon ... 80-05 79-10 77-20 75-55 70-00

Hydrocarbon .,. 15-10 1505 19-00 2275 24-35

Water ... ... 065 1-85 060 070 085

Ash ... ... 4-20 4-00 320 1-00 4-80

10000

10000
0-23

100-00

10000

100-00

Total sulphur ... 037

0-26

0-29

9-82
16-62

0-19

Evaporative povrer

by standard usually

adopted in New

Zealand ... 1040
Ditto in New South

Wales ... ... 17-61

10-28
17-40

1004
16-98

9-10
16-40

The coals of the lower seams (Nos. 1, 2, and 3) are
practically smokeless, and should be eminently suitable for
use in ocean-going steamers generally. The area can be
opened level-free, and the coal conveyed by means of a self-
acting haulage-road, about two miles in length (at a fairly
easy gradient), to the new branch of the Government railway
now under construction from Ngahere to Blackball.

Brunnerton Coal-mines.

Although the history of coal-mining in the West Coast
Mining District may reasonably be said to have taken its
origin in the Brunner Coalfiel-d about the j'ear 1870, it is
nevertheless a fact that, although the Tyneside Colliery is still
in active and succea§ful operation, Wallsend, Coalpit Heath,
and Brunner Mines are now institutions which belong to the
past. The approximate tonnage raised from the Brunnerton
district gives an aggregate total of 3,070,516 tons.

The Brunner Mine, situated about eight miles north-
easterly from the Port of Greymouth, was originally opened
by Matthew Battj' and party in 1870, on the outcrop first dis-
covered by Mr. Brunner, on the north side of the Grey River.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 407

This party having failed to develop and -work the mine to pro-
fitable advantage, it was afterwards taken over by a Ballarat
syndicate, who also failed to comply with the conditions of
the lease, when, after a series of varied and unsuccessful
operations under the Provincial Government, Messrs. Kennedy
Bros., then of Grej'mouth, acquired possession of the pro-
perty. On this change of ownership the commercial and pro-
ductive capacities of the mine soon attained a more hopeful
aspect, and on the apjDoiutment of Mr. James Bishop as
general manager the output acquired a first place in the
colony. Whilst this flow of prosperity continued the whole
of the properties were amalgamated, under the title of the
" Grey Valley Coal Company," in 1890, in which year Walls-
end Mine was declared abandoned, and all movable plant was
withdrawn during the maritime strike. On resuming opera-
tions after this ruinous strike free labour was largely em-
ployed, and it was a noticeable feature, as regards the welfare
and prosperity of the district, that the former vitality was
fast ebbing out. Ownership was again changed, the title of
the new lessees being the " Greymouth— Point Elizabeth Rail-
way and Coal Company," who purchased and acquired posses-
sion of the mining, coke, and brickmaking plants in the year
previous to the memorable accident in March, 1896, this com-
pany still continuing in full possession of the property.

Tyneside Colliery, which now stands directly behind the
Brunner Railway-station, was opened by a Greymouth syndi-
cate in the year 1873 by a winding-shaft 98 ft. in depth, with
a finished diameter of 10 ft., suitable for two single-decked
winding-cages, whilst the adit oh the south bank of the Grey
River provides a suitable travelling-way for the workmen ami
an efficient intake for ventilation. During the early history
of the mine it would appear that success had not favoured
the efforts of the original proinoters, as operations were finally
abandoned. About 1888 Mr. Joseph Kilgour, of Greymouth,
reopened the mine, but after a short season of favourable pro-
mise he entered into a purchase agreement with the Grey
Valley Coal Company, who shortly afterwards abandoned the
property and withdrew all movable plant. Nothing furtEer

403

NEW Zisjii.-

was done on the property un'til the'Tyfleside Coal Company
(a local concern) opened and unwatered the mine in June,
1902. This advent was followed by a short season of success,
when the mine was again taken over by the Tyneside Pro-
prietary in 1903. During the history of this proprietary
mining operations have been very successful, and in 1905 the
gross tonnage raised was 44-, 047 tons. The surface arrange-
ments are well equipped with modern appliances for cleaning
and sorting the coal. Ventilation is efficiently maintained by
exhaust-fan, and the underground workings are safely and well
regulated throughout, while the highly bituminous character
of the seam, from 10 ft. to 12 ft. in thickness, commands a
ready market for general commercial and steaming purposes.

Fleming's Lease, Stillwater. — In 1904 a coal lease was
issued in favour of Mr. Malcolm Fleming over 2.32 acres
3 roods 15 perches in the Arnold Survey District for a term
of sixty-six years, on the terms that the sum of £500 be lodged
with the Public Trustee as a guarantee that the conditions of
the lease be complied with. The lease is now opened by a rock
tunnel, 6 ft. by 5 ft., which intersects the coal-seam at a driven
distance of COO it. The seam is soft, thickness variable, and
the dip has a steep angle of inclination.

CANTERBURY COAL-MINES.

By E. E. Gkeen, Inspector of Mines.

The principal mine in the province is the Homebush Mine,
in the estate of the late Mr. John Deans, at Glentunnel, South
Malvern district. 'Jbese mines were started in the year 1873,
and have been worked continuously since that date, prin-
cipally in winning coal to rise of main levels, which were
extended 42 chains west, all In coal; headings and bords
driven, and pillars brought back successfully. It is estimated

H
3

o .

O
O

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 409

that over 85 per cent, of coal available has been won from the
pillared area. Extensive development to the dip of main
levels has proved continuation of the seam in that direction.
Steam plant for dip haulage has been erected, and, the lower
workings being comparatively dry, pumping plant is not yet
required. Main seam, 6ft. to 7ft. in thickness; furnace
ventilation. A seam of fireclay occurs on the property, and
is mined for manufacture into bricks, sanitary glazed pipes,
and other ware at the extensive pottery-works in connection
with the mine. Mr. Deans having sent a i working-sample of
the clay to a firm of manufacturers in Liverpool, received a
report that " for taking salt glaze the clay was as good as any
of its class they had seen, and they only wished that they had a
similar clay on their own premises."

Other mines in the Malvern district are those at White
Cliffs and Springfield, the latter being chiefly worked in
conjunction with the fireclay-deposits underlying the coal-
seams, the clay being sent by rail to Christchurch for manu-
facture there. At Springfield, and at Sheffield, too, the coal-
seams are now practically exhausted in regard to coal to rise
or outcrop, and the same may be said of other coal-bearing
localities, as at White Cliffs, &o., and expenditure upon
haulage and pumping plants will require to be undertaken
if coal at depth is to be won. The mines at Woolshed Creek
and Mount Somers work steadily with a limited number of
men, but are heavily handicapped by lack of branch railway
communication ; the Selwyn Count)- narrow-gauge horse-tram-
way, nine miles in length, as laid from Mount Somers Rail-
way-station to the mines termini, provides slow traction, and
an extra handling of coal by crane at the station adds to cost
on railway-trucks.

At Waiho several small mines are conducted with more or
less vigour, mainly in accordance with local requirements, the
mine on Chamberlain Settlement, Albury, being somewhat
similarly situated.

In addition to the mines mentioned, a number of other
deposits are known to occur ; some of them, being far back,
are worked as required for local use.

410 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Coal in Canterbury is principally found in the Tertiary
deposits of the foothills lying between the plains and the
eastern slopes of the Southern Alps, in area extending from
Waimakariri River on the north to Waitaki River on the
south, quality ranging from superior to medium brown coal.
At Acheron, Rakaia Gorge, and at Brockley, South Malvern,
are seams of anthracite coal, altered by proximity of dolerite-
flows. These seams are not being worked on account of inac-
cessibility and distance from nearest point of railway — the
terminus of the Christchurch - White Cliffs Branch, at White
Cliffs. A considerable amount of prospecting for coal in con-
venient localities has from time to time been undertaken,
notably at Springfield, by the Springfield Coal Company and
others, also at Hartley and South Malvern, jMakikihi, Stavely,
Springburn, and at Mount Winterslow, where an Ashburton
resident recently spent a considerable sum of money in search-
ing for a seam of bituminous coal supposed to exist there.

Complete statistics and detailed reports on all the mines
are published annually by the Mines Department in " Papers
and Reports relating to Minerals and Mining," according to
which 25,638 tons of coal were raised during the year 1905,
making a total of 458,132 tons produced in the province.

The valuable deposits of fireclay at Homebush and Spring-
field Mines also occur in the coal-measures, and are being
worked at Sheffield, whence the clay is being taken to Christ-
church for use, and at White Cliffs, where it is being converted
in the extensive local pottery-works. 617 tons of fireclay were
raised for use in Canterbury during the year 1905.

A deposit of kaolin, at Kakahu, is said to have been favour-
ably reported on by expert pottery-makers.

Lime-burning is carried on at Selwyn Gorge, Mount
Somers, and at Sprragburn, Stavely, at which latter place coal
is mined exclusively for this purpose.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 411

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND COAL-MINES.

By E. R. Geeen, Inspector of Mines.

These provincial districts are fortunate in the number of
existing local coal-deposits, varying in extent or area, and
ranging in value from lignite to brown-coal and pitch-coal of
superior quality. From an economic point of view, in rela-
tion to the various centres of population, also outlying dis-
tricts, the value of the proximity of these extensive beds cannot
be overestimated. They may also be expected to become im-
portant factors in the event of their being found suitable for
use in connection with producer-gas power plants.

Peat-beds occur occasionally, as in Waipahi Valley and
other places, also on tops of high mountain-ranges, many of
which carry large areas of peat-bog.

Lignite occurs plentifully as fluviatile or lacustrine de-
posits, mainly following the valleys and terrace formations of
the Clutha and Mataura River systems and tributaries thereto.
One of the most extensive deposits is that at Gore and sur-
rounding districts, extending to Mataura and Wyndham,
thence by way of Seaward Forest to Clifton, at South Inver-
cargill, a distance of about fifty miles in length by one mile
and over in breadth. Generally, the lignites occur near the
surface, and are overlaid by gravels and clays 5 ft. to 10 ft. in
depth. Seams vary from 6 ft. and upwards to 20 ft. and
over in thickness. At Alexandra the seam is 28 ft. ; at Clyde,
two seams aggregate 80 ft. ; and at Coal Creek, Roxburgh,
one seam as exposed is 100 ft. or more in thickness. In or
near river-courses and in low-lying situations the lignite-beds
are usually found horizontal in deposition, and in terrace
formations with a slight dip from the outcrop.

Large -deposits of pitch and brown coals occur at Shag
Point, Kaitangata, Nightcaps, Green Island, Tokomairiro,
Taratu, and Oropuki, and in lesser degree at Lovell's Flat,
Papakaio, Gibbston, Nevis, Cardrona, Bannockburn, and
other places.

412

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Shales of low specific gravity, found associated with lignite-
deposits at Idaburn and Waikaia, are used as fuel. At Ore-
puki a seam of oil-shale, i ft. in thickness, immediately over-
lies the coal-seam there. Extensive works erected for reduc-
tion of this mineral have been closed down for some time.

Clutha Coalfield.

Kaitangata and Castle Uitl Mines. — The principal mines
in the southern district, not only by reason of the extent of
this coalfield, but also on account of their being the largest in.
operation, are the Kaitangata and Castle Hill Mines, the pro-
perty of the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company (Limited).
About 120,000 tons of coal are raised annually; seams worked
are main seam, Soft., and 18ft., the latter occasionally
"split" into 12ft. and 6ft. seams, having partings between
of variable thickness. Main cross-measures drive east is at
3,300ft. from surface to working-face; main lines of fault,
having a general north and south strike, downthrow east, hav3
been successfully encountered. The measures, which formerly
had a heavy westerly dip, are found flattening gradually to the
anticline of the seaward range of hills forming the central
axis of the field. The mines are equipped with efficient
haulage and pumping plants, air-compressors, loading-banks,
and screens (electrically lighted), and suitable machinery for
conducting the works. Kaitangata Mine is ventilated by an
electrically driven fan and Castle Hill Mine by furnace, while
m.ain haulage-roads of latter mine are lighted electrically, and
furnished with telephonic connection from the surface.
Both mines are reticulated with systems of compressed-air and
water pipes, the former for transmission of power to dip-
baulage winches aiwl pumps, while water is laid on for sup-
pression of spontaneous fires, to which the coal is particularly
liable under certain well-known conditions, as pillar-crush,
accumulations of dross, falls of coal and stone with clay, &c.
Recent improvements at Kaitangata Mine include a new up-
cast air-shaft, which is being sunk abreast of the main body
of advancing workings. The collieries are connected by pri-
vate branch lines with the Main Trunk Railway at Stirling
Station.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 413

Shag Point Coalfield.

Under-sea and foreshore workings having been abandoned,
the AUandale Colliery has become ihe principal producer of
coal from this field. Development-work to the dip of the
measures having resulted favourably, the management in-
stalled an electric plant for dip haulage and pumping, also for
main-level haulage un-derground, while the ventilating-fan is
also electrically driven. A new motor, 100-horse power, is on
order to provide for additional power as required for advanc-
ing workings. Coal is conveyed from the colliery on the
company's private branch line, which connects with the main
line of railway at Bushey Station.

Green Island Coalfield.

This coalfield includes Abbotsford, Saddle Hill, &c.
About 70,000 tons per annum continue to be raised from this
field for consumption in Dunedin City and surrounding dis-
tricts, and from indications there should be no diminution of
the rate of output for some years to come. The several
collieries forming the group are being vigorously conducted.
Coal-seams vary from 12ft. to 20ft. in thickness; method of
working, bord and pillar, with subsequent robbing of pillars
and head coal. Two branch lines of railway afford communi-
cation with the main line at Abbotsford and Burnside Railway-
stations respectively.

Nightcaps Coalfield.

The Nightcaps Coal Company's mine is the principal one
on this field, having an annual output of about 4.3,000 tons.
Three seams are being worked, aggregating 36 ft. of good
coal, separated by two partings of hard clay or "bat." On
the outcrop of the seams coal is stripped and worked opencast.
Underground, levels and dips driven to the boundaries are
being brought back on pillars and head coal, with a higli per-
centage of coal won in pillared areas. Efficient haulage plant
and appliances, loading-bank, an-d screens are provided. An
acetylene-gas plant has been installed for lighting the surface

414 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

works, railwaj'-station, and yard. Coal is conveyed on the
company's private line, some two miles and a half, to Wairio
Railway-station.

Other Coalfields.

Other mines in Otago having considerable outputs are the
Taratu Coal Companj^ Lovell's Flat, Bruce Railway and Coal
Company, and Real Mackay, Milton, each having private
branch lines of railway from collieries to main lines.

In Central Otago the chief mining centres are Alexandra,
Clyde, Bannockburn, and Roxburgh ; while in Southland, in
addition to Nightcaps, the principal workings are at Gore,
Mataura, Waikaka, and Waikaia.

Output from Coal-mines, Southern Mining District.

The following table shows the output of coal from the prin-
cipal mines in the southern district for the year 1905 and
to the end of that year ; also total output from all the mines-
in the district to end of year 1905 : —

Output

Approximate

for

Total Ou'pnt to

Total Output to

1906.

31st Dec, 190i.

31st Dec, 1905.

Tons.

Kaitangata collieries

119,896

1,903,603

2,023,499

Shag Point collieries

20,198

635,300

655,498

Green Island collieries

70,204

1,407,266

1,477,470

Nightcaps collieries

48,188
258,486

459,633

507,821

Totals

4,405,802

4,664,288

The following' is the

) output fl

■om all mines,

including the

above : —

Output

Approximate

for

Total Output to

Total Ouipnt to

•

1905.

31st D.c, 1904.

31st Dec, 1905.

Tons.

Canterbury

25,6.38

432,494

458,132

Otago

317,731

5,096,779

5,414,510

Southland

126,284

1,021,159

1,147,443*

Totals

469,653

6,550,432

7,020,085

* Includes 14,422 tons of oil-shale raised at Orepuki.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 4] 5

Other Minerals— 1905.

Fireclay. — At Benhar and Lovell's Flat, 1,800 tons of fire-
clay was raised, an-d converted into sanitary pipes and other
glazed ware during the j-ear 1905.

Building-sand. — 14,484 tons of sand was produced at
Green Island Coalfield for use in Diinedin and district.

Marl (Burnside). — Eight hundred tons was utilised by the
Milburn Lime and Cement Company at its cement-works,
Dunedin.

Lime (Canterhury and Otarjn). — 12,2G0 tons has been re-
turned as having been disposed of during the year. (Output
from one or two small kilns not included.)

Phosphate Rock. — Five thousand tons of rock was re-
covered from the field at Clarendon, and after being calcined
on the ground was forwarded to the chemical works for treat-
ment and conversion into artificial manures.

Hamatite. — Fifty-six tons was raised at Mataura for use
by the paper-mills at their works at Mataura Falls, South-
land.

THE STATE COAL-MINES.

Point Elizabeth State Colliery.

By J. Bishop, M.I.M.E., Manager Point Elizabeth State Coal-mine.

Inteoductort.

The history of State mining within the colony dates from the
passing of the State Coal-mines Act in the parliamentary
session of 1901, whereby the Government was authorised to
embark in coal-mining under the direct control of the Minis-
ter of Mines, who by the Act is empowered to open and work
coal-mines, and generally to carry on the business of coal-
mining in all its branches; and under the Act the Govern-
ment has power to make reserves of such land as may be found
necessary for State coal-mining purposes.

416 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

The west coast of the Middle Island being, so far as is
known, the only part of the colony capable of producing coal
of a quality suitable for the varying requirements of the
colony's manufactures, the propulsion of steamships, and for
use as locomotive-fuel, the first mines under the State owner-
ship and control have been opened in that region.

The colliery, of which the following notes give a brief out-
line, is situated five miles north from the town and port of
Greymouth, and approximately two miles east from that point
of the sea-coast known as Point Elizabeth. Hence the name
given to the colliery.

Ahea of Reserves.

The area of land at present reserved for the purposes of
this or any other State mine which it may be found desirable
to open in the same region is approximately 8,000 acres, being
a portion of what is designated the Grey Coalfield. The area
may be said to be divided into three blocks — viz., tTie North,
Central, and South Blocks.

Geology (ind Topographical Features. — The coal-seams of
the region are probably of Eocene age. The strata over-
lying and otherwise associated with the coal-seams are shelly
limestones, marls, soft sandstones, coaly shales, and grit.
The surface of the country is strikingly uneven, and varies
in elevation from a few feet to as much as 2,000 ft. above sea-
level. The lower elevations are covered by a dense forest of
valuable timber, suitable for use in the construction of per-
manent surface works necessary in connection with coal-
mines. There is also abundance of suitable timber for use in
the underground workings of the colliery. The country is
traversed by a number of important creeks, some of which —
notably the Waeniatuku or Seven - mile Creek — have, by
ero.-.ion, cut their channels through practically the whole of
the coal-measures, thus exposing the coal-seams in a splendid
natural section, and enabling the position and character of
most of them to be ascertained with comparative ease. The
section just referred to shows the existence of at least twenty-
one distinct layers or seams of coal, totalling a thickness of

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 417

44r ft. Of the twenty-one seams at least four are workable,
these varying in thickness from 2 ft. 6 in. to 10 ft.

Lines of Faulting. — Denudation and erosion have not only
exposed the coal-seams, but have enabled the lines of faults —
of which there are several traversing the district — to be ascer-
tained with a very close approximation to correctness prior
to mining being started, thus preventing the disappointments
which often arise from the laying-out of works that after-
wards prove unsuitable in consequence of a fault or faults
which could not be located by surface exploration.

Inclination of the Seams. — The coal-measures here are,
like most of the other portions of the Grey Coalfield, found
to have an angle of inclination varying from 1 in 3 to 1 in 5,
or approximately 12J°, the dip being to the south-west.

Colliery-development. — The necessary works for the deve-
lopment of the colliery were commenced in September, 1902,
and were so far completed as to enable coal to be shipped in
June, 1904. In consequence of the existence and effect pro-
duced by faults, the lines of which had been traced on the
surface, it was deemed advisable to open the colliery by
driving two main tunnels for haulage. The site chosen was
ia the valley of the Camp Creek. The tunnels are numbered
1 and 2. No. 1 is on the rise side of the largest of the faults,
and No. 2 is on the dip side of the same, but on the rise side
of the second fault. The line chosen for the tunnels enabled
them to be driven almost directly against the rise of the
measures, and was in stone overlying the 10 ft. seam for a
distance of llj chains before striking the coal. Seeing that
the main tunnels were driven to intersect coal separated by a
fault or displacement of considerable magnitude, the working
of the coal is being carried on as two distinct collieries in so
far as the underground operations are concerned.

System of Work. — The system of work adopted is mainly
by bord and pillar, a small portion only of this coal having
been worked by the longwall method. In the bord-and-pillar
system the bords are 18 ft. wide, and pillars 14 yards thick.
The pillars are left intact until the boundary of a section is
reached, when they are worked back. The roof has in the
14— Mining Handbook.

418

NEW ZEALANn MINING HANDBOOK.

main proved good, enabling a large percentage of the pillar-
coal to be won.

Colliery Equipment. — The plant already installed consists
of two ventilating-f ans ; endless-rope haulage system, with
engine and boiler, also six hundred coal-tubs ; temporary
engines for dip haulage; ooal-storage bin and appliances,
including picking-belts and screens ; workshops, machine
tools, and sawmill.

Ventilation. — Ventilation is produced by two exhaust-
fans, one for each section of the colliery, for, as has been
explained, the underground work is carried on as two distinct
concerns.

Haulage. — The conveyance of the coal from the miners'
v,'orking-place in the rise workings is done by self-acting or
gravity inclines, by which the tubs are lowered to the main
level to be attached to the endless rope. Coal from the dip ia
raised by an auxiliary haulage-engine to the main level, also
for attachment to the endless rope, which is in all 160 chains
long, and is actuated by a steam-engine located near the
storage-bins on delivery end. The coal-tubs, of which there
are six hundred in use, are attached to the rope by clip chains
at irregular intervals apart — five, ten, or more yards may bo
found necessary. The rope is carried on rollers placed be-
tween the rails, and it runs under the tubs. The rope from
the engine direct to No. 1 tunnel is passed round a terminal
or return wheel, then back to No. 2 tunnel, having the loaded
tubs from No. 1 attached. Arriving at the junction with
No. 2, the tubs from No. 1 are undipped from rope and
passed over the junction. The rope is passed into No. 2
round the terminal wheel there, and returns with loaded tubs
attached, passing the junction with the main line. The out-
put of coal (750 t^s daily) from both sections is conveyed to
the storage-bins or to screens as may be necessary.

Tipping-platform. — Arrived at the tipping-platform, the
tubs are detached from the rope by boys, who pass them over
the weighbridge, when the weight is taken and booked to the
credit of the miners whose number or tally is attached to the
tubs. In charge of the weighbridge are two men, represent-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 419

ing the State and the Miners' Union respectively. Leaving
the weighbridge, the tubs are run forward to the men in
charge at the tipping-cradle. Here the coal is tipped on to
endless steel belts, 115 ft. long, 5 ft. wide, of which there
are two in use. These belts extend over the whole length of
the storage-bins, into which the coal is delivered, the removal
from the belt being effected by means of a plough pushing the
ooal into sliding shoots placed on each side of the belt. If
required for screening, the coal is transferred from the main
steel belt to an auxiliary belt travelling in the reverse direc-
tion; this delivers the coal on to a vibrating screen. Passing
the coal over belts as just described enables the stone or other
impurity sent out with the coal to be removed before the coal
is stored or screened. The work of picking is done by boys
placed at intervals alongside the belt. The introduction of
the belts and allied appliances not only enables the ooal to be
freed from impurity, but also enables the bin to be filled to
its maximum holding-capacity (2,000 tons) with the minimum
of manual labour.

It may be mentioned that the tubs, in going to the
tipping-machines, never leave the rails; the full tub pushes
the empty from the machine, and by releasing the brake the
loaded tub causes the machine to revolve one-third revolution,
empties the coal from the tub, bumping another empty into
line. The empties leaving the machine run on a down grade
to the point where they are again attached to the rope for
return to the miner.

The advisability of using a storage-bin for coal may be
questioned, as it has doubtless an injurious efiect on the size
of the coal, for however carefully it may be handled breakage
must result. On the other hand, having such storage assists
in the regulation of the work at the colliery when ships are
prevented arriving in consequence of storms at sea or floods
in the river. It is under such conditions that the benefit of
storage is felt, for not onlj' are the miners kept better em-
ployed, but having the stock enables vessels after a block in
the harbour to be dispatched sooner than would otherwise be
possible.

420

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Railway Sidings. — The general arrangement of the railway
sidings or station-yard provides for four lines of rails
running under the bin, the floor of which is provided with
fifty-two doors (sliding), all workable by steam-power, so that
railway-trucks can be loaded from storage at the rale of from
300 to 350 tons per hour.

Workshops. — These comprise smithy and carpenter's shops.
The former is commodious, and well equipped with the follow-
ing new and useful machine tools : One 5 cwt. steam-hammer,
one radial drill, screwing-machine and punching and shear-
ing machine. All forges are fitted with fan-blast, actuated
by a small steam-engine. The carpenter's shop (not so large
as the smithy) has located in it a first-class lathe. The tools
referred to have proved most useful, enabling much of the
lighter class of plant and appliances for the colliery to be
made on the works.

Sawmill. — The sawmill, established at the outset in con-
nection with the opening of the colliery, is equipped with a
steam-engine and boiler, planing-mill, and other accessories,
and from it is obtained all sawn timber required for the erec-
tion of permanent structures on the surface, as well as sawn
timber for underground use; and workmen are supplied with
timber for building cottages at prices much less than are
charged for timber obtainable from outside sources.

Railway. — The railway connecting the colliery with the
port, although constructed from the vote for " Colliery-deve-
lopment," is now part of the railway system of the colony,
having been taken over by the Department of Working Rail-
ways. The distance between the colliery and the wharf at
Greymouth is, approximately, five miles. The trafiic is
handled under the railway tariff, and provided for a minimum
distance of ten i#iles — viz., Is. lOd. a ton — which includes
shipping. The system of shipping coal is by hydraulic cranes
stationed on the wharf. The coal-trucks — or, as they are
called, "hoppers," from the fact that the body is hopper-
shaped — carry mainly 8 tons. When run alongside a vessel
the crane is attached, and the hoppers are lifted from the
frames and swung over the vessel's hatch, when the bottom

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 421

doors are opened and the coal is dropped into the hold. In
vessels having large hatches the hoppers are lowered into the
hold before the doors are opened, thus saving the coal from
breakage.

Harbour Conditions. — The entrance to the harbour being
an open roadstead, absolutely without shelter, there are fre-
quent blocks of shipping, due to heavy seas on the bar ; and
floods in the river, in which the ships must remain until
loaded, are also a cause of hindrance. The first-named cause
cannot be remedied, but the hindrances from floods can be
much minimised by improved portable cranes. These would
also lessen the periods of detention often caused by inability
to handle inward and outward cargo with despatch. It is
understood that improvements are to be introduced in the
direction of improved cranes and other facilities.

Classes of Labour employed, and System of Payment. —
Persons having no practical acquaintance with coal-mining
are apt to fall into the error that the cost of labour in pro-
ducing coal is covered by the amount paid for its hewing,
whereas there are a number of other items of cost, which may
be realised by a glance at the complete list here following,
which shows the various kinds of labour employed: —

Underground Labour : Hewing (contract work), timber-
ing, trucking and hauling, brushing, baling water and pump-
ing, overmen and deputies, maintonanoe-work, ventilation,
lamp-trimming, mine-manager.

Overground Labour : Tipping, loading, and screening,
weighing, blacksmith and fitter, carpenter, enginemen and
stokers, general labour, tub-cleaning, engine-wright.

And to the above, to complete the cost at the mine, must
be added stores of all kinds, including timber, rails, general
ironwork, ropes, nails, oils, &c.

Referring to the above list of labour, the coal-hewer only
is paid by contract; this explains the need for weighing the
coal as it arrives from the niine. The hewing-rate in connec-
tion with this colliery is a standard of 2s. 4d. per ton for all
coal 5 ft. in thickness and over. For coal under that thick-

422 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

ness the rate is increased, and in some cases as much as 3s. 6d.
per ton is paid for hewing, exclusive of payments for stone
and yardage.

The workers are registered as au industrial union, and
work is carried on under a mutual agreement entered into
between the manager and the employees. By this agreement
all rates of pay are fixed, and matters which might lead to
dispute, if not provided for, are clearly set out, and in the
event of any dispute arising during the term for which the
iigreement is made there is a proviso which practically pre-
vents any friction between the two parties. In the drawing-
up of an agreement, where there are so many items giving
rise to discussion, much time and consideration has to be
given to it, and it is found that the more thoroughly the
various points are dealt with the more satisfactory the work-
ing will be. At present the greatest good feeling exists be-
tween the management and the employees, and so long as
matters in dispute are approached in the same spirit as in the
past there need be but little difficulty in arriving at mutually
satisfactory agreements.

Future Development. — In order to keep abreast of the de-
mand, and to efficiently develop the coal lying to the dip of
the present workings, powerful new haulage-engines, also
air-compressing engines, have been designed, and are now on
order. The haulage plant will be capable of drawing 1,000
tons per shift from the dip field, the tubs to be conveyed by
endless rope. The air-compressors are to be used for the
driving of pumps, rock-drills, and auxiliary haulage-engines,
all of which will be' driven by compressed air. In no case will
steam be taken underground.

As mentioned M the outset of these notes, in order to de-
fine the position of the lower seams, a bore is being put down
near the site of the present colliery. In addition, steps are
being taken to exploit the seams of bituminous and anthra-
oitous coal exposed on the northern block. These seams
range from 2 ft. to 20 ft. thick, and are existing under con-
ditions favourable to economical exploitation ; this being so,
it is not unreasonable to anticipate that within a compara-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 423

tively short period the production of ooal from the State-
owned colliery in this region will be from 8,000 to 12,000 tons
weekly.

Township. — To facilitate the settlement of the workmen
employed at the colliery, the Government has laid out a town-
ship called Runanga. The location is sheltered and attrac-
tive, being within easy distance of the colliery, about four
miles from Greymouth, and two miles from the sea-shore at
Point Elizabeth, which is the pleasure resort of the people in
the district during the summer months. Extensive roading
has already been done, and is still .being carried on in the
township. The railway passes through it, and the railway-
station (where the post, telegraph, and money-order offices are
to be housed) is conveniently situated. Many of the em-
ployees have already erected comfortable homes ; others are
in course of doing so, and it is pleasing to note that in most
cases the style of architecture is neat. Outside of workmen's
homes, the Medical Association has erected a very good resi-
dence for their medical officer. There are several general
stores, and the Grey Education Board has built a commodious
school, which was opened by the late Right Hon. R. J.
Seddon in January last, and as indicating the progress of the
settlement it may be mentioned that there are already a hun-
dred children on the roll.

With the object of meeting the demand for homes, or assist-
ing their erection more expeditiously than would otherwise
be possible, it is proposed to set aside a portion of the town-
ship for the erection of cottages by the Government on such
terms as will, no doubt, prove acceptable and beneficial to
the workers, while adding to the general progress of the place.
There is also to be erected a building suitable for a library,
and in which games of a recreative character may be indulged
in. Before leaving this subject, it may be mentioned that
most of the timber required for the building of the work-
men's homes is obtained from the clearing of the township.
The logs are taken to the colliery sawmill, cut into scantlings,
boards, itc, and supplied to the users at prices and under
conditions favourable to them.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 425

Seddonville State Coal-mine.

By Henhy a. Gordon, F.G.S., Consulting Engineer.

The coal-mines that are at present being developed and
worked by the State are situated in the districts of Mokihinui
and Grey. In both of these districts coal-mining operations
have been carried on for a number of years.

Coal was discovered in the Mokihinui district about thirty
years ago. Prospecting operations were carried on by Mr.
E. B. Gareen and others on the side of the Mokihinui Kiver,
about two miles up from its mouth. Coal was found of ex-
cellent quality as regards its calorific properties, but at that
time, there being no roads or means of transit, the parlies
interested abandoned the enterprise. The ooal from these
prospecting operations lay on the surface for some years, and
showed very little deterioration by atmospheric action.

Nothing further was done in prospecting for coal in this
district for several years, until Mr. Eugene O'Connor and
others discovered a large outcrop of coal on the western side
of Coal Creek, a tributary of the Mokihinui River. This out-
crop showed a thickness of about 30 ft., and from its outside
appearance it led its discoverers to believe that a large field
of excellent coal, whose calorific value was equal to any coal
found in the Westport district, had been found. A. lease of
640 acres was applied for and granted. Experts were em-
ployed to report on the potentialities of the field, with the
view of making certain that if mining operations were com-
menced they would prove a success. But, as the poet Burns
remarks, " The best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft
a-gley." The experts employed spoke highly of the probabili-
ties of the field. A corporation of influential shareholders
was formed, and capital was provided not only to open up the
mine, but also to construct a railway from the mine to near
the mouth of the Mokihinui River, where small vessels could
come up to load. A bin was constructed at this place witE a
holding-capacity sufficient for loading small steamers. There
is a large volume of water in the Mokihinui River, and at
high water in ordinary tides there is from 10 ft. to 14 ft. on
the bar at the entrance ; after getting over the bar there is a

426 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

considerable depth of water in the river up to the place whero
the bin was constructed. Large bins were also erected about
20 chains from the mouth of the mine, and every provision
made for an output of from 40,000 to 60,000 tons of coal per
annum. For some time the coal was taken away by small
steamers. The company also had one of its own, but it got
wrecked in crossing the bar, after, however, running for a con-
siderable time. The company then made arrangements to send
the coal to Westport for shipment, the railway at that time
being completed up to the terminus of the company's railway
After carrying on operations in a southward direction for some
years, the company did not find a profitable market for the
class of coal that was generally found in the mine. The
quality of the coal was all that could be desired in regard to
its calorific properties, but its soft, friable character, with
handling and transit to ports where it was delivered, proved
a great drawback, and there was not sufficient demand for it
at a marketable rate to leave a profit to the shareholders for
working the mine. The company therefore finally abandoned
the workings.

A syndicate of co-operative miners took up the mine, and
carried on operations for some time, but one portion of the
workings was found to be on fire, and could not be extin-
guished. That fire has now spread over a large area, and is
still burning. Several co-operative parties of miners have
taken up a portion of the original lease, and developed the
field on the northernmost side of Coal Creek, which is opposite
to that of the burning seam, but a little lower down the
stream. Success, however, did not attend their efforts. In-
deed, it would only be by mere chance that any co-operative
company of worlAien, who have not a considerable amount of
capital at their back, could convert an abandoned mine into
a remunerative investment. Any company giving up a coal
property would naturally work it so that very little available
coal of a good description could be procured unless at a con-
siderable expense. The best portion of the mine being on fire
has rendered the possibility of reopening the southern portion
of the field from Coal Creek almost hopeless.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 427

The first output from this mine was in 1887, when 200
tons were taken out, and up to the time the last co-operative
party carried on mining operations in 1905 the total output
was 84,313 tons.

About the year 1892 a coal lease was granted to Mr. A. D.
Bayfeild and others, adjoining the place where ooal was first
discovered in the Mokihinui district, and a company, termed
the Westport-Cardifi Coal Company (Limited), was formed to
work it. This company expended a considerable sum of
money in opening out a portion of the coalfield in a southern
direction to a large fault or dislocation which crosses the
country from Coal Creek to the ocean. Railway sidings were
constructed ; bins were erected at the foot of the terrace on the
Mokihinui Flat; an endless-rope haulage-road from the mine
to the bins, a distance of about 40 chains, was constructed :
and a valuable steam-haulage plant erected, with all appli-
ances for providing for a considerable output. The bins had
a holding-capacity of about 900 tons. All necessary buildings
were erected for carrying on mining operations for a long
period. The company had a capital of £10,000; this was
expended in opening up the nearest section of the property,
which, when first opened out, contained a good class of coal,
but as the workings were extended the coal became more soft
and friable, having only a block of hard coal here and there.
As far as can be ascertained, about £40,000 was expended in
■developing this section, and what is known as the Bridge Sec-
tion, the latter section being on the west side of Chasm Creek.
Some £30,000 of this capital came from the profits of work-
ing the mine; the shareholders did not receive any of the
money they originally subscribed. All the hard coal was
taken out of the first section of the property ; a bridge was
constructed across Chasm Creek, and a considerable amount
of development-work done in this section ; but, with the ex-
ception of the face of the outcrops in the Bridge Section, no
hard coal was met with, and the price obtained for the soft
small coal did not cover the cost of putting it on board ship
at Westport.

A considerable amount of prospecting- work was done on
the adjoining section, known as the Cave area, which is

428 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

separated from the first section opened out by a major fault
that traverses the country for a considerable distance. Mr.
G. H. Broome, the company's managing engineer, and Mr.
Denniston examined this area, and had a number of bore-
holes put down, when coal was found of an average thickness
of about 13 ft. Only one of the bores showed a want of coal,
and this bore was considered to be on the eastern side of the
coal area. In addition to these boreholes there are various out-
crops on the side of the terrace facing Chasm Creek; some
of those outcrops show a face of excellent coal, especially the
one known as Grant's face. Mr. Broome recommended his
company to open up this area, which he estimated would con-
tain about 1,400,000 tons of coal, and that the section on the
west side of Chasm Creek, directly opposite the Cave area,
would probably contain about 700,000 tons.

The whole of the marketable coal had been exhausted in
the first section of the property, and the Bridge Section, so
far as development had been extended, contained nothing but
very small soft coal. The shareholders got so disheartened
tlirough not getting any of their original capital returned
that they decided to abandon the enterprise. A few months
after mining operations were suspended a fire broke out in
the first section opened out. How this fire originated, whether
by spontaneous combustion or through carelessness of some
one with a light going through the old workings, was never
known. From the analysis of the coal one would not expect
it to be liable to spontaneous combustion ; still, such might
take place where the coal is soft and mushy, and especially if
it is in close proxiniity to a fault. The fire got too much of
a hold before a^^ real attempt was made to put it out, and
although strong efiorts were made eventually to extinguish it
they were unavailing. This portion of the field is still on fire,
but it is circumscribed in every direction by faults or dis-
locations in the country and by the deep gorge of Chasm
Creek, the bed of which is below the level of the burning seam.
The fire cannot reach any other portion of the field, and will
in time extinguish itself by a total collapse of the surface,
which will eventually settle down and exclude the air.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 429

The Westport-Cardifi Company commenced mining opera-
tions about 1893, and suspended worlving the property in
1899. During tlie six or seven years the mine was worked
the output of ooal was 227,441 tons. After a lapse of about
two years it finally abandoned the property, and sold to the
Government the whole of the plant and buildings, which con-
sisted of a powerful steam-engine and hauling-gear, steam
winches and pumps, a large assortment of steel rails, chains,
tubs, mining tool<, mining stores, bins, blacksmith's and car-
penter's shops, office, and store.

After the abandonment of this mine there was very little
traffic on that portion of the railway from Ngakawau to
Mokihinui, and, as this railway was specially constructed to
open up the coalfield, the Government employed experts to
examine this field, and more especially the Cave area, which
had been favourably reported on by the Westport-Cardiff
Company's engineer two years previously. Tliese experts care-
fi.illy examined all the outcrops facing Chasm Creek, on whic'a
some prospecting-work had been done by the late company.
Cuts had been put in the face of the terrace, and exposed the
coal in various places along the side of Chasm Creek, the
seam showing a thickness of from 8 ft. to fully 16 ft. In one
of these cuts, at the place known as Grant's face, it showed
excellent hard coal. Some blocks of this coal, which had been
broken two years previously when the face was exposed, were
lying on the ground, and showed no sign of deterioration.
In making this exaniination, the Cave area appeared to be
divided into two sections by a fault, the extent of which could
not be determined until further prospecting-work had been
done. The locality of the different boreholes, and formatioa
of the country to the eastward of the Cave area, were also
carefully examined. These experts recommended further pro-
specting operations to be carried on, with the view of deter-
mining the area of coal in the Grant's face section of the Cave
area. Their recommendations were approved by Government,
and a tunnel was driven in from Grant's face for a distance
of 15 chains through coal. Those in charge of the prospect-
ing operations gave a favourable report, and this induced the
Government to open up the Cave area.

430 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

A line of tramway was surveyed from the top of the first
terrace above the bins, which went in a straight line to Grant's
face, and a tunnel was commenced in the face of a steep
granite sideling, the mouth of which was 90 chains from the
bin, and at an elevation of about 450 ft. above the flat where
the bins were erected. This tunnel was driven through rock
for a distance of 25 chains before it struck the coal in the
Cave area. Levels were opened up to work the coal, but it was
found that this portion of the Cave area contained a very
large percentage of soft coal. The coal-seam continued to dip
in the direction of Grant's face, and it was deemed desirable
to extend the tunnel, which was constructed through 13J chains
of granitoid rock before the coal was cut in the Grant's sec-
tion of the property. Afterwards the tunnel was carried
through coal to Grant's face.

The Grant's face section of the Cave area contained a much
better class of coal than in the northern section, but, as its
area was circumscribed within narrow limits, prospecting
operations were commenced on the western side of Chasm
Creek. Two prospecting-tunnels were driven in this section
from the terrace facing the creek, about 16 chains apart,
which showed the character of the coal to be similar to that
in the Grant's face section. A bridge was constructed across
Chasm Creek, and an endless-rope haulage-road laid down
from the western side of the creek to the bins, a distance of
about 150 chains.

The haulage-road here is of a very permanent character,
as it is laid with 40 lb. rails from the bins to the place where
the coal was first cut in the tunnel, and with 25 lb. rails for
the remaining distance. The area of the western portion of
the property hasjnot yet been determined ; but as coal-out-
crops are found in Patten's Creek, about 40 chains across the
table-land, it is expected that a considerable area of coal will
be opened up in the western section of the property.

No one at the present time can tell the limits of the
Mokihinui Coalfield. There are several granitic intrusions
and belts, but beyond these the coal is again found, and in
all probability will form a connection with the Denniston field,

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 431

also with the seams of coal found on the eastern side of Mount
William, where large outcrops exist. There are extensive areas
of coal in this district, but a great percentage of it is of a
soft character ; nevertheless, the analysis shows the softest
portions to contain a high calorific value. There is a diffi-
culty, however, in getting a fair remuneration for soft coal,
as, in order to utilise it and get the greatest benefit as
a fuel, it requires in using it somewhat different conditions
from ordinary fuel. For marine purposes the fire-bars re-
quire to be set very close together, and the firing requires to
be light and often. If a heavy fire of small soft coal is put
on, the steam will go down ; but if it is used properly in light
firing, and frequently, no better fuel can be obtained.

Since the Government has opened up the Cave area '.i
has found it difficult to dispose of the small coal at such
a rate as would recoup the. expense of making it a market-
able commodity. Recently screens have been erected at the
mine, whereby about 35 per cent, of the coal brought from the
mine passes over the screens as suitable for household coal,
while that portion which passes through the screens falls into
a pit, from which it is lifted by elevators and again screened.
The portion which canHOt pass through this second screen is
termed " nuts," and is distributed into the bins, while that
portion which passes through the second screen is carried
away by a stream of water in a sluice-box, and passed over a
hopper, with ^in. holes, and saved as "peas," while the
residue which passes through the hopper is washed away as
refuse. The washed peas have been tried for blacksmith
work, and are said to be the best sample of coal which can be
got for that purpose. As it is only recently that these ap-
pliances have been erected, no one outside the district has
had an opportunity of testing the properties of the washed pro-
duct, but when it becomes generally known there will no doubt
be plenty of demand for it from foundry-owners and others.

To deal with the large percentage of soft coal there is in
the Mokihinui district, the Government has imported a
briquette-making plant to utilise the soft coal. This plant
is represented by the manufacturers to have a capacity

432 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

of 200 tons of briquettes in eight hours, or about 3,600
tons per week, if worked continuously. This plant is
now in course of erection at Westport, on a site close to
the wharf and shipping. The reason of having it at the
shipping port is that the cost of erection is much less in
the first instance, as no railway carriage is required, and the
binding material, which forms from B to 6 per cent, of the
manufactured briquettes, can be landed at the works, instead of
being carried forward and back to Westport as would have been
the case if the briquette plant had been erected at the mine.

In regard to the facilities for working the Mokihinui Coal-
field — the situation of the bins and the railway sidings in
close proximity to the railway — the arrangements made at
Seddonville could scarcely be improved on. Seddonville is
an ideal mining-camp. There is a considerable area of flat
ground having splendid soil suitable for cultivation in any
form ; plenty of room to lay out' a township, with large sec-
tions where the miners can build comfortable homes and have
sufiicient ground around their cottages for growing vegetables
and fruit. The trouble in the past has been the difficulty in
getting a market for the soft coal, and consequently the
miners could not obtain constant employment; but with the
present arrangements, and with the future prospects of the
whole of the soft coal being utilised in making briquettes,
which are said to have on the Continent of Europe 20 per
cent, higher calorific value than the best screened ooal, there
is every prospect of steady employment for a limited number
of miners in this locality for a number of years. Indeed, in
very few mining localities could such an ideal site for a town-
ship be found. The climate cannot be surpassed; the land
when cleared is ^-ceedingly fruitful ; the dense fogs and mist
met with at Millerton and Denniston are unknown in the
Mokihinui Valley. The Government, in opening up the mines
in this locality, has conferred a great benefit not only on
those who reside in the district, but ;ilso on those who wish to
make comfortable homes for themselves. With constant em-
ployment men with good vegetable-gardens can live cheaply,
and will be in n position to lay aside a little of their earn-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 433

ings to provide for old age. If the Government can make the
mine pay all the expenses of working it, the enterprise will
benefit a large community by providing remunerative employ-
ment for those who earn their livelihood by the sweat of their
brow, and it will be the means of establishing many a happy
home, and of maintaining a thriving township.

The success of this undertaking would be greatly enhanced
if the Government would treat the carriage of produce from
the mines on the railways according to its value, as, for in-
stance : Seddonville is nearly thirty miles from Westport,
where all the product of the mine has to be delivered ; and,
although the railway belongs to the State, the same as the coal-
mine, the one Department insists on having full tariff rates
from the other Department, even if the enterprise is not prov-
ing a remunerative investment. Concessions may be given by
the Railway Department to private persons and corporations,
but if one Department of the service requires a concession
from the other, it is met with cast-iron regulations that can-
not be changed. It reminds one of the history of the ancient
Medes and Persians, whose laws were supposed to be unalter-
able. Here, at Seddonville, the coal being taken to a port of
shipment, has to pay an increased rate of haulage compared
with any other mine in the Westport district, not only on the
best screened coal, but also on any waste product that comes
from the mine, whose market value may be only one-sixth of the
other. This gives no inducement to utilise the waste product
from the mine; it is financially better to dump it on the
waste-heap, while at the same time the wealth of the colony is
being reduced daily. Seeing that there is so large a per-
centage of soft coal in the Mokihinui district, every induce-
ment should be given to utilise it, and make such an enter-
prise self-supporting. The railway is constructed, and the
cost of actual haulage is very little, so that concessions might
be readily given at reduced rates for the haulage of highly in-
ferior ooal or waste products from a mine to be manufactured
into«a marketable commodity.

Since the Government took over the Seddonville Mine the
output in two years has been 82,0.'?0 tohs.

A FEW LEADING COAL-MINES.

THE W^ESTPORT COAL COMPANY.

Fob many years the coal resources of the Buller Coalfield were
known only to a few, but amongst them were some enterpris-
ing men who clearly foresaw what a vast field of wealth these
would be for the colony if they could be opened up. The
efforts of the Hon. R. Oliver, M.L.C., Messrs. B. C. Haggitt,
E. B. Cargill, R. Gillies, Fisher, Cable, Drummond, and many
others were eventually successful in forming a company — the
Westport Colliery Company, with a capital of £100,000 — and
operations were started; but this company's capital was ex-
hausted before the coal was placed on the market, and in 1882
the present company — the Westport Coal Company — was
formed, with a capital of £400,000. Three colliers were
specially built for the trade, and the work was carried on
vigorously. The company very soon found, however, that if
anj' extent of trade was to be done the harbour must be im-
proved, and after great effort they were successful in carrying
through Parliament the Westport Harbour Board Act of 1884
By this Act all the profits of the local railway-line, the royalty
on the coal from the Buller Coalfield, and the rents of certain
sections in Westport were created an endowment for the
Board. The harbour-works, as recommended by Sir John
Coode, were carried out under the able supervision of the
late Mr. Napier Bell, C.E., with the result that Westport is
now by far the best harbour on the West Coast, witTi 24 ft.
draught of water on the bar, and about 21 ft. in the river.
The Westport Company's property comprises the Coalbrook-
dale lease of 2,480 acres, lying between the head-waters of the
Wareatea Creek and the Waimangaroa River, and the Miller-
ton lease of 2,950 acres, situated about ten miles north-east
of that area. These leases, situated some 2,000 ft. above sea-
level, are traversed throughout by the celebrated Coalbrook-
dale seam of coal, which varies in thickness from 8 ft. to-

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 435

30 ft. The seam is worked at different sections of the leases,
and the coal is conveyed from the underground workings to
the tip or brake-heads by endless-rope haulage for many miles ;
thence it is lowered to the railway-lines by special inclines.

The company's works are situated amid the most wild and
romantic scenery imaginable, and the coal is lowered over the
inclines by powerful hydraulic brakes, the grading being so
steep that in places it is like going over the roof of a house.
It was a bold and enterprising company that would undertake
such a great engineering work, and a bold engineer who
ventured to recommend the carrying of it out, but their efforts
have been crowned with success. The visitor to the works is
simply amazed that any one should ever attempt to bring
coal over such rugged spurs and across such seemingly im-
passable ravines, and when he rides up the bridle-path, sur-
rounded by the most lovely ferns and overhanging forest-
trees, he is no less startled to find such well-arranged works
at the top. Here he will see, miles away over the plateau,
endless trains of steel wagons, numbered by thousands, slowly
travelling from the workings underground to the brake-head,
and endless trains of empty ones returning to be refilled.

Power-stations, fitted with batteries of Baboock and Wil-
cox water-tube boilers and rows of Leyner air-compressors,
convey the power underground throughout the mines to work
the pick-machines, pumps, and haulage-engines, and onte
wonders how a company which had to face all these gigantic
works and overcome such enormous difficulties could ever jiay
any dividend at all. It had, indeed, to struggle for many
years before the shareholders got any return for their plucky
enterprise ; but by dint of patience, perseverance, and a
large expenditure of money they were at last successful.

The company's mines are laid out on the most improved
system; they have been supplied with the newest and most
up-to-date plant and machinery, and they are now equipped
for an output of 900,000 tons per annum. The first incline
at Denniston was designed by Messrs. Young Bros., of West-
port. The late Mr. Thomas Brown, to whose fertile brain,
untiring energy, and thorough practical knowledge so much

436 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

of the company's success is due, rose in its service from an
ordinary miner to be district manager. He originated most
of the mining appliances, opened out the Millerton Mine, and
greatly improved the Denniston property. He was ably sup-
ported by Mr. Thomas J. Waters, C.E., and subsequently by
Mr. Ashley Hunter, C.E., Mr. J. P. Maxwell, C.E., acting
as consulting engineer for some time. The works are now
under the management of Mr. J. Dixon at Denniston, Mr.
George Fletcher at Millerton, with Mr. E. Gillow as engi-
neer, who are ably maintaining the traditions of former
managers and engineers, and under whom some most im-
portant works and improvements have been carried out with
conspicuous ability.

It was satisfactory to find, when all these difficulties were
overcome, that the company was able to place on the market
a ooal unrivalled in the world for its excellence. This has
been proved by the high stand it has taken — (1) as a household
ooal, producing a clean bright fire, burning economically, and
being largely consumed in the colony ; (2) as a steam-coal it
ranks equally with the best Welsh coal, as will be seen by the
saving of H.M.S. "Calliope" at Samoa, and the successful
tests which have been made by the Admiralty and the mercan-
tile marine, whereby the coal is being used in H.M. war-
ships on the China, Australian, and New Zealand Stations,
and by most of the home and intercolonial lines of steamers ;
(.3) the principal gas, freezing, and manufacturing works
throughout the colony use it almost exclusively, and even in
the antarctic regions it gave such satisfaction that the. " Dis-
covery " and the "Morning" were delighted to use it in
preference to ±heir Welsh coal, which they brought back to
Ly ttelton .

Some idea of the magnitude of the undertaking may be
gathered from the following statistics. The company has
spent from its commencement in 1882 — £

In wages . . . . . . . . 1,603,285

In freights to local carriers

On plant and new works

On stores, &c. . .

It has paid to the Government for roya'

1,220,550
428,325
184,942

haulage rates, and taxes .. .. 913,638

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 437

And at the end of 1905 it had placed on the market 5,786,983
tons of coal.

Its present output exceeds half a million tons per annum,
and it employs upwards of a thousand men and boys, besides
indirectly giving great support to labour by freights and other
expenditure for handling coal. Some idea of the importance
of an industry like this may be formed by the estimate, which
is accurately calculated, that every ton of coal pays in labour,
before it reaches the consumer, at least 9s. Nor are the com-
pany only mindful of the shareholders and their dividends :
every possible care is taken of their employees. They con-
tribute largely to the medical associations, pay largely to the
Accident Fund over and above what they are liable for under
the Workers' Compensation Act ; they subsidise liberally the
libraries, reading-rooms, bands, and recreation-grounds ;
they have built a large club, with reading, lecture, and
billiard rooms, furnished it well throughout, and pay for a
caretaker ; it is managed by a committee of the employees,
without any interference from the company.

A laboratory and gas-testing house has recently been built
at Westport, where daily tests and analyses are made of coal
from all parts of the mines by Mr. Bradley, the company's
analyst, in order to supply the required description of coal
for each class of customers.

THE BLACKBALL GOAL COMPANY.

The Blackball Coal Company's leases at Ngahere are distant
eighteen miles from Greymouth by rail in a north-easterly
direction.

These leases were orginally the property of the Midland
Railway Company, but some five years ago were acquired
bv the late Sir Edwin Dawes, whose estate holds the free-
hold right at the present time. Eoyalty is paid by the com-
pany for the mineral rights.

438 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

The coal leases consist of three rectangular blocks of 650
acres each. The surface is rugged, and contains numerous
high spurs with valleys between. Practically the whole sur-
face is covered with timber, comprising rimu, rata, silver
a,nd white pines, and totara. A large portion of this timber is
used for mining and building purposes. Four permanent
streams are on the property — -viz., Blackball, Ford's, Coal, and
Soldiers' Creeks, all having their sources in the Paparoa
Range.

Rising in a north-easterly direction, and dipping towards
the south-west, the whole lease is in a hard sandstone country,
and contains two seams of coal, lying regularly and uniformly,
and which outcrop along the cliff overlooking the Blackball
and Coal Creeks. The coal in these seams has generally been
described as bituminous, although in reality it belongs to the
caiinel class. It is compact, with little or no lustre, and has
a slaty appearance, without suggestion of a banded structure.
It breaks with a conchoidal fracture and smooth surfaces,
while the colour is dull or greyish-black. The coal is an ex-
cellent steam coal, and is valuable as a gas-producer and for
household purposes, being easily ignited and giving off intense
heat until entirely consumed. The bottom seam has an average
thickness of 12 ft., the coal generally being bright and hard,
and as a steam coal possessing high evaporative power.
According to analysis it contains 49'15 per cent, fixed carbon,
46'75 per cent, hydrocarbon, 3"2 per cent, water, and 0'9 per
cent. ash. Evaporative power by Thompson's calorimeter,
14'251b. The top seam averages 5 ft. in thickness, and is
separated from the bottom seam by from 2 ft. to 8 ft. of stone,
shale, and fireclay. This coal is bright and very hard, and,
according to analysis, contains 47"35 per cent, fixed carbon,
44'95 per cent, hydrocarbon, 4'8 per cent, water, and 2'9 per
cent. ash. Evaporative power, 12"47 lb. The seams are liable
to spontaneous combustion.

Mine.
The mine is situated at the north-west end of the town-
ship, and is 312 ft. above sea-level. The surface buildings

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 439

are built on a semicircular piece of ground between two high
spurs, and consist of engine and boiler houses, offices, black-
smith and carpenter's shops, store-rooms, and aerial-tram
sheds.

Some fifteen years ago a tunnel, 9 ft. by 6 ft., with a rising
grade of 1 in 300, was driven into the hillside. The stratum
driven through was a Yery hard sandstone. A distance of
1,260 ft. was covered before the coal was met with. From this
point a heading was driven to the full rise of the seam, and
continued until the outcrojj was reached — a distance of 21
chains. At this part of the outcrop the No. 1 furnace was
erected for ventilation purposes, while a larger, or No. 2 fur-
nace, was erected later on half a mile to the westward. No. 1
furnace circulated 13,000 and No. 2 30,000 cubic feet of air
per minute.

Levels were driven eastward and westward from this main
outcrop heading for the ptirpose of developing the upper sec-
tion, which contained an area of 80 acres. The east side con-
tributed very little towards the output, which was prihcipally
derived from the west side. The coal was extracted by the
bord-and-pillar method. Levels were first driven and head-
ings turned ofi the levels to the full rise of the seam (1 in 6)
at intervals of 100 yards. Bords, 6 yards wide, were turned
oft the headings with 22-yard centres, and driven parallel to
the levels. The bords are driven from each side of the pillars
until a meeting is effected, the result of these excavations being
that a solid block or pillar, 100 yards long by 16 yards wide,
is left to support the roof. Subsequently these pillars are also
removed, and the roof allowed to fall at will.

On account of the tender nature of the roof throughout the
mine, timber is an expensive item, and in the extraction of
the pillars great care has to be taken to prevent serious acci-
dent. The danger is reduced to a minimum by a systematic
method of timbering. Although the roof is of such a soft,
friable nature, a very small percentage of accidents met with
are due to falls.

Outbursts of fire were of frequent occurrence in the upper
section. One outburst could not be controlled, and rendered

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 441

The upper, or main, level deals with the whole output
Endless-rope haulage is installed in this level. Headings are
driven to the full rise off the main level. Places are then
turned away eyerj 22 yards left arid right of these headings,
but, instead of the bord-and-pillar system of tEe upper sec-
tion, it was deemed necessary to alter the method of working,
and the panel system was adopted. In this method the mine
is laid out in panels, 150 yards by 200 yards. When once
work is commenced on a panel the coal is extracted as rapidly
as possible, and the openings to the panel sealed ofi imme-
diately all the coal is extracted. The advantage claimed for
this method is readilj^ seen. Should a fire break out in a
panel it is confined to that panel, and does not delay the whole
mine, as it did at times in the upper section.

After being filled at the working-face, the trucks are
brought out and lowered by means of self-acting inclines to
the bottom level, where they are attached to the endless rope
and conveyed to the surface. A large Robey engine of
300 i.h.p. (suitable also for main and tail haulage) works the
endless rope. After being detached from the endless rope at
the mouth of the adit, the coal is passed «ver the weighbridge,
and the trucks are then attached to the aerial tramway.

The aerial tramway is three miles long, and was erected at
a cost of £29,000. It consists of two sets of ropes — bearing
and haulage. The bearing-rope on the full, or loaded, side
is 38 millimeters diameter and 28 millimeters diameter on the
empty side, while the hauling-rope is fin. diameter. The
bearing-rope is stationary, and is supported by steel standards,
varying in height from 8 ft. to 85 ft. To keep the bearing-
rope taut the line is divided into four sections, straining
stations being erected for each section, but this division does
not afieot the haulage, which is continuous. Travellers with
trucks attached run along the bearing-rope. These travellers
consist of a pair of grooved wheels, to which are attached two
long arms, which grip the trucks by a knob on each end, and
convey them bodily along the line. The travellers are at-
tached to the hauling-rope by means of patent grippers. On
the engine being set in motion the full or loaded trucks are

4:42 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

drawn towards the storage-bins, and the empties towards the
mine to be filled again. The full trucks on reaching the
storage-bins are automatically detached from the hauling-rope,
and at the point of detachment also leave the bearing-rope
and run on to a steel rail which traverses the whole length of
the storage-bins. Thus the full trucks are detached on one
side, taken and emptied into wagons or the storage-bins, and
attached to the hauling-rope on the opposite side of the line
and returned to the mine. The travellers are thus working
continuously in a circle. An engine of 30 i.h.p. supplies the
necessary power to work the aerial tramway. Three hundred
and fifty tons per day of eight hours is the maximum capacity
of the tramway. In all, twelve miles of rope are in use on the
tram.

Ventilation of the mine is produced by a Capell fan, worked
by a Piercy engine. This fan is capable of circulating
100,000 cubic feet of air per minute. The air enters No. 3
tunnel, passes round the working-faces into No. 1 tunnel
(which acts as main return), and along this tunnel to the fan.

A direct-connected engine and dynamo supplies the power
for pumping and surface-lighting. The whole steam-power is
generated by three large boilers — two Cornish and one Lan-
cashire.

A branch railway-line is now being constructed to connect
the mine with the main Keefton line. The traffic-bridge over
the Grey River is completed, at a cost of £25,000, and has
been open to vehicle trafiic some time. On completion of the
branch line the aerial tramway as a means of transit will be
discarded.

Mr. James Leitch, the present mining manager, has been
associated witljj the Blackball Coal Company for a period of
twelve years, the past four and a half of which he has had full
charge of mining operations.

Township.

The Blackball Township is distant from the mine about
three-quarters of a mile in an easterly direction, and has a

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 443

population of about eight hundred. The township is prin-
cipally dependent upon the mine for its existence. The Black-
ball Company distributes £16,000 annually in the district
for wages.

THE KAITANGATA COLLISRIES.

The Kaitangata Collieries are owned by the New Zealand
Coal and Oil Company (Limited), and are situated near the
Township of Kaitangata, about fifty-five miles south-west of
Dunedin. There are two mines — viz., the Kaitangata Colliery,
formerly owned by the Kaitangata Railway and Coal Com-
pany (Limited), and the Castle Hill, formerly owned by the
Castle Hill Coal Company (Limited). Both collieries were
acquired by the present owners in 1898. The coal worked in
a lignite of a superior quality, and burns with a long clear
flame. It is chiefly used for household purposes, although a
small proportion of the output is sold to the Government Rail-
way Department for use on their locomotives. The following
is a general analysis of the coal : —

Per Cent-
Fixed carbon ... ... ... .. 44'60

Hydrocarbons ... ... ... 28'93

Water ... ... ... ... 20-06

Ash ... ... ... ... ... 6-41

100-00

The seams worked vary in thickness from 6 ft. up to 25 ft.
They are generally highly inclined, the pitch varying from
1 in 4 to 1 in 1 J, or more. The measures rise to the east, the
strike of the seams being nearly due north and south. Faults,
rolls, and washouts are numerous, and prove very troublesome
in the working of the mines. The.se disturbances add very
greatly to the cost of getting the coal. The principal faults

444 NEW ZEALAKD MINING HANDBOOK.

have a general direction north and south. They are all down-
throws to the east, and usually have a displacement of 100 ft.

The total output from both mines for the year ending the
31st December, 1905, was 1] 9,743 tons.

The total number of men and boys employed at the two
collieries on the surface and underground in the winter-time
is about five hundred.

The coal worked is very liable to spontaneous combustion,
and great care has to be exercised to avoid accidents from this
cause. The method adopted for working the coal is that known
as bord-and-pillar. Generally, the seam is worked in small
sections, each 300 ft. long, and a solid pillar about 50 ft. wide
is left between each section to prevent the fire from spreading
from one section to the one adjoining it.

Kaitangata Collieet.

The coal is won by means of a cross-measures inclined
plane 1,000 ft. long, which dips into the hills to the eastward
at a gradient of 1 in 5. At the foot of this drive the main
seam was struck. This seam was about 30 ft. thick, and was
a good hard coal, with a splendid conglomerate roof. The
seam at this part has been exhausted, and the drive was con-
tinued to the eastward with a slight rise for a distance of
3,000 ft., cutting various seams during the course of its
length. The workings are now situated about 5,000 ft. from
the mine-mouth, and the main seam is at present worked ex-
clusively. Of late, the company has acquired the lease of
extensive properties owned by Messrs. Aitcheson and James.
The main seam has been proved in each property, the coal
being of a first-class quality.

The coal is hauled out of the mine by a steam-engine work-
ing two loose-qfid ropes. One train of ten boxes descends the
incline, whilst another similar train is being hauled up. The
coal is passed over a shaker screen, where it is divided into
four sizes — viz., large coal, nuts, peas, and fine small. The
large coal goes on to a travelling picking-belt, where all the
dirt and stone is picked out. This belt is fitted with a lower-
ing-arm, which enables the coal to be lowered gently down into

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 445

the bottom of the wagons, and thus insures the coal being
loaded with a minimum of breakage. The fine small, whioli
is unsaleable, is blown away by means of a large Boot's blower,
and is deposited on top of a hill about 150 ft. high and 900 ft.
from the screens.

The underground pumps and winches are driven by means
of compressed air. The air-compressor, built by Messrs
Walker Bros., of Wigan, has steam and air cylinders (two of
each), 2 ft. 2 in. diameter by 4 ft. stroke.

The surface works, screens, workshops, engine - houses,
lamp-room, &c., are lighted by electricity.

The colliery is ventilated by a Hayes fan, 9 ft. in diameter,
which is capable of giving an average volume of air of 36,000
cubic feet per minute with 1'6 in. water-gauge. The fan can
be driven either by a steam-engine or hj an electric motor
as circumstances may direct. The electric motor is generally
used, and the steam-engine is kept in reserve as an alterna-
tive power. The electric generator is situated in the air-
compressor house, and the power is oonveye-d from there to the
motor at the upcast shaft, a distance of about 700 yards.
Both the generator and the motor are of 30 brake-horse-power,
and capable of working up to 1,250 volts.

Considerable quantities of firedamp are given off in the
workings, and ihe mine is therefore worked entirely by safety-
lamps, no naked lights being allowed inside the lamp-station,
which is situated close to the bottom of the drive.

A new air-shaft, 7 ft. 6 in. by 5 ft., is being put down to
connect with the present workings. This will considerably
reduce the length of the airways, the maintenance of which
is very expensive at present.

Castle Hill Colliekt.

Here the coal is won by means of an inclined cross-measures
drive 2,700 ft. long. The gradient of the drive is 1 in 4|.
At 2,100 ft. a seam of coal, about 20 ft. thick, was struck.
This was worked for a time, and the drive was continued at
the same gradient for another 600 ft., and intersecting the
lift, seam at about 200ft., and the 25ft. seam near to the

446 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

bottom of the drive. The drive was continued with a slight
rise in an easterly direction, and what is known as " Green's
seam," which is 20 ft. thick, was struck at a distance of
2,900 ft. from the surface, and the 6 ft. seam at 3,210 ft. from
the surface. All the seams vary in thickness, and are badly
out up with faults, rolls, washouts, &c. These are rather
troublesome, and render it very difficult to lay out the work-
ings in a systematic manner. On an average 100 men are em-
ployed underground, and 100 safety-lamps of the Marsant
deflector type are in use.

The surface works, engine-houses, and the landings at
the various seams underground are all lighted by elec-
tricity.

The endless-rope system of haulage is in use. An endless
rope also drives the main pump at the bottom of the drive.
The rope for hauling the coal travels at the rate of one mile
per hour, and the pump rope runs at about five miles per
hour. The tubs are attached to the hauling-rope in pairs by
a clip-chain attached to the front tub. Each tub carries about
6J cwt. of coal. The engine for working the endless ropes has
a pair of cylinders, 20 in. diameter by 5 ft. stroke, geared
.5 to 1 on to the hauling-rope-drum shaft.

The pump, which is fixed 2,000 ft. down the drive, has
three rams, each 10 in. in diameter by 20 in. stroke, and is
capable of delivering 33,000 gallons of water per hour a
vertical height of 500 ft.

The coal is passed over a Lyell's patent shaker screen, where
it is divided into four sizes — viz., large, nuts, peas, and fine
small. The large coal afterwards passes over a picking-belt,
where all stone and inferior coal is picked out, so that only
the very best household coal is sent to market.

Compressed air is used underground for driving, haulage-
engines, and pumps, which are used in connection with dip
workings. The dip water is all pumped into a large lodg-
ment, from which it is raised by the three-throw pump, which
delivers it to the surface. A pair of two-stage Leyner air-
compressors, fixed on the surface, are used for supplying air
to the winches and pumps underground.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 447

The colliery is ventilated by a good air-furnace, which is
•capable of producing a sufficient quantity of air for all pre-
sent requirements.

There is ample siding accommodation at both collieries for
the present output. A private line, about five miles in length,
connects the collieries with the Government railway at
Stirling.

THE NIGHTCAPS COIiLIERY.

■Somewhere between the years 1870 and 1880, if not earlier,
■coal was discovered in the vicinity of the Wairio and Morley
Creeks, in the Wairio and Wairaki districts of Southland —
some say by the late Mr. James Mackintosh, M.H.R. for
Wallace, and others by the late Mr. William Johnston, of
Wrey's Bush, or by their employees, when crossing these creeks
in their wagons on what is now the main high road between
the Winton and Waiau districts. There may be other
■claimants who deserve the honour as well. However, it was
not until the winter of 1880 that these discoveries took a con-
crete form. Towards the end of 1879 Mr. William Handyside,
the present managing director of the company, having been
driven out of Ceylon by repeated attacks of fever in the course
of several years' coflee-planting there, came to New Zealand
on a visit to relatives engaged in sheep-farming, and the in-
vigorating climate had such a beneficial efiect that he decided
to remain, and naturally began to look about for something
to do. Hearing that coal was said to exist in what is now
known as the Nightcaps district, and that something might be
made of it, he determined to have a look round, first of ail
visiting the Shag Point Colliery, then in full swing, the Green
Island pits, also the Kaitangata Mine, which was then recover-
ing from the efiects of the fearful explosion and loss of life
that occurred shortly before. Coming to Invercargill later

448 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

on, and being introduced to the late Mr. William Johnston, of
Wrey's Bush, on whose land the coal was found, Mr. Handy-
side spent some time in prospecting, and also had a look at
Orepuki, where a similar kind of coal was said to exist; but,
preferring the open country and indications at Nightcaps as
more likely, coupled with the prospects of the railway being
shortly extended beyond Otautau in the direction of the new
coal-find, he returned to Dunedin, and there making the ac-
quaintance of Mr. Charles Edward Twining, mining engineer
to the Kaitangata Colliery, and shortly previous to that
manager of the Bold Colliery, in Lancashire, England, the
two decided to make a trip to Nightcaps and test the field
further, and also have analyses made of the coal, with the
view of forming a small company to develop the same. This
was carried out later on under the name of the " Nightcaps
Coal Company," but not until the Government of the day de-
cided to extend the railway to within three miles of the coal-
outcrop, and also promised to use the coal on the railways,
provided the quality and piice was suitable. About Septem-
ber, 1880, the company was formed, with Mr. Handyside as
managing director and Mr. Twining as mining engineer, and
boring operations were begun near what is the present site of
the post and telephone office, under the direction of Mr. Robert
Sharp, a miner from the Kaitangata Colliery. These opera-
tions occupied some months, costing about £600, but with no
very satisfactory results, as the diamond drill was not then in
general use; however, the borehole (over 300ft. deep) indi-
cations were good enough to warrant driving into the coal
from the outcrop at the Wairio Creek, which was accordingly
done with the usual winding-engine, drum, wire rope, &c.,
the coal dippiag towards the east at an angle of about 1 ft. in
5 ft. or 6 ft. Being now assured that there was a considerable
body of coal of fair quality for steam and house use, and after
several practical tests on the railways and elsewhere, the com-
pany urged upon the Government the extension of the railway
from Otautau, some thirteen miles, promising that if this was
done efforts would be made to bring the coal to market.
Whether they were not certain of the nearest outcrop of coal,

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 449

or whether they thought the railway could best be extended
up the Aparima Valley at some future date by way of what is
now Wairio, ten miles from Otautau (with then hardly a fence
between or any roads or cultivation), the Government decided
to take the railway no further than Wairio, leaving private
enterprise to do the rest. To reach the coal the company re-
solved to continue the railway to Nightcaps (which takes its
name from the hill above the township, with two tops, some-
times covered with snow, and resembling a nightcap), some
two or three miles further ; but the line had to be passed by
the Government, with whom the company arranged to work
the traffic, as at the present time. Meanwhile work was pro-
gressing at the mine, the services of the present mine-manager,
Mr. John Lloyd, being procured through Mr. Twining, with
whom he was working at the Kaitangata Coal-mine, the two
having known each other in the coal districts of England and
Wales, and having only then recently arrived in the colony.
This was in May, 1881, and shortly after work was begun in
earnest. There were many diificulties to contend with — no
metalled roads to transport material, faults and breaks in
the coal-seams, water to pump out, and other troubles inci-
dental to making a settlement out of the wilderness, the miners
and others having to live in tents and huts for a year or two;
tramways to lay, coal-stage screens to erect, and the railway-
station and yard, with its many coal and public sidings, to
put down, &c. As it was necessary to lay out a township for
the miners, storekeepers, and others, this was done by the
company, and the township was sold at auction in Invercar-
gill about Christmas, 1881, the proceeds from it coming in
handy to meet the heavy outlay going on.

On the 3rd March, 1882, the railway was opened by a
special train from Invercargill, bringing some four or five
hundred people. From that day to this coal has rolled out of
Nightcaps, day in and day out (Sundays as a rule excepted),
with varying success. At the start three trains per week were
supposed to suflSoe; now there are fifteen. The Govern-
ment began using the coal on the railways, and the public for
threshing and household purposes, not to mention other in-

15— Mining Handbook.

450

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

dustries requiring fuel, and, finally, the Lake Wakatipu
steamers. Shortly after opening, Mr. Lloyd, the mine-man-
ager, in the course of further prospecting for the company,
found another and much thicker seam of coal, and of better
quality for steaming purposes ; this has been worked ever
since. From time to time he has found other seams in con-
nection with it, and these are the seams that are being worked
at the present time. About 1884 or 1885 the Orepuki Coal-
field began to be opened out, and for a short time the Night-
caps Company experienced severe competition. In consequence
the output increased but slowly, owing to the coal not being
used for marine purposes when seaborne coal from Newcastle,
as well as Greymouth and Westport coal, could be got at the
Blufi — Southland's seaport. But during the great coal strike
at these places in 1890 the Nightcaps Mine kept the Union
Company's steamers running weekly between Port Chalmers
and Melbourne, and vice versa, for about four months, until
early in 1891, when the strike was declared ofi. Nightcaps
coal was also supplied to the direct steamers for Home and to
some of the local boats at that time, also to Dunedin for both
gas and household use.

During the last eight or ten years, owing to the promotion
of closer settlement and increased grain-growing, also flax-
milling, the output has increased considerably ; it is now
about 47,000 tons per annum, and the total output has reached
505,000 tons. But it is not to be supposed that the pre-
sent position has been attained without a considerable in-
crease of the original capital to develop the mine and put
down improved machinery and plant to keep pace with the
demand, and the company has always to look ahead a year or
two for this purpose. The paid-up capital is now £30,000.

On the 28th March, 1903, between 7 and 8 p.m., a sudden
and terrible fire broke out in the main mine-working,
evidently caused by sparks from the winding-engine lodging
in the roof and timbers, and the smoke belching out of the
principal entrance was so dense that it prevented the em-
ployees from getting in to quench the fire, so the only thing
to be done was to pump water down the various shafts and

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

451

then close them and every other crevice up, with the view of
Bmothering the fire, which was done by Mr. Lloyd, the mine-
manager, backed up by the company's employees, who with
many of the public worked most heroically, and accomplished
the feat within forty-eight hours without a moment's relaxa-
tion. It was at first thought that the mine would have to close
down, as there was not a man in Nightcaps, except the mine-
manager, that believed the fire would ever be extinguished;
but Mr. Lloyd stood alone, confident that he could do it, and
he did it most efiectually in the course of eight months, the
work never ceasing night or day, and the output of coal going
on all the same as if nothing had happened.

Altogether, the company has been fortunate in its em-
ployees, many of whom, with the mine-manager, have been
with it since the start, which is an evidence of fair treatment
on both sides. It is worthy of remark that of the original
shareholders in 1880 only two remain, Messrs. William
Handyside and John Roberts, C.M.G., of Murray, Roberts,
and Co., Dunedin.

ANALYSES OF NEW ZEALAND GOALS.

The following table, compiled from the " Laboratory Reports
of the Geological Survey of New Zealand," shows the analyses
of samples of New Zealand coals freshly taken from the
principal mines in the colony : —

Description.

Locality.

Analy

sis by Skey.

No.

■a 9

> o

.Hi

Anthracite . .

Acberon, Canter-
bury

84-12

2-06

1-80

12-12

10-93

Bituminous . .

Coalbroolfdale

74-83

20-50

1-16

3-51

10-72

„

70-00

22-15

2-52

5-3.S

910

„

Banbury

69-97

25-71

0-99

3-83

9-09

Altered brown
coal

Malvern Hills . .

68-54

19-89

4-15

7-42

8-87

Bituminous . .

Tyneside

65-59

2918

0-82

4-41

8-52

Glanoe-ooal . .

Rakaia Gorge

64-51

21-27

6-76

7-46

8-30

452 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Analyses of New Zealand Coals — continued.

Description.

Locality.

Analysis by Skey.

No.

ii'

Bituminous . .

Wallsend

62-87

31-64

1-66

3-83

8-17

„

Grey River

62-37

29-44

1-99

6-20

8-01

Piteh-'coal . .

Kawakawa

61-16

28-00

2-51

8-83

7-95

Bituminous . .

Preservation Inlet

60-88

20-69

4-38

6-19

7-91

Pifcoh-ooal . .

Black Greek, Grey
River

60-20

29-97

8-01

1-82

7-82

Bituminous . .

Mokihinui

59-75

32-14

3-27

4-14

7-76

Coalpit Heath

58-81

38-98

1-02

1-19

7-64

Mokihinui

57-92

34-94

3-96

3-18

7-50

Brunner Mine

66-62

35-68

1-59

6-11

7-86

17.

56-21

37-83

1-50

4-56

7-30

Westport

5601

37-17

2-60

4-22

7-28

Mokihinui

55-59

38-86

3-16

2-89

7-20

Brunner

54-16

35-85

2-50

7-49

7-04

Altered brown
coal

Malvern Hills

53-29

32-04

12-65

2-02

6-92

Bituminous . .

Otamataura Creek

52-89

36-63

2-19

8-29

6-90

„

Wallsend

53-10

35-47

1-41

10-02

6-90

Near Cape Parewel

48-59

43-17

2-18

6-06

6-31

Pitch-coal

Shag Point

43-19

30-15

15-82

10-94

5-61

Kawakawa

50-15

42-63

4-18

8-04

6-50

Glance-ooal .

Whangarei

50-11

88-68

8-01

3-20

6-50

Pitoh-ooal . .

Kamo . .

50-01

37-69

9-61

2-69

6-5C

Brown coal . .

Malvern Hills

49-99

35-42

11-79

2-80

6-49

Fern hill

49-95

36-95

12-00

1-10

6-48

AUandale

47-31

36-26

12-41

6-02

6-16

Kaitangata

46-48

33-48

U-66

5-38

6-04

Shag Point

46-21

32-65

16-02

5-12

6-OC

Homebush

44-92

36-00

15-83

3-25

5-8S

Hokonui

44-28

38-22

16-50

1-00

5-7£

Kaitangata

44-11

38-32

15-44

213

5-74

„

Nightcaps

43-62

33-68

18-33

4-87

5-6"

Springfield

42-68

33-66

18-65

5-01

5-5£

„

Orepuki

42-64

36-26

14-44

6-66

5-54

Pitoh-ooal . .

Walton's, Wha
ngarei

38-80

41-20

7-20

12-80

4-96

Brown coal ^.

Kaitangata

38-29

82-43

17-50

11-78

3-8'-

Shag Point

35-76

30-92

13-22

20-16

4-64

AUandale

34-72

40-26

18-99

4-86

4-5]

Pitoh-ooal

Grey River

S4-72

55-48

6-20

2-60 1 4-5]

Name of Coal.

Approximate Total Output

of Coal up to the 31st

December, 1905.

Bituminous
Pitch . .
Brown . .
Lignite . .

Totals

Tons.

12,330,815

1,906,650

6,573,879

876,153

_21,686,997

TIMBER FOR MINING PURPOSES.

By Robert Tennent, Inspector of Mines for Marlborough, Nelson,
and West Coast.

Timber suitable for mining purposes is generally classified as
props, caps, and laths ; but, in addition to these, there are
large quantities of sawu timber which may be profitably used
in underground working and be reasonablj? termed mining-
timber. In fact, description is merely a mining phrase, ap-
plicable to timber where used under the circumstances. In
timbering main levels, tunnels, &c., use black-birch, of which
there are five useful qualities — namely, Fagus fusca, Fagus
solandri, Fagus colensoi, Fagus obsoleta, and Fagus I'dubia.
Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) is also a useful timber, but
for blocking-out, where timber is not exposed to heavy strains
or required for long standing, white-pine (Fodocarpus dacry-
dioides) may be used. White or silver birch {Fagus /nenziesii)
is equally good for general work. Again, where heavy strains
are expected timber should either be split or sawn out of large
trees bearing a straight grain ; caps should be barked and free
from knots, and, if possible, cut in the months of June and
July; but for ordinary round props the time of falling is
of no consequence, on account of the high percentage of sap-
wood contained. In tunnels, where sound birch timbers are
exposed to free intake air-currents, indications of a white
flossy substance is rapidly exuded, and after exposure for
about two years the sap-wood of birch shows marked signs of
decomposition — more rapidly than rimu of the same dimen-
sions. Kanuii is a strong useful timber, but subject to dry-
rot. Black-pine (Matai, Fodocarpus xpicafo) is excellent tim-
ber for props if cut out of large trees, but brittle and unsuit-
able for caps subjected to heavy strains. The same remarks
apply to totara and kawhaka. Miro (Fodocarpus ferruginea)

456 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

The regulations issued under the Act provide that the
Minister of Mines and the Public Trustee shall apply the
moneys deposited, on receipt of a certificate from a duly quali-
fied medical officer, and also on the certificate from an In-
spector of Mines, for any of the objects hereinafter set forth,
namely : —

(a.) When any workman has been ofi work through an
accident for one week or more, he shall receive the
sum of I2s. 6d. per week, or at the rate of 2s. Id.
for every working-day from the date of the accident,
which shall continue so long as such medical officer
and Inspector of Mines shall certify that such work-
man is unable to work ; but when an accident occurs
in any mine situate in a locality remote from settle-*
ment, where the services of a medical officer are not
procurable, payment at the fjrescribed rate may be
made for any period not exceeding thirty days from
the date of the accident on the certificate of the In-
spector of Mines alone. Or, in cases where any
workman is permanently disabled, he may be
granted a fixed sum, not exceeding £50, in satisfac-
tion of all claims ; but in the latter case the certi-
ficate of a duly qualified medical officer and an In-
spector of Mines will be required. No workman
shall be entitled to any payment unless he shall have
been so disabled by accident as to prevent him work-
ing for a period of not less than one week.
(&.) If any workman meels with an accident which proves
fatal, the nearest relative of such workman may be
granted a sum not exceeding £10 towards defraying
th§ funeral expenses of the deceased workman ; and
an additional sum, not exceeding £15, may be
granted to the widow or other near relative of such
deceased workman in full satisfaction of all claims,
(c.) Any workman who meets with an accident which dis-
ables him from work shall send, or cause to be sent,
within seven days of such accident occurring, a
notice in writing to the Inspector of Mines ; and all

,?5

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

457

applications for relief must be made within four-
teen days from the date of the accident, or the
claim cannot be entertained.
[d.) No workman shall be entitled to relief from the Coal-
miners' Relief Fund for any accident caused by
drinking intoxicating liquors, fighting, or any kind
of athletic sports or game of amusement, or for any
accident caused by the misconduct of such workman.
All post-offices throughout the colony which are also money-
order offices act for the Public Trustee in making payments and
receiving lodgments in respect of business conducted by the
Public Trust Office, which has proved a great convenience to
the miners, as it enables them to receive payments from the
fund without being required to travel long distances to obtain
them.

Appended hereto is a tabulated statement showing the
workings of the fund since it was first instituted in 1891 up
to the 31st March, 1906: —

Interest

Commis-

added by

Accident

sion

charged

by Public

Trust

Office at

Rate ol

Iper

Year

ending

31st March

Amount paid

into the

Fund.

Public

Trust

Office at

Kate of 3J

and 4 per

Cent.

fc PJ a)
125

Funeral,
and Com-
passionate
Allowances
paid.

Balance at
Credit of
Fund on
iBt April.

Cent.

£ s.

£ s. d.

£ s.

_
d.

& s. d.

£ s. d.

1891 . .

1892 . .

45"6

45 6 1

1893 . .

388 i

4 13 a

428 17 3

189i . .

182 19

12'i6 2

124"8

3 15

496 9 7

1895 . .

452 6

28 10 1

137 13

4 10 3

835 2 11

1896 . .

456 1

37 5 11

374 12

952 10 5

1897 . .

390 2

40 13 10

251 '3

3 18 1

1,128 5 1

1898 . .

563 9

45 18 6

427 1

5 12 5

1,304 18 8

1899 . .

531 6

55 14 9

231 5

5 6

1,655 8

1900 . .

551 8

70 3 3

302 5

5 8 11

1,969 5 5

1901 . .

564 19

84 15 8

215

5 12 4

2,398 7 10

1902

616 8

96 8 8

578 3

6 2 5

2,526 19

1903

648 9

104 11 7

102

445 9

6 9 8

2,828 1

1904

654 4

116 9 5

666 6

6 9 8

3,025 19 3

1905
1906 . .

893 15

123 6 11

177

725 5

8 18 5

3.. 308 17 .>;

1,230 7

137 7 4

179

1,052 6

12 4 13,612 1 8

8,169 9

954 2 1

5,431 I

80 8 6

COAL HARBOURS OF THE WEST
COAST.

Westport Harbour.

The Westport Harbour works were started under a scheme de-
signed by the late Sir John Coode in 1885, and have proved
eminently successful, as the following particulars will show.
The works since that date have been under an administrative
Harbour Board, composed of seven members, all nominated by
Government, and appointed by the Governor in Council. The
Engineer's return for the year 190.5 of the depth of water on
the bar averaged nearly the same as the previous year,
although there had not been so many freshets in the river.
The return shows that for 311 days during 1905 the depth of
water on the bar averaged between 20 ft. and 24 ft., whilst it
was only 8 ft. to 10 ft. in 1883.

The coal trade has expanded from 78,074 tons in the year
1885 to 570,266 tons for the year 1905, the total output since
1885 to end of 1905 being 6,149,563 tons. The gross tonnage
of vessels which worked the port, in and out, during the year
1905 was 1,032,880 tons.

The revenue of the Board has increased from £8,108 in
1885 to £67,937 in 1905, being considerably over the rate of
800 per cent.

The expenditure for harbour-works and general harbour-
maintenance amounted from the year 1885 to the year 1905
to the sum ^f £943,709, this sum also including extensions
of the Westport-Mokihinui Railway and its equipment,
amounting to about £150,000. The sum of £409,500 has also
been expended as interest and sinking fund on the Board's
loans for harbour-works, the sinking fund on present current
loans of £650,000 amounting at end of year 1905 to £50,000.

The items above mentioned show the progressive nature of
the port's business, and it should be mentioned that of the

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 459

total output of coal from the Westport mines 248,261 tons has
been sent to foreign ports for the use of the British Admiralty
and commerce generally.

The port is most efficiently lighted, and fully equipped
otherwise by an efficient harbour stafi and a first-class up-to-
date tug-boat.

An extension of the breakwater and the construction of a
properly equipped floating basin are amongst the improve-
ments proposed to be carried out at the port.

Greymouth Harbour.

Greymouth, a bar harbour, is situated on the west coast of
the Middle Island. Prior to 1872 the place was worked by
small schooners at great risk, but in that year Mr. C. T.
O'Connor was appointed Engineer for the district ; the small
existing wharves which had been built by the Borough Council
were taken over by the Government and strengthened, and
some protective work was done. In 1874 Mr. Moriarty, C.E.,
reported on the formation of a harbour, and drew up plans
for an internal training-wall and a breakwater on the south
side of the river. These plans were, a year or two later,
modified by Mr. Carruthers, C.E., who proposed to add a
training-wall on the north side. In 1878 the entrance was so
bad that the shippers put on men in order to cut a channel
to sea. Towards the end of that year Sir John Coode, at the
request of the Government, visited Greymouth, and reported
favourably on the formation of a harbour. The following
year work was begun by the Public Works Department in ac-
cordance with his plans.

In 1884 the Greymouth Harbour Board was constituted by
Act of Parliament, and given large powers and ample revenue
from endowments. The work of harbour-construction was at
once taken over and carried on by that body. The original
plans of Sir John Coode have to some extent been modified
by the advice of Mr. Napier Bell and the Board's own Engi-
neers. The works as they now stand consist of two break-
waters, one on each side of the mouth of the river, the southern
one being 3,542 ft. and the northern one 1,125 ft. in length.

460

NEW ZEALAND HINING HANDBOOK.

The width of the entrance is 500 ft. There are also internal
training-walls, which serve to utilise the scour of the river-
current. Prior to the commencement of these works the depth
on the bar was at the most 10 ft. As the breakwaters ad-
vanced this has increased, until now there is a depth of 22 ft.
at high-water spring tides, and an average depth of 2(Tft.

The berthage accommodation is placed on the south bank
of the river, and consists of a wharf 2,355 ft. long, with
another -3 1-3 ft. in course of construction. If this proves in-
adequate, plans are extant for dredging Karoro Lagoon and
constructing a tidal dock capable of accommodating the
largest steamers likely to visit the port.

The wharf is well equipped, there being three hydraulic
cranes (two fixed and one movable) and several steam-cranes.
It is directly connected with the railway-lines to Hokitika,
Otira, and Keefton. The port is well lighted, and there is
an efficient harbour stafi.

The total revenue of the Greymouth Harbour Board since
its inception in 1884 has been £357,900, of which sum
£328,900 was derived from its endowments. The sum of
£240,000 has also been borrowed on the security of these en-
dowments. The expenditure by the Board on harbour-works
has been £406,765. A further sum of £176,841 has been paid
as interest and sinking fund on loans, making the total ex-
penditure £583,606. The sinking fund, with accretions,
now amounts to £32,914.

The net tonnage of vessels entering the port has increased
from 103,913 tons in 1885 to 273,196 tons in 1905. The total
tonnage since the constitution of the Board has been 3,310,903
tons.

The export of coal in 1885 was 98,407 tons; in 1905 it
was 243, 70d tons; and (he total export for the period be-
tween and including those years was 3,257,862 tons.

Prior to 1892 there was no timber-export. During that
year 415,820 superficial feet was shipped, and since then
the export has increased until in 1905 it amounted to
29,636,617 ft. The total amount exported has been
193,887,126 ft.

MANUFACTURE OF PORTLAND
CEMENT IN NEW ZEALAND.

Wilson's Star Brand Portland Cement and Hydraulic
Lime Works, Mahurangi, Auckland.

Messrs. John Wilson and Co.'s Portland cement and
hydraulic lime works are situated on the Mahurangi River,
two miles below Warkworth, and about forty miles north of
Auckland.

Mahurangi hydraulic lime (now known as " Wilson's ")
was first burned where the works at present stand about the
year 1849 or 1850, and became famous through being used
in the Queen Street (Auckland) sewer in the early fifties.
Later it was used in the Auckland dock and in the Domain
tunnel with success; also in the first buildings erected in
Auckland with ground mortar. In 1891-92 over 3,000 tons
were supplied for the Potts Hill Reservoir, Sydney.

In 1885 the first Portland cement produced in the colony
in marketable quantity was turned out at the Mahurangi
works. Since then the cement branch has developed into a
modern rotary plant, capable of turning out over 20,000 tons
per annum, employing a large staff of men, and using local
materials almost exclusively. The plant consists of two rotary
furnaces and the most modern grinding plant. The raw
materials and finished cement are tested every day. It is
claimed that the cement is finer and stronger than the im-
ported article. The Rangitoto Beacon, erected in 1886, was
the first marine work in which Star brand Portland cement
was used. Since then over 15,000 tons have been supplied
by Messrs. Wilson and Co. for use by the following Harbour
Boards: Auckland, Wellington, Napier, Gisborne, and Patea.
Public works, local bodies, and general trade have absorbed
the balance. The first ferro - concrete piles driven in New
Zealand (on the 3rd September, 1904) were made with Star
brand Portland cement, and the Ferro - concrete Company
continues to use large quantities of it.

462 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Portland Cement Works, near Picton.

Works have been established at the Elevation, near Picton,
by the Wellington and Marlborough Cement, Lime, and Coal
Company, with a capital of £25,000, which was floated
some three years since. Large deposits of very fine-grained
calcareous marl exist on the property alongside the works,
and with the addition of white limestone, brought from the
company's Tata Island property, a high-class Portland cement
is now being manufactured. Operations have been carried
on continuously since September last, and some 4,000 tons of
cement have been produced up to date, employment being
given by the company to 45 or 50 men in the works, quarries,
and shipping. The most modern system of manufacture
has been adopted — viz., the American rotary kiln, of which
one 60 ft. long has been installed, the other plant being from
the factories of Krupp (Germany) and Edgar Allen (Shef-
field), local enterprise providing the engine and boilers. The
plant, which is lighted by electricity, is now running to its
fullest capacity, and it is expected to reach a monthly output
of from 700 to 800 tons shortly.

Milburn Liime and Cement Company's Works, Dunedin.

Few industries connected with building-materials or engi-
neering-construction have undergone such a rapid develop-
ment during recent years as Portland cement. A generation
ago it was almost unknown, and it was applied to very few
of the uses which are now closely associated with the very
name of the material. The immense utility of the product
has led to a close study of the methods of manufacture, and
enormous capital has been employed throughout the world
in making improvements both as to process and plant. The
net result is that Portland cement is now looked upon by
engineers and architects as one of the most important articles
in building-construction, more especially since the advent of
reinforced concrete — i.e., a combination of iron or steel with
Portland-cement concrete. The quality of the product has
been vastly improved. A few years ago a tensile strength of
200 lb. per square inch was looked upon as satisfactory. At

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

463

the present day 6001b. to 8001b. is frequently imposed by
engineers. It is interesting to review how this change has
taken place, and there is an evidence of step-by-step advance-
ment at the Dunedin cement-works.

A' brief history of the company is worthy of note. In
1888 the valuable and well-known lime-deposit at Milburn,
together with a small cemeut-works, was acquired by a Dun-
edin syndicate. The syndicate at once formed a company
with a capital of £30,000, registered as the Milburn Lime
and Cement Company (Limited). The quality of the lime was
too widely known to cause the directors any anxiety, and from
the start a satisfactory business was done; but with the other
branch — i.e., cement-making — difficulties cropped up. The
works were then situated at Walton Park, about five miles
from Dunedin — a site that seemed to possess every disad-
vantage, involving costly carriage of clay, lime, coke, general
stores, and finished cement, combined with unsuitable ma-
chinery. After a few months' working the directors recog-
nised the gravity of the position, and called a special meeting
of shareholders to decide whether the company should retire
from cement-making or acquire a new site and erect modern
works. The "modern" works then erected were designed
after the English practice — viz., Johnson kilns, with chambers,
millstones for grinding both wet and dry, the process adopted
being known as the semi-wet process. The materials — lime
and clay — were mixed together in a wash-mill, thence ground
in a wet state and pumped on to chamber-floors. The burn-
ing-ofi of the previously loaded kilu supplied the necessary
heat to dry the mixture for the following kiln. At that time
this was considered to be a most economical method of manu-
facture.

The next step was to produce a finer-ground cement to meet
the requirements of better work demanded by engineers. The
millstones were thrown out, and a complete plant, known as
Asldiam's pulverising plant, was adopted. This was a dis-
tinct improvement on the old process, but costly in wear-and-
tear. It was run with more or less success until 1897, when,
after a visit to America, the Old Country, and the Continent,

464 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

the manager elected to replace this grinding plant with a
newer process of ball and tube mills, the great advantage of
these machines being that the whole product is ground up and
reduced to the necessary fineness without sifting. The Mil-
burn Company claim to have been the first cement-makers
south of the Line to adopt the tube mills, which are still in
vogue, and looked upon by cement experts as the best method
of grinding.

To meet the increasing demands for Milburn cement,
further additions and improvements became necessary in the
burning department. In 1900 the manager was sent to
America tx) report on the American process of manufacture by
the rotary kiln, with instructions that if he were satisfied he
was to order a plant without delay. The advantages of the
rotary process of burning were so apparent that a kiln was
installed that year. The Milburn Company also claim to
have been the first company south of the Line to adopt this
modern process, and the experience of the past few years has
demonstrated the wisdom and efficiency of the selection.

As there appears to be no finality in the process of the in-
<lustry, the company was again compelled this year by the
increasing demand to lay down more plant for dry grinding,
and mills of the most powerful and successful type made are
now installed.

A description of the processes at the works at the present
time will be of interest. The raw materials consist of lime
and clay. Careful analyses are made daily of the raw
materials to estimate the proportions, and the mixture after
fusion is again analysed as a check. It is of the utmost im-
portance to limit the variation to within 1 per cent. In addi-
tion to chemical analyses, many physical tests are made daily,
both of the newly ground cement and the matured stock.
Careful record is kept of fineness of grinding; tensile tests
are made at seven and twenty-eight days ; also long-term
tests, sand tests, and weekly records of accelerated tests.

The lime, which is obtained from Milburn, and clay,
dredged from the harbour in close proximity to the works at
Dunedin, are mixed together in a manner protected by letters

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 466

patent. The usual method of supplying heat to evaporate the
moisture from the cla}' is avoided. The raw materials are
ground successively by pan and tube mills, thence elevated
to a storage-lDin (twenty-four-hour capacity), and conveyed,
after being slightly damped, into the kiln. As this revolves
tlie raw mix gravitates from the back to the front, getting
hotter and hotter until it reaches the calcining stage. From
there it is discharged in the form of small clinkers. It is
picked up by an elevator and conveyed automatically to the
clinker-store, where it is allowed to cool and cure. It is then
ground practically to an impalpable powder in kominor and
tube mills, the discharge of the tube mill being in the bulk
store. Here it is cooled and bagged ; thence it goes to the
warehouse to mature.

The power is obtained from oompound-jet condensing-
engines of 250-horse power. In addition, there are auxiliary
engines for electrically lighting the works and rotary-kiln drive.
The company owns a dredge and complete equipment for
clay-dredging, and the works are well served with a railway-
siding from the Main Trunk line directly into the warehouse.
A supply of excellent water is obtained from an artesian bore
110 ft. in depth.

The coal used for rotarj' burning is Westport slack, which
is dried and ground to a powder before being injected into
the kilns. The site of the works comprises upwards of 4 acres,
one-half of this being occupied by the various factory buildings.
The company has always made a point of storing its cement
for some weeks before being sent out, which is considered pru-
dent and in the interests of the consumer. The volume of
business has steadily increased from 10,000 to 150,000 bags
per annum. The works are fully employed, the company
having large and importantt contracts with the Drainage
Board, Dunedin Corporation, Tramways, Public Works and
Railways, Otago Dock Trust, Water-supply, &c.

In addition to the cement-making business, the company
has a large lime business, two pipe-factories (Monier and Kiel-
berg), and phosphate-deposits.

_ Note. — There are also very extensive works near Whangarei, but
particulars have not been furnished.

IRON ORES AND SANDS OF NEW
ZEALAND.*

By Sir James Hectob, K.C.M.G., M.D., F.K.S., late Director of the
Geological Survey, New Zealand,

Iron-ores.

Almost every known variety of iron-ore has been discovered
in New Zealand. There are also few soils or stream-gravels
that will not yield a considerable quantity of black sand when
washed. The chief deposits are, however, on the seashore of
the west coast of both Islands, the best known being that at
Taranaki.

Brown Hcematite Ore.

At Parapara, Nelson, immense quantities of brown
haematite ore occur on the surface of the ground. Some of
this was converted into iron at Melbourne in 1873. This iron
has the following characters : Colour uniform, approaching
white ; structure homogeneous, and finely granular, hard,
brittle. It is therefore the variety called white iron.

A further valuable deposit of brown haematite has been
discovered by an officer of the Geological Survey Department
on the west side of Mount Peel, where the deposit is about
60 ft. thick. The ore contains 56 per cent, of metallic iron,
and has been traced for a distance of three miles, beyond
which point it is reported to swell out to as much as a mile in
width.

The following are the chief localities in which iron-ore is
found: — •

Specular Iron-ore. — Dun Mountain, Nelson. Occurs in
irregular veins in greenstone rocks ; contains 63 per cent,
of metallic iron.

Specular Iron-ore. — Maori Point, Shotover, Otago. A
6 ft. vein in mica-schist, equally rich with the above; extent
unknown.

♦"Handbook of New Zealand, 1886" (Hector).

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

467

Compact Iron-ore. — D'Urville Island, Nelson. Vein,
thickness unknown, in diorite slate, with serpentine and
chrome; yields 63 per cent of iron.

Magnetic Iron-ore. — This valuable ore, though occurring
chiefly as black sand, is found in several parts of the colony
in the massive form.

Magnetic Iron-ore. — Dun Mountain, Nelson. In a vein
16 in. thick, in serpentinous slates.

Magnetic Iron-ore. — Wakatipu Lake, Otago. In a vein
in mica-schists.

Magnetic Iron-ore. — Maramarua, Firth of Thames. From
a vein of ferriferous slates ; contains only oxides of titanium
and manganese.

Blach Ironsand. — From beach at Taranaki.

Ironband-ore . — Contains 70 per cent, of iron. Occurs at
Wyndham River, Otago, and Manukau, Auckland ; formed
by black-sand layers becoming cemented with haematite. This
would be a most valuable ore if obtained in large quantities.

Brown Hcematite, or hydrous oxide, also occurs in Amuri
in great quantity.

Beniform Iron-ore, Mongonui.

Bog Iron-ore. — Spring Swamp, Auckland. Forms thick
layers at the bottom of swamps. Though rich in iron, the ore
is inferior on account of the sulphur and phosphorus it
usually contains.

Hcematite. — An analysis of this ore from Raglan gave —
Sesquioxide of iron ... ... ... 72'69

Oxide of manganese . . .
Alumina

0-31
2-02

Magnesia ...

... 0-69

Lime

0-58

Phosphoric acid

Not estimated.

Sulphide of iron

0-11

Hygroscopic water , . .

4-61

Constitutional water

... 13-02

Silicates undecomposed

acids

5-97

10000
Iromands.
The following tabular statement gives a particular account
of ironsands: —

468

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

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NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

469

The composition of the chief massive ores of iron may be
illustrated by the following analyses: —

Massive Ikon Okes, Oxides, and Titanitbs.

Locality.

Centesimal Compositi

on.

Variety.

i
1

Impure mag-

Manukau, Auckland

60-20

37-90

traces

1-90

70-06

netite

Magnetite

Dunstan Gorge, Otago

86-32

traces

13-68

63-60

Haematite

Dunstao, Otago

96-il

3-89

68-30

Magnetite

Dun Mountain, Nel-

■•

90-62

7-60

1-80

63-40

Mixed magne-

son
Maramarua, Auckland

2-24

87-10

traces

10-66

62-30

tite and

haematite

Bog iron-ore . .

Spring Swamp, Auck-
land

73-17

13-83

18-00

51-22

Brown iron-ore

Kaglan .. ..j

72-69

9-68

17-60

50-88

Brown iron-ore*

Kawau . . . .[

67-98

19-65

12-37

47-58

Hydrous hsema-

Parapara, Nelson . .

62-68

24-08

13-24

43-87

titet

Hydrous haema-

Mount Peel, Nelson

56-00

tite

•^ Manganese-oxide, Vc

I Contains a little manganese.

Spathic Iron-ore. — This occurs in considerable quantity
in the Collingwood district, in most cases more or less
oxidized; one form of this ore, known as black-band, is one
of the most valuable kinds found, and alternates with the
coal-seams in Collingwood. A specimen of a siliceous and
spathic iron-ore from Otamataura Gully is constituted ap-
proximately as follows: —

Carbonate of iron

Carbonate of lime and magnesia

Siliceous matters

56-9

2-8

40-3

100-00
The iron amounts to about 27 per cent.

Other large deposits of spathic iron -ore have been found
at Foote's Coal-mine at the Miranda Redoubt, and Jenkins's

470

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Coal-mine, Nelson. They contain 40 per cent, and 41 per
cent, of iron respectively.

Black-band or Spathic

Iron-

ORES.

Variety.

Locality.

X o

OtM

§.■2
o

O
r ® •

Blaok-band . .
Blafk-baud . .
Spaihio
Spathio

Cnllingwood, Nelson
Gollingwood, Nelson
Miranda, Auckland
Jackson's Mine, Nel-
son

35-23
40-38

25-77
5-26

21-12
21-97

3-93
16-69

46-06
35-12
40-08
41-00

Analyses op Two Specimens.

Spathic Iron-ores.

Malvern Hill

Collingwood.

Protoxide of iron

51-2

.35-23

Sesquioxide of iron .

25-77

Oxide of magnesia .

0-8

1-00

Alumina

1-8

2-11

Magnesia . .

0-4

1-94

Lime

0-3

0-71

Silica

13-6

0-90

Sulphuric acid

Traces.

Carbonic acid

32-2

21-12

Phosphoric acid

Not determined.

Snlpljide of iron
Water

0-7

0-41
1-96

Organic matter

5-72

Silicates undeoomposed by acids

303

100-0

99-90

Hcematite, containing about 40 per cent, of iron, occurs
intermixed with quartz pebbles, in a stratum 100 ft. thick,
exposed over several acres at Parapara, Nelson, and from it
an excellent paint is manufactured, which, being a pure per-
oxide of iron, is the best preservative for that metal. Wood
coated with this paint is comparatively non-inflammable, and
it is therefore used in painting wooden buildings.

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 471

FURTHER NOTES ON THE IRON-ORES OF NEW
ZEALAND.

By Alexander McKay, F.G.S., Government Geologist.

An extensiye and valuable deposit of iron-ore (limonite and
glauoonite) occurs on the western slope of Mount Royal, in
Waihemo County, Otago. The ore contains about 37 per cent,
of the metal. The richest part of the deposit is exposed by the
railway cuttings immediately south of the Township of Pal-
merston South. Both as regards quality and its position this
deposit is of importance.

Malvern Hills. — Clay ironstone in rocks of Jurassic age is
abundant in the Cairn Range, Malvern Hills, Canterbury,
and ores of a like nature are found in connection with the
coal rocks of the district.

Ashley District, Canterbury. — There is evidence of the
presence of hisematite iron deposits in Triassic rocks forming
the southern slopes of Mount Thomas, and in the same range
further to the north. No special ore-band of high quality
is known, but a large percentage of iron occurs in the
rock over a belt of considerable width, and deposits of man-
ganese occur in connection therewith, while rich iron-ores
occur in the same rocks further to the north-east.

Stonyhurst. — A band of haematite, 12 ft. wide, remark-
ably soft and pure, is found on the seaward slopes of the
coastal range between the Waipara and the Hurunui Rivers.
This ore occurs on the coast range on the Cheviot Estate, and
also on the Lowry Peaks Range, on the western borders of
that estate.

Nine-mile Creek, Greymonth. — Spathic iron occurs abund-
antly in connection with the gold-bearing rocks of the
Brunner and Coal Creek coalfields. The bed of the Nine-
mile Creek is filled with large boulders of this ore, but whether
this has been derived from continuous beds or from boulders
occurring in certain horizons of the coal-measures has yet to
be ascertained. This ore yields 42 per cent.

472 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

Wester?i Slopes of Mount Cook. — Very considerable de-
posits of pure magnetite occur in the schistose rocks of the
western lower spurs of Mount Cook, Westlaud. Some bands
attain the thickness of a foot. The following is the analysis
of a sample collected by Cox and McKay in 1876: " Contains
50 per cent, protoxide of iron."

Charleston, West Coast of Nelson, Addison's Flat, &c. —
Black sands of recent date are found widely from Cape Fare-
well to the Haast River, but could not be profitably collected
except, perhaps, in the neighbourhood of Charleston and
Addison's Flat; but here, where are specially large and thick
deposits, the shipment of the ore is a possibility. These black
sands are highly auriferous.

Okaihau, Bay of Islands. — North-west of Lake Omapere,
on the high lands of Okaihau, there is a very extensive de-
posit of limonite covering a volcanic table-land to a depth of
4 ft, to 6 ft. The area of this deposit has not been exactly
ascertained, but it certainly exceeds one and may be several
square miles in extent. In the same district, and to the north-
east as far as Taku Bay, there are lesser deposits of the same
kind of iron-ore, and the plains of Kerikeri are overspread
with a thin covering of the same material.

Bange West of Kaioakawa, Bay of Islands. — On the
western slope of this range there is a heavy deposit of
haematite, containing traces of gold.

THE PARAPARA HiEMATITE
DEPOSITS

The following extracts irou^ the Geological Survey Reports,
having reference to the Parapara haematite deposits, will be
of interest at the present time, when the attention of
investors is being directed to these deposits: —

Report on Haematite at Parapara."

By Geobgb J. BiKNS, F.G.S.

In compliance with instructions received, I visited the
haematite deposit at Parapara in the beginning of October,
1878, and have the honour to report as follows: —

The subject may be divided into three heads —

1. Extracts from what has already been published on the
subject, with remarks.

2. Description of situation, mode of occurrence, &c.

3. Estimate of quantity.

1. Extracts from what has already been published on
THE Subject, with Remarks.

In the seventh annual report on the Colonial Museum and
Laboratory, published in 1872: —

1230. — Is a valuable hydrous haematite ore from Parapara,
CoUingwood, but it unfortunately occurs intermixed with
quartz pebbles, being, in fact, the matrix of a bed of conglo-
merate at least 100 ft. thick, which extends for about 1,000
yards at the surface. If by hand-picking a large amount of

*" Geological Reports, lb78-79," pages 59-64. Plans prepared by
Mr. Biims will be found in the "Geological Reports" for 1878-79.

474

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

iron-ore could be obtained equal to the sample analysed, the
deposit would be a valuable one.

62-68

Manganese

Lime ... ...

Magnesia
Siliceous matter
Water

Traces.

0-61

. . Traces.

23-47

13-24

100-00

The amount of metallic iron in the sample received would
be about 44 per cent. A very good pigment, especially
adapted for ironwork, is manufactured from this ore.

Remarks. — 1 cannot quite agree with what is said about
the occurrence of quartz pebbles, and the necessity for picking
the ore. There are many places in which a quartz pebble is
a rarity, and if -the quarry were commenced in a judiciously
chosen position it would, I think, be unnecessary to exercise
any great care in selecting the ore. This would have to be
in the upper portion of the deposit, as the stone there seems
to be much more free from impurities. The length of the de-
posit within the boundary of the lease is 2,772 yards, and I
think it runs right across the country to Onakaka Creek, a
distance of more than a mile from the boundary. Its average
thickness is, I think, over 200 ft.

From the ninth annual report on the Colonial Museum and
Laboratory, —

Parapara Iron-ore.

As intimately connected with the value of the Parapara
iron-ore, 1 give an analysis of some iron produced from it at
Melbourne in the latter end of 1873. The composition of the
iron alluded to was found to be as follows: —

Iron

...

... 97-668

Manganese

... 0-268

Carbon,

combined ...

0-542

))

free (graphite)

... 0-208

Silicon,

with titanium traces...

... 1-004

Phosphorus

... 0-041

Sulphur

... 0-269

100-000

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

475

Physical Character. — Colour uniform, approaching white ;
structure homogeneous and finely granular, hard, brittle.

From the character and analytical results above cited it
will be seen that this sample is of the variety technically known
as white iron. It is comparatively free from phosphorus, but
contains sulphur in some quantity, though not greater than
is found in many pig-irons smelted from the same class of ore
which has furnished the present specimen.

The following analysis of Parapara htematite is from the

report on the Philadelphia Exhibition of 1876 : —

Protoxide of iron

35-23

Sesquioxide of iro

n ... ... 25-77

Oxide of mangane

30 ... ... 1-00

Alumina

2-11

Magnesia

1-94

Lime

0-71

Silica

0-90

Sulphuric acid

Traces.

Carbonic acid

21-12

Phosphoric acid

... Notdet.

Sulphide of iron

0-41

Water ...

1-96

Organic matter

5-72

Silicates undecom

3osed by acids ... 3-03

100-00
In a letter from Dr. Hector to the Colonial Secretary,
dated Wellington, 2nd September, 1873: —

The ore occurs as large patches in a stratum of gravel.
The greatest thickness of the stratum is 100 ft., and the area
of the patches of ironstone showing at the surface is about
100 acres. The ironstone weathers to a dark colour, and
covers the surface of the hills with blocks of all sizes up to
many tons in weight. A rough estimate made on the spot
gave the quantity of ore available by mere surface excavation
as at least 15,000,000 tons.

The ironstone everywhere shows traces of its origin as a bog
ore that was deposited as a cement among gravel, as it con-
tains rolled pebbles of quartz ; but much of it is free from such
admixture, and by hand-picking and a simple modification of
the smelting process much of the siliceous matter could be
eliminated and the ore profitably smelted.

Remarks. — I have noticed the quartz pebbles elsewhere,
and would merely suggest the alteration, "most of it is free
from such admixture."

476 NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK.

With reference to the above amount — viz., 16,000,000 tons
— which is so very much under my estimate, the smaller
amount includes only what is available by surface excavation,
while the larger figure represents my estimate of the total
quantity.

In a memorandum from Dr. Hector to the Colonial In-
dustries Committee in 1873: —

No. 9 is from a deposit of hydrous haematite that occurs
in the Upper Tertiary drifts at Parapara, in the Province of
Nelson, but is also not infrequent in many other localities.
The ore occurs as the matrix of a quartz conglomerate, but
often containing large masses of nearly pure ore several hun-
dred pounds in weight. On breaking these there is frequently
a kernel of undecomposed sulphide of iron, showing the origin
of the ore to be probablj' from the denudation of a mineral
vein.

Mr. E. W. Mills, in evidence tendered to the same Com-
mittee, says : —

I produce to the Committee a piece of wrought iron made
from the above ore. I consider it of first-rate quality. It was
twisted and bent cold in my establishment this morning.

It may not be out of place to give a short extract from the
publications of the Second Geological Survey of Pennsyl-
vania, by Mr. F. Prime, jun., Assistant Geologist: —

Besctiption of the Brown Hcrmatite Ore Raiigex of Lehigh

County.

The great bulk of the iron - ore found in the dolomite or
limestone is known under the names of "limonite " or " brown
hajmatite." It is the hydrated ferric oxide, having the
formula 2 FegOg, 3 H^O, containing when pure 59'89 per
cent, of iron. The ore occurs massive, earthy botryoidal,
mammillary, concMtionary, and occasionally stalaotitic. It
has a silky, often submetallic lustre ; sometimes dull and
earthy. Colour of surface of fracture, various shades of
brown, commonly dark, and none bright ; when earthy,
brownish-yellow, ochre-yellow. The streak is yellowish-brown.
When stalactitic it forms pipe ore, which is rather scarce.
When concretionary it forms hollow spherical masses, com-
monly known under the name of " pot " or " bombshell " ore.
These hollow masses commonly contain water or masses of
unctuous clay. Their interior surface often presents a glazed

NEW ZEALAND MINING HANDBOOK. 477

appearance, due to a very thin coating or incrustation of
oxide of manganese, which imparts a nearly black varnish-
like surface. Sometimes the bombshell is solid ; its interior
then presents a honeycombed appearance, as if from the perco-
lation of chalybeate waters into the mass after the exterior
shell had been formed.

This is an admirable description of the Parapara haema-
tite; but I did not find it stalactitic. The percentage of
metallic iron in various samples of the Lehigh stone is about
the same as that of the Parapara. To continue Mr. Prime's
remarks : —

Many persons have supposed that the limonite was formed
by the oxidation of iron-pyrites. It is to be noted as a fact
rather opposed to this view that, with one exception, it has
been found impossible thus far to find iron-pyrites in any of
the mines examined. That exception is at Thomas Breinig's
mine ; and there the pyrites is evidently of later age than the
limonite, and has a stalactitic appearance. Some persons, on
the other hand, have supposed that the ore was formed by the
alteration of carbonate of iron, which has been found in some
cases present in the limestones. Still others have supposed
the ores to be the result of reactions between the limestone and
ferrous sulphate. As yet all these theories are mere hypotheses,
and before the correctness of all or none of them can be proved
it will require a long series of chemical investigations.

2. Description of Situation, Mode of Ooourbbncb, etc.

The deposit forming the subject of this report occurs about
a mile south-east of the mouth of the Parapara River, in the
Province of Nelson. About five miles north of this is the
Town of Collingwood, close to which is the Collingwood Coal
Company's Wallsend Mine, which yields some of the best coal
in New Zealand. At present this mine is unable to progress
aa rapidly as it might owing to the thinness of the seam, and
to the fact that bands of shale exist in the coal, but the de-
mand that would spring