Pacific Mining

Reports

From Fiji

Aloha Central G.M.

A detailed report by Dr. Loftus Hills on Costello’s block of 30 acres, under option to Aloha Central G.M.N.L. has been received by the management in Victoria. Dr. Hills states there are at least four lodes on the block corresponding to the four lines of shear. The eastern lode extends from the northern boundary south-eastwards and passes out of the area in the south-eastern corner. It is 1500 feet in length, and the indicated width is from 10 to 20 feet. The western group of lodes is controlled by the three lines of shear, which are spaced within a width of 250 feet. The width of the indivi dual lodes is obscured by their intermittent coales cence into a composite lode, which in places will

probably prove to be up to 250 feet in width. This lode system also extends 1500 feet, and in direction parallels the eastern lode. The work in progress must be regarded merely as the initial steps in exploring and testing what is really an extensive system of lode formations. It can be expected that development will prove large tonnages of ore re serves. What the gold content or grade of this ore will be, only the development work and systematic sampling will disclose. But the geological evidence justifies him in expecting the recognition of tellu rides at any time. High-grade ore undoubtedly occurs and can be expected to recur throughout the lodes both in length and depth. If efficiently handled the lodes should show a profit on large scale ore averaging 3 dwt. of gold a ton.

Following is a progress report recently issued by the mine manager; No. 1 shaft, sunk 3ft., to 19ft., in solid lode. Present width, 5ft. No sign of footwall. Present width of lode payable. No. 2 shaft, 10ft., to 26ft., in dark andesite. No. 3 shaft, 10ft., to 27ft., in dark andesite. Xcut towards No. 2 shaft, to 4ft. No. 1 tunnel, 17ft., to 35ft., dark an desite. No. 2 tunnel, 20ft, in 43ft. Present width of lode formation, 23ft. Traces of gold. Cut out road from Emperor-road to mine. Lorry can now get

to mine. Eastern lode; Excavating approach to tunnel.

Koroere Gold N.L.

The last report received in Australian from the representative in Fiji of Koroere Gold N.L. stated: Tunnels advanced to 165 ft., 9ft., 134 ft., 82ft. re spectively. No. 1 tunnel from 145 to 155 ft., 3dwt.; No. 3 tunnel from 114 to 124 ft., 3dwt.; lode chan nels not yet reached. Cardigan lode section ex tending 250ft. N. No. 3 shafts 3 costeens show width lode 18ft. Values varying between 2 and 12dwt., with average 4dwt. Shaft 30ft. deep; same average values. Ten trenches W. lode disclose length 270 ft., width 7ft. Average value, 7dwt. N. lode across creek length, 160 ft., width 15ft., assay ing 2dwt.

Viti Levu Gold N.L.

In a report on the property of Viti Levu Gold N.L., despatched from Lautoka, Fiji, Mr. Earl Scott states that although the first assays were mostly disappointing, the general outlook has improved since, as there is now 3ft. of ore, giving good dish samples, and a further width, as yet insufficiently tested, but showing a little free gold in the dish.

Sinking is proceeding on the best values, as well as trenching at other places along the line of lode.

Other portions of the area are being opened up for sampling. Sixteen native boys are being em ployed.

Loloma West Ltd.

Advice has been received by the management of Loloma West Ltd., Fiji, that the Loloma West block has been granted as a prospecting licence.

The issue of the Hot Springs and Drumasi areas has been deferred pending a survey to eliminate the sugar cane areas and to determine the boundaries.

Granites Development N.L.

Granites Development N.L. has been advised by its agent in Fiji that he has secured a six months’ free option over an application for a proposed lease on the headwaters of the Waimanu River, and that he is forwarding samples for assay. The purchase consideration is £3,000 in cash and a 10 per cent, fully paid share interest in the capital of a company formed to develop the property. A further exten sion of six months can be obtained on payment of £IOO. The representative in Fiji has also obtained free sampling options over two properties on the Tavua field, and options over two areas in the Nandi district. Arrangements are being made to test these areas.

Aloha Alluvials N.L.

Further testing by Mr. E. T. Lewis in the Wai damu River region, Fiji, on behalf of Aloha Allu vials N.L., has given disappointing results. Mr.

Lewis advised the management that three bores put down about the middle of the Lower Waidamu River area to 30 feet, 49 feet and 47 feet respec tively, showed no sign of gold, except in a few of the finest possible float colours on the surface. Most of the material was gravel and hill rubbish, con firming his previous advice that the denuding of this country was not old enough to deposit alluvial gold. Mr. Lewis added that he did not expect any improvement. The Waidamu River area appeared to be distinctly worse. He considered the whole of the properties of the company worthless. The directors have instructed Mr. Lewis to put down five more bores on the Lower Waimanu area and five bores on the W'aidamu area. The company’s options and reservations in the Waimanu River region collectively comprise an unbroken tract of territory extending continuously for a distance of 25 miles, starting from the junction of the Wai manu and Rewa rivers, and proceeding along the bed of the Waimanu River to the junction of that river with the Waiturua River. Mr. R. M. Boyd, mining engineer, who recently inspected the areas on behalf of the company, reported that, as was the case with the lower areas on the Waimanu River, the depths of the Waidamu River areas were unknown, and must be determined by bor ing. His sampling was confined to the upper washes, and the samples from both areas were from the river banks and adjacent flats. A small samp ling dish was used, and the results could only be regarded as approximate. Mr. Boyd reported his sampling produced exceedingly gratifying results, and proved the existence of payable values in the upper wash over a wide extent of country.

At a special meeting in July of the directors of Aloha Alluvials N.L., Fiji, it was decided to ac cept the recommendation of Mr. E. T. Lewis to abandon the alluvial areas on the Upper Waimanu River, Viti Levu. Mr. Lewis will now concentrate upon testing the alluvial flats on the lower Wai manu River and on the Waidamu River.

Loloma Gold Mines, N.L.

Reports issued by the management of Loloma Gold Mines N.L. have been as follows: June 24: Mr. Doran, the company’s engineer, re ports adit 63 to 68 feet, 16½ oz. per ton; 68 to 72 feet, 2oz. per ton; 72 to 76 feet, 6½oz. per ton;

all bulk assays. Face 7ft. wide, most of value con tained in two feet footwall side of lode. Separate sample there gave unusually high assay, therefore will check sampling. Bulk sample, No. 2 shaft, 38 to 44 feet, 5oz. per ton; 44 to 47 feet, per ton; 47 to 50 feet, 11loz. per ton; 50 to 52 feet, per ton. Lode 8ft. wide.

June 29: Adit extended to 80ft.; bore at 72ft. in footwall for 4ft. assayed 31oz. per ton. Prior to this point lode split and turned into footwall side.

At 80ft. new make appeared in face about 1ft. wide, remainder of face low grade. Bulk sample from 76 to 80ft., assayed 2oz., excluding rich footwall ore.

No. 1 shaft at 34ft. lode 6ft. wide assayed 2oz. 12 dwt. No. 2 shaft bulk sample from 52 to 55 feet assayed 7oz. No. 3 shaft in ore 38 to 50ft.; no sign of footwall. Average assay, 11dwt. No. 5 shaft at 16ft. assayed 2oz. 2dwt.; at 20ft. 5oz.. Gold shoot extends north at least 300 ft. and south 280 ft. to present adit face.

July 3: No. 3 shaft, bulk sample, 50 to 54ft., 24dwt per ton, full width of shaft. No. 2 shaft, bulk 55 to 57ft., 6oz. 7dwt., full width of shaft.

Gold Mines Of Fiji.

Gold Mines of Fiji N.L. reports receipt of a cable from the company’s engineer (Mr. H. V.

Francis) stating he and Mr. A. Bowler have been informed by Mr. Harry Morton, prospector and shareholder in the Emperor mine, that he had traced the Emperor lode to the boundary of Flemons block, which is under option to the com pany, by a series of trenches, showing good values.

Advices received from the company’s solicitors in Fiji state that prospecting licences had been ap proved to the company for six months for 377 acres of the Goodsir area; 261 acres of Flemons area, 350 acres of Hall's area; 237 acres of the Chalmers area; 240 acres of the Fyfe area; and 300 acres of Nasivi area. The Ali area has been deferred, pending an investigation of the apparent overlap ping of boundaries. Nominal capital is £30,000, in 3000 shares of £10 each, of which 2000 shares were subscribed for at £5 a share; 250 are held under option to the promoters for nine months, and 750, fully paid, have been allotted to the ven dor. The directors are Messrs. A. Bowler, G. R.

Clarke, D. Reid, F. Voss Smith and S. Wright- Smith. Mr. J. D. Morison, Bank-place, Melbourne, is the legal manager.

Nasivi (Fiji) Gold Syndicate.

Having abandoned the areas on the Tavua field, Nasivi (Fiji) Gold Syndicate N.L. is now directing attention to anew field at Riki Riki, 30 miles further east. At an extraordinary meeting held in July, Mr. P. J. Maloney, a director, in formed shareholders that the syndicate’s geologist deemed the prospects of sufficient importance to apply for an area of 1000 acres. Three lodes ex posed were respectively 20 feet, 15 feet and 4 feet in width, and contained seams giving free gold in pan sampling up to loz. a ton. The lodes con tained mineralised seams and quartz leaders. The creek sands and loams over the whole area con tained fine gold. The geological series are similar to the Tavua country rock structure. Assays of samples across the faces of each lode will tie for warded shortly. Nominal capital of the syndicate is £10,000, in 2000 shares of £5 each. The directors are Messrs. G. G. Dunstan, D. C. G. Hill, P.

J. Maloney and J. B. Laing.

East Reefs Consolidated N.L.

East Reefs Consolidated N.L., having been regis tered in Fiji, the Mining Board has granted the licences in the title of the company. These licences cover applications for two areas of 500 acres each on the Yanawai gold field, Vanua Levu, pegged on behalf of the company by Mr. T. J. Rogers and party. A cablegram received in Melbourne on July 11 advised that a new lode has been discovered. It is assumed that this lode was found by the com pany’s prospector. Details of locality and value are not yet to hand. Mr. G. H. McMeeking has resigned his position of underground manager of Mt. Kasi Mines Ltd., and has consented to take charge of East Reefs operations at Yanawai. His appointment dates from August 4. Mining equip ment requisitioned by him left Melbourne for Fiji early in July.