From Fiji

Pacific Mining

Reports

Fiji Gold N.L.

In a report to the directors of the Fiji Gold N.L. on his return from Fiji, Mr. D. Reid states he visited the areas on the Tavua goldfield, for which licences have been granted, accompanied by Dr. Loftus Hills, consulting geologist, and Mr. H.

V. Francis, engineer in charge of development work on the field. One of the areas showing great promise is known as Budd’s, which com prises 480 acres, and is situated immediately west of the Koroere, and joins Loloma West on the south. A large hill or spur near the centre of this area, rising up between two deep gorges, is en gaging attention. An adit has been driven in on the southern side of an extensive lode formation.

The first assays from this adit are awaited.

Another area of promise, is F. S. Ragg’s, two miles east of Budd’s, but about nine miles by road. The development work on this area will be consider ably expedited in the near future. A prospecting shaft is down 60 feet, and an assay from one of the trenches recently gave an encouraging result of 8 dwt. It is the intention of the board to diamond drill these areas at depth as soon as the plant on the field is available.

East Reefs Consolidated N.L.

Advice has been recived in Melbourne by the management of East Reefs Consolidated N.L., from Mr. C. F. Eeles, Yanawai, Fiji, that he has com menced two new tunnels on the eastern side of the hill, which are now in 62 feet. These tunnels will give approximately 250 feet of backs.

Pacific Gold N.L.

To prospect for gold in Fiji and develop any areas which may be acquired. Pacific Gold N.L, has been formed in Melbourne with a nominal capital of £20,000, in 2000 shares of £lO each. For subscription, 1350 shares were offered at par, holders of Pacific Gold Syndicate shares having the prior right of application, and 650 shares are in reserve. The contributing issue was under written by H. Byron Moore, Day and Journeaux, 376-380 Collins Street. Melbourne. The directors are Messrs. H. C. Comforth, T. Luxton, N. S.

Stuckey, R. P. Carver, and Sir Maynard Hed strom (Fiji). Mr. G. K. Moore, of Bewick More ing and Co., Collins House, is the legal manager.

In the prospectus it is pointed out that in various sections of Viti Levu gold has been found, and judging by surface indications, and by costeens, trenches, shafts and tunnels elsewhere, it is safe to assume that gold is not confined solely to the Tavua field. It is only on the extension of pros pecting and expert investigation that other discov eries are possible. Although geological investi gation is incomplete, the indications are favourable to the occurrence of substantial ore bodies and their persistence to depth—possibly great depth.

Rewa Prospecting Syndicate

The management of Rewa Prospecting Syndicate reports that the syndicate has abandoned its area at Fiji owing to the low values disclosed. An alluvial area is now being investigated by the syndicate.

Aloha Central G.M., N.L.

Negotiations have been concluded between Koroere G.M., N.L., and Aloha Central G.M., N.L., for the satisfactory working of the Cardigan lode should it be found to underlie the Aloha Central area. An agreement has been prepared and ap proved by the solicitors to the parties concerned, and it is in course of completion, Mr. Costello has granted, free of cost to the company, an ex tension of the option to Aloha Central G.M., N.L., until December 31 next. He has also expressed his willingness to extend the option to an even later date should the company so desire.

Granites Development N.L.

The Melbourne management of Granites Devel opment N.L. has received word from the company’s representative in Fiji that the Nandi property of the company was inspected by Dr. Loftus Hills, and he suggested that a prospecting shaft should be sunk where the samples from the surface assayed 4dwt. a ton. Dr. Loftus Hills strongly recom mended tunnelling Blair’s property.

Vees United, N.L.

The directors of Vees United, N.L., report that they have abandoned negotiations with the ven dors of the property in the Lautoka district, Fiji.

They state that they had ascertained that the vendors did not possess a prospecting licence, an application having been lodged but not granted.

The vendors are, therefore, unable to sell or enter into any agreement to sell. With regard to the assays which were published as being up to soz. actually the company’s representative was in formed they were a good deal higher. The com pany’s assays give results from sgr. to 18dwt. sgr. gold per ton. These assays also showed a high percentage of copper. The company is now nego tiating for a property in the Sigatoka district, which will be reported on by its consulting geolo gist, Dr. Loftus Hills.

Sukulaki Gold Development, N.L.

Owing to the unfavourable results obtained, di rectors of Sukulaki Gold Development, N.L., have decided to cease operations, and abandon the option over the Sukulaki area, in the Tavua district, Fiji.

Emperor Mines Ltd.

Large-scale operations were foreshadowed by Mr.

E. G. Theodore, director of Emperor Mines Ltd., Tavua, Fiji, at a shareholders’ meeting in Mel bourne on October 3. Mr. Theodore said the working down to the 100 feet level had definitely indicated certain features. It was quite clear that on the lease there was a unique fault shear. This could be regarded as a most important structural feature, as it indicated the extension of the ore channel. There were other subsidiary ore bodies which may be parallel lodes or other forms of occurrences. Crosscuts had opened up large bodies of ore to the east and west, with good values throughout the whole distance. The width of the structure had yet to be proved, but already it was known that there was a large tonnage of valuable

ore. Good values had been proved for a length of 1000 feet, with every prospect of them continu ing in a northerly direction for a considerable dis tance. The values could continue for 2000 feet without going outside the Emperor property.

On this main line of shearing a winze was started near the footwall side of the lode, and at a depth of 22 feet the sulphide ore definitely exhibited telluride. Values from 38 feet to 50 feet were a ton. The winze had been temporarily stopped pending the installation of pumping equipment. At the end of November the extended plant would be operating at a capacity of 2000 tons of ore, of an average grade of 12dwt. a ton, a month. Within the next twelve months sufficient data should be obtained from underground development down to 200 feet and from mill treatment to formulate a sound practical policy for the future working of the mine. This data should have no difficulty in providing this tonnage. Development work would now be more rapid as additional men were being employed, and an air compressor had been in stalled. The remuneration of each director was fixed at £250 per annum.

A message from Fiji on October 8 stated that for the four weeks ended October 5 the mill treated 365 tons of ore (dry weight) for a yield of 3600 z. of fine gold

Raki Raki (Fiji) Syndicate

In view of the unsatisfactory report on the Raki Raki field, furnished by Dr. Loftus Hills, it was resolved at a meeting of the board of directors at Melbourne on October 4, that Raki Raki (Fiji) Gold Syndicate N.L. will not exercise the option held on the field. Because of the present disturbing conditions the directors do not intend to consider any further areas, but have decided that the com pany be wound up and a return of at least 30/- out of money in hand will be made to shareholders.

Directors further state that negotiations are in hand to obtain a return of other money that has been expended for the purpose of increasing the return to shareholders

Hickey’S Gordon Gold, N.L.

Owing to unfavourable results obtained from test ing operations, directors of Hickey’s Gordon Gold, N.L., have decided to abandon the option over pros pecting licence No. 220 on Tavua goldfield, Fiji.

This Melbourne company secured an option over the area in April last and have been actively prospecting and testing it ever since. The area joins a corner of the Emperor lease and its southern boundary runs along the Nasivi River.

Gold Mines Of Fiji, N.L.

In a report to the directors of Gold Mines of Fiji, N.L., Tavua, Fiji, on his return from Fiji, Mr. Donald Reid, a director of the company, states the various areas for which prospecting licences have been issued are scattered over the whole of Tavua goldfield, and the development work has been commenced on all, but so far only in initial stages. Every area contains important possibilities.

The engineer in charge (Mr. H. V. Francis) had a lot of preliminary work to do before the main work of developing the areas could be proceeded with. Apart from Flemon’s area, for the quick de velopment of which it has been decided to float a development company, Mr. Reid was particularly impressed with the possibilities of Goodsir’s block.

This area is located in the central portion of the Tavua goldfield, and has a number of outcrops of silicified rock, in which extensive lode formations exist. One large hill terminates in the high cliff which overhangs the Nasivi River, and at the base of this cliff, on the eastern side just above the water level, four adits are being driven in about a chain apart. No. 1 adit is in 38ft., and all assays went 2dwt. No. 2 adit at the opening went 2dwt. and 2ft. in assayed 3dwt. No. 3 adit is in 15ft. all assays 2dwt. No. 4 adit is in 10ft. all assays 2dwt. Dr. Loftus Hills considers these assays most important and encouraging. It is the intention of the board to place the diamond drill on the block for immediate testing at depth.

Hanlon’S West Silver-Lead, N.L.

i j t he end of September, Hanlon’s West Silver lead N.L. secured the right to an option, subject

to examination within one month, over 360 acres on the Tavua goldfield, Fiji, adjoining the Sukulaki Gold Developments Co. on the north. The option was for eight months on the following terms: — £250 cash deposit within a month or after ex amination. £250 on the issue of a prospecting licence, and £2500 and 15 per cent, of shares if the option were exercised. The company had ap proximately £7OOO in hand.