June 6, 1895,{
the 19th July, when we stopped to put up the additional stamps. As the foundation timber of the old battery was very rotten, I decided to pull the whole down and re-erect them. New founda- tions were put in for the whole twenty head, oo- thing but the most durable timber being used in the work. The work was completed and crush- ing resumed on the 28th August, not an addi- tional man but the ordinary staff at the mine be- ing employed at the work. For despatch this work will compare favourably with similar work in any part of the world, especially considering the labour available (with the exception of two Europeans)---Chinese and Malays. Although the engine was only originally intended to drive ten head of stamps, it does its work splendidly, and, since starting, the whole has worked first class. During the past three months great dif- ficulty has been experienced in supplying the bat- tery with crushing stuff, owing to the north-east monsoons causing incessaut rains. No less than 28 of our working bullocks bave died in our en- deavour to keep the battery going, and some better means will have to be provided for trans- porting the ore from the mine to the battery, and the sooner this is done the better.
OZB.,
The quantity of ore crushed by the old battery since the clean up of 11th April, 1894, to the time of stopping was 1,420 tons, yielding 935 ozs. 5 dwts. smelted gold. Since starting the new battery on the 28th August last, 4527 tons have been crushed for 2,152 ozs. gold, making a total of 5,947 tons crushed for a yield of 3,087 * an average of 10 dwts. 9 grs. of gold per ton of ore. The total quantity of ore crushed since starting is 17,957 tons, for a yield of 14,180 ozs, smelted gold. The average cost of milling the ore for the year is 2s. 9d. or $1.38 per tou. This I hope during the ensuing year to reduce- considerably, as it costs very little in labour more to work the twenty head than it did to work the ten head before. I hope to see my way clear to advise a still further increase in our crushing power. Our present weakness is the transport of ore to the will. This I propose to remedy by the construction of a light railway connecting the various mines with the will, as already
advised..
40
The total cost of raising the ore and putting it into the ore hoppers at the mine, including European supervision, coolies, timber, engine drivers, &o., is $5.68 per ton. This does not in- clude management charges. It has been sug gested that a cyanide plant" for the extraction of the gold still remaining in the tailings be added to our present plant. A bulk sample of the tailings has been sent to Charters Towers. (Queensland) to be treated by the cyanide process, aud if they are suitable for treatment by that process I see no reason why works should not be erected. As most of our tailings are being saved without any extra cost, it is not a matter of pressing importance that it should be gone on with at once. Our neighbours, the Punjom Gold Mining Co., Limited, are erecting a plaut for the treatment of their tailings, so it may be as well to see the result of their experiment before committing ourselves to the cost of a plant.
Machinery. All the mines now in work, viz, Raub Hole (2 shafts), Bukit Komun, and West- ern Lode, are all thoroughly equipped with first-class winding and pum; ing machinery. The old battery, when re-erected, was thorough ly overhauled, and any repairs needed were done. Two additional boilers, 10 horse power each, have been added, making oight boilers in all, all in first class condition. The two last we have not yet required to use, and are held in re- serve. The whole of the machinery is in first- class order and as good as new, a list of which will be found in stock sheets.
Building. These have nearly all been renewed during the past year, viz., at Raub two kongseys for 100 coolies, two new bungalows for Europeans, and additions to manager's house. At Bukit Koman, two new kongseys for Chinese coolies and a bungalow for European miners. Battery House. This has been about doubled in size, with a new assay office and store-room for battery. A new blacksmith's shop, with two forges; also a new bullock shed.
Transport.-No improvement has been mado in this during the year, but a cart road is being made by the Selangor Government from the * The proportion of clean up of 11th April, belong. ing to current year, is 512 tons for 326 ozs gold Thus the total yield for the twelve months ending 28th February, 1893, is 6,459 tons for 3,413 ozs., or an average of nearly 10 dwts. 14 gra, of gold per ton,
429
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. ·
railway running at Kwala Kubu, passing | Along the back of the level the lode varies from throngh Raub to Kwala Lipis. This road will 10 to 25 feet wide, the whole of which carries be of great service to us, and will effect a saving gold, and is being crushed. A month's work on of 40 per cent. in transport charges, besides re- a great ore body like this makes very little show. ducing the time in getting stores from Singa- The bulk of the crushing stuff for the mill is pore fully three-quarters. I am assured by the being supplied from these stopes. Governor that the making of this road will be pushed on as rapidly as possible.
General. During the year the health of the camp has been fairly good. One fatal accident happened, a Chinese coolie falling down the Bukit Koman shaft. It was owing to his own carelessness, and no precautions can guard against this.
The air shaft now being suuk south of the crosscut is down and timbered to a depth of 100 feet. I expect to go 20 feet deeper before break. ing through to the stopes below. We have had the lode in this shaft for the last 30 feet, which shows gold quite equal to the stopes.
No work is being done on the leader formation in the engine shaft as the crushing staff is not
In reviewing the position and progress made | required. by the Company during the past year, I must Engine Shaft-All the preparations for sink. draw the attention of the shareholders to the|ing the staft another 100 feet have been com- fact that this is the first time I have been able pleted. A recess has been ent and cistern fitted to say there are large reserves of ore available for taking up the water from the level and for crushing. I estimate that at the present a 7-inch draw-lift to be worked from the time we have in sight at least sufficient ore to' main steam pump rod is now ready to put keep the present mill, twenty head, fully em in the shaft to sink with. All fittings. clack ployed for two years, and of a grade equal to seatings, and bucket mountings have been made late crushings. A reference to the plaus of the on the mine. The shaft has been sunk 13 feet different sections of the mine will assist you in and is now down 15 feet below the 146 feet level. understanding the various workings of the As soon as the new 10 inch steam pump arrives mine.
from England it will at once be placed in the shaft, as it takes the present one all it can do to keep the water out. It is my intention to "push on the development work of the different sections of the mine so as to keep our reserves of ore well in advance of our requirements.
WM. BIBBY. Mining Manager.
The following is the Mining Manager's re- port for the four weeks ending the 15th May, I-95
Raub Hole Section. Work in this section is almost all confined to the No. 2 south shaft. There are still a number of small cross leaders to work in the old No. 1 level, but as we do not require the crushing stuff I am keeping these
in reserve.
The main drive No. 2 level south from the main engine shaft, and the drive going north from the No. 2 south shaft have broken through The total distance between the to each other.
two crosscuts 406 fest, and the total length of the level face to face 586 feet. The whole of this is through hard blasting ground, This level is the deepest ground worked in the Raub Hole formation and has been driven on the lode fornia- tion the whole distance: the formation is very regular. Gold has been got in several places in the northern part, but only in small patches. As we approach the main gold-bearing ore chute in the south end the lode opens out to about 2 feet, and for a distance of 230 feet along the bottom of the level it carries first class gold- This is the main ore chute which bearing ore. has been worked first by the natives to water level and by this Company to the present depth, 120 feet. This 120 feet represents the dip of the chute of gold in about 700 feet, the length worked to the present time. The ore chute is steadily widening as it goes down. Near the surface the width of the chute was not more than 30 feet vertical, at our lowest lovel it has opened out to 90 feet and the ore shows no signs of deteriorating. It is with the intention of working this ore chute at a deeper level that the No. 2 south shaft is now being sunk 100 feet deeper. I am sanguine that at a deeper level this ore chute will open out and make a con- tinuous lode of payable ore. In addition to the main ore chute there are a number of rich small cross leaders cut in driving these levels which I hope to eventually trace into the old original Raub Hole workings, which lies 70 to 100 feet west of our present workings, and from which large quantities of gold were won in the earlier days of the Company. These workings were all destroyed by the great flood of November, 1891. This work will be taken in haud later on. At present we are concentrating all our available force to sinking the No. 2 shaft, which is now down about 40 feet below the 120 feet level. I have had to change the contractors, who were not getting on fast enough for me. The present ones are doing better; 25 feet has been sunk and timbered for the month. The ground gone through is hard diorite with calcite leaders running through it which require blasting and is very wet.
In the south stopes there are four faces at work on a lode from 1 to 24 feet which shows good payable ors. North of the crosscut there are two faces at work on a lode from 6 to 10 inches thick carrying very good gold. A fair quantity of ore has been sent from these stopes for crushing.
Bukit Komau-The stopes over the back of the main level still continue to look as well as ever, These stopes are now open for about 180 feet.
[
Western Lode.—The only work being done is stoping between the two air shafts. These stopes are looking very well at prosent, showing fair gold the whole length of them. The lode varies from 2 to 5 feet wide, and is easy and inexpensive to work. The water in this shaft is light and gives us very little trouble.
Battery. This is kept steadily at work day and night. A rough clean up took place on the 6th instant; 1,030 tons yielded 1,400 oz., amal- gam. Crushing was resumed again the same afternoon.
.
It is 20 feat
Railway.-Fair progress is being made with this work, and there are now about 90 coolies at work on the track. The bridge over Sungie Raub is almost completed. span and 14 feet to formation level. Girders 16x 12". All timber used is of the best de- scription of Mirabau." Between 2,000 and 3,000 sleepers have been delivered, also a good deal of sawn timber required for culverts and drains. More coolies will be put on as opportunity offers, so as to push the work through as quickly as possible.
WM. BIBBY,
Mining Manager.
THE REBELLION IN FORMOSA.
DECLARAT ON OF THE REPUBLIC. Advices from North Formosa report that on Friday, the 24th inst., it was generally under- stood at Tamsui that the island was on the eve of being declared independent. that the Governor would be appointed President of the Formosa Republic, and that a new flag would be hoisted at the forts. In the afternoon the new flag. a yellow tiger ou a blue ground, was sent to the Commissioner of Customs, with the request that
it should be hoisted on the following day. This Mr. Morse politely declined to do, and it is said that to compromise the matter no colours were flown at the Custom House on Saturday. On the 25th the Consuls were notified of the change of Government, and at noon it si supposed that the Governor was duly installed as President. Proclamations were posted calling upon the people to support the new government and to join in defending the island from the invasion of the Japanese. On Sunday the flag was saluted by the forts with twenty-one guns.
Two Japanese ironclads anchored off Tamsui on the morning of the 25th. It was fully expected that the forts would open fire, as both ships ap- peared to be within range of the guns, but no action was taken. In the afternoon, to the in- tense surprise and auxiety of everyone, a launch from one of the Japanese steamed in over the bar, and after leisurely taking soundings pro. ceeded up the river to the Redbreast, with whose officers the Japanese appear to have had a short in- terview. The launch then steamed out, withont, apparently, attracting much attention, although some soldiers on the riverside showed some dis- position to open fire. Just before leaving Tam- sui the steamer Formosa was boarded by two of
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.