17.—REPORT ON PROPOSED DEEP SHAFT ON HUNT’S LINE OF 
REEF, ELLESMERE.* 
(By H. Herman , B.C.E ., F.G.S .) 
The general features of this line of reef have already been briefly set forth 
by myself in a special report, published by this Department in 1896, and a 
further report (attached to File 169, M.D. Act, Part I.), dated 1/7/99, fur¬ 
nished in connexion with the applications of the Stewart’s United and Elles¬ 
mere Consolidated Companies for. loans to assist in deep sinking. The 
present memorandum embodies the salient points of the reports mentioned 
with a few additional remarks on the probable character of the reef at a 
greater depth from the surface than is attained by any workings at the 
present time. 
The line was first opened up in 1894, and within two years had been well 
explored at or near the surface oyer a length of about 5 miles, several sections 
of which, aggregating approximately 2 miles, were furnishing ore for the 
battery. In June, 1896, two shafts had reached a depth of 100 feet, but 
very little of the material crushed had been obtained deeper than 50 feet. 
At the same date, about 12,000 tons had been crushed for an average of 
about 4 dwt-s. per ton; and while subsequent developments have not resulted 
in any notable extension of the portions of the line proved ore-bearing at the 
surface, increasing depth, though not, as far as I could judge from my recent 
brief inspection, materially 'affecting the average width of the ore body, has 
been accompanied by a decrease in the average value of material crushed to 
about 2 or 2^ dwts. per ton. This decrease in value, however, may be more 
apparent than real, owing to possible rejection in former years of low grade 
ore which is now sent to the battery. Stuping and quarrying operations 
have now exhausted a large proportion of the payable reef to a depth of 80 
or 90 feet from the surface, and nearly all workings are approaching or 
have reached water level. 
Owing to several circumstances in favour of cheap mining and milling, 
such as the considerable width and the usually soft nature of the formation, 
shallow depth of haulage, the non-refractory and easily crushed ore, and 
economic management, the small yields have often paid all working ex¬ 
penses, and occasionally even dividends, but the several companies (whose 
leases now represent the amalgamation of the miners’ claims of five years 
ago) have on the whole derived little profit from their operations, nearly all 
the gold won having been expended in machinery, stores, wages, and inci¬ 
dental expenses. Operations at Ellesmere, however, which have been almost 
confined to Hunt’s line, have provided employment during the last six years 
to probably, on the average, about 350 men, which fact of itself renders it 
clear at the outset that at least a continuance, if not an expansion, of work is 
an important national desideratum. 
An inspection of the field shows only too plainly that- unless mining at 
deeper levels than the present can be made to pay, the existence of Ellesmere 
as a gold producer and of its considerable mining population will be of very 
short duration. It can be readily understood, however, that none of the com¬ 
panies, which have done much work for little profit at the upper levels, feels 
* A national shaft is now down 410' (1.10.02). 
