OUR GOLDFIELDS

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 228, 28 September 1887, Page 5

OUR GOLDFIELDS

Mr J. H. Witheford has returned from the Waitoa district, whither he proceeded a few days ago for the purpose of having some tests made. He brought down samples of stuff from half-a-dozen different places, and submitted each to crucial tests, the results being unsatisfactory. Mr Witheford also brought) to town the residue of dish prospects saved by different people. These were treated by Mr Pond, and what was supposed to be gold was proved to be mica. Mr Witheford's investigations, it should be understood, do not include Mr Smith's property. There are several parties of miners now prospecting at Waitakerei, and two parties at Hellyer's Creek, live tons of stuff having already been sent to England from the latter place. (by telegraph—own correspondent.) Thames, this day. Caledonian.—Crushing is proceeding on quartz from the No. 1 specimen leader, No. 1 level, and the hangingwall reef at No. 2 level, and is shaping payably. Gas has been very troublesome lately at the intermediate level. Trenton.—The drive at No. 4 level oi the Saxon is quickly approaching the Trenton boundary. The reef is a strong body of quartz,and carries some really nicelooking mineral, while a few colours of gold are occasionally observed. Mr Coutts is sanguine that the reef will improve aa operations are prosecuted upon it hillward. Cambria.—The western drive on No. 1 footwall leader at No. 3 level is penetrating a very favourable channel of sandstone, and the quartz shows strong dabs of gold. Remunerative quartz is also being obtained from the workings on the various other leaders. There is really nothing new to report from Hikutaia. lam informed by a gentleman, who arrived in town this morning, that) no work is proceeding in the Prospectors' claim (Mcßrinn's), and although there are a number of parties engaged prospecting in the neighbourhood, nothing further has been unearthed. It is unlikely that any work will be done by the prospectors until the license is granted them by the Warden The whole of the Hikutaia applications come before the Warden's Court on the 6th prox. The reported discovery at Waiomo is nob attracting much attention. Mr Cadman and others have visited the locality, and the former gentleman has telegraphed to the Minister of Mines asking for a subsidy towards the formation of a road to connect the " find" with the proposed battery, which could be done at an outlay of about £150. The reef—which is, more properly speaking, a mere formation sft. wide —ha 3 been cut into on the side of a hill, but very little work has been done upon it. Good dish prospects are obtainable.