OUR GOLDFIELDS

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 180, 31 July 1889, Page 5

OUR GOLDFIELDS

(BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Thames, this day. Saxon.—From a survey juat> made the manager finds that the winze from No. 4 level has to be eunk a further depth of 8 feeb to reach No. 5 level, while the drive at the low level has to be extended another 6 or 7 feet to nieeb this winze. The stopes are producingquartzof the usual payable grade. In the stopes between Nos. 3 and 4 levels on the hangingwall reef a neiv leader has been struck striking off into the wall. It ia eight inches in thickness and shows gold, with a few pounds picked stone occasionally saved. Cleaning-up and retorting for the fortnight has been completed for a yield of 301oz. retorted gold, which was afterwards melted into a bar of £920z 4dwb., from 353 loads general quartz and 25 loads picked stone. Lone Hand. — Excellent progress is being made by the contractors with the extension of the low level tunnel, and a splendid description of sandstone country is being penetrated. Colours of gold are frequently seen in the quartz coming to hand from the Manchester section of the inino, while some of the stone is also impregnated with excellent minerals. Crushing is proceediug at Bull's battery, and will be finished in a day or two. Black Jack (Kuatuna). —Ib is understood that the trial crushing from Thompson's claim has yielded over ioz. gold to the ton, bub the exact return is nob yet ascertainable. New Air Compressor.—As briefly mentioned in a telegram in yesterday's issue, the Saxon Company have imported from the Rand Drill and Rackarock Company, Melbournejonelof their well-known air compressors and two rock drills for use in the mine. The plant consists of one of Rand's improved air compressors, one of Rand's "Little Giant" drills with the neceseary fittings, and ftlso one of what is known as the"Slogger" drills and fixings. It is the intention of the mine manager, Mr T. A.jDunlop, to have the plant—which will be driven by water—erected as soon as possible, as one of the drills will be utilised for extending the No. 5 level drive hillward upon the course of the lode, while the other will most likely bo required at an early date in connection with the putting in of a low level, as soon aa the necessary steps have been taken to reduce the water ■ to enable the work to be undertaken. Cambria. — Colours of gold were seen when breaking down the leader on the intermediate drive westward. Gold was seen freely when breaking down No. 7 leader. A crushing of 24 loads of quartz and 9 of tailings has been completed for the return of 440z and soz respectively retorted gold. New Albtjrnia.—During the week a few pounds of picked stone were obtained from ohe Sons of Freedom reof, and the reef, where now being worked westward, is of a favourable appearance, and shows some nice mineral. Caledonian.—At No. 2 level the drive on Brown's leader has been advanced 7 feet. The country is rather tight and the reef is nearly 3 feeb thick, about one-half of which contains excellent mineral. The whole of this reef is being sent to the battery at present. Driving back from here the main reef has been broken down a further distance of 9 feet both in this and the leading stope. The reef is a,bout 2 feet 6 inches thick, showing , nice mineral all through. In the drive below the intermediate level a rise has been started on tke junction of cross leader and No. 1 reef. This is up 8 feeb and a leading stope back to the big winze is in hand; the reef ie 2 feet tbick and looks very well. No. 1 level has, been repaired a distance of 80 feeb.