OUR GOLDFIELDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1899, Page 2

OUR GOLDFIELDS.

HAURAKIRETURN

£1238 PROM 200 TONS.

During the past month the Hauraki G.M. Co. at Coromandel treated 200 tons of ore and 238 lbs of picked stone for a yield of 4310z 9dwts melted bullion, worth £1258 7/9. The previous month's output was £1197 4/8 from ISO tons of ore and 19libs of picked stone.

N.Z. MINES RECORD

The January number of the 'N.Z. Mines Record' to hand to-day contains an amount of valuable information, a much larger space than usual being devoted to mines on the Hauraki fields. The Waihi mine is referred to as one of the premier goldmines of the world, and the fact is stated that no difficulty is anticipated in keeping the 90 stamp mill at Waihi and the. 100 head stamp mill at Waikino in full swing for many years to come, and also that the question is already discussed in some quarters of erecting fifty or a hundred additional head for which provision has been made at Waikino. In the notes and comments is a valuable table compiled from 1857 to 1898, showing the yearly output of bullion. The grand total of the gold won is set. down at £54,453,325. The silver output dates from 1869. For the last live years the output of silver has steadily increased. In 1894 it totalled £6.097, in 1895 itreached £10,679, and next year £10,589. In 1897 the output nearly doubled, reaching £20,586, and last year it amounted to £33,500. It is stated that the silver is principally obtained from the goldmines in Ohinemuri distict. BUNKER'S HILL. During the week the five men have been employed driving on the leader (mentioned in last report) that came |in from the hangingwail, and on taki ing down the quartz stripped it proved to be three inches iv thickness and of a kindly appearance, but exposed no gold. The leading stope has been carried along a total distance of fiftyeight feet and the timbers placed in position. Next week will see this stope up to the junction of Legge's reef with the leader. No. 2 stope has been advanced eight feet from the rise. Here the leader remains divided, and shows nothing above a few colours. The northern drive has attained a distance of eighty-six feet from the cross-cut. Here the quart/, shows a width of two feet in the face, consequently not so much gold was seen this week, it being quite evident the quartz is of a higher grade where the reef is smaller, six pounds of picked stone only being the result of this week's breaking down. It is also apparent the reefs have again divided, as there is a good head carrying a vein of quartz going off in the footwall of the reef, upon which operations have been centred this week. •The contract let to Woods and party has been completed and another 100 feet let at the same price. The country being penetrated remains of the same favourable description as mentioned in last report. HAURAKI SOUTH. The cross-cut at 150 feet level has passed out of the hard rock and pene : trated a softer aud more kindly country. The change in the country is altogether favourable, 'and has also facilitated progress, twenty-four feet having been driven during the week, making a total distance of eighty-eight feet. The west cross-cut at the 66 feet level continues to meet with soft country and mineral heads. The pro : gress for the week is 12J feet, total distance 63 feet. PROGRESS-CASTLE ROCK. The south drive on the No. 1 reef at No. 4 level has been extended 13 feet during the week by four men, making a toal distance from the crosscut of 54 feet through a splendid class of sandstone country, intermixed with strong mineral veins. The light shooting sandstone rock formation has been passed. The reef is about three feet wide, showing a good solid body of quartz and carrying heavy dabs of arsenical and iron pyrites well distributed through it. The reef looks well; from its appearauce rich ore may be met with at any time. Stoping south of No. 2 rise, 35 feet above the level, has been started at No. 3. The reef here is a well defined body of highly mineralised quartz about ten inches thick, and by testing shows colours of gold, and has improved slightly since we opened out to work upon it. WAIHI SHARES. The 'N.Z. Mines Record' for January states, 'An order lately came from Home through one of the leading banks for the purchase of 500 sharesin the Waihi Company, but so firmly were they held that the sharebroker who was commissioned to make the purchase was only able to buy 50. The order could only be fulfilled by paying considerably over the price quoted on the London Stock Exchange.

WAITEKAUKI KING

Mr Charles Manuel has been appointed manager of this mine.

TOKATEA CONSOLS

This Company has crushed nine tons of ore for a return of 320z of retorted gold, which should be worth about £88.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS.

Alpha.—The contract for extending No. 6 level has been finished, and a start made to rise and connect with No. 5 level.' This is now up six feet from the roof of the drive, and the reef is improving very much. Hauraki No. 2.—A start has been made with the main tunnel. The reef is split in the face, but should come together again in a few feet of driving. There is a well defined footwall running with the drive. There is also a distinct change for the better noticeable in the surrounding country. The face is • full of quartz, which makes driving slow. • New Golconda. —The winze is now down the required depth, and in a couple of days a start will be made to drive for the junction, where good results are hoped for. The country is of a good description for gold. The n.ain leader is somewhat split f^p, but the manager thinks it will come together in the drive. Te Puke - Gold Reefs.—During the pa^t week the winze has been sunk Oft Sin, making a total depth of 57 feet. The reef became tight in the northern end of the winze, and required the use of explosives, retarding progress considerably, but we must expect it to get more solid as depth is attained. The reef has taken a westerly dip. Men have now been secured to split timber, and hence I shall be able to keep three shifts going on the winze.