THE GOLDFIELDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 207, 30 August 1905, Page 2

THE GOLDFIELDS.

I A fair amount of business continues |to be done in Waiotabi shares. At the | late call yesterday afternoon sales took place up to 7-7/, and a good demand existed early this morning; but at the 10 o'clock call sales were made at 76/, and afterwards at 74/. At the noon call, however, further transactions took place at 75/ and 76/, with further buyers at the former price. May Queen shares firmed a little, being sold at 3/2 and 3/3, and Victorias changed hands at 1/5 and 1/6. Kuranui-Calecioniani shares, on the other hand, were easier, being sold at 2/9 and 2/8. Golden Belt paid-up shares also sold at 2/5 and 2/4. New Saxon shares were a shade better, but other Tiiames lines showed no alteration. An improvement tooke place in Waihi Extended shares to-day, sales being made at 5/10 and 5/11, with further buyers at the latter figure. Prile of Waihi shares, however, were easier, being sold at 1/. Standard lines bad steady demand at late rates. WAIOTAHI. •By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) THAMES, Tuesday. The Waiotahi reef at No. 5 level, where the sensational developments recently took place, has been stripped, and when the mullock has been trucked out will be broken down. About 9ft or so of the reef has been stripped to the top of the dri re, and the indications are that a fine haul of picked stone will be secured. The reef is looking as well as ever, and there is every probability of its development at this level being attended with success. In the winze, the indications are stronger that the mineralised band has been heaved from the hangingwall to the footwall side of the winze, and that it would continue its downward course, and be found as strong as ever. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) THAMES, this day. The breaking down of the Waiotabi reef at Xo. 5 level will probably take place either this evening or to-morrow. The reef has now been stripped for some distance back from the face, and the results of the breaking down should ibe satisfactory. In the winze the reef i appears to be getting stronger on the hangingwall side. The reef in the Caledonian tunnel has now been penetrated to a distance of sft. and looks promising, but it is impossible to ascertain its value until the footwall is reached. It was the footwall portion of the reef that previously yielded the best results. NEW MAY QUEEN. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspouflent.) THAMES, this day. In the May Queen mine the reef being sunk on in the winze now going down from No. 5 level. The quartz looks in every way favourable, some of it showing nice dabs of gold. Progress is slow at present, an .-ome of the timbers had to be placed in position on the collar of the winze, so that timbers in the level would run no risk of being disturbed. The reef on the underlie should give 100 ft of backs from Xo. 0 to Xo. 5 level. A crosscut from the shaft at No. ti level is being pushed ahead, about 70ft of the 200 ft required liaving been driven. The ventilation of the mine is now all that could be desired. There is not the' slightest difficulty in connection with water. The winze will be continued, and the reef again strippcdi Another breaking down may be made at the end of the week. SCAKDrXAVTAN" (Tararu). <Bt Telcjraph.—Own Correspondent.) "THAMES, this day. Steps are being taken to have ■'his property floated into a limited liability company. Several gold-bearing reefs are reported to be traversing the property, which give good dish prospects. Some years ago a small battery waa working on the property, and since then the owners have done a good deal of development work on several reefs under supervision of Mr. Walter Onion.

TALISMAN CONSOLIDATED

The following cable was forwarded to the Talisman Consolidated, Ltd., London, on the 28th inst: "No. 10 level south 1120 it. No. 11 level driving south from Xo. 4 crosscut 68ft. Reef wider than drive; assay value 16/0. No. 12 level, driving souih 268 ft. Width of reef _4 inches; assay value 11/6; driving north 300 ft. Width of reef sft; assay value 15/3. Shaft is down 418 ft." WAIHI EXTENDED. (By Telegraph.—o*-u Correspondent.) WAIHI. this day. Mr Barker, who visited the Waihi Extended gold mine yesterday, informs mc that owing to a decided change for the better hi the crosscut now being put in to intersect No. 2 lode, tlt crosscut wir be carried on for a further 50 or 100 ft, but present indications point to something ahead. The directors are well satisfied with prospect.s. KURANUI-C ALEDONIA X. The Cambria reef has been cut into for a distance of 4ft, and there is still no sign of the footwall. In the level above it was about 20ft in width. The quartz now being met with is more mineralised than when the reef was first intersected, nu'l the indications point to a further improvement as the drive advances. The manager estimates that when the reef lias been cut through about 40ft of driving northward should reach the junction of the Red Queen leaders with the reef. In the early days these leaders gave a lot of gold when worked nearer the surface, and its junction with such a famous gold-producer as the Cambria reef should result in payable ore being met with, more especially as the tributers in the Kuranui-Caledonian mine carried down the gold to within about 30ft of the level now being put in. Another tribute was wanted, but the offer was declined, as the company decided to work the mine. CHAMPION. A number of gentlemen interested In mining accepted the invhation of Mr. H. Fleming to pay a visit of inspection to what i 3 known as the Champion mine, Neavesville, to-day. The parry, at Mr. Fleming's invitation, left Auckland by Steamer at 11 o'clock nigh!, and, upon a<riv__g, horses were waiting to

.. iavey the visitors to the mine. Two (large lodes have been located on the i property, which is situated above the I falls at Neavesville. . MINE MANAGEBS' BEPOBTS. Kirikiri Mines. —The mine manager reports under date of 2t>th A__nst:—The reef in the southern end of the crosscut in the low level has made to about two feet; leaders through the lode showing good dabs of gold; although no picked stone has come to hand, it is the best general ore we have yet obtained. Filly section: At a depth of 38 feet we suspended work in the winze owing to the great amount of water to be contended with, and have started the hands Ito drive the low level at the place located ■by Mr Fleming. Hauraki Freeholds, Limited. —At the lona reef the rise is being continued, and the prospects are encouraging, the reef being a compact body of stone, looking well and showing colours of gold occasionally. The stope on the south side of the break has not shown so much gold this week, and in consequence operations will be suspended here for the present, and the men will be removed to the drive on the north side of the break, ahead of where the rise is being put up. In all probability an improved class of ore will be met with in the advancement of this drive. Victoria.—Good progress continues to be made with the extension of the No. 4 level crosscut towards the Waiotahi reef, it having been advanced a further 25 feet: total from the Victoria shaft. 568 feet. The country being penetrated is a firm class of sandstone of an improved character to that recently passed through. On Friday last we passed through a nice flinty, impregnated with nice bright mineral. The contractors have commenced driving operations on the course of the Victoria reef at No. 3 level, in order to ascertain its value hillwards of the main crosscut. The drive has been advanced 13 feet, and is penetrating a good class of sandstone country, intermixed with numerous quartz stringers. The reef at this point varies from 18 inches to three feet in thickness, and is not of a very heavily mineralised character. There Is no change to report from the leader in the hangingwall of the Mariner's reef at No. 1 level. The country penetrated is still of a good description, congenial for gold. The leader, which maintains its width, continues to show nice colours and dabs of gold when broken down. Crushing operations are now in progress at the May Queen Extended battery. May Queen Extended.—Operations for the past week have been confined to timbering Xo. 4 level and taking along the leading stope. This work is now well in hand. The leading stope has been extended a distance cif 20 feet, and the reef formation shows a width of three feet. The ore contains a good deal of silica and antimony, and a small leader on the footwall of the lode shows colours of sold. The reef is encased in a nice class of country. The manager also reports the treatment of 23 loads of ore for a return of ooz Bdwt, valued at £15 2/_ Eoznata Reefs Tihp manager reports at No. S level the reef averages five feet, value per ton ..nly -a few shillings; No. 5 level, reef perfect, value 30/; Xo. 4 level, width eight feet, value £o; north, No. 1 reef, four feet, value 18/; No. 3 level, No. 2 reef. 20ft wide, luft of which is quartz, average value 30/. The reef north at this level is four feet wide, average value £4; winze ou same reef down seven feet, value 20/ per ton. In the slopes the values are as follows: No. 2 reef, first block—Ground stoped, value £4; No. 3 level, first block, value £3; No. 1 reef, second biock. value £3;No. 2 reef, first block, value £4; No. 2 reef, second block, value £4; No. 2 level. No. 1 reef, second biock. value £2 10/; No. 2 reef, second block, value 25/; Smithy level. No. 1 reef, second block, value £3. New method of treatment: Experiments are bring made with a new method of treating the c-ushed material, the object bedng to simplify the handling of it. and to also slijfhtiy increase the extraction. These experiments are so far very encouraging. Vanguard.—At the Karaka-road level the drive has been advanced a total distance on the course of the lode of 3Sft. There is a marked improvement In the appearance of the lead at present, as there is more silica and mineral met with in breaking down the lode than previously. Winding and pumping machinery: We have two automatic tanks baling the water out of the shaft, which is now down 39Gft, or v. ithin 4ft of the plunger, and by to-morrow I expect we will be able to get down the to overhaul the plunger aud ascertain the cause of it not acting. I may si.ite th-at our present appliance for lifting the water is acting splendidly, lifting. 1 believe, as much as what the pump would. Waihi Extended.—The cross-cut is now in a total distance of 300 ft. During the past few days soft patches in the country, hetivUv charged with mineral, were met v.-jih. This I take to be indication of a <-hanji • being near at hand. If tl_s should i-e sj then it is likely the reef system !s not far off being met with. As Instructed. I have discontinued driving towards the boundary for the present. Owing to the annual inspection of boiler taking place to-day. therefore no underground work is in operation.