THE GOLDFIELDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 254, 24 October 1905, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

MINE MANAGER'S KEPORTS.

New Moanataiari.—The contractors foj? the north-west crosscut into the hanginrwall country of the big reef have completed their contract, and a further extension h«.s been let to Dunlop and party, who also have the contract for driving on the course of the big reef in which drive the face has been extended a total distance of 92 feet. The hard rock which came in from Lue footwall forced the reef some distance out of its course to the hangingwall, but it has again taken up its proper course, and is looking much better, with a good class of country on both walls. There is still 60 feet to drive here before-reaching the eastern boundary of the Waiotahi mine. In the workings on the No. 3 level of the old Cambria section a distance of 30 feet has been driven on the footwall of the cross reef. At this point a large body of quartz was met with striking off at right angles to the cross reef. The manager is unable to say definitely as yet what this body of quartz may be, but thinks it is the hangingwall portion of the big reef east of the ureak and cross reef. No gold has as yet been seen in it, but the surrounding country is all that could be desired.

Old Alburnia.—During the past week the contractors have extended the main tunnel a further distance of 20 feet, making a total distance of 120 feet since the north-west turu was made in the course of the tunneL Nothing of importance has been met with during the week. The country in the face still continues of a mild nature, and is now more blocky thau it was, making it more favourable for good progress. The course of the tunnel is nearly square across the course of the Alburnia reefs, and it is now approaching the point where the first of, them may be expected to be met with. New Saxon.—The stopes above the No. ■£ level on the Cardigan lode are in progress. The No. 2 stope east of the rise shows goUt freely at each breaking down, and the lode has opened out again, to its usual size ot about 6in. The third stope has now been started both ways from the rise. In the stopes west of the rise' the leader looks very promising, especially in the thiitf stope, gold being, seen through the sillm in almost every stonfe broken. A littie picked stone is being selected. Not much has beea dotte it: the face of the drive during the week, the men from the face having been engaged lengthening the leadring stope. A start was made to cart the quartz ou hand to the battery on Friday* and crushing will ibe commenced this morning.

New May Queen.—The winze being sunt from the No. 5 level of the May Queer* mine on the No. 4 lode is now down to ai depth of 50ft. The quartz veins met with in the dig are still showing good dabs or gold, aud the manager is of the opinion, that these veins will drop into the main lode lower down and form one body of quartz. The. maiu lode continues to lock well, and is yielding a few pounds of picked stone, and about seven or eight pounds have been selected from the general ore for the week. The crosscut at No. 6 level has been extended a further distance of lift— the total distance driven being now 161 ft— aud the No. 4 lode should be intersected in about another 40ft of driving. Owing to ihe repairs to one of the county water race tunnels not being completed, the crushing 1 of the quartz on hand has not yet beea. commenced, but .1 start will be made in the early partof this week.

Vanguard.—The low level from the bottom of the Vanguard shaft has now been cleaned out aud repaired for a distance of 1250 feet from the shaft, and the old face or the drive is now in sight. Another week should a,bout complete this work, and tenders will then be called Tot driving forward to intersect the Vanguard reef, which should be met with about 150 ft from the present face of the drive. It is also intended to continue the drive after cutting tills reef to intersect the Blrd-in-Hand and May Qneen ecefs.

New Dart. —The ground in the main level has been very tough during the past week, and only 28 feet have been driven. A slight change appears to be coming in. New Eclipse. — Stoplng operations have been continued in the north block above the. low level. The lode formation Is divided with a seam of sandstone, and work has been confined to the hangihgwall portion, which is five feet wide and has a favourable appearance, strong colours and blotches of gold being seen through the ore when breaking down the reef. The whole of the ore from this portion is being saved for treatment.

Royal Oak. — Dooley's tribute produced; 12dbs of very good picked stone during the week, Hinch Brothers' tribute 151 bs, and. Kneebone's tribute 241bs.

Tairua Broken Hills.—The ore from the stopes on the Punon reef, and also the underhand stopes on the Nigi.t reef is of good payable quality. The drive south of Night reef at the 80ft level has been extended 16ft during the week. The reef in the face is a nice compact body of rubbly quartz, the same being of a highly payable nature. Gold can be seen in the stone at'each breaking down. Since starting, 40ft have been driven on this reef, aaa 35ft were through payable ore. As there is now about' loOtf to drive before gettingunderneath the winze, where rich ore was discovered some time ago, there Is every possibility of a payable block being opeaed up at this level. Some of the stone from this reef was on view to-day at the office of Mr J. B. Sheath. It is nice rubbly, quartz, showing dabs of coarse gold. Kuranui. —The contractors for the Teutonic level started last Monday, and have driven 20 feet. Two small leaders, one three and the other sis inches wide, have been cut through lying very flat and dipping to the south at about the same angle as the main slide. The six-inch leader carries some nice minerals, but the ground is rather broken at the point of intersection, so that it is not very well defined. At No. 2 level the lode is about IS inches wide, composed of kindly-looking quartz with a. good deal of nice mineral seams in it. The hangingwall leader is still going with the reef, there being about eight inches or ground between them. There is also a small leader about three inches wide in the footwall and parallel with the reef, the whole formation being about four feet wide. At No. I level the No; 2 reef was only a: mere stringer where intersected by the 'crosscut, but opened out to five feet when driven upon. The manager intends to drive east on the leader to prove the footwall branch of No. 2 reef.

New Occidental.—The main level has be*>n cleaned out and rails laid for 320 feet,-mair-ing a total of 620 feet of rails laid, with another 250 feet yet to be done before meeting with No. 1 lode. If the tunnel is in good order this should be completed by the end of next week.

Kirikiri (October 21).—T0-day (Saturday) a hcange has come in, and nice-looking quartz is showing in the facer along with flintles and mineral veins that are coming in from the hangingwail, and with these indications we expect the reef to make as good as ever at any time. The distance driven is 7ft. Filly section: The conntir is still of a tight nature.