THE GOLDFIELDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 32, 7 February 1910, Page 2

THE GOLDFIELDS.

OLD HAHRAKI. The manager telegraphed this morning:—"Colours of gold in the reef going seaward at the 400-feet level." This is important, as pointing to the csntinuiition downward of the run of gold now being worked in the rise fron* the 400 to the 300-feet level. THAMES DKATTxAGE BOAKD. The engineer telegraphed that he has started the draw lifts, everything working satisfactorily. This confirms his previous report that he hoped to commence unwatering the Queen of Beauty shaft to the 1,000-feet level about the middle of February. Once the shaft i≤ unwatered, the May Queen Company will be able to work from the L,QOO-iieet level, and a start can also be made to drive the tunnel at 1.000 feet across the flat to underneath t/he Kuranui-Caledonian shaft. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) THAMES, this day. A start has <been made to unwater the Queen of Beairty shaft. The work of repairing and strengthening draw lift rods tas been carried out by Messrs. A. and G. Price in an able manner. Everything fitted satisfactorily. It is expected that the water will be out .to the 1000 ft level by Saturday, the 12th inst., when everything should be in readiness to start driving on the deep level crosscut 'by Monday, the 14th mst. It is hoped, in view of the fact that the shaft will be unwatered by the end of this week, that the companies interested in the low level development will take the necessary preliminary steps and call tenders, so that this iinportajrfc work may be commenced without further delay. MIKE MANAGERS''REPORTS. Old HanrakL — Most of the past week was occupied with putting In a pass and timbering. In squaring out the seaward end of the rise, 3Ull> of specimen stone were pot, with gold still showing. At that point the manager has started driving seaward, to get clear of the winze, and enable nim to continue the rise in solid country. The reef continues to be a strong boily oi' ore, looking as well as it lias ever done. About Bft have been driven on the new reef at the 3uuft level. This, the manager believes to be the new reef, it has now opened out to over six inches in width. Another eight feet of driving should reach over tbe point in the rise where the gold is beinsr won. The leader looks promising, having the jsauie L-haracteristics as the ore in the rise. the Green Harp reef (No. 9) is proceeding, and live pounds of picked stove were got from No. U stope, with gold left showing. Driving south has been aiesumed on ihe reef, which is a strong body of ore. Tiie gold won last month was worth £4JJ>6 1/D.

Royal Oak. — The rise on the hanging wail leader ought to make £i»:d at any time, as some very nice mineral heads are showing. The reef in tbe winze below No', (i level is S to indues wide, and looks very kindly, bul only a few pieces of stove were got showing strons colours of gold. Kising Is proceeding on the large new reef cut in No. 6 level, where a little gold was got.

itaoriland. —Tile winze iv the north drive ou the Young New Zealand reef is down HOft. For that distance gold-bearmg stone has been seen, ill ovtry trucJi of stone nxinart. The gold is welil distributed thioushout the reef- The width of the unknown width in the footwall Goldbearing seams, mineral, and sulphides come in from "the hangingwiill, ojhl pass through the wiuze into the footwalL At the intermediate level, 56ft up the rise, stoping is In progress on the south side, ifhc Ore coming 'to band is looking much better, gold being seen more freely in the ore broken.