THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1839, 6 December 1869, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

THE KUKASfUI COMPACT'S MIKE. Os the Kuramii Comjjany's mine there has been expended, a large amount of labour and capital since the time the ground was first taken up by Barry and party, and tho fiuuons Barry's leader was opened in the surface workings. Tins was immediately after the Auckland public were electrified by the news ol'llie rich iiuds in the Shotovor "claim, and the richness of this leader was somewhat eclipsed by its great neighbour. Since (Me Kuranui Company was formed, work has been carried ou in a rigorous and systematic mauner, and although the ground has not turned out the mine of wealth that was at. first expected, it has proved a most valuable property, and lias well repaid the expenditure incurred in its development. Singular 11 say, the mine never proved verv neb near the Shotover boundary-) but this fs accounted fov by the prc3t;:ce*of a strong dyke, which has the c.Tect of turning the run of gold, and towards the Deep Load "boundary the principal part of the gold exported from tho mine has been turned out. No efforts appear to have been spared near Hunt's boundary to follow up the run of gold, but generally without success, and the efforts of the mine manager were then directed to the upper end. Hero four well-defined lodes are now being worked from three levels—the surface level, the ten fathom level, and the twenty fathom level. One of the principal lodes is what is known still as Barry's leader, into which a number of others that have been worked on to a greater or less extent have .joined, and our readers might form some idea of the vastness of the reef thus formed when we tell them that it has to be taken out in three levels ov drives. The centre ono is left standing, while tlic other:, are being worked out. ThFs is at tho twenty fathom level. A great lot of work baa been clone from the ten fatham lovel upwards, and a large quantity of stone worked out. Some work has also been done on Hunt's leader, which, in this claim, is a fine perpendicular reef, from live to six feet thick. The other lode appears to be a vertical strike into Barry's leader, and bus also been driven on to some extent, and the fourth is a small one that strikes into the Homeward Bound, and is being followed into the boundary of that claim in a surface drive. Now that the management of claims is attracting so much attention, and that the duties of mine managers, in particular, is the subject of so much comment, it iniy not be out of place to remark that Captain iS'inuis, manager of this company's mine, has made a most careful section drawing of the mine, in which the lodes and workings are pointed out, also the part of the ground which has been worked out, and the junctions and run of the various lodes that 'have hitherto been discovered in the company's mine. The various levels are also marked, so that as a reference for the shareholders and directors it presents a perfect plan of the workings, and gives an accurate idea of tho host mode of procedure for the future. By means of careful dialing, and an accurate underground survey, this plan has been perfected and can be produced as a reference when the workings of the mine are under consideration. Now, although, we do not consider that it is necessary that crerj mine manager should be also a draughtsman and surveyor, we certainly consider that no mine can be properly worked without reliable plans and references. Perhaps, if plans were made of the mines in all cases, it would go far towards settling the quest ion that is now vexing the Auckland shareholders, who complain that they can obtain no information as to the work done in tl.'o mine. On such .1 plan as that referred to, the amount of work done each week could be at once pointed out, α-iil much misapprehension avoided. We must say that Captain Js'innis has displayed a large amount of engineering skill in "the able manner in which he has opened up the company's mine siuce he took charge. H has been worked in the most inexpensive manner. The mine keeps thirty head of stampers constantly employed. THK LONG DRIVE. The workings of the Long Drive Company's ground forms a perfect network, and the amount of gold and stone turned out of such a comparatively small lode is really astonishing, it has continued to occupy ten head of stampers at the Kurauui Company's battery for a long time, and at present employs ten head. From the level of the beach tunnel to the upper levels near the surface, gangs of men are sloping out tho lode, and turning out rich specimens. Besides the main lode, there are some others of proved value that have been opened np to somo extent. One of these—the same that was opened in the ninety feet level of tho shaft —has been followed to the lower level in a winze, and opened on to a length of 150 feet, reiHy for stoping. Several prospecting and connecting drives are entered from all the levels. Mr. Muir, the manager, calculates that what ground is at present opened up will a/ford from four to five years' work to sixty men before it is worked out. ' This will give some idea of the extent of ground opened up. The general crushing at tho Kuranui battery continues to yield the usual good returns, and the specimen crushings that are now of almost weekly occurrence, are of extraordinary richness. Another of these takes place on Tuesday next, and the general cleaning up takes place to-day. A largo quantity of amalgam is on hand, and the retorting will be a heavy one. In place of three sets of men there are at present only two of thirty in each shift at work. ThU number is amply sufficient to keep the number of stampers employed, which the company engage at the Kurauui battery. THE SHOTOVER. The new leader continues to turn ottf capital specimens. There are now about 250 pounds on hand, which have been collected since thegeneral retorting. A parcel of 50 pounds was taken out yesterday morning, and almost every stone brought to grass shows gold in greater or less quantities. The repairs to the battery are vigorously pushed forward, and when finished it will be as good as ever. — Advertiser. KELLY'S CLAIM. The adjoining claims are tho Belfast Hbzclbank, Charleston, Little Angel, and Eedan. The reef first discovered, and since known as Kelly's, was found cropping out on the surface'of the ground, and some of the lirst stone taken out gave a very good return. In the stope at present being taken out I saw some of t he stone, and gold is seen distinctly in it. Kelly's leader is about a foot in width, and it was from this the stone was taken in which 1 saw the gold. The other leader, the same as that found on the Hazel bank, is a little larger where at present worked up. As these leaders run iu the same direction as tho spur, and dip into it, the claim has them across, it from one boundary to the other, so thai (he amount of stone which still remains to be worked out is incalculable, even at the present level of one hundred and twenty feet. Below this the stone turns to a blue color, but as there has been plenty of work above this level, no sinking on the leader has bcon done. Between these leaders and the bed of the creek another small leader has been found eight or nine inches wide, and which, from its direction, is supposed to be the same as that found in the Belfast claim, such which gave the late rich returns. Although no very rich returns may come from this claim, ifc is one Unit will always give very good dividends.— TillK.S. _____»_