THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IX, Issue 2674, 23 August 1872, Page 2

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[IEOJI Otrit OWS OOKBESPONDEKM.] tfHE THAMES. Thursday, 4.30 p.m. Caledoniah.—The manager reports that the Otugo stopes, this morning, are looking better than for some time past, and also that a first-rate show is Tisible in the No. 2 stopes, where gold is being seen freely. The gold that was obtained yesterday, from the Jib. 2 lode, came from the bottom level, east of the engine-shaft, the same drive that was put in by the former manager, who touched tho lode ; this was taken up a short time a"0, and 18 feet have been driven with no signs of the footwall of the lode. The hanging-wall leader in Ho. 1 leve', going towards X 1). 3 winze, and over the old rich workings, is also doing very well—gold seen every shift, —and now it is very compact, having got into solid ground, or through the debris of the crush that took place a few months aero. This being the case, the quantity of dirt- that can be broken out is much more than it formerly was. The No. 3 leader, Xo. 1 level, is a branch from the foot-wall of the old specimen leader, and this has been followed some distance with a drive, and the constitution of the vein is such as to hope that gold is not very far distant; and in view of this a rise is going up preparatory to stoping, and when this takes place I fully anticipate good gold, for it is in the very heart of the old golden run, and even the sandstone from this locality pays well to crush. There is no change to report in the battery, the whole of the stampers being steadily employed, and, as far as I can judge, there is no fear of the mill being idle for the want of stuff, as every day good payable ground is being opened up in the mine. United Pimping Association.—The enormous quantity of water that has accumulated daring the erection of the engine is taking more time to reduce than it wns anticipated, for there is fully 80 feet of water in the shaft yet, and it is decreasing at the rate of about 20 feet per day, the engine averaging five strokes per minute, throwing out at the rate of 60,000 gallons per hour, which can be increased, if required, to 126,000. The influx of water from the surrounding district is also very great; nnd gradually, but surely, the mines in the neighbourhood are beginning to feel the benefit of it, Tookey's water, I understand, having been reduced over twenty feet. Inverness.—The manager of this company has commenced to clean up at the Kurantii battery, where he has crushed 70 tons of dirt from the stopes below and above the beach tunnel. Tho tailings and blanketings are now being treated in the berdans, and bv Saturday will probably bo finished: and until the amalgam from this source is obtained, it is rather difficult to estimate the 3'ield ; but I think, without any doubt, it will be equal to last, if not better.

Bemdigo Independent.—The tributers of thia company have commenced to put through, at tho single stamper of the Prince Alfred battery, tho whole of the picked stuff that has accumulated during the breatina out of the heavy lot of quarlz now goin£ through the mill; and of this choico stuff there is upwards of half a ton, some of it very good, and I expect that a fine lot of gold will be got therefrom. The amaigam from this, and what is obtained off the plates of the sixteen heads during the week, will bfl retorted on Saturday, but the crushing will not be finished until probablv the latter part of next week, when a fine dividend will no doubt be declared to tho fortunate shareholders. Isipebiai, Ceown.—The Golden Hill tributers of this mine are about to start crushing, if possible, at the Kuranui Company's batteryi and from the stuff they expect a yield of close upon two ounces to the ton. This stone is from the new leader found in the level at the bottom of the shaft, and running nearly parallel with Mulligan's old Lader, and as it averages fully one foot wide, in a good country, a yield like the last pays both the company and tributers well.