THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2906, 22 May 1873, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Thames, Wednesday. Mobning Stae.—l omitted to state lliat late on Saturday night the contractors that are driving in from the beach tunnel met with a very good-looking vein, about 100 feet inside their own ground, and this is running parallel with the drive. It is a vein that varies very much in size, from three to over eight inches, and promises to bo of value, as a little gold has been seen in it on several occasions. The country through which the contractors are passing ia much bettor than it has been, and there is every indication that this will continue ' - the shaft, about thirty feet distant. The company have now, it may be said, overcome tha chief difficulties that obstructed tho progress of the mine. In the first place, they had to drive 115 feet in tho Moanatairi ground, the whole of which was of a very hard nature, leaving about 140 feet to the shaft, 30 feet of which remains to bo driven before communication can bo effee'.ecl, and in a month, at the outBide, this long-sought-for object will be accomplished. Tho purport of this tunnel is to aroid tho lifting of the water which encumbers the mino to the top of tho shaft ; and as the tunnel will strike the shaft within a very fow feet of the bottom, tho object will doubtless be gained. It will also be arranged that tho water from tho upper workings, which is considerable, will not be allowed to enter the shaft, but will be fiumed into tho tunnel aud carried away by that exit.

Manttkatj.—The vein that was tapped by tho tributers on Saturday in tho SO-feet level, at the Golden Crown boundary, and which is known as "Dunlop's Golden Crown Leader," was broken down for a few feet this morning, and tho result is very gratifying indeed, as no leas than 120 lbs. of very good picked stone was sent up to tho surface, the greater portion of which shows gold freely. The stone is similar in every respect to that reported on Saturday—full of minerals, and the gold disseminated throughout; and in reality the stoue ia of more value than is apparent to the eye, as this peculiar class of stone crushes uncommonly well. Seeing that the t ributers have now this celebrated leader in hand, aud on terms favorable not only to themselves but also to tho company, I anticipate that both parties will do well out of it, but the lion's share must eventually fall to the company, as the tributers' time will expire iu a few months, and as the present level commands an eitensive area of ground upon the vein, tho bulk will probably be wrought by the company. In addition to this vein, the prospects of tha company in another portion of tho mine are decidedly much better, viz., on tho Cure boundary, where that company followed the fooUvall leader to the boundary of the two mine?, and left a fiue compact body of Btone heavily charged with minerals, tho quality of which I understand is of 11 payable character, as tested by the Cure Company. Work will be started upon this as soon as convenient, and it is also intended to prospect tho footwall of No. 2 lode, which as yet remaimi intact.

Otago.—The gold that was lodged yesterday by the manager of this company was melted to-day, and lost, very littloindeej—only about 4 ozs., and now weighs 149 oza. 1 d-.vt. Comment baa been made by many people liore tliat the number of tons (175) stated to hava been crushed by the manager ia very much below the mark, but I have it on good authority that 10 days the 10 heads have been employee!, and occasionally 15; nnd as there were many stoppages, perhaps 17 days might be reckoned upon as the actual crushing time (half of this with 15 heads and half with 10), and to calculate a ton per day, at tho very least, for each Btatnper, will give your readers souiothing near the mark. The mine during the last few days showed up remarkably well, some very good picked stone being duily raised, which had un important effect at the mill, us at the last clean up for a 21 hours' run ovor 60 ozs. ot' amalgam were obtained. Tho loilo averages over four feet wide, with gold eaid to be distributed from foot to hang-ing-walls. Work in the mine has been suspended temporarily until the directors 1 meeting is concluded, as it is intended to construct either a drive from the creek to tho shaft, or an incline tramway from tho mouth of the Bhaft to the creek, for tho purpose of having easier access to tho mills on tho flat. This latter means is probably tho most expeditious, but the former is by far the most advantageous, as it will save a very great deal in the lifting of the quartz, which at present is a very great obstacle, as 350 feet is too much for any whim to raise, whereas 140 feet at leaßt would be aavod by the drive.

Hand and Band. —Operations liare been resumed in this mine, and the leader that some years ago was found in the shaft is receiving attention. It ia intended to open out upon this, and up to the present very little stone has come therefrom, but that looks promising. It ia very probable that it may be let on tribute, as several purtiea are on the qui vive for it.