THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3624, 23 June 1873, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[PEOM OUB OWN COIUtESPONDKN'T.] Thames, Saturday. Bright Smile.—ln the report of this mine yesterday, I omitted to mention one important, feature in connection with the cross-cut that is being driven in the upper level, towards the Quebec mine. It appears that tho Queen of Beauty shareholders hare intersected a cross-leader some six or ten inches wide, that strikes off the west wall of the main lode, and is running diagonally in the Quebec direction, towards a large lode that is known to exist ■ and this vein is very rich, and is said to be the connecting link between the two main lodes spoken of above. The quality of this vein is said to be worth five or six ounces to

the ton ; and the cross-cut should intersect it at a distance of 100 feet SO feet, of which are now completed, so that, any dav it. may be met with. Tho big lode is still further ahead, and the cross-cut will be continued until it is met with. Oxago.—Late last, night the tramway that has recently been erected from the mouth of the shaft, to the level of the cree l -, was completed, and the large paddock of slidf was at once sent down to the hoppers, ready for conveyance to one of the batteries on the flat. The whole of these surface works, having for their object, the command of the batteries on the flit,end a cheaper mode of transit, have been designed by the managers, and will in a very short time recoup the shareholders for tile expenditure incurred by their construction. There is now about eighty tons of stone broken out, and it is intended that this shall be reduced at once, ami for this purpose per- j manent crushing will be commenced on Monday or Tuesday. The quality of the present stone is considered much richer than last,and at the lowest average it ought to be worth an ounce, considering that some very good picked stone has been obtained almost daily since operations were resumed below. No. 1 lode has also been taken in hand, and already a wioze has been started to test its value below the present 350-teet level.

Centkal Italy.—The adit that, is being driven to connect the shaft with ihe Moanatairi Creek is now in very stiff ground, but us there is only twelve feet more to go before the two sets of contractors me.t, the narrow bar of hard ground is of no consequence, und by this day week this important work will be completed. The more important operation, at any rate to the shareholders, of sloping out the lode will not lake place for a week or two longer, as it necessary t at the communication with the Otago stopes shall be effected for the purpose of ventilating the mine. "\\ ith this in view men are in the Otago slopes rising from there to connect, and this will take about a fortnight. longer. Tho prospects of the ground, in rising from the Olago / are of a very encouraging nature, so much so, that the (Jtago manager deemed it necessary to mix one or more of his men with tluse of the Central Italy.

Cixi" of Londox.—This morning the manager pegged out a site as a reservoir further up the creek than the company's ground, in order to secure storage for water that may be required for the feeding of the boilers that will be required for the contemplated winding machinery. 'there is a good supply of water in the "Waio-Knruka all the year round, and the embankment, that will have to be erected across the creek will cost very little, und will be amply sufficient not only for themselves but also for the Qt:een of Beauty and Bright Smile boilers. In tile mine the development of the No. 2 lode from the company's main level towards the Queen of Beauty, is progressing apace, 27 feet having been driven, and now shows a good solid lode over two feet wide, the quality of which is considered payable, from the many prospects that have been obtained, but this stuff will receive the true and only test on Monday, as 11 heads will be started upon it at Bull's machine. It is not yet possible to test- what No. 2 is like in the footwall of the lode now in haud in the main level, an there is a dilliculty in getting uwav the present output of quartz, but so soon as this can be done, it will be attempted, and I think that the No. 2 will be found to pass right through the lode into the heart of the company's ground. At the other, or Bright Smile end of the mine, that company must be rapidly approaching the City's boundary, and the prospects here are of a really promissing character, with a reef 7 or 8 feet thick. The crushing of the present main lode is shaping equally as well as the last fortnight,, and there is promise of a very fair clean-up this day week.

Qcee.v op Mat.—ln consequence of the poorness of the stuff during the last fortnight, the directors have decided to cease crushing for the present, and devote their attention to the carrying out of the drive at least 100 feet further into the hill, and should any favourable prospects be met with, then crushing will be resumed. It is evident that the best of the lode is comprised within 150 feet of the shaft, with a tendency in depth to open out larger from the configuration of the country. The present level is about equal in quality to what it was in the Surrounding mines, and as these have considerably increased in richness the deeper they sink, it is only reasonable to suppose that it will hold good in this mine. With this in view, it is shortly intended either to siiik a winze or the main shaft to a level with the City of London bottom level, and this, with the pushing ahead of the main drive, will be tlio gist"of the company's operations for the present. When the Queen of Beauty have their engine erected it is probable that an entrance will be effected from their low level, as ninety feet of cross-driving from thence will rcach the lode beyond this company's shaft considerably, while on the other hand the City, it is reported, will also erect machinery, and in either case it is anticipated no difficulty will be encountered in working from either of these com - panies' low levels.

Rose akd Shahkock:.—As stated in a telegram of Thursday, there is a great improvement noticed in [this mine within the last few days, and several shows of gold have on more than one occasion been seen, while yeßterday several pounds of nice picked' Btone were grasßed. The lode has now been followed east of Dixon's boundary forty-Beven feet, and for forty feet it was very strong and compact, but the quality was not considered of much valuo. But the last seven feet it is divided by a " horse," and forms two distinct leaders, the two giving about two and a-half feel of good quartz. It was the same in Dixon's, when the lode was lurgo and solid tho quality was indifferent, but when divided into leaders, it yielded well, especially the hangingwall vein. It is the hanging-wall leader now that is giving the gold, and the present prospects speak well for a good block of ground over head. There are about 100 tons of quartz in the paddock, but until we have a little rain it cannot be crushed, as the Ballarat and Clunes sun only run ten heads for Dixon's.