THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4048, 3 November 1874, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[FROM our. OWN" CORP ESrONDE-N'TS. ]

Thames, Saturday. ru-EDONIAX.— The sinking of the engineh n{t lias been steadily progressing, and now that a depth of 15 feet has been reached below' the 800-feet level, the manager has fixed a secure covering over the heads of the •ankers,"to protect them from the working of the cage above. This enables him to employ liiore men. and on Monday two more shifts v.-ill be started, so that the shaft will be sunk with all speed. The ground is very orood, free of water, but it emits a great nuautity of gas, which is easily got rid of bv the appliances at hand. It is intended to carrv down the shaft to a depth equal to the United Pumping Association's 400-fcet level for when that distance is reached the lodes' recently cut in the eastern portion of the mine should'be close to the shaft. The No;;. 1 and 2 lodes will, of course, have passed into the Albion mine, and nothing remains to prospect but these eastern lodes. The List cut on the boundary was perforated for some distance, and there were indications that a strong body of quartz was behind the leader. In the rise coin" up from the Hazelbank level, to breidc fnto°ho Young American old winze, there is a great deal of water coming down, and it is undent that connection with the Young American workings will shortly be accomplished. Golden Calk. —The new leader that was a few weeks ago intersected in the deep level (3-0-feet) promises to turn out a profitable vein of quartz, for so far as it is prospected, it shews gold freely, and on niore than one occasion it has yielded a few nice specimens. A rise was started a few davs a« r o from it, and the prospects therefrom are equally good, in fact better stone c.uae from it than in the drive. The width of the lode is not over 7 inches, yet llanked with good country, and the large section there will be makes it a valuable addition to their reef system. More men will be cmployed in development henceforward, so that the manager can have a decent trial crushing within the next ten days. The two main drives arc being pushed ahead vigorously. Exchange.—On Monday it is intended to start crashing with six stampers at the Tramway battery, when it is expected that upwards" of 100 tons of stone will be reduced, so that a fair test will be made of the two lodes. Of course, this number of stampers r ; av, a larger—can be constantly employed," should "the stuff prove payable, as the facilities for breaking a large quantity tlaily are very great. There are over 200 tons to grass, but that recently broken will be put through. There is no change to report from the lodes ; a little gold to be seen daily, and No. 2 reef continues to increase in width, it being fully two feet now. After the recent craskings of the Crown Prince Company it would be r;ish to hazard an opinion as to the probable value of the stufl ; therefore the crushing must speak for itself.

Qceen" of the May.— Yesterday the manager commenced to sink a winze from the level recently driven in from the Queen of Beauty and City of London last level, in order to have connection with the upper portion of the unwrought ground, immediately they set in from the bottom of the City of London shaft. The depth of this winze will be about eighty feet, so that the new level that will be driven from the bottom of the City of London shaft will command about 100 feet of backs of virgin lode, with the exception of the 200 feet driven in from the City of London's last workings. This level is perfectly frue from water now, so that sinking can be carried on without dilikulty. I cannot see that permanent operations will be commenced before the first month of next year, for it will take the City of London all their time to have the engine erected by then.

Ivi'RAxn. —The specimens reported last ni-ilit crime from a leader back of the 20faVliom level ; but as it is almost 111 the ve.-v lie-art of the worked-out ground, too much importance should not be attached to it le\'oad its intrinsic value, as at any moment they luay break into old ground. There is <• good pile or flirt on hand, and crushing iviTl be commenced on Monday with twenty stampers, the remaining twenty being employed upon parcels from the All Nations and Long Drive.

Cure.- —With regard to the crushing for this company, I see it stated both here and in your city, that the result is iikety to be upwards of 100 ozs , wliich is very indefinite, and to give the devil his due, I make bold to say that the yield of gold, vriil be close upon -00 ozs. ; judging from the arnoun; of amalgam there is in hand to-niglit. Tliis difference iu a crushing of 17 tons is a matter of great moment. Coromandel, Saturday. There is a slight improvement in the Tokatea block occasioned by the recent haul of specimens. The following is the mine manager's weekly report" During ths week v,-e got 350 lbs. of Ja'.r specimens from stope on each end of No. 1 pass, Bismarck level. There is'no more gold in pass, of stopes at present, but I think it likely that we miv get some more as stopes progress. In the Siege of Paris level I have started a rise to connect with the bottom of No. 1 rise, Bismarck level. This afternoon we got about 20 lbs. picked stone from stope going out from No. 3 winze, or close under the floor of No. 2 level. The leader here has been shewing gold freely during the past week, but this is the first parcel that we got worth bagging. Mr. Dobson lias let another contract of 100 feet in the Van level at ISs per foot." With the credit balance at present in favour of the company, and next week's crushing, which will give over 300 ozs. of gold, I hilly expect that the directors will be in a position to declare another 2s Gd dividend at their approaching fortnightly meeting.

Harbour View.—The company's directors, some few weeks back, let a tribute in the mine to one of its former mine managers, which is likely to turn out well. The work is principally confined to the second level, where some few months back a good shot of gold was come upon. Little or no work has been carried on in this portion until the tribute was let. Specimens are now being frequently got in small patches.

Union Beach.—There is no sign of the specimen run falling off. The decision of the directors to sink the shaft another SO feet, and open another level, although it will considerably add to the working expenses for a couple of months, will be certain to prove circulating capital for the fortunate shareholders, from the undoubted value of the mine at the bottom levels, no matter where worked. The property promises to rival any other here, as the leader is large, the country favourable, and the specimen run largely distributed.

City or Aucki.wti.—The ravine level is now driven over 210 feet, and latterly a. decided improvement has taken place, both in the character of the ground and the size of the lode. The crushing for the company of about 240 tons of general stuff from the* top blocks is being fini.'ihed at the Nil Desperandum batt-ry. I'et jrting will be completed about Tuesday, when the management expect about 200 ozs. of gold, which will be lodged with the Bank of New Zealand.

The Brutus.—The manager lodged a small parcel of retorted gold this morning with the Bank of New Zealand from 35 lbs. of speciuices, treated at the Wliakaroa battery.

Plvtcs Battery.—The rapid progress which is observable with the different undertakings of this crushing plant is in favor of its being ready for crushing about the Ist of December. The water of the Plutus mine is out of the winze. A rise from the bottom level has been carried up to complete communication with the second level. The mine is thoroughly opened up, and a good-sized paddock of stuff is ready for the trucks and tramway when the battery ia ready. City of Auckland.—The stuff being crushed at the Nil Desperandum battery is shaping for an ounce to the ton, which is less than the average yield from previous crushings !ro:n general dirt.

THE MONTH'S GOLD. Ozs dwt ffr Lodged with New Zealand - • - 850 0 0 Lodged witli National ... 549 0 q To come from City of Auckland, say - 200 0 _0 Small parccla bankodj say i -70 0 .0 Total . - - 1169 0 0