THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4291, 14 August 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[from our own corkestwdestts.] Thames, Thursday.

Caledonia*-—The contract called for by tender has been let this morning to Stephens and party, for putting op a rise on a flat taSerTfTMi tne -70 feet level towards tho Ked Qoeen boundary. This will afford means of opening out that portion of the Caledonian of which little is known, but the recent workings in the adjoining mine have proved that the gold-bearing lodes, Nos. 4 ind 5 of the Cure, traverse through that part of the Caledonian, to say nothing of the lode upon which the rise is to be effected, or of aiiv other discovery that may take place in that locality. Taking advantage of drives already completed, the manager, Captain Kiehards, will be enabled to obtain access to the Cure lodes, near to the Otago boundary, having nut less than 70 feet backs, and'by driving a'ong their course meet with workmen who are to be placed immediately on the face alter the boundary is reached. The whole of the reef, so far as the rise allows, will be intact towards the surface, while underfoot the dip will be all there. The present position of the Caledonian property is equal to a fresh lease of mining prosperity. Cleauing-up at the Prince Alfred lattery will take some days ere tho tailings are subdued ; but the return will be a satisfactory one. CfßE.—On measunng-up, the distance from the Caledonian boundary is shewn to be live feet from the centre of the ln-le. Kos. 4 and 5 reefs are now in one, and tho last shot put in tore down stone with rich j;old through the body, and there is no doubt Out that the perfect junction of two gol.l-K-aring lodes will, in this instance, verify the general experience that a heavy deposit or manufacture of gold has taken place in this instance. The lode is strong and well-defined, gold sticking in the face. The drive on the cross - leaders is progressing, and evidently the two leaders will be in one shortly ; both carry gold, and will prove a -valuable acquisition, inasmuch as fully 00 feet will have to be driven befo-e they quit the Cure grouud, besides the stopinß which may extend to or near the surface some 300 -feet. The drive on the footwall red continues to supply its sharo of quartz of good character ; gold seen frequently, and occasionally a piece worthy of being called a ipecimen, a small quantity of which is stowed away in the strong box. Stopings on Kns. 4 and 5 are going torward, and the requirements for 20 head stampers at the Tararu mill can be met without any difficulty, where the show is evjual to the late crushings. Twenty-thihd or Jcne.—The tributera, •Hunter and party, from the geceral staff crushed at the Tramway mill have realised 14 ounces S dwts. retorted gold from 15 tons, being an addition to the 10 ouaces gold already reported from specimens belonging to the same parcel. Together the yield has proved just over 2 ounces to the ton. White House.—This ground is situated in Hape Creek, and has lain abandoned for a considerable period. Lately, however, a trial lot of 10 cwt. of stone has been forwarded as a trial sample, and the satisfactory yield of I ounce 12 dwts. 12 grs. retorted gold obtained. Stah op tile South, Tajrita.— A meeting of shareholders was held last evening at the office of Mr. Chapman,—Mr. A. Bro.ueinthe chair. Resolved: "That the company he incorporated under the Mining Companies limited Liability Act, with a ci.pital of £16,000 in £1 shares, nil paid-up. Messrs. A. Brodie, W. C. Wilson, W. Row*, T. H, Crawford, and T. Rawdon, were elected provisional directors; Mr. Chapman, legal manager; Mr. H. Wright, auditor ; the Bank of New Zealand to be bankers; and Mr. J. Logan to be mine manager." Instructions were given to the legal manager to take the necessary steps in establishing the company, and to call an extraordinary Meeting with the least possible delay, for the purpose of passing rules, electing directors, and other business in connection with the company. A preliminary fall of £2 per full share or oaetwentieth of mine was made payable oa -or before, the ISth instant. [Since the m.jetiag, the licence has been granted by Warden Fraser to J. A. Chapman, legal manager.] Gou>E>" Akrow, TaJRCA. —An extraordinary meeting of shareholders was held at the Pacific tiotel last evening, Mr. Turtle in the chair. The following gentlemen were elected directors :—Messrs. Barty, Turtle, A. Howe, Cook, and Rawden. All the directors are to retire annually, but subject to re-eleotion, provided that any person hold not less than 100 shares in the company. Rules were passed for the regulation of the company. Fridity.

New Exchange G.M. Co.—A meeting of shareholders in this company was held at the Bow-en Hotel last night,—Mr. W. Ilowe in the chair. The attendance was numerous, and. the number of proxies from Auckland shareholders sufficient to declare the meeting legal as to number and value, 15,700 out of 24,000 being represented. Mr. Kuddock acted as secretary. The old company having got into difficulties, the property, consisting of Bixty-three men's on which a large amount of work had l-een spent, had been purchased for the present shareholders ; it now devolx'ed on the moetiiy to take necessary steps for establishing the ntw company. Resolved : That the same bs called the Xew Exchange Gold Mining Company, to be incorporated under the Mining Districts Act of 1872; that the capital be £12,000 in 24000 shares of 10s each,,ls.paid up (this shilling has been paid to cover expenses). After considerable discussion it was carried that the legal manager's office be in Auckland, and that Mr. It. Somerville be the manager, at the salary of £1 per week, with transfer,fees. The feeling of the meeting was freely expressed in favour of the directory beingait the Thames, as a principle, but under the.circumstanceii it was prudent to allow :the office to be in Auckland; that, in fact, many had taken up shares in the venture with that 'Understanding. Resolved, "That the number of directors be five, three to form a ■quorum. Qualification of directors—to be holders of not. lets than 200 shares in their •own right." The following gentlenen were named:—Messrs. J. Logan Campbell, A. Vfarilrop, W. C. AVilson, C. J. Stone, and •H. S. Ruddock. Discusssion .ensued, ■opinion prevailing Ahat the Thames ijatereat ihould have more th-in one representative in the directory. Mr. JBhrenfried's name was proposed, but that gentleman declined, llr. Cook's name w*e mentioned in dial of ilr. Stone's, and finally adopted, ffhe chairman ihen proceeded to read the irul-s, wiich had&een drawn Jjp in accordance with the Act, sod after discussing the uevorti chutes, they were adopted in their entirety, aud the proceedings terminated. Beitakxia G. M. Co.—Aineeting of share- 1 holder* was ield yesterday at the Pacific > Hotel, —Mr. Tyler in the chair. On pro-; ceeding to in.v«stigate the isgality of the > meeting, it was discovered that the advertisement convening the meeting had not appeared the requisite numbar of times in the Xew Zealand Hkrau). Mr. Wardell explained the circumstance. The Chairman, though regretting the necessary Ues of time caused by such onaiasion, pointed -out that anything the meeting might do would be rendered void, as the Act had not been complied with. After some discuacton it was ruled that a committee be appointed to frame rules, &c, to be submitted to next meeting, such committee to consiat of Meaars. Wickham, Walker, Lee, and Stewart. The following report from the mine manager was then read:— "Ohinemuri, Fern Flat. Brown and party have forwarded one ton quartz as a sample teat from this locality to the Tramway battery, where it is now being treated." Bright Smile.—The prospects of this company are encouraging. The quality of the quartz from the working level is up" to expectations, as proved by the show at the battery, and the unexpected find of specimens in the Bhaft lode proves the value of

the stone from the 350-feet leveL Above 30 lbs. choice stone were secured yesterday. Nevesvillk (Tairua), Wednesday. In the Prospectors' or Tairua Company's ground some splendid stone was obtained from No. 2 shaft—quite equal to my report last Saturday. The drive has been extended 8 feet, but, as yet, there is no indication of footwalL The rock is composed of conglomerate and quartz. Tho latter shews the gold freely, while, in the former, it is dirhcult to see until crushed, when it shews firstrate prospects. This drive is somo 3j feet from the main shaft, and, in both cases, the lode is of the same character, shewing that the run of gold is of large extent. Operations have been resumed in the mam shaft, and it is intended to sink on the underlie some distance before opening out is commenced. The quality of the stone is quite equal to any that has been taken out hitherto. The drive on the No. 2 reef shews no signs of hangingwall, and from the prospects obtained, indicates a run of rich gold not far off, probably hugging the hanguigwalL Sluicing has been carried on for the past two days, and not only bares the reef on the surface, but sufficient gold is collected to pay for the experiment. The prospects of this mine are now more favourable than at any time since its opening. This view is confirmed by the show in the different workings, namely, the main shaft, No. 2 shaft drive, and the drive on No. 2 reef, which should be sufficient to convuice the most sceptical of the riches known to exist, independent of any other finds that will assuredly be brought to light within the limits of this company's ground. The Puketui have got into solid ground, and have have more conglomerate, than quartz, which is accepted as a good sign. The manager is driving on the foot-wall side of the reef, taking down about 2J feet of the lode with him. Yesterday a good show of gold was met with in the loose stuff, while the more solid stone yield a good return when pounded in the mortar. SA.VDHUBST.—The Sandhurst Company s drive is in 50 feet, and they have now entered upon a conglomerate of quartz and cement, which yields a .nice prospect when tested in the dish. -