THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4297, 21 August 1875, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPOBDBNTB.] Thames, Friday. Core.—Stoping on the Nos. 4 and 5 lodes continues to yield an average quantity of quartz, with good show of choice stone-; within the last two days 130 lbs. have been secured for the strong box. The footwall leader retains its size and course, but has not shewn so many specimens lately, while the two small cross veins near the Red Queen boundary have been driven on a few feet, and now form a good-sized lode, about 15 inches wide, in wnich a few specimens have been met with. The show at the battery is about equal to the former crushings. Old Whau.—This company havo been making strides towards regaining their position lately, and from the new block lately opened, or rather tho old surfaco block reopened, a considerable quantity of quartz has been trucked to the mill, and 54 tons reduced, yielding the satisfactory return of 70 ozs. IS dwts. retorted gold. The battery return wonld have been greater, but for the delay occasioned by stoppages owing chiclly to the want of firewood, and tlic ricketty condition of the tramway.

Manukau.—The contractors driving on No. 5 lode from the Cure level are now in good country for progress, with a fine lode of quartz in the face not less than 3 feet, and expect to reach the winze from the upper level within 10 feet. A start upon tllo quartz from this level will be made at the battery this day in addition to the force employed upon stone from the old sources. Grown Princess.—The directory of tliis property have authorised the sinking of the main shaft 70 feet. This will be commcnced immediately, and when completed will enable the manager (Mr. Daniels) to open out anew level from the bottom, or 310 feet, and have the block ready for stoping before the prosent working level is exhausted, which continues to yield a moderate supply of quartz with occasional linds of specimens. Operations on the 240-feet level have dccidcdly been profitable, and judging from tho quality and probable increased quantity of quartz to be raised from underfoot, tho new level should plajce the company in a sale position. In tho meantime No. 3 lode has been opened out from the shaft towards the spcciinen reef, and shews a fine body of stone about IS inches wide, of good payable character. Action will shortly be taken to reliovo the company from the expense of carting mullock. As soon as permission can bo obtained from the local authorities, it ia intended to call for tenders to run a tramway across Pollenstreet, enabling all mullock to be tipped near the old shaft site direct from tho poppet heads. Caledonian. —The chief point of interest in the working of this ground is that in con- ' nection with the Cure lodo. Last week, a rise was started from the No. 2 level, not very distant from the Otago boundary, upon a reef which had been cut in driving into the Otago property ; this reef may prove identical with the Cure lode, but probably will turn out to be a distinct body of quartz ; however, it will prospect that corner of the ground, and in either case promises to be of great value, the rise is being carried up on the hangingwall side, in a good 'shooting country, and shews a body of stone between two and three feet wide, of good character, but until it is broken down a proper estimate of its quality cannot bo ascertained; the lode lies rather tlat, and will cnablo backs to be stoped out over 100 feet, and will supply a great amount of crushing dirt. To-morrow the drive from the Cure bouui dary will be let on contract; this, with tho ' supply from other sourccs, obtained from I the vicinity of No. 3 shaft, as well as from ! tho portion of Young American leader I within their ground, will in a short time I enable this company to employ a large force !of stampers. Prospecting drives on the 300j feet level are still carried on, as> well as the I drive from the -100-feet level of the big shaft : from tho Albion boundary toward the com- | pany's shaft, which, when complete, will I thoroughly free that depth from water, and I allow auotlier drive to be put in.

Albion.—Operations in this mine are progressing,—the most important being atoping and driving on Kelly's reef from the 1 GO-feet level; the stone in the stopes lias a butter appearance than in the drive, where it has evidently been disturbed and thrown about in a confused manner ; the size of the lode may be stated as two feet and under, gold occasionally seen, but not looked for, the battely test being esteemed evidence sullicient to warrant its extraction. The Young

American reef is also being stoped and driven ou with a changeable character as to size, sufficient quartz coming to the surface to supply the requirements of tive head of stamps, with a fair return upon operations. Twelfth of Jui.y (T.wr). —The result of a crushing of 70 tons from this claim has bee# lodged at the National Bank—ll ozs. 14 dwts. IS grs. melted gold.

Tairua, Wednesday.

The contractor for conveying quartz from the Prospectors' shaft to the bit tery has arrived with a team of bullocks, ami will start at once 011 road-making. There are about eight tons of picked stull bagged. The stone from the shaft continues good. The hangingwall of the lode is now pierced through. The I!rotilers start this day as a company, and will resumo their tunnel, which is expected to cut the reef at about twenty feet more driving. An effort will be made to ercct machinery on this ground. Xevesville is now l>eing laid off as a township by Mr. McLaren, the Government Engineer. Many of the whares arc right in the way of the main street. Inspector Goldsmith is visiting the claims, and, judging from his expressions, re-entry will be made on several claims uulcss muro men are employed on the ground. The new track behind McLeary's has been chosen by Mr. McLaren, and is decidedly easier than the old one past Rowley's. Thursday. As intimated yesterday, several companies will receive notice that more men must bo employed in their holdings. The waterright question has received attention, and probably the next Court-day will dispose of some of them. The laying off Jsevesville township is causing some trouble. The old hands laid off a lino for themselves, with allotments GO by 132; this, owing to the circumscribed naturo of the ground, will bo reduced by one-lialf, and the main street will be at the back of the present buildings ; the old hands wish to shift pegs, but the new ones say they have no right to do so, as they pegged out like miners and happen to be on the wrong reef or street. In Stewart's lease the lode from the Triangle or Puketui ground, it being the same, is expected to be cut in two or three days. The Triangle tunnel is now within ten feet of the bottom of their shaft, where tlio leader is expected to be good. The National have come up to a slide after driving 60 feet, on the face of which there is a layer of blue and-white quartz which, on pounding, shows up well. It is inteuded to sink on the numerous veins at thj mouth of tho drive. The Ajax are busy marking out the line of water-race, dam site, &a, aud intend forwarding ono ton of stone to Shortlaiul for test trial, which I have no doubt will realiso from 1J to 2 ozs. It is generally reported here that a tkirtcen-head stamper battery will shortly be erected on Daykin's water-right.

Oiiinemuri, Thursday. Considerable excitement occurred yesterday, owing to action being taken by Mr. C. F. Mitchell, who appears to have enlisted certain natives on lus side, and got them to demolish the framework of a house erected by Mr. Cribb, carrying the whole of the material to tho river bank. The dispute has been lasting some time, and is one of title, both parties claiming the title to the laud. Plenty of abuse, but no blows. Mr. Cribb has gono to Shortland for legal advice. • Mr. 0. M. Creagh is engaged surveying allotments taken up under the agricultural leases, and finds it a difficult job, as there is no plan of the goldfields shewing boundaries, not even a plan of tho township of Mackaytown or Macknytown South.

A meeting of tho shareholders in the All : Nations and Prospectors' Claim, Karangehake Spnr, is called for Thursday, the 26th instant, to consider the amalgamation of interests aud the erection of machinery ; to be held at tha Bowen Hotel, Grahamstown. North* St.ar, Tatrca.—A meeting of shareholders was held at Mr. Horsbrugh's office, last evening,—Mr. Gellion in the chair. It was resolved that a company be formed, to bo called the North Star Gold Mining Company ; capital, £4800 in £1 shares, nil paid up. The following gentlemen to be directors Messrs. C. Curtis, D. R. Gellion, J. Mahcr, R. R. McGregor, and E. McDonnell. Mr. Horsbrough to be manager. A preliminary call was made to ■ pay current expenses, and the working of the mine to be immediately proceeded with.