THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4899, 30 July 1877, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[FROM OUR OWN <?OKRK.srONDE>T.] Tj r.v.M e*, Satu rd ay

Red Quken\ —A small crushing is now going on at the Prince Alfred battery, obtained between No. 1 aud No. 2 faces in the big reef near the Caledouian battery. A rise is also going up on tho small slide which intersects the No. 0 lode in the Caledonian ground, and is expected to cut the reef at some 40 feet above from where it has been formerly worked, or SO feet abore the main working level. There is a probability that the improvement it:, the vicinity of the slide, where the reef enters the Queen boundary, will bo suflicient to warrant permanent work. Rich ore was obtained in the Caledonian in the neighbourhood of the slide, aud as there is only some 10 feet to complete the rise, the company may do better than has been their fortune lattcrl}'.

Crown- Pkinckss.—The company's operations arc on tho lowest or No. 4 level, which been extended seaward a? far as the slide, following the course of No. 2 reef. The specimen leader is being stoped in the vieiuity of its junction witli No. 3 reef, aud shown gold frequently, but the country is rather hard, and the quantity of stone broken out small. At the junction of the cross-cut from the shaft to tho main level, a winze is being uunk on No. 2 reef, aud it down 20 feet. The country at present is light, but tl»e stone is of good quality, showing gold. Sixty feet seaward of the winze a cross-cut is being driven, for the purpose of intersecting the branch lode tiiat went off from the main reef in the level above. It j'b expected to be met with in 30 feet more driving. There are four tribute parties working blocks on the upper section of the mine, and several other portions are now surveyed oft' ready for tribute. Golden Ckown.—The second parcel of surface clay, consisting of 17 loads, forwarded by Girvan and party, tributers, to the Prince Alfred battery, did not realise anything like tho Jirst parcels, the result being only 4ozs. Mdwts. gold. This may be owing to the gold not being in the stuff", but to deal with it properly the clay should have been mixed with hard stone, to tree the gold contained in the dirt, as was done with the previous lot.

Piako.—The fortnight's crushing with 30 head stampers at the company's battery ha!", given the fair return of 2700z5. 13dwts. gold! The stone crushed is from all parts of the bottom _ level, but chieily from the eastern portion, or towards the Queen of Leauty boundary, to which the drive is extended. The stopes are being brought forward, aud will continue to supply a similar grade of ore till the new level is opened, SO feet below the present one. The shaft ifl down 10 feet during the .fortnight, making its depth from No. 7 level" 00 feet 0 inches. One mouth will likely see tho shaft the requisite depth, and the short cross-cut to No. 2 reef putin ; a leader of good-looking quartz has been cut in the shaft, probably dropper from the main reef. The country through which the shaft is now sunk is superior to any yet gone through, and argues well for the next level.

Ai.bcrsia.—The crushing at the Herald battery, though slow, is well adapted for the quality of the stuff sent to the mi]]. Tilo return is as good as the late crushing ; '.Tjlbs. additional specimens wore obtained on Saturday morning, but this will bo further augmented before the specimens are crushed at the Moanatainri. The face of the Whau level presents a largo amount (if rich crushing stud, composed cf the specimen lode, the narrow slide, and the .Sons of Freedom reef, and will furnish an immense tonu:i»e. At present it is not pursued, but it i% there when wanted. Sinking the winze on the Whau level continues to show golden stone as it duseends 011 the specimen lode, •Hid tl'.c prospects from the upper level in sinking the win/.o ou the old specimen lode towards the battery level are lirst-rate. The mine improves in its appearance the more it is worked.

MoANATAfAiti.—The operations of this mine arc carried oil with a regularity and quietness that betokens forethought and care. The constant supply of material to keep 30-head stampers going for the company, as derived from the SO feet level below the tunnel level, and the transit of the company's tributers' ore from the several passes adjoining tho main tunnel, require considerable management in arranging the trains of loaded trucks that throughout the day are drawn to the battery by the cheap and expeditious horse tramwav that stretches some 2000 feet into tho hill. In driving south from th». main tunnel, the country is good, and a good-looking leader of quartz has been cut through. This prospecting drive is in

about GO feet, and will open up a large extent of tho company's ground, while the eastern or main tunnel will in the course of a fortnight be extended by means of the new patent rock drill, the appliances for which are in a forward state. In the 80 feet level stoping on the stsvoral reefs supplies good average stone, while driving on No. i) is continued westward, on the reef, and to the east the drive is stiJi in the i-lule. No. 1 winze goes dowu with an improvement in the quality of the quartz, and the pixe of reef is about 2J feet thick. The dip of Hi" slide has alno improved, being leys flat. A rise has also been completed through from the middle stopc to the tunnol level, making the third connection or pass from the tunnel level on to No. 0 reef. These not only Becure ventilation, rendering the work easy, but afford facilities for stoping out the blocks, as well as filling in the ground as the quartz is broken out. In the 150 feet level, the cross-cut towards No. 0 reef is going in rapidly, about 135 feet being linished, leaving some 30 feet to connect with winzo. The country is lirm and of the same character that distinguished the immediate vicinity of the famous shot of gold. GOLD JRKTUUNS Fj:om the Tjiamks fok tub Week expis'o July i!S. o -S E Alburnia Tribute (Poster) 27 0 n Ditto ditto fCoad) It 5 0 Ulaek Inbuilt {Wileocks.. .. 0 10 0 Cum Tribute (McCloan) .. .. 45 f> 0 I>itto ditto (Walters) .. 3t 2 0 Canadian 4 5 0 i'al- donian Tribute (Ord) .. .. 2 10 <" ( tyof London Tribute (Jolini).. .. 104 0 0 Culden Crown Tribute (tJirvnn) .. .. 8 8 0 Juno 20 12 0 Kmanui Hill Tribute (.Jenkins) .. .. 22 17 u Mito ditto (tfewdiek) .. 05 15 0 Ditto ditto (Kvan-i) .. .. -10 IS 0 Ditto ditto (Caitra- ).. 71 5 0 Ditto ditto (Ciinpbell) .. 177 C 0 Ditto ditto (Dary) . .. 23 10 0 Dltt) ditto (Master) .. .. 3 7 0 r.lttlo T.lzzlo .10 18 0 Little Mapgie 2 r> 0 Mo'inatnliri Tribute (MeTvinncnu'y) .. 20 17 0 Ditto ditto (I'Knch) .. .. 4 1G 0 *ii De^pera:dmn .. .. . 1 10 0 Old Whau Tribute (Childcrhouse) .. 49 2 10 Old Colden Calf 53 12 0 I'ialco .. .. .. >t #> 275 13 0 1 i'ialto Tribute (Wilton) 14G 10 0 Phosnix, Talrua 3 3 0 saj>j>))o 0 10 0 lookcy Tribute (.Muir) 3 0 0 Cna J ributc (Kllis) 17 3 0 Total (exoluslvo of Coromandel) .. 1,310 15 10