THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4900, 31 July 1877, Page 7

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[I'KOJI GUI! OWN C'OICREsroN'DENT.]

THA.MKS, Monday SUMMAKY FOR THE MONTH."

The monthly operations have been satisfactory, and the prospects are highly encouraging. There h«s been no special great iitid of rich patches of gold, but the returns from the principal mines have been quite equal to expectation, and the aggregate yield of the several tribute partieu has not fallen off. Tho reduced price of crushing and the low price of timber greatly assists in the develop, merit of the ground. Crushing may now bo obtained at almost all of tho many excellent mills for tho low price of six or seven ahil-

Huge per tou, or even lees for quantities by taking s© many head of stampers for a r.pecitiod time.

Tho Moanataiari has returned a dividend of live shillings per share during tho patt mouth, or i' 3350. Ths mino is in iirst-rato trim, and in a short time the famous No. 9

reef will be in hand from the new level, and the remnant of the splendid shot of gold ivill then bo available. Prospecting to the south of the ground, from tho tunnel level, is being carried ou, aud a good notv leader lias been cut vrithiu GO feet from the mouth of the

drive. Theextcusion of the main tunnel to the cast will shortly bu resumotl by means ol the patent rock-drill, to be driven by corjjpres3cd air, tho appliances for which are nearly ready. Tho Alburnia Company have had a splendid crushing, or rather cruahiugs, that have equalled 30ozs. to the ton, enabling them to pay a further dividend of 103 per share, or £-1000. The company have a

splendid prospect of welldoing before them, with throe distinct gold-bearing reefs in hand, while the revenue from tributers is large. Tho Caledoniau has made a groat step in advance, and prospecting in the o'tago section of tho ground has resulted in determining; tho lay of the large junctioniid reefs as existing in other parts of the ground, and to the opening up of a large extent of the block with a lode travereing through it, that has 0:1 the hangiug-wall eide of it proved to h'i gold-bcnriug. Further breaking duivn is required to declare its

worth, but from the parcel now out, tho result of the crushing cannot fail to be good. There is abundance of unexplored country within the company's limit* to warrant operations in prospecting the sum-, especially now that they have a gold bearing reef iu hand. The adjoining mines call for no particular notice, excepting that the Cure liavo had the good fortune to discover through tributers that a reef (No. G), previously considered as too poor to work, ie very prolitable, aud liiicly to bring this old gold-producer to the front again. The Kurauui Hill Company is chiclly occupied by tributers, whose united cirnings form, a large revenue. For a little time past the company's operations in the low levels havo been suspended, but they arc now about to be resumed, and with prospecting drives, and following reefs in the 300 feet, 480 feet, and G4O feel levels, thoy arc likely to meet the reward they deserve.

As the maintenance of the Big Pninp devolves upon the receipt of gold duty, which is entrusted 1,0 the County Council and to tho Borough authorities, the mines immediately affected by the drainage have been stirred up to action, and the eflect has bueu that the Golden Crown, Tookey, and Imperial Crown companies have made a movement to resume operations. The imperial Crown have started to work at the G-10-feet lercl, and have intersected a large reef, tho most westerly yet cut on the licld, and, certainly, the most promising body of quartz that has yet been met with in that low level. The County Council have also taken charge of tho main cross-cuts worked norih and south of the shaft, and are driving a high road that will enable the oeveral companies through whoso ground the level is made to open out from and prospect their limits. Tho Big Pump is tho one outlet for all the water draining from the adjoining mines, as without it they would have to support their own pumps, or stop operations on low lovele.

The other no less important pump is down 500 feet on the Waio-Kardca flat, distant from tho United Pulping Association, or Big Pump works, about half a mile, and draining the surrounding country. It is supported by a con tributkm from the adjoining mines, of which the l J iako is the most important, though not up to the present the greatest gold-producer. Latterly, however, the returns have been good, and the next level is fully expected to be a profitable one, the character of tho stoue having visibly improved below the 450 foot depth. The Queen of Jicauty has lately declared a dividend of 4s. per share, or £2000. The City of London has done little but prospect from their low level, but the work has been of great importance, as it has proved tho.t tho unprofitable strata of country opened :iu the last level only extends a short distance below the floor, and the next level that will be opened, towards ■which tho shaft is cunk a considerable depth, and wiuzes uro in hand, promises to be of great valuo, as pur test of sample crushing brought up from tho company's 500 feet depth. There ia a likelihood of tho City of London and Queen of Beauty companies amalgamating. Such a step would be beueficial to shareholders, as the cost of maintaining two ueparate establishments and plants is considerable. The saving that might be effected would pay an occasional dividend. The of the May continues to hold up her head amongst the gold winners; though not appearing foremost the la*t month, has excellent prospects in the new level about to bo opened at the 510-fcet depth.

The new companies recently formed and in aotivo operation, havo good prospects of doing well ; the .Now Morning Star are pushing in a low level .it the ii.O-fect depth. The .Nonpareil has been revived under a new proprietary, and the llapo Creek Company -u-c making vigorous eU'orts to liuish their .surface pli.uls, and stiike in at the ISO feet dentil, where formerly good rich ore was obtained, and tho present cuuipauy are sanguine of success.

The most important mine outside of the Thames district proper is the Waiteknuri, in the Ohinemuri district, which has paid Is dividend since last month ou 20,-50 shares. The company has prospects of long ooutinuauco of prolitablo gold mining. Owharoa and Kuraugahako are only just alive, little -work being done iu eitlior place. At Tairua there has buen a "spurt" ou ground recently known as The Brothers, now uained the Phceuix. The Ajax has been sold, and under ' new auspices, as the Aluia Company, has bettor prospects ti an hitherto. The (Joideu Arrow Company ia the only one that has stood the brunt, ami its directors havo iu hand an excellent show of goldon ore, that ought during Mm next month to show up remarkably well.

KKOS- 'i , : ;.-., .■ •„ •■:

Alburi: ■ . ,,.■■• v.i. • . DitL 'iiuULU l-k- •>.!(■" '■■'', ': I! uitto (.-cut) . ;: - i:. -, ,j y,: 1: . ., l>1 to ( cLrnn).. .. )..;■ o <• .•-. i<. ,: Wiio(I'-o«t c r> .. . : .1 ■. ••-,• •• ■ Ditto iCuad) .. .. h :. I! ;, a Alim ilato'AJax) .. . ,' ■■ i>4 5 0 A" Nation. (Taj,,,) .. . • j u 20 J 0 "Kelt A.i-ut in,. (I',.,-- * ,u "t .. .. ii o o ma ic « L.ltl<i(\Vilcocks) .. lli 0 0 liln D Llty (if London (Johns) .. 103 0 0 103 0 0 l ' urn ■■ 20 0 0 1:2 5 0 I'itto tiibulu (Mcliuuzioj 20 0 0 70 u u Uitlu (Morriauli) .. 4 0 0 oS 17 o Jjltto ;JolmB) .. . 45 0 0 3D 0 0 Dilio (Walters) "2 0 0 40 10 0 , Ditto (McLean) ■■ •■ 112 0 0 45 6 0 Culuiluniau trio, (llorivull) U0 0 0 32 2 0 l'iUo(i«<l) .. . r, 0 0 2 I u Coma iributu (Littlejohn) lli 0 0 11 14 0 Ounailliiii Uulljr .. .. 10 0 0 4 6 0 Oun l'odro tribute (Svko») 5 0 0 in3 1 0 IJ-jidcu Crown tr. (UirVan) 176 0 0 li)2 2 0 <:ul.lo.i A S .j tribute (i.aoil«») 60 0 0 BI30 10 0 Inverness trib. (Bclioliclil) £.0 0 0 U 8 0 •'uuo i(j o 0 20 12 0 ■I '1st in Timu tr. (Ohtstur) 0 1 0 »l30 0 0 lv.-ir,ingiihaU 0 tr. (CouttsJ 20 0 0 ml 9 0 Karaka 2 0 0 -10 0 Jviuanul Hill .. .. 30 0 0 28 10 0 I'itto trllmto (Luc.-vs) 2 0 0 km 16 0 Biltu(Uunl3p) .. .. 17 0 0 CO 10 0 Uiltu(.M3rllley) .. .. 2 0 0 27 0 0 Ullt'j (Dimiols) .. .. IS 0 0 60 10 0 >>'-A,, (J.nkim) .. 15 0 0 22 17 0 Ditto (N.wdiok) .. 20 0 0 mO.i 15 0 JJitlo (Kvans) .. .. liO 0 0 40 IS 0 I'itto (Easier) .. .. 2 0 0 3 17 0 Dif.o-Uatr.ui) .. .. SO 0 0 mSl 14 0 Unto (Uampliall) .. 15 0 0 177 0 o J'ltto(Ujvy) .. .. 17 0 0 7iU5 u 0 DUtii (I'ctorai'u).. .. 10 0 0 i/ili 10 o LailyUinl 3 0 0 1 10 o MlUu I,izilo .. .. O O 03 63 0 In I.lttlo Emily .. ii 0 0 55 14 0 UtllDMaKEliS • •• (i 0 0 2 5 u it..:i.iiHninrl 000 0 0 1.620 0 fl Ditty trlbuts (frUFCOtt) 13 O 0 23 1" o Ditto (Thomas) .. 20 0 0 34 10 o Ditto liMcrvoo) .. .. tl 0 U 13 0 Ditto (Kowc; .. .. 72 0 O 82 4 0 Ditto (Knetibonc) .. 104 0 0 »nGl C 0 Ditto (Teasdulol .. .. 14 0 0 mil 32 0 Ditto (r'ascoo) ' .. .. 8 0 0 15 0 0 I'lUo (Hoiking;.. .. IS 0 bli S3 S 0 Dltti. (Clrulo) .. .. 13 0 0 8 Iβ 0 Ditto iltobiiiaoM) .. 60 0 0 wiBl 6 0 Ditto (Mclnany) .. 100 0 0 m2B 17 0 . Ditto (l'tinch) .. . 0 0 18 i 10 0 MiiltUi .-.tar ir. (.Maddon) .. 10 0 2 (I 0 Morning Light (Knraiui) ?. 0 0 2 13 0 Konilay Mnrninj trllmto .. 13 0 0 3 10 0 ' ii D.'S, erandum .. .. 13 0 0 4 1G 0 Olii iJoMen calf (li:nnall) 76 0 0 ?nl34 i0 0 Oil U'liau tribute (Chlldorh',u«e) 34 0 0 )ii49 2 Iβ Pi.iko 400 0 0 jiU'jO 15 0 lJitto tilbuto (Wilt(in).. 74 0 0 14G 10 0 Dit:o(Noonin) .. .. 10O 0 0 67 « 0 IV.-iiy Jan.-tribute .. 7 0 0 18 0 0 1'ar.a (Justin 100 0 80 Phti-nU (Taitiia) .. .. 7 0 0 m5 3 0 t!uc.:n of lloauty .. .. 600 0 0 4U.5 10 0 Kt:d (Jiiiicn 6S 15 0 G) 0 0 Kid White and liliic tribute iC.recn) .. .. 15 0 O hi*10 12 Sapi.ho tritjuti;(A]uli:non) 3 0 0 1OO Tookcy Ull.ute(.UuIi) .. 00 0 0 i'O 0 0 Una tribute (Unsur) .. 15 0 0 17 18 0 Wiioulu ISO 0 0 m2tS 0 0 Wnltokaurl 60 0 0 1.2i0 0 0 1V.itcl.ina... tribute (Mcars) 23 0 0 ml.S 0 0 Whi-t. t'.ofe tr. (Donnelly) 7 0 0 »;7 14 0 Weal CoaU trunito ( ■ raith) 15 0 0 i-J 8 0 Sundries £0 0 0 Total 3,0G0 3 0 S,5:.7 10 e PrcvioiiB month .. 6,101 6 0 12,7:1 11 9 in means tb:it tl'C quantity stated i» meltn.'. gold.