THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5150, 20 May 1878, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[FROM OCR OWK CORRESPONDENT.]

Thames, Saturday. Albprnta.—Thereienochangeof any importance to report from this mine. The drive west on the Whau level is making fair progress, Iα the face there is a large body of good-looking quartz, colours of the precious metal being frequently seen in it. The etopes above this level are yielding quartz of a good «rade. No. 3 winze : The intermediate level drive is being pushed ahead. Stoping has also been started in this level. The stone broken out is of first class quality, and gold shews pretty freely in it. The stopee in No. 2 winze eontinue to yield stuff of good quality. The old specimen leader has lost much of the rich character it used te bear, but small parcels of good picked etoae are still obtained from it. The winze to connect with Oixon's low level is down about 12 feet. The reef has been broken down, and is similar in character to the stone above, colours of gold having been seen in it. It is now evident that there is a large block of the Sons of Freedom reef in the neighbourhood of the No. 3 winze, which will yield first class crushing dirt. The bottom of No. 3 winze is 70 feet below the Whan level, and strong colours of the precious metal hare been seen from the mouth of the winze in to the face of the drive, a distance of from thirty-five to 40 feei. Again, at the bottom of the winze, a drive has been put in a few feet, and gold was seen all along this drive. At the intermediate level also, which is put in about half-way down the winze, a rich patch of gold has been met with. It has already been proved that the runs of gold are dipping westward, consequently the inference is that, as the ground is opened up in that direction, stone of a better quality will be met with. The winze started o» the small leader, or branch of the Old Alburnia lode, is down about twelve feet. In breaking down the lode, gold was observed iu the stone. Should the stone continue to look as well as at present, it is intended, after sinking about thirty feet, to open out a block on the leader. The manager is also of opinion that this leader will junction with Dixon's lode. The low level drives are making fair progress, but it will be some time ere communication is opened up with the Whaulevel workings.

New North Devon.—During the last few days the prospects of this company have improved greatly. When operations were tirat commenced about three weeks ai'o, there was a large mullocky lode, with °au inch or two of white quartz shewing in the face. The surrounding country, too, was very broken and unpromising—in fact it was reported, and pretty widely circulated, that a slide had cat ths lode off, and conse- ■ ineutly it would be some time ere a&ything of a payable nature would be to hand. The rn.-.uaging director (Mr. J. Melluauey), however, was ooulider.t that w hat he had in hand »vas the Sous of Frjedom lode, and that by pu«hiug mi the drive the leader would soon be found in a more compact form, and pro bably gold would be m.:t with. The (irst indication of an improvement was a largequantity of water coming in. After driving a few feet further, t ie country improved very much, and ;i«sumi-d a more kindly nature. The drive has now been extended about forty-five feet, and in breaking down the lode yesterday about twenty pounds of fair specimeus and picked etone were brought to grass. The lode is about two feet thick, and is a compact body of black quartz. There is little doubt that one of the runs of gold which have made this reef so famous is coming to hand, and it is probablu that a few feet further driving will disclose ni3re of the precious metal. The country is iirst-class, and of a nature to carry gold. On this level (Whau) the company have 400 feet of the reef in length, with very nearly 300 feet of backs, so that it will require but little work to open out sev«ral blocks ready for stoping. It is supposed that in a few feet more driving the junction with one of the small leaders cut in the old surface workings will be to hand, and it is more than likely that on this junction gold will make. About ISO feet from the present face the lode will junction with Dixon's lode, and the conclusion is that at this junction a rich patch will be met with. The manager intends driving a few feet further, and then opening out a leading stope. It will, therefore, not be long ere sufficient stuff will be accumulated to have a crushing, and probably this mine will soon be numbered among the leading ones on the field.

Prince Imperial.—Sinking the winze below the 250-feet level continues, ami the lode looks well. The etopes above this level are getting stone of a fair quality, gold being seen in it in email patches. Driving westward is being pushed ahead. The reef in the face averages about 15 inches thick, and is of a healthy character. The drive on the Mariners' reef is making fair progress. The reef is of considerable n'ue, but is somewhat broken at present. The manager intends following a branch of this leader which has gone off into the footwall. The late crushing of rifty-three load? gave the fair return of GSoza. Kklwts. of melted gold.

Watchman.—George and parry, tributers in this company s ground, have cut a large mullocky-looklng lode. The stone taken out in intersecting the lode was forwarded to the I'rince Alfred battery, and yielded uearlv two and a-half ounces per ton. They are □ow busy cutting a chamber, and intend driving both ways upon the lode. By breaking the stone taken out, good colours of gold can frequently be seen. The reef is supposed to be the old Hatters' lod-. This party have a block 220 feet long by 200 feet in breadth, with from 60 to 80 feet of backs. They arc also putting in a low level, and expect that with 50 feet more of driving the reef will be to hand. Next week crushing will again be started, and the shareholders are confident they will be able to keerj 10 head of stampers constantly going.

GOLD KETURNS From the Thames for tie Week Endino May 18.

Ua dwi. cr. Moantaiari tribute, Rewe .. 38 1 • Bitto ditto, Hrett .. '.'. 4 7 6 litto ditto, Hayes .. .. 8 Iβ • Ditto ditto, Quaiilpy .. .. 5 4 # Di'to ditto, Campbell., ,. 10 5 • Piako tribute. Bice .. .. 10 10 0 />itto ditto, O'Uullivan .. ,. 7 16 0 Ditto ditto, James .. .. .. 1 iy q Ditto ditto, 55 8 0 Ditto ditto, Kergusson . .. 1 18 0 Ditto ditto, Fletcher 16 4 0 Ditto ditto, Craig . .. .. 11 4 0 Alburnia tribute, Martin ., .. 11 11> • Blac* ADjjel .. 27 10 0 <-'uro 77 o 0 I.uck's All tribute, Joy.. .. .. 69 18 0 r| yde 3 11 0 Pnnc« Imperial .. 6S Iβ 0 8'ar of Te Papa tribute, Adam:; .. 6 15 0 ""peful , ,, 2 IS 0 L'tia tribute, Hobinson .. . .. 5 ij 0 West Coast tribute, HowHrth .. .. 2 1!) 0 Ulue Jacket .. .. . .. 1 o 0 Calt-.rtoniaQ tribute, Lowe .. .. 38 8 0 Ma>tha tribute, Johnson .. ., 2 10 i hi-tle tribute, Agnew .. , L ., 5 0 0 Inverness tribute, Wilnen . .. 2 2 0 yue«» ol Beauty tribute, Wi'gon .. 294 0 0 Watchman tribute, George . If; 4 0 SuDdri «» .. 7.0 3 0 Tot* 1 "b70 8 0