THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5322, 6 December 1878, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[f-OM OCR ow.v COKIIESPOXDES'T.] Thames, Thursday. CI'KK. The contractors who are putting in the cross-cut to intersect the No. G lode on the No. 2 leval are making good progress. Since commencing tho work they have driven a distance of 120 feet. On starling the work, good country was met with, ami carried for some distance, after which a hard bar came in, and progress was necessarily slow, but this hard country has naw been pierced, and a betterclass of country is again to hand. About another fortnight's work will finish the contract. Another SO feet of driving should bring the lode to baud. In connection with this work, a winzo is being sunk oil the lode from the level above, which is nearly down the rr quired depth. From the appearance of the lode in the winze, and of the country in the cross-cut, there is a good prospect of payable quartz being met with when the lode is opened out upon. Davis and party, who hare a block of ground on tribute on Gilmour's lsader, between the intermediate and No. 2 levels, have been getting some good quartz out. Tho leader was intersected on the No. 2 level by the company's contractors. The tributers sunk a winze from the intermediate level, and then drove on the leader from the cross-cut on the No. 2 level until the bottom of the winze was met with. In putting in this drive, some very g«od specimens were obtained. The leader is from six to oight inches thiok, and has a very healthy appearance. Below the No. 2 level the ground is in the company's hands, and as there is every prospect of the gold going downwards, they will pr«bably have a good block between the Nos. 2 and 3 levels. As soon as the tributers get stoping operations fairly started, the manager intends to start sinking a winze on the leader. Three other tribute parties, who are working blocks in the Company's mine, are getting out good payable quartz.

KuitiNri Hill.—Operations on the No. 1 lode at the 640-foot level are still being carried on. Same time back the leader w»a found to Bjjlit into two branches. The righthand one, which looked the most promising, was driven upon, but it his been cut out alto.ether, and the men hare now started driving 011 the other branch. The lode is opening out and shewing a slightly improved appearance. In the Oddfellows' section of the mine, Catran and party (tributers) have cut a nice-looking leader, from which thuy hare taken a parcel of stone, which Rave an excellent return. On surveying the ground the leader was found to be outside their tribute block, and the manager has started to work on it. A low level is being put in by contract, which will give a considerable amount of backs on the lode. A winze is also bsing sunk on the lode to connect with this low level. The wiuze is down about 40 feet, and, so far, the lode his a promising appearance.