THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5373, 5 February 1879, Page 2

THE GOLDFIELDS.

The following weekly reports are to hand from the mine managers :—

Moanatai.ilU. — Point Rnssell_ section : The timbering of the rise is completed, the two parses lined, and ladders fixed in the centre pass ; all i-J now in working order, and the horse can take trucks direct from the shoots. A fair start will be made in driving on Monday. Main tunnel has been extended 8 feat this week, only one shift being employed. The water pipes have been removed from the tunnel, and fixed in the rise : greater pressure is thus secured, and wo have 1000 feet on hand for extension. A full party of men will now be employed to push the tunnel forward. 21S-feet level has been extended south from the shaft 170 feet, and is now in strike of No. 9 roef. Driving is beiug continued west to intersect the reef. We shall now start sinking the winze in the bottom of the 150-feet level (already done IS feet) for ventilation and facilities in stoping ; after deepening this winze another 25 feet, we expect to intersect the upper slide. The stopes in the SO and 150-feet levels are without change to mention. During the past fortnight 236 tons quartz have been crushed, yielding 171ozs. retorted gold.—Robert Comer.

Corby.—No 1 leader, JTo. 2 leTel: Got the chamber cut and. secured, and started sinking last Thursday. lam happy to say the water, as yet, is of no consequence—a few buckets each Ehift—merely surface drainage. We are now down 12 feet, through easy c untry, with the lode o£ a very promising character, and without any o£ the faults so frequently observable in the top workings. Though nothing io the shape of speciments has yet been obtained, the prospects are very regular. Good indications in this particular lode of being in the vicinity of something bettsr. Low level, flat leader : Still continuing the drive eastwards, the distance driven being 25 feet, through variable country—the leader averaging about a foot ; the stone shewing strong blotches of gold in places besides obtaining 101b3. of picked stone. No. 2 cross-cut : £fo change for the better as yet. Shall drive some distance further, and then, if nothing transpires, I shall start sinkand endeavour to put beyond a doubt its whereabouts. The prospecting drive to intersect the Congress and Eureka leaders is now in 105 feet. Cut a small leader on Saturday, which i 3 gold-bearing. About 40 feet more should tike us on to the Eureka leader, when I expect to have Congress leador before then.

Bismarck, —I have to report the continuance of a strong and good-looking reef, but hare not yet the pleasure of being able to inform you that gold has been got. The quartz looks as healthy as could be desired, if? strongly bouud to the footwall, and, indeed, has nearly all the features that have hitherto characterised the gold-bearing stone in the lode. That the finding of payable stuff is ouly a question of time I have no doubt whatever, and it is very probable that before my next weekly report is written 1 will be able to communicate to you the news that gold has been struck. The drive is now being carried on toward the main reef, which should be reached in about 35 feet. The intervening ground will be bard, but there is a small dig at present which facilitates the work, and if it continues the distance will be got over pretty quickly. lam glad to be able to state that the water is day by day getting less, and the quautity now is not more than half of that we had to contend with at first.—J. Allan I)obso>".