THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5395, 3 March 1879, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

MONTHLY SUMMARY. [from our own correspondent.] Thames, Saturday. During the past month there has been no improvement in matters generally, although there is a considerable increase in the total returns for the month. This is mainly owing to the fact that many of the tribufeers and small claimholders have resumed their operations, which were stopped during the holiday season, several of whom have had good crushings. Moanataiari: In this mine a new level has been started from the Point Kussell winze, at a depth of about 100 feet from the surface. The lode has been driven on about GO feet. So far, however, the prospects are not very encouraging. In the present face of the drive the reef has been completely nipped out. The No. 9 lode is not yet to hand on the 21S-feet level. The winze sunk from the 150-feet level has holed through ! to the level below, but as the last few feet were sunk through the slide, the reef his yet to be picked up. The output of quartz has been of moderate quality, and the return is a fair one. Kuranui: The return for this com p&ny, which came in at the early part, was not quite up to expectations. During the month the new lode has been thoroughly opened up, and a large tonnage of quartz is now being turned out. The stuff that is now coming to hand is of much, better quality, and the next return is likely to shew a considerable improvement on the previous one. The tributers in this mine have again got to work, and many of them have had handsome returns. Caledonian : This company are carrying on several prospecting works. Cure : The operations on the lode are being continued, but there is no change to notice. The stone contains good mineral indications. Old Golden Calf : During the month this company have been working on the Caledonian 360-feefc level. In the early part of the month the lode was intersected, and on the first breaking-down, good strong colours of the precious metal was seen in the stone. Sine* then the reef has been driven on some distance, and about IS tons of crushing stuff brought to grass. This has been crushed at the Queen of Beauty battery, and the very satisfactory return of 23ozs. lSdwts. melted gold was obtained. This is the greatest depth at which payable gold has been got in this section of the £eld. Unfortunately, it is feared the company's operations will have to be suspended shortly in consequence of the generation of gas through the stoppage of the big pump. Alburnia : There has been a considerable improvement in tho quality of the quartz which has been coming to hand from the reefs in this mine. Above the 70-feet level the stopes on the Sons of Freedom lode have yielded considerable quantities of really good crushing dirt, with occasional parcels of picked stone and specimens. The level is being extended westward. In the face of the drive there is a strong body of quartz, between 2 and 3 feet thick, but about one-half this i 3 condemned as worthless ; the remaining half is fair crushing dirt. A winze is being sunk from the Whau level, about 100 feet wesc of the No. 3 winze. This is down about 30 feet, and gold has been seen in the stone the whole depth. In Dixon's section of the mine the stopes are yielding good crushing dirt, with small parcels of rich picked stone. A winze which is being sunk on the lode is down about 25 feet, and at the bottom there 33 a strong body of quartz fully 2 feet thick, which shews gold freely. The return for the month is not in yet, but it is expected there will be between 500 and 600 ounces gold. Waiotalii: The new level in this mine has not been opened up yet. The shafc is nearly down the requisite distance. Prince Imperial: A new reef, about 3 feet thick, has been intersected in the western drive on the No. 3 level in this mine. The stone is of a dark-blue colour, and is thickly impregnated with minerals of a favourable character. A little gold has also been seen in the stone. A trial crushing of about 12 tons is being put through the battery, and should it prove payable, the value of the mine will be considerably enhanced, as the company will have a large block of the reef to work upon. One or two parcels of excellent specimens have been obtained from tho stopes on the No. 2 lode above the No. 3 level. A parcel of about 70 tons general dirt from this lode is being put through the battery, and a fair return is expected. Queen of Beauty: Operations in this mine are limited. A party of men are prospecting on behalf of the compauy on the No. 0 level, but so far the results are not very satisfactory. The water in the company's shaft has nearly risen to the floor of this level, and it is expected that work will have to be stopped shortly. Efforts have again been made to resume pumping operations, but unfortunately they have fallen through. A meeting of directors of companies and others interested was held iu Auckland, and a scheme was decided upon, on condition that a certain amount of assistance was received from the Government, but as the latter had no moneys which they could devote to such purpose, the scheme fell through, and the pumps are still remaining idle. Accounts from the Waitekauri district are encouraging. One or two rich lodes are being worked in the "Welcome Extended mine, and prospecting is being carried on in several other mines. A new gold-bearing reef, about 20 feet thick, has been discovered about five miles from Waitekauri. A trial crushing is being broken out of it, which, it is expected, will be payable. GOLD RETURN'S FOR THE 3IONTFI. Oz dAt.gr. iloanataiari Company, 57-3 tons.. .. 313 0 0 Ditto, triJiU'.ers, 205 tons .. .. 444 17 0 Alburnia Company.. .. .. .. not in Ditto, tributers, S4 ton 3 .. .. I€o 0 0 Kuranui Conip.iny, 52 1 ) tons .. .. 107 10 0 Ditto, 148 tons .. .. 431 10 0 Queen of Beauty Company .. .. 5 3 0 Ditto, 117 tons .. .. 21 1G 0 Caledonian tributes, 20 tons .. .. *21 0 0 Cure tributes, G2 tons .. .. .. 137 14 12 Watchman tributes, 30 tons .. .. 70 14 0 Old Golden Cilf Company. IS toas .. 23 38 0 Prince Imperial tributes, 50 tons .. 32 5 12 Old Wh\u tributes, 05 ton 3 .. .. 34 4 13 Nonpareil tributes .. .. .. .. 1 10 0 V.'cfct Coast tributes .. .. .. 1C 14 0 Dauntless tributes 2 17 0 Inverness tributes .. 10 C 0 Messenger's tribute, 11 ton 3.. .. 5 7 0 Crown Princesa tribute, 43 toas .. .. 51 0 0 I'iako tribute 11 5 0 IJape Creek tribute 311 0 Rciolutiou Claim 12 ltf 0 Te Papa C 0 0 Caroline Claim .. .. .. .. 4 I 0 Old Suiile .. .. .. .. 2 0 0 Thistle Claim 700 Blackbird Claim .. .. .. .. 2 11 0 Litile Maejrie, 15 tons .. .. .. 19 0 0 Twenty-fifth of May .. .. .. 6 14 0 I ittle Sissy 37 10 0 Chance .. .. .. .. .. 410 Only Cbanci 290 Little Lizzie 9 15 0 I'ortia S3 10 U Last Chance 000 Hopeful Claim. 13 tons .. .. .. 3L 5 0 City of Manchester, 60 tons .. .. 30 11 0 Itobiu Hoed, 12 tona 10 1 0 Major, 20 tons .. .. .. .. 14 0 0 Little Berth* 8 0 0 Second Try 670 Little Catherine 3 3 0 Midday .. .. .. .. .. 10 2 0 Little Bendigo 4 15 0 Welcome tributes, 0 tons 19 0 0 Smile of Fortune tributes, 3 tons .. 0 14 0 prospecting 50 0 0 Sundries .. .. .. .. .. 350 0 0 Totals, £053 tons 3/30 12 13