THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5494, 26 June 1879, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

» Thb following reports were received fromthe managers yesterday 5 — MoANATAIABI.-218-feet level: The drive west is now clear from the influence of slide No. 2, and the reef looks promising, being 5 feet thick heavily charged with iron pyrites and mnndic. Colours of gold have been Been both here and in etope, bat the staff is low grade. 80-feet level: In driving vest, No. 3 reef ha* pinched to 6 inches thick being in tight country, and a little gold has shewn. We are now putting in shoots, &c, in winze, andstoping will be started in a few days. A drive has also been commenced east in this reef, from boundary of William's tribute at tunnel level. Daring the last few days the stopes have shewn improvement, and 501bs. picked stone was broken out. Point Russell: The only change to mention here is that the stopes have yielded more picked stone than previously, and from the show of mineral will, I think, produce good payable stuff. South cross-cut: Tunnel level has been driven 23 feet this week, and a leader, S inches thick, intersected at right angle with drive. The stone is much better adapted for gold than any yet met with iu the tunnel. During the fortnight 358 tons (including 150Ibs. of picked stone), has been treated, yielding 2270z5. retorted gold— Eobt. Comer. 3ismakck. —Operations in the mine have gone on as usual duricg the week, but without any important result. The driving done in the S.E end of the main reef since my last report has not brought abont any material change. The lode is still pinched up, and at present it is not more than from four to six inches thick, bnt it shews an occasional blotch of gold, and although there may yet be some extent of poor ground to be driven through, there is every reason to believe that better staff will be found in driving onwards. In the leading stope, following the main face, the reef has likewise been small, and has not yielded quite bo well as the excellent prospects got in the drive directly underneath led me to expect it would. * What quartz there is, however, is payable, and no doubt a stronger body of it will shortly bo met with. In the opposite stope there is an excellent-looking lode, in which gold is occasionally to be seen. The repairs on the tramway and water-race are being proceeded with as quickly as circumstances will admit of, and unless the weather prove very unfavourable, they ought to be completed in about three weeks.— J. Allan Dobson-. Corbv. —During the week nothing has transpired in any of the workings worthy of comment. In the etopes now being carried along on No. 2, the leader is of a fair average size; but, beyond shewing occasional colours, no picked stone has been obtained, but I have hopes matters may improve before the week is out. Prospecting drive : The leader here was driven on, without giving the slightest inducement to follow it any further. I have, therefore, discontinued working, the men for the present being employed in assisting on No. 2, as I am anxious to have the drive south extended soae distance farther, as the leader is looking, well in the face. Battery is crushing full power on company's scuff, which is of an inferior grade, as compared with last month. However, as there is another fortnight yet to run, we may have some better stuff before the final cleaning up.—H. Macdokald. Premier. —I have the honour to inform you that the winze, from the floor of west drive is down a depth of 22 feet. The lode at the bottom is from 8 to 10 inches wide, and gold can be seen generally through the stone. I got a few stones the other day quite as good as those sent to Auckland last week, and, during every breaking down for the past week, I have seen gold. I started 10 heads this morning on the quartz taken out, and, as soon as the crushing is completed, will wire the result.—F. Dav. [by telegraph, from our correspondent.] Thames, Wednesday. Gold Return's.—Alburnia Company, 33ozs. 12dwts.j Alliurnia tribute, Brennan, 12ozs. Sdwts. MoASArAiAM. —Fifty pounds of good specimens were obtained this afternoon from the drive on No. 3 reef on the tunnel level. The block from which these were got is eastward of Williams and party's tribute block. The reef is about six inches thick. The specimens are the best the company have had for some time. Albornia. —Crashing for this company at the Moanataiari battery has been stopped. The amalgam obtained was retorted to-day, for the yield of 33ozs. 12d wts. melted gold. The tribaters, Brennan and party, have crashed a parcel of general dirt, for the yield of 12ozs. Bdwts. melted gold. Caledonian. —The water has risen over the flat-sheet on the No. 3 level, and no more work will be done on this level. Old Goldejj Calf.—This company has also had to suspend operations on the No. 3 level. There is a considerable quantity of quartz on hand, and crushing is proceeding at the Queen of Beauty battery. Don Pedro.—The tributors (Dabb and party) have crashed a parcel of general dirt, for the yield of 7ozs. 12dwta. melted gold.