THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5633, 5 December 1879, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

The following Coromandel mine reports were received yeiteruay : — . . Bjiigiit Smilb C >. —I am mw rising up on the leader from the low level to enter a wiuze that has been sunk abiut. 40 icet down on a tun of gold which has been followed from the surface. Although there are no specimens to hand, tho leader looks remarkbly well. I have obtained good prospects y dish tests from the leader, so that there 8 every indication of payable gold being cme on at any mom 1 nt, which will make the mine a success. New GII'EX Paii. —- Bottom Level: During tlis fortnight the cress cut in the bottom level has been driven 39 feet. The ground gone through was go dsliooting grund for a distance of 30 feet, when a soft band of ground was met ; inside of this soft b<dk> a verv hard bar, in consequence of whtch I decided to drive alongside: of the bar seawards for some distance, as it may become thinner, or dip with tho incline of the hills. Thediive is now 10 feet in alongside of the hard bar, and the walls between the change of around contain some quartz, and it has the appearauce t! at it will make into a reef as wc get west. You will s- cby the sketch plan sent, that it mc.st lnvc connection with ti'.e quartz which was cut iu the bottom of the shaft. 90-fect level : The cross-cut south on this level has lie en driven a distance of G3 feet. The ground gone through is all soft ground, which will require timber the whole distance. Ihere has been no quartz met in tho ground gone throui'b. Western drive on course of specimen reef : This drive towards the west is going through ground in every respect similar to the ground alongside of reef, and when we cross-cut I fully expect wo will pick this reef upagain. The .hiv<- is beginning to make water iu the floor, aud is quite dry overhead, which indicates quartz near at hand. The contractor have been working ei-'ht days, and h-.ve driven 20 feet. During tlie fortnight the winze platt has been finished aud four feet of the winze sunk. There has been 140 feet of elriving done, and S2l trucks of mullock brought to the surface. There has been '20 ton-* of quartz crushed, which yielded lOoz. lTJdwt. retorted gold. _ [FROM OUR OWS Cv>KRE'POKDEN*T.J Thames, Thursday. Kcranoi. —The manager of this company has lately s'aite.l a party of men driving on a small lode on the Caledonian No. 3 level. The drive has beeu started fr. m the crosscut which leads to the Golden Calf workings on the same level. The l.'de, which is from nine inches to a foot thick, runs right throu"h the Hazelbank section of the company's grounel. The drive is in between 20 and 30 feet, and is going through a first-class description of country. The lode is a nice looking body of stone, aud contains favourable mineral iudications. A few feet ahead from the present face tho manager expects to meet with the junction of two largo lodes which are apparently striking into the one which isbeing driven upon, one comiuginfrom the footwall and the other from the hangingwall, and it is possible that when this junction is cut gold will be met with. In the face of the drive a small leader about three inches thick is showing on the hangingwall of the main body of stone, and this leader shows some very good mineral indications. So little has been elono on the lode, however, that it is premature as yet to pro nounce any opinion as to what it is likely to prove. It is a well known fact that gold has been found on this level both in the Calenian and Golden Galf mines, r t no great distance from the present operations. As has been already mentioned above, the country is of the mos: favourable description, and is the right class for carrying gold-bearing quartz, and consequently it is just possible that ere long colours of tbe precious metal will be met with. Besides these operations on the No. >> level the manager is also driving on a small lode in the vicinity of the Oddfellows' shaft on the beach level. This drive is going towards the Moanataiari ground. The lode is yieleling some very nice-looking quartz, and occasional colours of gold are seen in it. Queen of Beauty.—The operations in connection with the erection of pumping machinery atthia company's shaft are making good progress. The shaft has already been cut down to a depth of IS6 feet, and the chamber for tbe first plunger opened out. The whole of this shaft has been well timbered with heart of kauri, and it is really a first-class piece of work, and is very creditable to the contractors, Messrs. C. Wilson, T. Johns, and party. The remainder of the shaft down to the level of the water, is expected to be sunk in about three weeks time, and the column will be fixed in the early part of January. On the service the site for pumping machinery has been prepared for laying the foundation. Next week tenders will be called for constructing this foundation, which will be of concrete, and as soon as it is completed the erection of the buildings and machinery will be pushed forward as rapidly as possible. Mr. I'erry is already well advanced with his portion of the machinery, and it is expected the whole plant will be ready for making a start some time in February next. The directors of this company are worthy of commendation for the energy and courage they have displayed in commencing the erection of such costly machinery. The prospects of tho last low level, however, were so good that there is every encouragement for them to go on with the work, and when once this new level is opened up there is every reason to expect that in a very short time they will be amply rewarded for all the trouble and expense they will be put to. [by telegraph, own correspondent.] Gold Returns.—Moanataiari tribute, Dayea, 28ozs. Gdwts.; Inverness tribute, Thomas, 27ozs. 17dwts. ; City of Manchester claim, 22ozs. 3dwts. Moanataiari. — Hayes and party, tributers in this mine, have crushed a parcel of atone for the return of 2Sozs. 6dwta. melted gold. Inverness.—Thomas and party, who are tributing in this mine, have crushed a parcel of general stuff for the return of 27ozs. 17dwts. melted gold. City of Manchester.—The proprietors of this claim have crushed about 15 tons of general stuff for the return of 22ozs. 3dwts. melted gold. S harem arket. — Sales : Alburnia, 57s 6d; Moanataiari, 45s to 48s ; Queen of Beauty, ss. Sellers : Alburnia, COs ; Moanataiari, 50s ; Kuranui, 5b 6d. Buyers : Alburnia, 57s 6d ; Queen of Beauty, ss. ALBURNIA. In breaking down the lode in the winze Btope to-day a quantity of excellent stone was obtained, and a really good show of gold left in the face. More picked Btone will come to hand next breaking down. There is also ,i good show of gold in both walls. In the second stopc going eastward the stopeß are being pushed forward, and the lode is improving in appearance and size, gold can be traced right away back as far as the stopes have been extended. In the face of the drive the reef is a healthy looking body of stone. The drive on the footwall 'leader is making good progress. In the face the lode is fully a foot thick, and it haß an encouraging appearance.