THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5634, 6 December 1879, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[from our own correspondent.] Thames, Friday, Albuknia, —There is no very great change in the operations at the western end of the 70 feet level. In the face of tue drive there is a fine body of stone, and, if anything, it is more kindly-looking than it was towards the end of last week. A few feet back from the face a strong bo ly of quartz has apparently gone ofF into the hangingwalJ, which leads the manager to suppose the junction of I the jump-up leaders with the main lode has j been passed. When the face has be*?n ex- I tended a few feet further ahead, the quartz ' ia the hangingwall will be followed up. The leading stope is now well forward towards the face of the drive. On the haugingwall lode in this stupe there is really a guod show of gold. On Thursday afternoon a considerable quantity of excellent picked stone was obtained from this stope, and from tha show which is left, it is evident that m->re wiJl be got when the reef is shot down again. The footwall lode, although not showing so much gold, looks very weTi, and no doubt good golden stone will be obtained when it 19 sh';t down. AU across the face of this stope the mineral indications are really excellent. The lo le3 are pretty close together here, and the face of the stope i* not more than five or sis feet wide, hut towards the face of the drive, the lodes seem to open out again, lu the face of the second stope there is also a good show of gold still left on both walls, aud on the haugingwall branch the precious metal can hi traced right back to tha eastern end of the stopes. Towards the face of the secon I stope the hangingwall lode has apparently spliced in the following maon'r. It has tapereJ off on to the hangingwall, and then jumped riijht into the centre of the main body of stone, and this accounts for the lodes being so near each other in the leading stope. The excellent show in this lode in the 1- a ling stope would also lead to the supposition that, a? it makes again, the stone will increase in richness Ea-tward th-> stopei are being extended as rapidly as the nature of the groun t will allow. In tli e direction the lode is apparently opening out In the face there is a healthy-looking body of stone, in which strong colours of the precious metal can be sef n. It is now very evident the ijold will be traced in more or less quantities right back to t*4 0 No. 4 winze, and very shortly there wi 1 be a great .'ength of stopes opened up here. The drive o:i the footwall leader is making good progress. Iu the face there is a stiong healthy-looking bo ly of stone, about 15 inches thick. There can be little doubt that this lode will prove a valuable acquisition to the company's property. Several more nun have been put int» the fct;>pes at the eastern end of the 70-feet level, and a large tonnage of cjua tz is now being broken out of this portion of the min?. 0 i Dixon's lower level the operations ea*twaul are without change. JJnring t';e week strong colours of gold have be< n seen in th quartz broken out here. Iu the west drive on this level a portion of the reef has been shot down. The present appearance of the reef, however, is very much similar to what it was previous to resunrng driving. In the centre of the lode there is a healthy looking ve'u of quartz, aud this be making on to the hanging wall. Oa the Whau level, the contractor* who an- sinking the winze to connect wit > tne op rations iu the western end of the 70 fe; t l-tel aremak ing very fair progress The winze in a'r ndy down 7 or S feet. Thi* winze is becoming very necessary as the air in tho western end of th-jj 70 feet U-vel is very ; light aud there being little or no draught the powder smoke hugs a ling time. .Two tribute parties -ho have blocks of near where th' Whui levil patch of gold taken ottc have drawn nt > the fojtwall and succeeded in cutting a very nice looking lode, which is supposed to be identical with the footwall leader ~f the 70-fcet level. Both parties are engaged taking out trial crushings, and as a little gold lias been seen in the stone it is more than probable the result will be most e: c jura^iug.

[by telegraph, own correspondent.] Thames, Friday. Portia.—Simpson and party, who are tributers iu this claim, have ermhed a small parcel of stone for the return of 3-ZS. iSdwts. of meltsd g> ld. Moanatahri. —Tli " new lode in the south cross-cut has b.en driven into ful'y S fe-;t, and yet there is no sign of the football. Tno last 3 feet of quartz i-ho-vs a yreat improvement, and coppery indications are showing. Trie general crushing is shaping very well, ana the fortnightly return to morrow is expected to be a good one. Slf.CEMAi.'Kirr. —Alburnii, GOs to 59 s; Moanataiari, 49i to 4S<; Queen of Bemty, 5s Gd. SelU-rB : Albnmia, GOs ; Moanataiari, 4!).s ; Kuranui, us Gt ; Queen of B.auty, 5s 9d ; '.'ld Wh/ui, 20s. Buyers: Alburnia, 5Si Gd ; Moauataiari, 4Ss ; Queen of Btauty, 5s 3d; Old Whau, 15s