THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6146, 29 July 1881, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[(•"ROM OUR OWN COERESPOSDEST.] Tjiamks, Thursday. MisiXG Enterprise.—-A mining enterprise of somewhat extensive proportions has recently been set on foot here, the mail) object of which is the more thorough prospecting and working of a large area of ground lying between the Waiotahi and Moauatai.iri creeks. Mr. J. W. Walker has had the matter in hand for some time past, and has been engaged securing the ground and collecting information about the various lodes which traverse it. The claim consists of an area of about 60 acres, and comprises within its boundaries the Pinafore, Cosmopolitan, Brett's, Sir Joseph Porter, and other claims, which have been successfully worked for some time past, besides a large area of hitherto unoccupied ground. It stretches from the north-eastern boundary of the Moanataiari mine to the Golden Star and Hopeful mines, and from the bed of the Waiotahi creek to tho Reuben Parr and Waitoa licensed holdings. As has previously been mentioned, much of tiie ground has already been proved to be payable, and the object of the promoters is to open up the [ mine in such a way that the quartz can be won at a minimum of cost, and the great expense now entailed of carting, etc., i avoided. The famous Caledonian No. 1 ! lode now proved to be the great gold-bearing lode of this spur, traverses the whole length of the claim, and it is proposed to make the line of this reef the basis of operations, and this proposal includes the connecting of the lower portion of the mine with the Grahamstown flat by means of a railway along the Waiotahi creek. It is proposed to commence operations immediately below the present workings in the Pinafore claim, from which point it is intended to drive a large tunnel along the line of tho reef to be used as a main adit level. The configuration, of the ground is such, that above this level immense backs will be available for working upon without any special i expense in draining, &c. As the tunnel is ' extended through the claim it ia intended to connect it with the creek at various points with cross-cuts, which will answer the double purpose of prospecting the ground and also ventilating the workings from the tunnel. The scheme if judiciously carried out, and the promoters will certainly see that everything is done to ensure its being so, promises an almost certainty of success, and tho Fame, the name by which the mine is to be called, will eventually be probably one of largest gold producers on the field. The ground has from time to time and at numerous points been proved to be highly auriferous, but its distance inland has hitherto been a bar to more general success in working it. With a simple but extensive system of working and cheap transit to the battery much of the ground which cannot, under the present system of operations, ba worked profitably could be turned to good account, while the thorough prospecting of the ground would be almost certain to lead to the discovery of deposits of the precious metal rivalling in extent and richness those which have already been worked out on the field. The intention of the promoters, now that the title to the ground has been secured, is to prepare a plan of the claim showing the strike of the lodes and loaders already discovered in it, and also a projection of the proposed system of working, and at the same time obtain reliable statistics with regard to the value of the known lodes with a view to submitting the scheme to the consideration of several English capitalists. Mr. Walker is associated in the scheme with Mr. Cooper, manager of the manganese mines at Russell, who has undertaken to forward the proposal to his friends in England. Mr. Cooper is confident they will

have no hesitation in taking it up, and that almost immediately after receipt of his advices, they will transmit instructions to him to commence preliminary operations. The scheme is certainly one of unusual magnitude in mining affairs, and far more extensive than anything that has yet heen attempted here, but it has about it all the elements of success, and all that is required to make it a highly profitable concern, is a sufficiency of capital to full develope the vast resources and auriferous wealth of the ground, Corojiandkl, Wednesday. Tiki.—Tiernan's : The manager reports about 401bs. of good picked stone to hand for the last few days' work in the west drive. The reef has elevated considerably, being now near the roof of tunnel. It is also very much smaller, averaging about a foot thick. The stone looks as well as ever, anil the country is good working ground. It is intended to drive this level right through the spur. In the north drive, the reef baa a more decided dip than formerly, thus causing the drive to be turned northward, in order to keep the reef in hand. Maori Win.—There is a good leader, about a foot thick, in hand in this mine. Several levels have been opened on it, from whicli quartz, averaging 2ozs. per toD, has been taken out. Hobbs.— This company has a fine reef in hand, striking north-east and south-west. It has been cut in several trenches, and a drive has now been started on it. It stands almost vertical, and is nearly a foot thick. The country alongside is everything one could wish, for there is every probability this will turn out a good claim. PEnsEVERANCE.—The workmen have a fine reef in hand. In the bottom level, in some places, it is over four feet thick. In the face it is a little broken, but good gold can be got on pounding tlie stone. Several pieces, when put in the fire and burned, showed the precious metal freely. After driving some distance further ahead, a rise will be put up, when a splendid block will j be available for stoping. Usion.—Driving on the leader cut in. the road level still continues. It is very thickly impregnated with base metals, but no gold has been seen yet. Home Rule.—The low level is now about far enough in to come under the winze. For some distance back, the leader is still standing. The reef has taken a bend to the left, similar to the level above, and it is in this beud where the richest gold has been e;ot. The winze has carried gold down air the way, and the last taken out is. decidedly coarser than any got before. The country is excellent for working, and no doubt in a very short time we shall hear great things of thia mine. Blackmohe's.—The large landslip has a good deal retarded operations in this mine, but the men are all in full awiug repairing damages, and in a very short time they will be in a better position than ever. A large paddock is now being made, cut out of the solid, and this is to be connected with a level now going in on the big reef, a short distance below the open cutting. The drive in question is being taken in on the footwall of the reef, none of it being taken down, except a hatful as a test. This gave a splendid show of gold. In making a paddock at the mouth of this tunnel, a nice branch leader was uncovered, and some very nice stone taken from it. The tramway from this mine to the battery is being pushed ahead. A few weeks will see it eomplete. v