THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 1651, 4 August 1881, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[FEOil OUB OWX CORRESPONDENTS.] THE UPPER THAMES. WAIHt.

The amount of work done in some of the mines in this district surprises some of our visitors. In the Martha over 400 feet have been driven, and the reef cut in five different places. Good prospects s.re to be obtained wherever the reef is cut in this company's ground. In the Dulcibel 112 feet have been driven on the course of the reef, and a crosscut shows the reef to be 18 feet between the footwall and the flinty portion on the hangingwall. Another drive has been started on the hangingwall side of the hill, which is now in a distance of 150 feet, and several nice-looking leaders have been cut. In the Waihi Company's ground 600 feet have been driven on tbc. large reef, but in two levels. Several fc-maller reefs have been discovered. The one last found is considered the best, being sovea feet thick, and prospects well. In the Young Colonial, 250 feet driving, have cut a reef of considerable size. The contractors are at present nine feet into the reef, with no appearance of the footwall. This reef prospects well, and is considered payable. In the Evelyn the drive is being pushed ahead. The Little Tom my and Bright Smile are pushing ou operations. The Comstook are in 300 feet with their low level, and have out the reef, which is of a hard, flinty appearance, as nearly all the reefs in the district are, on the hangingwall. Over 500 feet have been driven in this claim. Macky and his Waikato friends have driven some 360 feet in their lease. Thus, it will be seen that the owners of the mines in this locality have not been idle, as, within the last four months, over 2000 feet of driving have been done, and very little said about it. WAITEKAURI. Owing to the late return, most of the old claims have again been up, and several plaints have been laid against the fortunate finders for a share, and from all I can learn the legal gentlemen are likely to have more work over this district than they have had for a long time. Too much ground is again being taken up to give the district a fair trial. OWHAKOA. At Owharoa, the tributers in the Smilo of Fortune and Radical mines are getting out payable stone. The Lucky Hit shareholders have out some 20 tons of quartz, equal to the last. Several other claims have been taken up in this locality of late, owing to the improved prospects. TE AROIIA. At poor Te Aroha, only one mine is at work, the Morning Star, and some good stone is coming out. There is some talk of sending out a strong prospecting party in the vicinity of Honi's supposed find, as he gave tho Warden some good gold-bearing stone on his last visit. 2 [BY TELEGRAPH.—O\vy CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Wednesday. Gold Returns.—Golden Calf, 13ozs. 4dwts.; City of Manchester, 4ozs. 19dwts. Old Golden Calp. —An interim retorting for this company took place to-day, and produced the return of 13ozs. 4dwts. of melted gold.

It is probable a new company will be formed to work the Waitekauri mine.

The following mine managers' reports have been received :— Old Caledonian.—Tho junction of No. 1 and Young American leader, No. 2 level, lias greatly improved in size. No. 1 is now fully two feet in thickness, and looks very promising going down. The Young American is about one foot thick, and colours of gold are seen every breaking down in both these reefs. lam saving the 'quartz, and as soon as there are S or 10 tons to grass, I shall get it crushed to ascertain its value. No. 1 level, N.E. drive, still continues in good country, and tho reef carries excellent minerals, but no gold has been seen, the reef looks well. S.W. drive, same level, has come across a break in the reef, caused by a large watercourse, which has greatly disturbed the reef. It is again making into its proper course, aud tho reef has a better appearance coming in. Tho reef, where I cut into, looks very hungry and poor. I have stoped this, and have pat those men to rise upon the reef where I got the best mineral adjoining the new crosscut, No. 1 level.—T. B. Hicks. Kl-raxui Hill United.—The damago sustained underground, by the late heavy rains have been all repaired. The men again are all employed stoping. All Nations and Junction: In the small veins near tho

surface we are getting a good supply of fair paying quartz, but arc not finding so many specimens as I cipected. About 40 tons of general stuft" are out Poverty: The stopo under the beach level continues to look promising, and shows a little gold, but no specimens. The leader above Tearce's old workings is big enough, and very regular, but it is not rich. I intend , , however, to follow up this lode, as there is a brge extent of likely ground upward that has not been sufficiently tried. To-day tho county water is turned on, and by it our SCO level will to-morrow ba cleared of gas sufficiently to allow the removal of the useful materials. Among our tributes Jamos, of tho Kuranui, his 35Ibs. of specimens, the others are all in poor ground. -J. "W. Walker. Hoi'Eful.—Tho cross-cut in No. 3 level lias been driven 6 feet the past week, and tho same is going through a fine sandstone country, but it is very tight for making speed. No. 2 level: From the underhand stope on No. 1 leader I obtained lalbs of good picked stone the past week, making up to C4lb3 on hand. It will tako this week to finish the present stope when I will crush all the picked stone from the same.—E. Howse. ysw Nonxu Devox. -Intermediaie level: Driving and stoping have been carried on both east and west. Tho reef still bears tho same appean.nce, a little goldshowing in both drive and stopes. I started this morning to send down stuff to tho battery, but an accident having occurred on the tramway by the breaking of a wiro rope, work had to bo stopped until it is repaired. I hope, however, to start sending down again to-inorrow.—John Wilcox. Coituv (Cohomandel).—The tributers had a crashing of 1 ton of general stuff and /lbs. of picked stuff and specimens, which yielded Iflozs. 12dwts. retorted gold, much better than was expected; will have it melted on Wednesday. Edwards has surrendered his portion of the tribute, but Jlcllsop Is still working away. The prospecting tunnel is now in 104 feet, the country being very tight for the last week. Cut a leader at about 90 feet, but of no value whatever if

the country improves, should have another in hand •hortly. The area of land pegged off by me and registered,- consists of 1 acre, or about three men's ground. Should I happen to stumble over anything payable, can havo it nnneied to tho rest of the company's property, or tho reverse—can have it relinquished at tho very small cost, so far, of only Us 6d for protection—H. Jlacdonald.

Success.—Since I wrote to you I havo obtained about sozs of gold and about lib of splendid specimen stone from the inner end of the rise. To-day, in squaring up the end, there is gold showing for about 2 feet up and down in the solid stone, tho best I havo eeen yet; something good may be oxpectei? when stopcil. Tho rise is up 10 feet, the ground is much easier than what it lias been. I am in hopos of tho ground still improving as i get up. There is about 3 tons of quartz: in the paddock, I am in hop-a of having plenty moro when stoping is commenced. In No. 2 level tho contractors havo stopped work, tho (lLUanco from the boundary is about 11 feet.—P. Reid.