THE WAIHI AND WAITEKAURI GOLDFIELDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6270, 21 December 1881, Page 4

THE WAIHI AND WAITEKAURI GOLDFIELDE.

[TROM A CORREST OMDBXT. ] Th« principal avent of the put month at Waihi has beta the trial crashlngs from tha Young Colonial and Waitekauri Companies mines, both of Which gare th» satisfactory yield of over an ommcs to the ton. It was believed by many tkat the remit from the Toons Colonial would hare been higher from the quality of the stone taken from the richer portion of the reef, but when it is considered that the stuff was net picked, was selected so as to form a fair average ef the reef throughout a thickneis of over 30 feet, the result atay be coniidered as most encouraging for the future prospects of the mine. In these enormous bodies of quartz, such as the Waihi reef, it is unreasonable to look for bonanza, yields. No doubt when properly opened oat rich patches of gold will be found to exist, if not in the main reefs them- I selves, In the smaller parallel leaders, but it is rather i> the equal distribution of the precious metal in fair average quantities throughout these lodes and in the vast amount of stone that may be put through the mill at a lew cost, that their advantage will be found to exist whea compared with the returns from the specimen leaders and smaller reefs characteristic ef the Thames and Tiki Goldfields. In fact it is to the large reefs, similar to those bow being opened out at Waihi and Waitekauri. and .which average from aa ounce to XOoii. to the ton, that we must look for the permanent prosperity of our gold mining industry. Up to the present time a vast amount of eapltal has been uselessly expended in exploring ■mall lodes, and in searching after supposed runs of gold ef fabulous richness, and which, in the majority of instances, have not been secured, whereas the extensive lodes which promised to yield a comparatively low percentage of gold at a minimum ceit for working, have up to the present time been entirely neglected, notwithstanding the fact that many of the most remunerative mines in Australia, and notably the Clones in Victoria, pay handsome dividends with an average yield of from five to lOdwts. per ten. Although the two erushings referred to cannot be taken as a very correct criterion as to the general richness of the lode, yet when considered in conjunction with the results obtained in adjoining mines, it will be plainly seen that all the testa from the Waihi reef prove it to be of a payable character wherever it has been opened out. Thus the first crushing taken from it® WcOomble and averaged an ounce to the ton ; less than five tons of stone taken from the Martha averaged 4ozs. 15dwts., while the erushings from the Young Colonial and Waihi Companies respectively have averaged loz. per ton, thus proving the lede to be not enly auriferous, but payable so far as can be judged from these trials for over 2000 feet, not only at the surface, but at varied depths below it. Thus McCombie'a crushing was taken from the cap of the reef, that from the Martha [at the surface, and at 40 and 100 feet below it. The Young Colonial stone came from 220 feet below the point where the first gold was discovered, in the Martha and-that.of-the-Waihi Company from a depth of 267 feet below the same point, the width of the reef averaging between these depths from 37 to 40 feet. With the powerful machinery now being ereeted ia connection with the Martha and Waihi Company's mines, it is estimated that the cost of mining and crushing the stane will not exceed 10s per ton at moat, which considering the price of the gold, which has averaged from £3 14s 6d to £2 10s per ounce, would leave a profit of from £3 4j 6d to £2 per ton respectively. This is estimating the reef to average throughout an ounce of gold per ton, but if it only yields half that amount, it should provo a very profitable undertaking.

All the mines are now in full working order. In the Martha good headway is being made with the main tonne], which ia completed for a distance of nearly 200 feet, and it is anticipated that the reef will be intersected within aboutflQO feet from the present heading. Should it prove to be auriferous at this point, the ran of gold in this claim will be determined for a depth of 220 feet below the surface. The is all that could be desired, and the driving is being got through at the rate of 10 zee* per day. There is great difference of opinion as to whether the gold bearing lode eat is the Young Colonial ia identical with that in the Martha, but this tunnel will soon solve the question. In the Young Colonial the main drive is to fc» widened, and the reef more fully opened out. —In the Waihi Company's mine the contractor is making good progress with the main drive, which is to be carried in for a distance of 400 feet.—lu the Everlyn, a prospecting tunnel is being driven, and in the Fanny the drive is now in for a distance of over 100 feet. It is anticipated that the erection of the batteries in connection with the Martha and Waihi claims will soon be completed, and when finished their cost, with water-races, tramways, etc., will not fall short of £6000. At Waitekauri, mining prospects are improving very rapidly. The battery is at full work with twelve head ef stamps on Butler's quartz, and ten on that of Waitekiuri Xo. 3. Butler's stuff is showing up exceedingly well, and promises to yield from sozs. to 6ozs. per ton ; and as this lucky party have about 2000ozs. of amalgam already on hand, they are looking forward to a good retorting this month. The quality of the dirt throughout is first-rate, and appears to improve as the crushing goes on. In the Waitekauri No. 3, a drive i 9 being put in to pickup Butler's run of gold, which i 3 expected to be met with in about a distance of 60 feet. Some good 6tone is now coming to hand, and which is estimated to go from 2ozs. to 3ozs. per ton, which is considered very good from the quantity at grass, which amounts to about 100 tons. In the Waitekauri Company the reef is still producing good stone, and they expect to crush next week. In the Waitekauri Extended, driving on the reef is being continued ; very good prospects are being obtained. This claim stands well for a big find, as it contains a large area of ground, and is well on the line of reef. In the Young New Zealander a quantity of pro-mising-looking stone has been obtained, and likewise in the Diamond, where the reef is estimated to yield about 3oz. Both these latter are favourite claims on the field, and with the Welcome and Middle Star, they comprise an area from which very good results will no doubt be obtained. All the country between this point and Wicks' battery, a distance of over a mile, has been leased for mining purposes, and some large and Tery promisinglooking reefs have been cut in several of the claims.