THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6567, 4 December 1882, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

♦ MONTHLY SUMMARY. [FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Thames, Saturday. Uγ to the middle of last mouth considerable excitement was manifest in Priuce Imperial shares, which also gave an impetus to those of the surrounding claims, notably tho'se of the Southern Cross mine, which rapidly rose from 12s 6d to 40s. On the 17th ultimo Prince Imperial sharee changed hands at 97s Gd, but owing to the breaking down of the ISthinst. not turning out as satisfactorily as was anticipated, the shares gradually fell to 455, at which price they are now standing. In the early part of the month a difficulty arose botween Mr. Robert Graham and the Prinee Imperial Company. It appears Mr. Graham owns the freehold of the property under which the company are at present getting their gold, and some of the company's mining plant is also on hi 3 property. Mr. Graham instituted a claim against the company for the right to mine underneath his property, but the exact amount of the demand did; not transpire. After much delay and trouble the matter was settled by the company paying Mr. Graham £ICOO compensation, '£100 for back rent, and £100 for a year's rent in advance, making a total of £1200. Daring the week previous to the claim being settled the manager of the mine received instructions from tho directors not to break down any of the reef, the idea of the directors being pot to break down any more specimens until the claim was settled, as during the first ten days of the month upwards of 23cwt. of specimens had come to hand, and should the reef continue as rich in the driving ahead as the portion that was already broken down' they naturally supposed that Mr. Graham'a claim-would be more difficult of settlement. The manager, therefore, merely stripped the ieef for a distance of about 20 feet. During this period, though no specimens had been obtained, the shares steadily rose from 50s to 355, and when it became known that ar : arrangements had been come to with Mr. Graham, they jumped immediately to 95s and 97s Cd. Orders were then given to break down the reef, which was done, but the 20 feet only producing lewt. of specimens the shares gradually fell until they reached about 455, at which value they now stand. During the month SOewt. of specimens have been obtained, which when crushedproduced ISOOozs. of gold, and 270 loads of general dirt yielded 9i10z8., making the total yield for the month 27110Z5. melted gold, or a general average of lOozs. to the Toad. This grand return has enabled the directors to declare a dividend of 7s per 18,000 th, and place about £1200 to the credit of the company. At special meetings of the Deep Level Tribute Company and Southern Cross Company, it has been decided to amalgamate the two companies. The new company is to be called the Deep Level Cross Gold-mining Company. The number of shares will be 100,000, and the proportion distributed amongst the shareholders will be three shares in the new company for one Southern Cross, and one share for two Deep Levels. This will make an exceedingly strong company, and one that is likely to be a benefit to the Thames. A number of new and old leases have been floated into companies during the past month. Notably, that of the old Hape Creek mine, which has recently been purchased by Mr. E. Comer. The new company is called the Dart, and starts with a capital of 16,000 £1 shares, 12,600 only of these have been allotted, the remaining 3400 are to be sold for the benefit of the company. The Hand of Friendship, situated north and eastof the Prince Imperial, has also been floated into a company of 15,000 £1 shares. The old Manukau mine, which yielded such rich returns in the early days, has been re-formed into a new company of 30,000 103 shares. Work will be started to open up thia mine very shortly. Two claims have also been pegged out on the foreshore, for which licences have been applied for. It is, therefore, to be hoped that after the New Year work will be started in good earnest, and that the blocks of ground which in some cases are virgin, and in others have remained idle for years, will be thoroughly developed. Prince Imperial.—The drive towards the Southern Cross at the No. 4 level having been extended to the boundary, the manager has now started to sink the shaft a further depth of 90 feet, and when taking into consideration the splendid prospects which have been left along tho floor of the drive in Nos. 1 and 2 sections west, the next level should be equally as good if not better than the present ODe. A cross-cut will be started shortly from No. 4 level, No. 2 section west, in order to intersect the Mariner's reef, which runs almost parallel with the one at present being worked, and which lies about 150 feet Berth of it. The Mariner's reef is intact to No. 2 level. The No. 2 reef at No. 4 level has now been driven on for over 350 feet, and the general stuff alone from here has averaged 3ozs. to the load. Southern Cross. — The prospects met with in sinking the winze from the !No. 3 level of the Prince Imperial have been very encouraging, some excellent patches of specimens having been obtained. The winze has now been sunk to the depth of, and connected with the Prince No. 4 level, and the manager has started driving west on the reef. Deep Letbl Tribute Company.—A contract was let in the early part of last month for continuing the southern 640-feet level drive. Excellent headway has been made by the contractors, and the country through which they are driving is very favourable of carrying gold-bearing reefs. " A reef was intersected last week, bnt no gold was visible, though the stone is of a very kindly nature. Golden Crown.—The directors have declared a dividend of 2s per 10,000 th since last month's yield. The yield for this month is very satisfactory, being 3360z5. The prospects of this mine have improved somewhat of late, some nice gold having been met with in the stopes on No. 2 reef, above the 100feet level. Moanataiari.—The numerous workings carried on in this mine have been attended with very favourable results, some nice picked stone and specimens having been obtained in two or three of the workings in hand. Qdeen of Beauty,—The operations of sinking the shaft are being proceeded with. The present prospects of this mine call for no special notice. This remark may be said to apply to the numerous other works on the field. WaIHI.—An amalgamation has been arranged between, the Martha, Young Colonial, and Waihi Companies. The new company contains 50,000 shares, of which the Martha shareholders get 15,000, Young Colonial 10,000, and Waihi 12,000. The balance being reserved by the new company in case of need. GOLD KETURNSS PROM f.TH NOVEMDER TO "sd DECEMRKR (INCLUSIVE). CK.dwt. oz.dwt. Adelaide.. .. 143 1b Princo Imperial 2754 12 Alburnia, trib. .. 113 12 Do., trib. .. 85 -4 Bright Smilo .. 151 10 Queen of Beauty 210 10 Caledonian .. 154 12 Southern Cross .. Gfi 8 Do., trib. .. 33 17 Shamrock .. 3 1G City Manchcator 22 10 Sundrios .. .. r>oo 0 Ilapo Creek, trib. 33 16 T. Golden Crown 3:W 0 Kuranui Hill .. 3 9 Wait'ri N0.2, trib. 23S 0 Moanat&iari .. 234 18 Do,trib. .. 20 18 Total .. .. 5107 6 Coromandel, Saturday. A good deal-of steady work is going on in various parts of the district, which is likely to lead to good results, although at the present time the returns of gold are not large. Several of our principal mines are engaged in opening new ground. Tho principal exception is the Success mine, which has apparently a splendid block of ground just opened, and out of a very small section stoped out a dividend of 2s Gd per share lias been paid, and shareholders are now looking for another. Tho rich gold got in this mine has also started tho adjoining claims into life. The New Colonial, on the southern side, arc driving on a fine reef of good looking stuff, close to the Success boundary. On the opposite side the Qucon of England have discovered a nice mullocky .' .ader, which is thought to be the Success reof. Tho ground in this neighbourhood is well worthy a trial. Tokatka.—There is a decided improvement in the prospects of this mine. Since last report some very nice picked stone has been obtained at and near tho junction in the low level. Tho manager is now driving on the hancjingwall of the reef, and anticipates the happiest results. A rise is being put up from this spot, and will thus open a large section of payablo reef. Bismarck.—The tributers of this claim appear to have discovered a good run of §old close to the boundary of the Tokatca everal cwts. of rather poor picked stone and some few pounds of very rich stone are to hand. There is a large section of the reef hero untouched downto'tho main level. Kavanga.—Some remarkable rich stone has come to hand from Scotty'a reef during the past month, and over 200ozs, of gold

has been lodged in tho bank from a general clean up. It is expected that Scotty's reef will be in hand in the low level very shortly. New Cop.bv.—This is a resuscitation of the old Corby, and has been caused by the richness of the reef in the Kapanga. The new company have taken up'a Targe section of the strike beyond the Kapanga. They intend to test the deep ground immediately. Just-In-Time.—The manager has at last secured a small Tangye pump to supply tue battery with water, and has started to crash a large paddock of quartz. The battery has been put into first-clasa working order, and as it is close to the mine, it makes one of the most complete mining ventures on the goldfield, and can be worked cheaper than any other mine in the district. New (Jsion Bkach.—This company has undergone a change of managers since last summary, llr. Clymo, who was formerly | in the mine, has now taken charge. There seems to bo some hitch about sinking the winze. This work has not yet been properly started. loxa.—This company has got fairly under weigh, and under the management of Mr. Straughan have nearly cleared the shaft of debris. The pumps are now down within a few feet of the bottom, and the manager hopes to be able to ascsrtain the cause of the farge flow of water and whether there is a •\»ef there or not. In any case this ground stands well and can hardly fail to be valuable. BucKMor.E's.—A very decided improvement has taken place in the prospects of this mine since Mr. Blackmore took charge. A new reef, running off from the big reef at an oblique angle, has been discovered, from which some very good picked stone has been taken. It is about two feet thick of fine looking stone. Some very fair picked stone hits been got from it. The company are also driving to cut the big reef higher up the hill, which will.be done a few feet further ahead. Tiernan's. —The manager is diligently prospecting various leaders in this mine, and is also steadily developing the No. 2 reef. There is a cress leader which has been discovered a little higher up the hill, which should junctiou with the No. 2. Some very fair picked stone ha 3 come out of it, and it looks well. " Homkwakdßoct.n-d.—Xhe work in this mine is in a very forward state. A winze has been sunk on the leader 50 feet, carrying gold all the way down, and a low level has been put in to intersect, which, when BOinewhat further advanced, will enable stoping to commence. The following are the reiurns of gold for the month :— oz.dwt. oz.dwt. Success .. .. 353 17 Hope,Eoberts'tr. 16 2 Blackmore"s .. Viz 7 K.ipanga .. .. 23 10 Tokatea .. .. 105 0 Sundries.. .. 18 5 Tiernan's.. .. 157 15 Pride of Tokatea, Kennedy's tt-.. 6S 10' Total .. ..1.05G 6 [BY TKLKORAPH.—OWSr CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Saturday evening. Prince Imperial.—The retorted gold was reduced in melting to 211ozs. This amount was to-day supplemented by 430;i3. 12dwts. of melted gold, received from the retorting of the silver, bringing the total yield for the month to 27510z5. 12dwts. of melted gold. „. Moanataiari.—The battery was started yesterday morning ; 30 head of stampers are employed on the company's dirt and 10 head oa tributers , parcels. Next week the tributers will employ 20 head and the company 20 head. The Bank of New Zealand shipped to-day, per Eotomahana, 49190z5. of bullion. SnARF.iiARKET.—SaIes : Prince Imperial, 445, 435; Golden Crown, 12s. Sellers: Deep Level, 3s 6d ; Kurauui Hill, Os ; Mariner, 3s Gd ; Prince Imperial, 44s ; Caledonian, lls 6d ; Southern Cross, 23s ; Golden Crown, 12s. Buyers : Queen of Beauty, 20s 6d. New Prince Imperial.—The following telegram was received on Saturday last from the mine manager, Mr. G. S. Clark :— "Final retorting resulted in a total of 2754023. melted gold, value £7747 14s 3d."