THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7016, 13 May 1884, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGBArH, —OWN .CORRESPONDEX*.] Thames, Monday evening. Albhbnia.—They have broken flown the reef.. Saw a few colours of gold. Caledonian Low Level. —The hard bar is somewhat softar, whioh may. be an indioation that the outer ehell is to hand. Wawjtahi.—A trial start o£ the maohinery took piaoe to-day, and tho mine will probably be in full awing to-r^rrow.-

New Peinoe Imperial,—The following mine manager's report haq been received ; — The main .shaft ia now down 71 feet below No. 5 level. The. men are now engaged centreing up the south compartment, and fixing guides, ladderway, and qlipa at No. 6 chamber, This I expeot to have completed by Tuesday, when the cages will ba run down to the bctfam and the work o£ outting out the chamber for No. 0 level commenced. No. 5 Level: The ventilation during the past! week has not been very good in the eastern drive on No. 2 lead, and the men have therefore not been constantly employed in the faoe. The lead is about tho same size, and continues to maintain its promising appearance, but I have not seen any gold simio starting again. The stones on this lead above this level are looking rather better this week, a little more gold being eeeu. All the stopea huhand hero are in No. 1 section, whiah, I may mention, I intend to boat out up to No. 4 level before commencing in No. 2 section. This will give much better ventilation for continuing the drive and stopea eastward. No. 4 L.?vej: Driving eastward on No, 2 lead is etill in progress. The country continues much abont the same, being rather hard and shingly, but tho lead IB looking a great deal batter, and baa ebown some nice strong dabs of gold last breaking down. Stoping is being continued above this level aa usual, with about the same results. Two stopes are in hand on No. 3 lead, but there is very little change to report, the quartz being still rather white, with not much mineral through it. The stopes on No. 1 reef abovo tbie level are continuing to produce a larp,e quantity of very fair dirt, and <?old is occasionally seen, principally in the haugiugwall portion of j the reof. No. 3 Level: The eastern drive on No. 1 reef will be resumed shortly, as the leading stope is no'iv approaching the face and tho air is getting umoh cooler. I hopo to be able to keep this drive going continuously when connection ie effected with the air shaft at No. 2 level. The drive on the mineralieed or hangingwall portion of the reef (70 feet west of cross-cm) is in 15 feet. The reef has been the full width of the drive, causing progress to be very slow. Sandstone is now coming in on the left hand side so that better headway will be mado next week. The footwall portion ot f.!ie reef is about 15 inches thick, and contains nice dark mineral, which is (with us) a v> ry good indication for gold. Stoping above ohis level is in progress as usual, and the quartz being obtained continuos to arush payably. No, 2 Level : The cross-cut to connect with air shaft has been extended 38 feet, and should hole through in 2 feet. more. Darwin.—The contractors, on Saturday last, had driven 37 feet through excellent country. At this rate of driving the reof should be reaohed by the joint cross-cut I abont tho ond of the month.

SOUTHERN. The pump and attachments has arrived at the lnglewood machine site, and, everything being ready, the battery wiil start crushing on Monday next.