THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7382, 17 July 1885, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

GOLD-BEARING MINERAL. Our Thames correspondent writes :—Mr. HMward Thomas, on behalf of some Auckland gentlemen, took up a claim on the Shortland side of the Karaka Creek, just above the Hokiauga battery, two or three months ago. He had induced the gentlemen to enter upon the venture through representing to them that mineral is of commercial value in Australia, and that Messrs. Vivian and Sons, of Swansea, have agents in Queensland who purchase the mineral for shipment, 50 or 75 per cent, being paid at the time, and the balance when the actual value has been ascertained through smelting. In Mr. Thomas's claim there are two lodes, each about two feeb vide. Both are heavily charged with a dark mineral, which ia not usually considered a good indication of gold—in fact, many regard it as calculated to sicken amalgam. A parcel of twelve loads crushed from one of theee re»fs yielded 2ozs. 3dwts. of. gold, or about 3idwts. to the load, which of course was not payable. The other lode was even poorer. Samples of the reef were sent to Auckland, and assay tests made. The result waa astonishing. The first-named was worth 500z3., and the second 40ozs. to the ton. A conviction is acquiring root in the minde of not a few here that much of the quartz contains gold in forms—say sulphides and chlorides—not amenable to the ordinary process of treatment. Indeed, it may be that the water facilitates the escape of such gold, through affinity. On some such theory only can the vast difference between the battery and assay be accounted for. The bank test had the effect of infusing fresh vigour into the prospectors, and now Mr. Thomas is busy winning quartz. About four tons of mineral will be shipped by the Enterprise on Satur. day night for forwarding to Mr. LaMonte at Sydney. A further lot of 50 tons will then be shipped to Swansea. Ic is estimated that £3 per ton will cover the cost of winning, shipping home, and breaking when there. The smelters at Swansea, I ana informed, do their work for 6s 9d a ton, A yield of two ounces to the ton would thue leave a good profit, By the present appear, ance of the reef, two tons of quartz would probably yield one ton of mineral. The mineral will be selected after the manner of one dressing in Cornwall. The quartz will be emptied into a trough, through which a stream of water will run continuously. The quartz will be turned over occasionally, and thus be cleansed, so that the mineral will be more clearly discernible. Boys will then be employed to savo the mineral from the quartz. I BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames Thursday evening. Cambria, 12a, tellers 12a 6d ; Cross, sellers 8d ; Moanataiari Extended, 9d, seliere Iβ; Crown, 4s 9d, ss, sellers 5a (id, buyers 5s ; Saxon, 9d, sellers Is : Ivanhoe, buyers 6s. Darwin.—Colours of gold were seen in the lode last night.

Saxon.—The manager telegraphed yesterday : —"55 ounces gold from 52 loads »nd 45 pounds specimens." Blanche.—lnstructions have been issued to Mr. B»yldon to make a survey to deter, mine the nearest point to drive from the cross-cut to get the Wade reef in hand. Aβ the level is all cleaned out and tramway laid, everything is ready to commence to drive for the reef. Darv\is.—The mine manager reports oa 14th July : The western drive is in a distance of 124 feet from the joint cross-cut. There is a great improvement in the reef ia the face of the drive. Five pounds of specimens were obtained from here last night. The gold is more in the solid quartz than any I have seen at this level. No. 2 fitope is up to the Cambria boundary. No. 3 stopo has been started from the winze. Colours of gold were seen here to-day when breaking down the reef.