THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7562, 15 February 1886, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

v£ur.OM OUB OWN correspondents.]

Thames, Saturday. Caledonian.—An!intermediate level is being opened tip on No. 1 reef 60ft, down the winze. There will be an ample supply of quartz, should it prove payable. " The manager has recommended that another place in this reef, where excellent mineral indications exist, be tried. He thinks that 70ft. of orosscutting should reach the point. Golden Crown.—The manager estimates that the face of the cross-reef at No. 2 leVel is about eighty feet from the Moanataiari boundary ; also that the drive in the Darwin reef in the Moanataiari is a similar distance from the Golden Crown boundary. As the Darwin reef runs east and west, and the cross lode north and south, he considers it possible that they may junction in the Golden Crown mine. The cross lode is about two feet wide, and a few loads crushed yielded about 15dwts to the load. Sloping is proceeding on' the shaft lode) and colours of gold are seen. Waxotahi.—The shaft iB now down the required depth, 70 feet, and the manager expects to begin opening out next week. Manokau.—Another 30 feet has been added to the block available for stoping. The leader, the manager reports, exhibits no alteration. Saxon.—Crosscutting is proceeding, to pick up the No. 2 leader at the heave on No. 3 level. The chances of getting payable gold, as this leader is driven on, are entitled to perseverance, as th2 sandstone is favourable, gold having been seen in the quartz, and the drive is penetrating virgin ground, Darwin.- Strong colours of gold are seen in stringers on the hangiogwall of the reef in the winze. Moanataiari. — The Darwin reef has either gone into mullock or jumped. There is a well defined hangingwall, and this is being followed in the hope that the lode will make. It may have jumped into the foot* wall, but if bo, it will be in the Darwin ground. Bright Smile. — 121bs specimens were obtained to-day, and gold is always seen in breaking down the quartz. Eureka. (Otunui).—ll9 loads from No. 1 reef yielded 99ozs gold.' Colours of gold are seen in No. 2 reef. Oriental (Otunui). —It is expected that No. 2 reef of the Eureka will be to hand in about 25 feet. ' Comet (Otunui). —Arrangements have been made for continuing operations on the the Eureka reef from the boundary through that company's mine. Shareware et. — Darwin, sellers 10« ; Moanataiari, buyers 9a ; Caledonian, sellers 48; Trenton, lid. Coromandel, Saturday. Castle Rock Claim (Vizard's).—l am glad to say this claim is likely to come to the ffont again. For many months past the owner has been diligently engaged driving a low level to intersect his reef from which he got some rich gold some two years ago. The present level is in something like 300 feet. About eight foetof the reef has been stripped, and nearly 1501bs good picked stone have been bagged. The general stuff is also very good. Gold was got in the upper level for about 65 feet along the floor of the drive, and the manager expects it will be at least as long in this level; if so, and with 100 feet of backs, he has a splendid future before him. Invicta.—The manager cut the reef in an intermediate level yesterday, ' and obtained very good prospects. They have already a parcel at the battery taken from the' same reef at the surface, which is expected to shape well, Wellington. — The manager has just passed through a large buck reef, and got' into excellent country, and judging from the dip and underlay the reef ho has been driving for should be in hand in a few feet. Little Nell.—The new owners of this mine have a very good show. They have two gold-bearing leaders in hand, and intend to have a crushing shortly. Golden Crown.—The mine manager reports under date February 8 During the past week but little has been done in the battery in the way of crushing, with the exception of ten load crushed from new cross reef, referred to in my last (iated February 1), which will give about 7ozs gold, or an average of J iiz to the load. This reef averages about eighteen inches in thickness, and is rather a promising leader. I was of opinion that it would have turned out much better, but there is an absence of the mineral, yet this reef still continues its north and south course, and the Darwin large reef is Tunning nearly east and west, where the Monataiari started operations on this reef from the Darwin workings. Should both these reefs continue their present course they should junction in our ground. The face of the drive is about eighty feet from the Moanataiari boundary, and I should think the Moanataiari workings are about the same distance from the Crown boundary, with this difference, the Crown No. 2 level is about seventy feet lower than their workings at Darwin end. lam still continuing a rise on the shaft reef, above the No. 2 level. The reef here is about two feet in thickness, and a little gold is seen occasionally. No change in the crosscut at No. 1 level. The battery will be closed down for the week to allow the quartz to accumulate. SOUTHERN MINING. The return from the Alpine from 705 tons was 6940zb retorted gold. A dividend of Is has been declared. Keep-it-dark, 5740zs from 210 tons. The Walkend shaft was Ja&t week sunk another 16 feet. The total depth now is 421 feet. v What are said to be two well-defined reefs have been discovered in the Great Republic mine. Some are doubtful that it will so prove. The directors of the Keep-it-dark Company have declared a dividend of Is per 200,000 th scrip, equal to £1000.