THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7905, 25 March 1887, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

MONTHLY SUMMARY.' [from our own correspondent.] Thames, Thursday. Mining daring the past month has been almost without variation. Nearly all the mines are now let on tribute. With slight exooptione, the Moanatalarl, Knninul, Qolden Crown, and Albumin, all famous gold-pro-duoe'rs—none having a less rooord than 200,000oz—are let on tribute. The Moanataiari has two, and Turtle's seotion of the Kurunui six wages-men employed. As for extensive prospecting works, thoy are almost out of the question. Of oonrse, If a big patoh were discovered, the aspect of affaire would soon change; not only would it yield a handsome profit, but money would tumble in from somewhere. Bat the diminution of prospeoting lessens the chances of the patch being discovered. And yet, taking the history of the field, I have no doubt that the profits have far more than compensated for the expenditure. But even now there are many bright oases in the desert of depression, and the first I shall mention is the - Cambria.—The big patoh whioh paid £70,000 in dividends having been followed from No. 2 to near No. 4 level, and apparently given out, attention was directed to prospecting eastward. The Darwin mine was amalgamated with the Cambria, and the lode followed through that ground. Up to a break at which a haul of specimens was obtained all was well. The quartz then followed led to the Waiotahi mine, and when withiu 50 feet a halt was cried. Beyond the break the lode proved poor. But this could not be the same body that had been followed at No. 3 level, as there the lode ran into the Moanataiari mine ; It was evident, therefore, that beyond the bre»k a body had been missed. Accordingly about 100 feet back from the face at No. 2 level • crosscut into tho hangingwall was started, and in 60 feet the lode followed at No. 3 level was picked up. it has been driven on 200 feet, carrying gold all the way, and yielding occasional bunches of specimens. The face is now within about 50 foet of the Moanataiari boundary, through a corner of whioh mine it will pane into the Golden Crown. Some 50 feet back from the face a little leader about four inches wide oame in, and has afforded some grand hauls of specimens, 701 be being reported to-day from the leading stope. Above No. 2 level operations have been oarried to tho height of a fifth stopo upon the main lode, whilst below a winze has been carried to No. 3 level, and an intermediate level in now in progress. The month's return was 7040Z9 gold from 258 loads general dirt and 3281bs specimens and picked stone. • Tbknton.—This mine follows the Cambria in natural order, although nothing has yet been found therein. At Nβ, 4 level the Cambria drove a tunnel across the Waiotahi Creek, over 600 feet, without cutting any quartz of consequence. This I regard at a good omen, as a cluster of reefs is likely soon to be found. The drive is running in a V piece of ground, and is about 100 feet from the Trenton boundary. Anything out henceforth oould not fail to benefit the Trenton even more than the Cambria. Arrangements have boon made for the Cambria to continue the orossjut, whioh is being driven at the rate of 100 feet a month by means of the rock drill, through the Trenton ground. It will bo passing strange indeed if several lodes are not intorseoted, as the crosicut will pierce the Prince Imperial spur, through which the Imperial and Saxon reefs should run, although they have never been traced. The Trenton is a big prospect, and I should not be surprised if It turned out one of thoie mines whereby by the expenditure of a shilling a pound is realised. Nmw Pbinck Imperial.—This mine seems to bo once again in the high road to prosperity. Odgeraand party, tributers on No. 1 reef below No. 2 level, proved to have a fine block of ground. An impression had existed that No. 1 reef was worked out above No. 2 level in the very early days of the field. But the courso of Odgors' blook set the manager α-thinkinp;, and he found that only a quartzy cross course had been followed in bygone days. He has driven at No. 2 level above Od&ers' stope nearly 80 feet, and a crushing of 19 loads general dirt and 1201b specimens and picked stone gave 1230z gold. There are 350 feet to be driven before the boundary is reached, with 200 feet of baoks overhead on the underlie The rich quartz is a sixinch leader on the footwall of No. 1 reef, Stoping is proceeding, and tenders have been invited for driving 100 feet further. A further criterion of the quartz is Odgors , last return—HOoz gold from 33 loads general dirt and 461b picked stone. Saxon.—-This is the old Crown Prince mine. The present workings are muoh farther hillward tban anything hitherro done in the mine, being well under Upper Albert-street. A party of tributers unearthed a lode 18 inohes wide, oontaining excellent mineral, and worth 4 or soz to the load. The company has the ground above, below, and on every aide of the tribute, A winzo is being sunk by the company below No. 3 level, and is now down 40 feet; a drive is also going in at No. 4 level to meet it. On the 11th instant the company crushed 11 loads general dirt and a few pounds picked stone for 50cz gold, and last week the tributers crushed 13 loads general dirt and 351b picked stone for 550z gold. These returns show tho prospect before the company. Tho lode is the continuation of No. 2 leader at No. 3 level. Waiotahi. —This good old mine continues a eteadv gold producer. The month's return was 218oz gold from 206 tone quartz. Manukad.—There is an excellent ohance for this mine. It has lately boen paying its way from a leader at No. 3 level, known as Mulligan's. Now No. 4 lovel has been opened up and several leaders are in hand. Auckland.—Several claims are at work at the head of the Karaka Greek, amongst them boing the Auckland, taking in the old Lucky Hit and other ground. A crushing of OOlbs stone yielded 48oz gold. The road is being repaired to afford faoilities for carting to tho battery. Tuetlb's Kdronci.—A fine leader is boing worked here from the Caledonian shaft. A crushing of 37 loads quartz yielded 760z Bold. Several private olaims are yielding well. The Adelaide, Karaka Creek, gave 38oz gold from 30 loadn, and its neighbour, the City of Manchester, 390z gold from 14 loads quartz. The upper country has beon very quiet. At Karangahake a track is Doing made from aornc of the mines to Kailoy'n mill, whioh is admitted to b.i the moat efficient plant yet introduced into the district. Several trials have proved satisfactory, A parcel of 25 tons from the Diamond claim gave 2040zs gold. At Waihi also very little work is being done. Although there is abundance of good ore, the Rosemont is employing one man, and the Union two men. There is some excuse, however ; they are waiting for some suitable process, as the ordinary battery ie quite in ■- i fliciont. The Sllvortou is getting gold 50 feet bolow the adit level. The reef is 8 feet wide. At Waiomo several claims are on gold, and it is now said there would be remunerative employment for a battery, and, judging by the excellent returns from the Paroquet, that view 13 liltely to be correct. MONTHLY GOLD RETOBN3. (From Ist to 28th February inclusive.) oz dwt gr Adelaide 38 5 0 Bright Smile (Glen's tribute) ~. 113 o Caledonian » 20 10 0. Ditto (McKenzie's tribute)... 26 15 O Cambria 491 8 0 Deep Level Cross (Redfern'e tr) 5 17 0 I >ixon'n Claim ... ... ... 26 6 0 Magnolia (Dun's tribute) ... 13 6 0 Moanataiari (Christie's tribute) 7 3 0 Ditto (McCann'e tribute) ... 37 16 0 Ditto (Porter's tribute) ... 10 0 0 New Alhurnia 32 10 0 Ditto (Radfords tribute) ... 14 0 0 New Prince Imperial (Odger's tr) 63 10 0 Ditto (Dudley's tribute) ... 22 11 0 Ditto (Gentles' tribute) ... 12 4 0 Ditto (Bridge's tribute) ... 9 13 0 Ditto (Wood's tribute) .., 1 16 0 Ditto (Birch'e tribute) ... 16 9 0 Ditto (Clarken's tribute) ... 9 11 0 Ditto (Donnelley , * tribute)... 2 7 0 Ditto (Trembath'e tribute).., 4 Iβ 0 New Manukau ... .*. ... 42 2 0 North Star Extended (Green's tr) 12 0 0 Ditto (Donnelley's tribute)... 7 0 0 Ditto (Smith's tribute) ... 6 8 0 Ditto (White's tribute) ... 4 0 0 Private claim-holders, tailing plants, &c ... 1347 17 0 Saxon (Conhon's tribute) ... 98 4 0 Turtle's Kuranui (Bray'a tribute) 13 9 0 Waiotahi ... ... 214 5 0 West Coast (Rose) „ .» 5 9 0 Total .... .„ , u , x , 2629 Q~Q

TJP-JDODNTRY RETORNS. Adeline 57 0 0 Crown, Karangahake .« .... 76 15 0 Woodstock, Karangahake ... 265 11 0 Rose, Karangahake 59 10 0 Dubbo, Karangahake ... .« 53 4 0 Monastery, Karangabake ... 159 0 0 Total «. m «» «• 671 0 0 Grand total ~ 3300 0 0