THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8951, 16 January 1888, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[iBOM ODB OWN CORRESPONDENT,]

Thames, Saturday. Cambria.-—At No. 4 level the crosscut has been driven about 122 feet ; the*country is pretty tight, consequently progress is alow. Coming to No. 3 level, in No. 4 drive on the

main reef, about a foot of the hangingwall is being saved. It contains some good mineral indications, and colours of gold are seen. The lode, which hitherto haa tended considerably to the left, is now veering to the right. In No. 7 drive, on the samo reef, a foot of the hangingwall looks well, and the country is favourable, but no gold has been seen for a few days. No. 6 leader is being driven on westward ; the lode is about four inches wide and gold is seen pretty freely. One stope, the seventh, is being carried along this leader, and colours are plentiful therein, besides which there are also goldbearing veins. With regard to No. 1 footwali lode, the only work in hand is stoping; two stopes west and one east being in progress. The average width may be regarded as 18 inches, and gold is seen almost every breakingdown, but no pioked stone is obtained. The seventh atope is being carried along leaders 4 and 5; fthe quartz is principally stringers, and gold is seen throughout. The crosscut into the hangingwall of the hangingwall leader at No. 2 level is in about 42 feet, and the oountry is favourable for gold. The crushing is shaping for the usual average. Prince Imperial.—No. 1 level beiug a little lower than the leading etopo it will be necessary to olear away a quantity of mullock in order to form the level. This work, and timbering will occupy till the middle of next week, when etoping may be carried on full swing above No. 1 level. Some of the quartz in the leading stopes which had been stripped was broken down yesterday, and showed gold very freely. Should the mine only maintain present appearances, it will resume its place amongst dividend-pro-ducers. Saxon. —There is no change in this mine worthy of remark. The slopes on the reef, which maintains its usual size, are of average quality. No new works have been under* taken, whiob is not doing the mine justice, as vigorous prospecting, either by sinking or cross outting, should be proceeding whilst the blocks in hand are being sloped out. No matter how extensive a block may be it disappears very rapidly under the influence of twenty head ot stampers. This fact cannot be taken heed of too much; if it were more gonerally regarded greater attention would bo bestowed on providing for future blocks. A six-inch leader, branohing off into the footwali of the old stopes, promises to prove a valuable addition to the supply of profitable quartz ; it yields a few pounds of picked stone ocoar sionally. Paroquet (Waiomo.) —The manager reports 20tb of picked stone from the winze. Good show left.

(BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Saturday. Sharemarket. —Cambria, 7s 3d, buyers 7s; Manukau, Is 4d; Imperial, 6a 3d, sellers, Qa 6d; Saxon, 6s Sd, sellers 6s 9J, buyers 6a 6d ; Paroquet, sellers 6a.

Trenton —Mr. R. McDonald Scott, the legal manager, writes : In view of the time when it will be necessary to sink the company's shatt and not to let slip an exceptional opportunity of acquiring powerful and new machinery for the purpose, the directors have purchased the machinery and plant of the Moanataiari Extended Company, which cost some £2400, for the earn of £500. The arrangement made involves no oall being made for the purpose, and does not alter working through the Saxon, The latter arrangement goes on as before, and the machinery does not require to be provided for until it is required to be used, and it ie to be hoped that gold in the meantime may be won from the Saxon lode to pay for it, when it does require to be used, bo that the mining going on at present and the financial position of the company are just the same as if the purchase had not' been made. The shareholders are to be congratulated on the action of the directors, who have, by their foresight in purchasing the plant, assured the development of the claim. 3t is proper to add that when the shaft is sunk the Mariner lode is expected to be intersected in the shaft, and in addition, by croacutting the claim, all the lodea,including the Saxon lode, will be found, also that the present machinery on the brace of the shaft will fetch the money paid for it and assist the expense ot removing the heavy machinery, besides the Moanataiari Extended pump and plant, which ia included in Ihe purchase and not required by tbe Trenton, will be sold — and thus reduce the cost. The whole plan for developing the claim has been well considered from all points of view. -No money has been or will be ' wasted, and nothing will be done but what is absolutely necessary for the systematic working of the claim."

MINING PROSPECTS AT WAIOMO. The Thames Advertiser of Saturday says : —Auckland visitors to the Paroquet claim yesterday, bring back highly satisfactory reports from the mine. Thoy say tbe stone is looking splendid, with a very good body. We are told there are close upon 600 tons to grass, and that the utmost impatience ie being manifested at the delay in completing the road to tho battery. Dunlop's contract is finished and forms the only creditable portion of the road contract. The upper section leading in to the mines was commenced yesterday, and if things are at all favourable, it will be completed within the next fortnight, or at the very most three weeks. The water was turned on to the battery wheel, and it is said to have worked very smoothly. For test purposes the stamps are to be set going on Tuesday. We are likewise told Golden Gem stone is looking remarkably good, gold from the portion of the reef now worked on being visible to the eye. The tramway to connect the battery with that mine is well advanced, although the work is said not to have made such rapid progress as was at one time projected. A start has not yet been made with the tramway bridge over the gully. It is, however, understood that it will be got in band at onoe. The Golden Drop Company are also getting out good stone, and it ie said they too are getting very anxious about the formation of the road to connect their mine with the battery. Cutting and forming the roadway from the Paroquet to the hop pera is in progress. Altogether there appears to be a good deal of life just now at Waiomo, and while we quite believe the county authorities are using their best endeavourarto get roads in this locality finished, we have been solicited to urge upon them the importance of getting such works done with the least possible delay.

The Warden (aays the Thames Adrertiier) has, After due consideration, granted several large areas upon this goldfield as special claims under the new Act. It has now to be proved how far the looking up of each large areas will affeot this Held. If these areas are taken up for bona fide mining purposes they may be of great ultimate good to the district, bat if the license is obtained for mere speculative purposes much harm will accrue. For the preliminary operations in connection with a new mine, it could not be expected that the full namber of men re quired by law oould be profitably employed, but still, to show that there Iβ some earnestness on the side of tbe applicants, the Warden in future should insist that when protection is applied for, as in the past, month after month, in some oases for twelve months, that manning, if only to the extent of employing two or three men, be complied with. At this time of depression even this would be a relief as reducing the number of unemployed.

GOLDFIND NEAR HOKIANGA. [BY TELKGKAPH. —OWtf OORUKSPONDEST.] Wellington, Saturday. The Hon. G. P. Richardson (Miniuter of Mines) received the following telegram from Mr. J. S. Clendon, R.M., Whangarei:—" I beg to report that information, which I ooneider fairly reliable, has reached rue that gold has been found in payable quantity at the Upper Waihou, near Hokianga, upon land belonging to Hohai Pahuone. Assays have resulted in 3oz to tbe ton." Aβ Mr. Gordon, the Inspector-General of Mines, is now making the tour of all the Northern goldfields, it is probable that he will be instructed to examine the important prospect, and report to the Government.