THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8963, 30 January 1888, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

SUMMARY. [from our own correspondent]. Thames, Saturday. The past month has been unevontful. Almost a third of January had passed before tho majority of tho mines resumed work after tho holidays, and very few havo cleaned up since. However, I may as well begin with a rapid sketch of the principal ones.

Cambria.This mine is keeping its battery of twenty stampers running on quartz worth an ounce to the load, and there is an ample supply for a long time to come in view. The workings are on rso. 3 level, where there is a series of lodes, largo and small, and gold is seen freely throughout. In the mam reef is a vein containing in abundance all the minerals which usually accompany rich deposits of goldColors of gold are plentiful therein, and it is quite on the cards that this mineral is the forerunner of a patch underneath. Another level is being brought in which will test this matter in about two months. The last fortnight's return was 2370z. gold from '213 loads quartz. ~ Saxon. — This mine, the old Crown Prince, at tho corner of Albert-street, is now one of the lions of the field, The present workings are hillward of hero operations were carried on in bygone days ; indeed it may be termed a virgin locality, for no work has ever been done here except some surface scratching. At No. 4 level, a length of reef about 300 feet in extent has been opened out, and all is being sent to tho battery ; the average is about an ounco to the load. Comparatively few specimens are obtained, probably 150 or 200 pounds of picked stone a month. An average of twenty stampers are employed constantly. The blocks are yet young, and with the exception of a little toping at No. 3 level, the lode ought to be intact to the surface, a height of 400 or 500 feet overhead. As the mine is about 700 feet wide, crosscutting should reveal several other reefs. Trenton.—This is a largo area of ground, and adjoins tho Waiotahi, Cambria, Prince Imperial, Saxon, and old Queen of Beauty. The Trenton is at present working through the Saxon shaft, and the Saxon reef has been followed into the mine, and driven upon therein nearly IX) feet. A parcel of 15 loads of general dirt and IS pounds picked stono yielded 36ozs. lOdwts. gold. The Trenton should catch all tho Saxon reefs running into the hill. Waiotahi.This mine continues the steadiest gold-producer in the district, the average per month being 200oz of gold. Manitkau.—This mine is steadily paying its way, and the prospects improve as tho stopes rise upward. No. 5 Waiotahi reef, and attendant stringers are the lodes in hand. Operations are carried on through the Waiotahi shaft. Last month's return was 40oz of gold from 33 tons quartz. Caledonian. Crushing is proceeding on stuff' from tho vicinity of the Otago flat winze : it is low grade, but almost payable. A crosscut is being driven from an intermediate level, between levels 2 and 3 to intersect the specimen leader and No. '2 lode, and they should be to hand any day. The country and indications aro favourable. Maonataiari.— only work being carried on in this mine, irrespective of tributes, is a rise in a small leader on the Caledonian boundary. This work is with a view to obtain ventilation to enable operations to be carried on upon a largo lode cut in a drive towards, but several hundred feet from, the Cambria. This reef carries good mineral indications. The mine has an excellent prospect at the Cambria boundary, as some of the lodes being worked in that mine will drop into the Moanatairi in another level. Supposing the mineral vein mentioned in connection with the Cambria develop into a patch of gold, it would dip into the Moanataiari in 100 or 150 feet. There is much adverse comment on the action of the directors in accepting a tentative offer from England for the purchase of the mine. The terms are said to be a capital of £75,000, of 'which the syndicate get £25,000, the present owners of the mine £25,000 in shares, and £25,000 to be raised in England to pay off the liabilities, about £5500, and work the mine. The Auckland financial men say, " You never mado us so liberal an offer. Give us anything like as good terms, and we will float the company for you without any difficulty." New Prince Imperial.This mine has a block of No. 1 reef, 70 feet in length, opened up at No. 1 level, and hopes are entertained that better times are in store for the mine, as the stuff in hand is payable, and the block of remunerative quartz can be augmented by extending the drives. It is estimated there aro 250 feet of backs overhead. Alburxia. —This mine is entirely in the hands of tributers, some of whom are doing fairly well. The old Kuranui mine is owned in three sections by Messrs. Coiner, Turtle, and T. B. Hicks, who have sublet to tributers. Several private claims are doing well, especially up the Karaka Creek. Captain Argall, on behalf of an English firm, has been inquiring into the bona fides of the representations made by the vendors of the Queen of Beauty, and I understand he is quite satisfied. He inspected the adjoining mine, the Saxon —one of the rejected of the English market, which is now paying regular dividends—and visited the manager of ° the Bank of New Zealand to learn the amount of gold bought from the company, also Mr. Radford, ex-manager of the mine, Mr. D. H. Bayldon, surveyor ; and last, but not least, the Warden. Of course the Queen of Beauty is only a venture, but it has an excellent record. The most eloquent advocate on its behalf is the fact that the company sank the shaft 748 feet, the greatest depth attained on the Thames, and only suspended operations when the pumping machinery broke down. It is understood that the water jacket furnace, known as LaMonte's, has been sold, and that on the site occupied by it will be erected a plant, by an English company, for the treatment of foreshore tailings by the Newbery-Vautin process. The new mining district, the Mate Creek, below Tapu, is highly thought of and several claims are at work on leaders which are considered payable. I visited Waiomo three days ago and was very much pleased with what I saw. lam satisfied that tho Paroquet is a payable mine. Very little work has been done in the Golden Drop, which is a considerable distance from the Paroquet, but there is a reef 8 or 9 feet wide in the face of the hill, and several dishes from various parts thereof all showed fair prospects. Puriri is likely to come into notice. Some small lots have been crushed by prospectors, with very satisfactory results, and several parties have turned their attention to that locality. From the fact that a number of claims had excellent crushings and nice parcels of specimens were obtained in 1869-70, I have always been sanguino of the future of this district.

Regarding Marototo at Hikutaia, report says that Mr. H. C. Wick offered the proprietors of the Prospectors' Claim £65 a ton for somo ore, but the offer was not accepted. Mr. Seaver, an expert from Sydney, has been inspecting the mine with a view to its purchase by an Australian company. At lvarangahake, several parties are working, and some are doing well. The Crown mine is shipping 300 bags of ore to London. A Mr. Gibson visited the. mine this month on behalf of an English syndicate. Captain Argall has taken charge of the Mammoth, in which mine a lode four feet wide and showing gold, was cut last week.

At Waihi much pleasure is expressed at the floating of the Union and Rosemont mines into an English company. Yesterday I was speaking to Mr. P. C. Hansen, who was manager of the Rosemont, and ho is satisfied the mines constitute a valuable property. At Owharoa Farmer's and two or three other parties are making a living, with a tidy return occasionally. At Whangamata there are several large reefs giving very encouraging prospects, and those best acquainted with the district are the most hopeful of its future. The gold returns for tho month of December were about (iOOOoz.

Coromandel, Saturday. For the first week or two of the new year very little was done in mining, but now. everybody has pretty well settled down' to work, and are likely to make a much better show this year than last. There are very evident signs that wo are to have a considerable amount of activity in our mines in the near future. Several pieces of ground

considered very valuable formerly have been re-occupied,'and no doubt will become valuable again if properly worked, as, with the exception of the Kapanga and Tokatea, none of the ground has been worked to any depth. I hear of at least two properties which are likely to be put on the English market with almost a certainty of being floated. We have also a number of firstclass prospectors out in the ranges, and their number is being added to by some from a distance who have been attracted to our shores. It only wants a fairly good find to cause a rash to this locality larger than we have had yet, and I think it would be pretty safe betting that rich gold will be found in more than one portion of this district. Indications are so strong that they only want tracing home. _ Old hands, who can generally see the signs of the times, predict a large influx of population this summer. Maniaa.—A great deal of attention has been bestowed on this district lately, no doubt owing to the rich leader being worked by Messrs. Blackmoro and Ruffin. Several parties have taken up ground in their immediate neighbourhood, while others are prospecting in tho ranges. Strong traces of gold can be got anywhere, and in most cases the country is first-class. Messrs. Blackmoor aiM Ruffin had a splendid crushing a few weeks ago, obtaining 98ozs from between 14 and 15 tons. They have now got their mine well opened up, and will not be long in taking out another lot. Tiki District.Thero is a decided improvement here also. Thero is every ap{jearance that more men will be employed lero this summer.

Nelson. —This claim bids fair to come to the front shortly. The company have a splendid reef in hand, ranging from two to four feet thick, the Into crushing from which averaged lodwts. per ton, which will pay handsomely. They have also two other smaller reefs in hand, which are payable. The country is excellent for working, and the men are taking out large quantities of quartz. Castle Rock.—This claim is putting in a low level, which is likely to take years, owing to tho distance and the hardness of the ground, but it will give a splendid level on the reef. They are working out some of the upper blocks which are payable, with a patch of specimens occasionally. Mariebel. — Considerable improvement has taken place in this mine. An immense amount of dead work has been done without result, but a few months ago the manager came upon a fine reef in the low level, and has taken out a few good specimens, and he is now taking out a good paddock of general stuff, some 14 tons being already on hand. The mine is also looking well, and I hope to see better days for it. There are some parties out prospecting in this neighbourhood, but I have not heard what success they have had. Coromandel.There are a large number of men employed in this mine. The main shaft is being sunk steadily, and is now down some 40 feet below the ISO feet level. The country is exceedingly good, and there is very little water so far. Drives are being pushed in various directions ; and I hear of some tribute parties who are working some surface sections with a fair prospect of success.

South Tokatea. —A very large amount of work has been done in this mino, but so far the prospects are not good. However, I hear of an improvement lately, which I hope will continue. There is also in contemplation a new departure in this locality which will no doubt very much enhance the value of the mine. It would be of great benefit to this place if rich gold were got here.

Katanga.—'The usual work is going on in this mine. I understand it looks as well as ever. The battery is kept going on good stuff, and the power will bo increased shortly. Prospecting drives are going in in various directions, and the mine looks first-rate throughout. Tokatka.—The tribute parties are doing well. Alpin and party have discovered a new leader on the Coromandel side of the range, which is likely to be of great value. Tho gold is very coarse and heavy, unlike any that is usually got on Tokatea range. Hitherto nearly all the work has been done on the other side of the range, the impression being that there was no gold on this side. It may be the means of opening up a largo area of country. Royal Oak.—The show in the low level is fairly good. Some of tho stopes are turning out well, and we expect to get a good crushing out shortly. I hear that the Big Tunnel, Moore's lease, and the old City of "Auckland grounds, have lately been taken up by those who intend to work them. The following aro the returns of gold for the month : — Ozdwtgr Batchelors, Kelly's tribute _ _ 316 0 Harbour View, Boyle's do. ... .. 37 9 0 Mariebel .. - 10 0 0 Blackmoro anil Ruffin .. .. • _ 98 9 0 Lone Hand .. .. .. »- 22 0 Cabbage Bay ... .. .. ..400 Castle Rock _ .. — 5 4 0 Sundries a. .. .» _ (I 18 0 Total _ .. .. 101 IS 0 [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Thames, Saturday. Prince Imperial.—Cleaning up takes place on Monday. Forty-six loads of quartz have been reduced for—so far—ll3oz of amalgam, whilst 601b of picked stono produced 112oz of amalgam. Trenton.—The reef in the drive is still a fine-looking body of stone, but no gold was seen last breaking down. Two men are carrying along the leading stope, and colours of gold are seen therein. Mr. Gordon, Colonial Mining Inspector, was very well pleased with the prospects of thcPuriri district, which he visited to-day. He returns to Auckland to-morrow.

Shakemarkkt. — Cambria, buyers 7s ; Manukau, sellers Is 7d; Saxon, 6s 2d, buyers 6s ; Trenton, sellers 3s 9d ; Hand of Friendship, sellers 2s. VISIT TO THE WAIOMO DISTRICT. [from our MINING reporter.] Leaving Grahamstown at ten o'clock, I reached the VVaioino bridge about halfpast eleven. From thence to the Paroquet battery there is such a road as might be expected, good and broad even for a cart to toil along, with nothing to spare in either respect. The creek has to be crossed about half-a-dozen times, and the foot traveller finds his way across on stepping stones as best he can. The distance is variably stated at one and a-half to two miles. Near the battery is a restaurant, conducted by M Stodart, where about a dozen men were dining. The bill of fare consisted of soup, mutton, and onion sauce, and pudding, not to mention the inevitable tea, which to my mind was a very creditable spread for this out-of-the-way place. Surely such a table for 14s a-week is so cheap that even the grumbling dinner-loving Englishman could scarcely find excuse for growling. The restaurant is on the western or Tapu side of the creek, and a few hundred yards further up is the battery of 20-head of stampers, and an appointment of six berdans. Tho battery will be driven by a Pelton wheel. Everything seemed very neat, clean, and businesslike, in fact, a good job. Mr. Charles Judd has the contract for tho ironwork, including converting the old Missouri plant into a modern battery. Of course Messrs. A. and G. Price supplied the wheel, for which they have the Australian agency. The feedingfloor seemed scarcely as get-at-able for outside mines as could be desired, but that is a defect capable of being remedied, if necessary. It seemed to me that the battery could easily be rendered ready for starting in a week. On the opposite side of the river is a large house, almost finished, which I was informed was being built by Mr. R. T. Douglas, of Shortland, as a store. This gentleman has taken a very active part in opening up tho district, Ho is reported to be a large shareholder in several of the mines. And he has had an eye to such business as is his own peculiar sphere, for carts bearing his name may be seen proceeding to Waiomo several days a-week. About a dozen tents and whares, chiefly on the same side as the embryo store, complete the encampment around the battery. Proceeding from the battery along the road to the left we are on tho way to the Paroquet mine. The distance from tho battery according to the idea of whoever may be the relator, varies from a mile and a quarter to a mile and a-half. The road may, without any violation of truth, be characterised as serpentine. I suppose it would be described by a contractor or a county hand as twelve feet wide. It sometimes is nine— perchance ten—but as a rule seven to eight feet in the solid, the rest being formation from the debris. There aro notches in this snake's coll which might be pared away

with advantage to all concerned. What with a winding way, and a road, of which one-fourth— that tho part on tho edgo of: a yawning gulf beneath— already cracked, and ready to slip away from tho rest, there is a delightful prospect boforo the carter. But I beliovo tho road is not quite completed, and as they do say that fools and children should never seo an unfinished job, I'll "shut up" forthwith, lest evil befall me. It is popularly allegod that a . contract has boon taken for carting between tho mino and the battery at six shillings a loadthere is not a watch in it. Observing tho country—i.e., rock— wo passed along, I noticed much that was kindly looking and might carry quartz downward. Probably half way, there is a narrow belt of sandstone, with quartz in it, not unliko tho Paroquet formation. Mr. J. 0. Ralph, on horseback, is encountered coming down tho road, and lie, the general manager, statod Mr. Lanning, the mine manager, would take visitors through tho mino, and explain the workings. Having arrived at tho ond of the road, I am at tho

Paroquet.—With regard to tho mino my report will consist of two kinds of information—what I saw and what I was told. With regard to the former I take tho responsibility ; concerning tho latter—

j I cannot tell how the truth may bo, I say the tale as 'twas said to mo. Soon after my arrival, Messrs. Robert Lowrie and Plummer came, and to thorn I am indebted for some of tho following. The Lowries' workings on tho surfaco are ancient history, so we begin with No. 1 level, 25 feet lower down. Mr. Lowri informed me that they drove between 30 and 40 feet on really good quartz. At this point tho lode was a sort of blow, and varied from three to nine feet; if picked there would bo three or four feet of quartz. Subsequently tho drive was carried about ten feet further, and gold was seen, the reef being a solid mass 3J feet wide. Now, for what I saw. A pass from No. 2 level had just communicated with No. 1 level; and a rise has been commenced to continue tho pass to the surface. By means of this continuous pass from the surface downward, all the quartz in tho mine will be run through No. 3 level. I went 'into this rise just started, and saw from eight to 18 inches of quartz, very kindly-looking stuff. In black veins running with the quartz, gold was freely disstriouted. Ido not say this was the full width of the reef, but no more was shewing in the rise. Ahead of tho rise the drive is full of quartz, but I was informed that 22 feet further along is a rise put up by the Lowrie's. Mr. Lanning states that 301b. of picked stone came from the rise which I looked at. There is a pile of quartz in the paddock, and gold can be seen in it. No. 2 level is 25 feet below No. 1. It was commenced when the ground was a portion of the Waiomo mine, now absorbed in the Paroquet. I understood Mr. Lowrie to say the reef was cut when the drive was in 63 feet. It was 6 or 7 feet feet wide and showed good gold. Mr. Lanning then took up the tale. He said there is first a run of good quartz about 30 feet in length. Then a hard boulder pinches the reef, and no gold is seen for, I think he said, about 50 feet. Then there is another excellent run of about 40 feet, the lode being aboui five feet wide and more compact than on No. 1 level. Beyond this point the level has been driven 90 or 100 feet further, but from the rise forward is blocked with quartz. Forty feet beyond the rise the gold died out, but at the face, when driving was suspended, more mineral was showing, and an improvement seemed to be taking place. Upon examining the reef I found tho same characteristics as at No. 1 level, the gold seeming to be in the black veins. At this level we wont down No. 3 winze as far as we could get, about 20 or 25 feet. Hero the lode was about four feet from wall to wall, and as usual, gold-bearing veins were plentiful. This is the place where the picked stone reported by telegram was taken from. Robt. Lowrie brought out some of the quartz stored in the drive, and there was a fine band of gold through it, not continuously, but in blotches. There is a large heap of quartz in the paddock of this level, and I saw strong colours of gold in several stones. No. 3 level would probably give 50 or 60 feet of backs on the underlie, making a total of perhaps 100 feet to the surface. The level was begun by the now extinct Waiomo, and carried 100 feet. The reef 'has only been cut within tho past few weeks, and has been driven on about 20 feet.Two feet have been exposed, but Mr." Lanning considers that that is not its full width. It presents the same features as elsewhere. That the mine is payable does not to my mind admit of doubt, but to what extent is a more difficult matter to express an opinion upon. Clearly the backs from No. 3 level do not exceed 100 feet, and I believe a similar length would bo far more than an ample estimate for payable reef, thus making the block 100 feet by 100 feet. I shall not attempt to distinguish the blue from the better blue, to 1 extract the cream of the cream, suffice it to say that I do not regard the block as of uniform quality, nor wholly of the superlative degree. But it would be unfair to the mine, and unjust to myself to attempt to particularise too closely upon a casual inspection. As a Thamesite I do not fancy two features, viz. : the character of the sandstone, which is crumbly, more like compressed particles than a solid body ; also a certain opaque glassiness in the appearance of the quartz, which differs from the clear crystallisation of Thames stone. But "where it be, there it be," is true of all times and climes, and every district has its own peculiarities. Even in the Thames the creeks and particular mines have their special features and indications. It is nothing uncommon for a miner to remark that a certain lode is very like another reef not far distant, even the reefs having their peculiarities by which they are recognisable. Therefore lam not going to apply Thames standards to measure the Waiomo district, for the best possible reason, that gold does exist in satisfactory quantities, irrespective of these, unfavourable features from a Thames standpoint. On the other hand, tho immediate surroundings of the reef are much more kindly. Where the quartz is good copper is plentiful, and fine antimony is not infrequent. The gold generally follows the black veins, and these frequently strike off into the sandstone on their own account. A reef six or seven feet wide would perhaps contain about two feet of solid quartz, and that very much scattered, hence a difficulty. If the quartz alone could bo sent to tho battery, probably a very high average would be obtained, but owing to the golden veins permeating the sandstone, a large quantity of mullock must be crushed, which will tend to reduce the average per ton. Judging by the stage of tramways, hoppers, road, and battery, I should say that there ought to be no difficulty in making a start in a fortnight. The company should push ahead the carting of all quartz possible during the three dry months remaining. It is a pity that a wire tramway of some sort could not be introduced. However, the quality of the gold is so good that the company could pay 8s or 10s a load for cartage, and then have almost the average price of Thames gold left. What, after all, has been done towards proving the district? Very little; for not even the Paroquet is half prospected. I fancy that no level has been driven 300 feet, and the lowest is only 100 feet below the surface. I am informed that in No. 2the longest level—there is a strong reef in the face, and there are hundreds of feet of virgin ground to the boundary. I was also told that thero is still room for lower levels in the company's ground. If, therefore, there is a good reef, highly auriferous, in this 300 feet by 100 feet, why should there not be others similar in the same locality ? The quartz seems to be as strong at No. 3 level as anywhere else, which is an encouraging feature. I shall be disappointed if the mine does not prove remunerative; but it is not yet a hotovor or Cambria; results, therefore, are likely to be gratifying to shareholders, providing they have not pitched their hopes in too high a key. The mine will start its career handicapped with a heavy burden of debt, for everything has been done on credit, and mines cannot be opened up and batteries erected without the cost running up to four figures. Had calls been made as the work progresed, the probability is the shares would, have been much more buoyant at the present time, and ruled higher, plus the calls. : Heavy debt in mining is a vicious system, and generally discountenanced nowadays. ' In conclusion, I believe the shareholders will receive the reward they deserve for their pluck and perseverance.

Ostrich. —This mine is below the Paroquet, but no work is being done at present. It) is thought? the face of the' drive is hear

the Paroquet lodo, and a little lender was cut just boforo operations were suspended. Tho country resembles tho Paroquet.