THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9015, 30 March 1888, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

GOLD FINDS IN WAIKATO. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT:?.] » Te Awamutu, Thursday. Some time ago Mr. Walker, of Cambridge, sent a piece of mineral, bearing quartz, to Wellington by Major Jackson, who had it? tested by Dr. Hector, with a result of some 300ozs of gold and some 90ozs of silver to the ton. The discoverer of the quartz is lying in the hospital with a broken leg. A prospector named Barry has an inkling of the locality, and will leave Kihikihi tomorrow with a well-organised party of Europeans and Maoris. The settlers about here nope that the action of Barry will force Mr. Walker to unearth his discovery if there is anything in it. P. Hayes thinks he has got a good prospect of silver, and is sinking on the Alexandra road, within the Te Awamutu town boundary. Whatawhata, Thursday. Mr. Sceates, who has found small colours of gold on his farm here, has just made a contract for the sinking of a prospecting shaft 40 feet deep on one of the bights of the Waipa river, under the hill, where the old bed of the stream has originally run. [from our own correspondents.] Paeroa, Thursday. The Waihi Goldmining Company have been unfortunate in their choice of a time for the transit of the machinery to Wailii, which will bring them right into midwinter, when it is almost impossible to get stuil along the road, part of which is through a dense bush. The Ohinemuri County Council is making great efforts to assist Mr. Walker, and has succeeded in obtaining from Government a subsidy of £133 6s 8d at £2 for £1, for repairs and maintenance of the bridges and culverts on the main road. The Council has also let four small contracts for metalling about three miles of the road, while Mr. Walker, on behalf of his company, has placed men on the roads at his own expense. About 100,000 feet of timber (kauri and kahikatea) have been delivered on the site, also 10,000 bricks and 57 tons machinery. About 80 tons of the latter have yet to arrive, including the heaviest pieces. Mr. E. M. Corbett, of Waitekauri, who is well-known as a battery engineer, is superintending the construction of the machinery, which should be completed in about four months. It consists of a Globe crusher, a pan and settler plant, and sundry other appliances, all of which have for their end the reduction of the ore to as fine and impalpable a mass as possible. Such a process is eminently suited to Waihi ore, the gold in which is very fine, and which unless the ore is reduced to almost indivisible atoms, is subject to great loss by floatage, etc., |the gold passing away enclosed in minute grains of quartz. The Dart pumping apparatus, which should be up in about six weeks, will then be immediately fixed, and the water eased from the mine. Breaking down will afterwards be commenced, so as to have a good paddock of ore to start upon when the machinery is available. There is a fair amount already broken out, and there is also a large quantity of ore in the reef which will last a considerable time. The great problem is whether or not the goldbearing ore exists at the low levels. Circumstantial evidence goes to prove that it does. If this is so, there need be no doubt as to the future of Waihi. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Thames, Thursday. Moanataiari.Communication has been effected between the rise and winze affording good ventilation. Driving on the large reef has been resumed. The manager thinks Richards' leader, on which the rise was supposed to have gone up, has been missed at No. 2 level, and is available for both j Moanatairi and Caledonian. Eleven loads from the rise yielded 9oz gold. Alburnia.—The leader has been driven on 28 feet, and colours of gold are seen. About 101b picked stone are on hand. Stoping has been commenced. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. New Alburnia.—During the past week the drive on No. 2 hanging wall lode, battery level, has been driven a distance of 24 feet. The lode has been broken down for a distance of 14 feet. Gold is seen freely in the quartz, and about lOlbs of picked stone have been selected. A stope has been started over the drive, with a view of timbering up and breaking out a crushing as soon as possible. The lode varies in size from 12 to 18 inches wide, 9 inches of this being crushing dirt. The length of the present block (as far as I can judge at present) is 200 feet, lengthening out upward, and about 140 feet of backs. There is also a block 80 feet in length by 60 feet in depth, abutting Jobe and' party's western boundary, and From Whan to battery level. This block will also be proved as the western drive advances. I might also state that the Success reef, and also the Sons of Freedom reef west of battery level crosscut, have for the present been reserved. Should the lode now in hand turn out payable (which I have 110 doubt it will), the crosscut can be extended to cut and prospect the abovenamed reefs. Jobe find party are now crushing 18 loads of quartz and 701bs of picked stone. Christie and party are also crushing 16 loads and a few pounds of picked stone. Most of the other tribute parties are meeting with fair success. 0

New Fearnought. — Instructions have been forwarded to resume mining operation? in the company's holding.