THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9084, 19 June 1888, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

KARAKA CREEK DISTRICT. [FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]

Thames, Thursday. The Karaka Creek has long claimed the attention of the prospector, and although all the good surface patches are supposed to have been worked out, there are still several claims in this vicinity which contribute their quota to the monthly output of gold from the field, and from present prospects are likely to continue so for some time to come. Eventually, however, capital will be needed to work the ground, for although it is apparently an easy matter for a poor man to work from surface levels, yet when the water level is reached capital is required to sink shafts, erect expensive pumping machinery, and to open up low levels, and the poor man hai then to give place to the capitalist. This is the condition to which gold mining in the Karaka district is fast approaching, and it requires no prophet to tell us that the lower levels in this vicinity will prove richer than the upper or surface levels ever have been. This is confirmed by the amount of gold obtained from the creek levels of the principal claims now at work, viz., the Adelaide, City of Manchester, Lonehand, Sunbeam, and. Hokianga. In all of these claims the main bodies of quartz have proved richer in gold at the lower levels than in the upper ones, and the respective proprietors all unite in declaring that they believe the ground under foot is better than that above. But, as before pointed out, they are unable to work the ground themselves, not having the capital at their command to contest with the water element, which becomes very troublesome a few foet below the creek level. Consequently it remains only a matter of a short time to see the ground in this locality being worked by large companies, instead of by a few men as is now the case, and I venture to predict prosperous futures for them. Perhaps a few words relative to some of the claims may be of interest to many at the present juncture, when so much attention is being directed to the mining industry as the means for disposing of the depression now prevailing. I will confine myself solely to those which are of the most importance. Adelaide Claim.—This claim is situated on the right hand range, at the entrance to the creek proper. It comprises 11 men's gi-ound,and is owned by Messrs. Mcllhaney, Hart, Lyes, and Bull. The present operations are carried on from the creek level through a main tunnel 1000 feet in length, which was driven some four or five years ago by the present proprietors, in conjunction with the Rocky Point Goldmining Company, now defunct, at a cost of nearly £2000. This tunnel was carried through a very hard bar of solid rock, and requires no timber for the whole of that distance. As soon as the reef was intersected it was driven upon for n length of about 600 feet, with 120 feet of backs, and it is this block of ground, which thepresentproprietors have been engaged in stoping out for the last four years, and there yet remains about fix yoars more labour before them beforo the block will be exhausted. Thereof taken throughout averages about eighteen inches in thickness, ie well defined, and carrios a good "dig," but the country surrounding it is generally of a hard nature, and requires the plentiful nse of dynamite. So far it has proved more than payable, although but littlo gold is seen in breaking it out, the last crushing of forty loads yielding sixty ounces of gold, valued at £3 Is 7d per ounce. The claim has now been manned for a period of about six years, during which timo gold to the value of nearly £12,000 has been extracted from the ground. From the results met with when first opening up the block now in hand, the proprietors are confident that the lode will prove far richer in gold under foot than any they have yet obtained, but to open up a low level requires the sinking of a shaft and the erection of a small pumping plant, which they can hardly see their way clear for doing as yet. City of Manchester.—This claim includes an area of three men's ground, and is owned by Messrs. Scott and Taylor. It is situated on the northern end of the Adelaide claim, and the reof operated upon is the same, but the ground appears moro friable for working, and carries more mineral veins, whilst tho quartz also yields a better return of gold. At present the proprietors are stoping out a block of gi ound 100 feet in length, which originally had SO feet of backs, adjacent to the Adelaide boundary, but only about 20 feet of backs now remain to beat out. Tho reef averages 18 inches in width, carries a fair percentage of wholesome mineral, and so far has averaged 4oz of gold per load, whilst the value of the gold obtained from the block so far totals up to the neat amount of £3000. When fche present stopes are exhausted, thero remains a further block, about 120 feet in length, to operate upon at the northern end, and the probability is, it will prove of equal value. A lower level, to give an additional 60 feet of backs, can be obtained by going about 400 feet lower down the creek, and to enable this being done at some future dato, the proprietors have recently added to their claim the ground through which the tunnel would nave to pass. To go any deeper than this will require a shaft to be sunk. Two tribute parties are at work in tho surface levels, working on small leaders, and each of them are making fair wages. Lone Hand.—Mr. Barclay is the proprietor of this claim, which contains an area of 11 men's ground. Tho prosent operations are being conducted from the northern end of the same tunnel as the Manchester people are working from, and consists of two crosscuts being driven to intersect the numerous quartz veins and flinties which were worked so successfully in the upper levols by Mr. Barclay himsolf a year or two back. To get into the present point an old drive 200 feet in length had to be renovated and re-timbered throughout, which work has been done in a first-class manner and at considerable expense, none but the very best of timber being used, whilst a good iron railroad has also been laid down. Since this work was accomplished about 400 feet of crosscutting has been done, and another 20 or 30 feet is expected to bring to light some of the leaders sought for. Two or three leaders other than those wanted havo already been passed through, and a few pounds of picked stone obtained from them, out beyond passing through thorn nothing has been done to prove their value. In this claim the richest gold is obtained at the junction of flintios with the quartz veins, and it is the custom to follow these flinties to where the quartz veins junction with them. The present level will give from 30 to 40 feet of backs, bat as there is a large block of ground to operate upon it will occupy some timo to thoroughly work it out. Three parties of tributera are at work in the surface levels, one of them being on payable gold, and the other two driving for known loaders. Sunbkam.—This is a claim of two men's ground, and is owned by Messrs. Green and Birnie. It is situated two or throe hundred yards higher up the creek than the Lone Hand. At present the proprietors are stoping on a leader which averages about a foot in width, above the creek level. The block they have in hand is 50 feet in length with 40 feet of backs, and so far the quartz has averaged oz gold per load. A few weeks ago they endeavoured to sink a winze on the leader below the level, but this work had to bo abandoned after a depth of 20 feet was attained owing to the influx of water. Two loads of quartz were obtained, however, which yielded 3sozs gold, thus proving that tho quartz was even richer below than above the drive. There are several other leaders in the § round upon which little or no work has een done beyond cutting through them, so that the proprietors have plenty of scope for further prospecting. Two tribute parties are at work on cros3 leaders.

Hokianga.—Seven men's ground is included in this claim, which is owned by Messrs. Jenkin Bros., who havo personally conducted all the operations for a period of about seven years. After successfully working a surface block from the creek level, a winze was with some difficulty, owing to the inflow of water, sunk a depth of 50 feot, but with the aid of a hand pump, a block of ground 50 feet in length was opened up on a reef which ranges from a few inches to three feet in thickness, but in addition to this there are numerous branch veins and flinties, and these at their junctions invariably make rich gold. This block has now been worked upwards a height of 30 feot, the quartz obtained yielding on an average 4ozs gold nor load, worth from £3 Iβ to £3 3s per or. When this block is stoped out the proprietors intend to open up a new block on the same reef, and its branches above the creek level going hillward.

No work whatever is being done in the. Auckland Goldmining Company's ground, some distance higher up the creek, pending a possible change of ownership, but in the Enterprise Company's claim, three parties of tributers are at work, two of them on payable gold, and the other prospecting. There are other private claims farther up the creek still, some of which are yielding fairly well, but others again are merely prospecting in hopes of meeting with payable gold. . WHANGAMATA.

Whangamata, Saturday. Things in general are very quiet here. The weather ""has been frightful for weeks past —raining almost every day. It has been the means of keeping the few prospectors who are left here at present indoors. John Me Williams, the well-known prospector, paid a visit to Boat Harbour a few days ago, where a number of Maoris and half-castes are engaged in prospecting for gold. They have already unearthed two or three reefs from which fair prospects are to be obtained. The scene of operations ie about midway between Tairua and Mercury Bay, and it is considered to be a very promising locality. On his return Me Williams brought back a piece of quartz about 41b in woight, which he broke out from the Prospectors' reef himself. On one side it is coated with very fine gold, while the quartz itself is very similar to that obtained at Thames. On the news of the find reaching here several left for the scene.

We have not seen a stranger here at Whangamata for the last three weeks, which is no doubt owing to the wretched state of the roads preventing visitors coming here. The last time I came over from Hikutaia via the " wiretrack," it was like floundering through the mud on the Piako Flats. The Thames County Council would indeed be conferring a boon on the isolated few of this district if they would but expend £30 or £40 in repairing the track where it is most required. Mining items are very scarce, owing to the limited number of men at present employed in the various claims, and I am afraid it will remain so until the weather becomes settled again. The only items of interest are as follow :—■

Observer. —On Monday last one ton of fair quality ore was packed' down to the landing for transhipment to Auckland, where it is to be treated at Mr. George Fraser's plant in Mechanics' Bay. Driving is still being pursued on the course of the lode.

Goldwater.—Mr. J. Sainsbury has just completed his contract of conveying five tons of ore down to the landing, at 25s per ton. This parcel will be shipped to Auckland by the first steamer, ana was broken from the surface level, where men are still omployed in stoping. The output is limited at present, but the quality is fair. The low level is at a standstill until the upper block is finished.

Brooan'.—The driveto cut the Goldwater reef is in a distance of 100 feet, and another 40 feet is expected to intersect the reef. The nature of the ground in the face at present is very similar to that which was met with in the surface level of the Goldwater previous to cutting the reef. Younc; Colonial.—Three men are still employed prospecting in this ground, and are meeting with encouraging results. JrrsT-iN-TiME.—Two men are engaged driving to cut the reef at the low level at e point underneath a winze, from which fair prospects were obtained when being sunk. Herald.—Two parcels of ore, consisting of lewt. each, have been forwarded to Auckland from this mine. One of the parcels is to be treated, by Mr. G, Fraser, and the other by Cooper and Young. Silver King.— Surveyors are afc work surveying this property. It commands a prominent position, and likely some day to be heard of to advantage.

MINE MANAGER'S REPORTS. Cambria.—One pound of picked stone came to hand this morning from the loader on the hanging wall side of the main reef in the winze that is being sunk in the intermediate level, and some nice dabs of gold left showing. This is the same leader that the intermediate drive was put in on. This leader will junction with the main reef in about another six feet of sinking. A portion of the of the main reef was broken down when starting to sink the winze, in which there is splendid mineral. Good strong colours of gold wore seen in the quartz at No. 4 level this morning. There is nice-looking mineral and silica through the quartz. New Fearnought.—A reef four feet in thickness has been intersected in the crosscut, in a good channel of country, within the last two days, which I think is the Banbury reef. The hangingwall portion, for two feet in width, carries nice-looking mineral, and the quartz is of a kindly nature. Colours of gold and excellent mineral have been observed in a stringer two inches in thickness, dropping into the main reef. The crosscut has Dcen extended nine feet for the week, making the total distance driven 21 feet.