THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9086, 21 June 1888, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[from our own correspondents.]

Thames, Wednesday. Saxon.—Cleaning up and retorting for this company takes place to-morrow, when a fair return is expected. The picked stone, about 2cwfc, was crushed to-day.

Cambria.—A breaking-down of the hanging wall leader occurred last night in the winze below the intermediate level, when about 21b of picked stone were obtained, and colours of gold seen freely distributed throughout the quartz. The leader now shows a width of 4 inches in the bottom of the winze, and a few feet lower down it is expected to junction with the main reef. None of the mineralised portion of the larger body has yet been broken, except what has come away whilst stripping it. Operations were resumed on the main lode at No. 4 level this morning, which have been at a standstill during the boiler inspection. The final cleaning up and retorting took placo to-day from the quartz obtained ana crushed from the stopes lately stopped on the various leaders above No. 3 level, for the yield of 1240z 14dwt melted gold from 157 loads. New Prince Imperial.—Operations upon the hangingwall leader have been suspended, both above No. 1 level arid in the winze below No. 2 level, owing to the nonpayableness of the quartz, and prospecting works have been commenced in two or three other parts of the mine. One of these is the driving of a crosscut westward into the footwall of No. 1 reef at No. 2 level, for the purpose of intersecting some small leaders that exist in this part of the mine ; a second is the stoping of a block on No. 1 reef in the old eastern stopes above No. 3 level, and the third work is prospecting on the hanging wall of No. lreef westward of the shaft. In all of these places there is a fair prospect of meeting with payable quartz, and consequently they are well worthy of further trial. Cleaning up and retorting from the quartz lately obtained from the hangingwall reef will take place tomorrow.

Caledonian. — The men formerly employed i ising on the hangingwall leader at To. 1 level have been : removed to No. 2 level, where they are now engaged in sinking a winze upon the leader that a party of tributers (Rowe's) have been successfully working above the level for some time past. The winze is now down a depth of ten feet in an excellent description of country, but no quartz has yet been broken down. Should this leader prove payable there will be a large block available upon it, the backs alone being 120 feet on the underlie. At No. 1 level driving on the course of No. 1 reef has been continued as usual, with the result that the junction of No. 1 and 2 reefs and the Young American leader has been met with at a point whore a block of ground above No. 2 level was stoped out during the management of Mr. Thomas James, and which has been connected with the present workings. These old stopes are now being picked up preparatory to continuing operations on the large body of quartz which occupies the face, there being quite nine feet of quartz showing ; but, although there is some nice mineral in the stone, no gold has yet been seen. The winding engine is now at a standstill, as the boilers are undergoing the annual inspection. OHINE MURI.

K auake. —The tributers engaged on the various portions of the Woodstock and Kenilworth mines are all getting good grade ore. Mr. Parkes has made an offer to Mr. Moore, who captains one of the Kenilworth tributes, for a largo parcel of dirt for treatment at the new works to be erected at Te Aroha by Messrs. Parkes and Chambers. The purchase is to bo made according to the assay value. Adeline.—A gentleman from Melbourne is now on a visit of inspection to the Adeline mine, with a view to negotiating for its purchase. This is one of the most bona fide' properties ou the field, and should return good value to any purchaser. Mr. Smith's Claim.—Mr. J. B. Smith, of Waitoa, is pegging out largo areas of country here.

Ivanhoe and Truro. — Tho Southern people who have put the management of their mining properties (the Ivanhoe and Truro) into the hands of Mr. John McCombie,*are doing good work, a fair number of hands being employed on the mines. At Owharoa the usual tributing is going on well. Some payable returns have been to hand lately, and others may be expected from the tributers in the Smile of Fortune, Radical, &c. Waihi.—Mr. J. W. Walker is making rapid progress here with the erection of his engine and machine house, etc., under the supervision of Mr. E. W. Corbett. Mr. Walker intends in future boarding and lodging the men engaged on the works himself. The whole of the plant may be expected to be in working order early in the spring. WAITEKAURI DISTRICT.

Young New Zealand.—Mason and Hollis are doing good work here, and a decent crushing may be shortly expected. Welcome. — Birnie and Goodwin are breaking some really good stone out here, which assays for large returns, and will undoubtedly crush well. Jubilee.—Mr. Kersey Cooper, who it will be remembered cabled from Home that he had floated this claim last April, is expected to arrive in about three weeks. His advent will put a new face on mining matters here, in which a great change may be confidently expected. Saxon (late Eclipse).—H. Skeen is getting some splendid stone in his workings ere. It is understood that this claim, an undoubtedly rich one, will shortly be placed in New South Wales.