THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9117, 27 July 1888, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

IMPROVED PROSPECTS.

A MELBOURNE SYNDICATE

NEGOTIATING.

THE FORESHORE DEPOSITS.

RICH FIND IN THE KAPANGA.

■ [from our own correspondents.] Coromandel, Thursday. The Warden held a Court here on Thursday last, and granted a large number of licenses that have been hanging fire for some time for want of plans ; but notwithstanding the fact that the Government have agreed to . allow sinking on the foreshore under certain conditions, the Warden has,not been instructed to that effect, and his hands are tied by an absurd law, showing the folly of having Ministers of Mines and legislators who do not know their business, the moral of which is that there should always be a goldfields member as Minister of Mines. 1

On Friday last the Warden visited Brentnell's Beach claim, and after some measuring a point was discovered upon which they could sink without breaking the law, and the Warden ordered them to go to work. This is, a very valuable piece of ground, as was shown recently by the result from a ton of silt and washdirt, tested by Fraser'a pans, in in Auckland. Three lots were tested,' the two uppermost only giving from lis to 16s worth of gold per ton, but the third lot, comprising some two feet of washdirt off the bed rock gave, over £6 per ton, and apparently the whole area of the claim is covered by such stuff as that. So far the further they go out to sea the richer it gets, but it will require something in the shape of a dam or breakwater to keep back the sea while the ground is worked, ana must be: taken in hand by capitalists, although the damming back the sea will not be a hard matter, as there is never a very heavy sea on. In working this ground Brentnell has come across.several.good-sized leaders, two of which are showing payable gold, and there iB a very strong suspicion that a large reef crosses the harbour at the end of the wharf, and has shed the loose gold found on the beach. A very large reef is showing at Preece's Point, striking direct for the wharf. The Warden also visited the claims 'at ; Preece's Point, and expressed himself very I much astonished' at the fine reefs to be seen 1 there, and said they had nothing like it at the Thames. The opinion is fast growing that this point will be the centre of mining in this district. . On Monday evening last a Mr. Armstrong, an expert of great experience, arrived here from Melbourne, sent by a large syndicate, who are in treaty for buying the Castle Rock, Vaughans, and Nelson claims. Several Auckland gentlemen also came with him. For the last two days he has been very carefully examining those properties, and although, of course, nothing definite will be known of his opinion until he reports to his principals, there is very little doubt that it will be favourable. very rich specimens were got out of the Castle Rock in his presence, and good prospects got in the others. If the sale takes place, a large staff of men will be put on in this district immediately; and it will very likely be the means of starting other companies in this district. I hear of very rich gold being got lately in the Kapanga— richer than has ever been got before. It is very unfortunate that no authentic information can begot of the workings in this mine, for I am quite satisfied if the whole information were known it would greatly enhance the value of mining property in this district, and more especially of the Kapanga mine itself. • Saxon.—-The mine manager telegraphed yesterday lSlbs picked stone from second stope, and lOlbs from third stope footwall reef No. 3 level!' . ■ . Thames, Thursday. Caledonian.The drive along the course of the main reef at No. 1 level has been extended a distance of 15 feet during the past week. The reef now averages three feet in thickness, and shows Occasional colours of gold in the footwall portion. A trial crushing of 15 loads now being treated is shaping for about . seven dwts. per load. The manager has made up his mind that the quartz stringers met with in the crosscut at No. 2 level form Hodge's leader split up, and therefore has started driving eastward upon them to . come upon a more defined body. The winze on Rowe's leader is down nearly 50 feet in somewhat tight country, but the leader still averages about six inches in thickness, and shows strong colours of gold at every breaking down. The return of hard-squeezed amalgam from the six loads just treated was fitJoz. Sawyer and party, tributere, have obtained the payable yield of 18pz lOdwt melted gold from three loads general dirt.

AlbUrnia.—Henderson and party, tributers, have crushed seven loads quartz for the profitable return of 470z melted gold.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—own CORRESPONDENTS.] Thames, Thursday. The following applications for leases were ranted to-day at the Warden's Court:—A. 'orter, Sutro Licensed Holding, Karangahake; T. Melville, Sunny Corner, Karangahake; A. Porter, Scotia, Karangahake; J. Hawkes, Tapn Licensed Holding; A. L. Gibb, Silver King, Marototo; D. B. McDonald, Silver Crown, Marototo; H. Baker, Phoenix, TeMata; D. R. Gellion, Walhalla.Karangahake; A. Buokland, Freehold Extended, Puriri; E. Mace, Golden Spur, Puriri ; J as. Mackay, jun., Little Nell, Karaka; J. E. Banks, Walkover and Walkover No. 2, Waiomo. Several other applications were adjourned owing to non-completion of plans. Protection was granted for three months to the Silver ton Goldmining Company, Waihi; four months to T. A. Dunlop, for the Queen of Beauty Extended; one month, to the Oiamond Goldmining Company, Karangahake; three months, Ostrich claim, Waiomo. permission was granted to James Russell to man the Hidden Treasure and Maori Chief Qnr i> with five men each in lieu of P- m'^ lon and to James Thompson to man one month p at , Harbour with two men for AdeC. L P , r . otect ' on was refused to the epmc ' Rose, and Dubbo Goldmining Companies, Karangahake.