THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9126, 7 August 1888, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[from our own correspondents.] Thames, Monday. New Prince Imperial.The trial crushings just completed from the workings at No. 3 level have resulted very satisfactorily, being as follow :20 loads from the eastern end gave '290z ; 10 loads from the western end, 9oz : total, 38oz of melted gold. These returns are very encouraging, and will most likely stimulate more vigorous operations than have been carried on for some time past. The blocks at both ends are of goodsized dimensions, the western end especially, which is intact to surface, whilst in the eastern end there are close upon 70 feet of backs. Caledonian. —A small slide is now making its appearance in the bottom of the winze on Rowe's leader, below No. 2 level, but the only effect it may have upon the leader will perhaps be to heave it from its ordinary course. The winze is now down a depth of 64 feet, which leaves about 30 feet more to sink to reach No. 3 level. At the latter level driving is being carried on upon the course of the same leader, to get underneath the point where the winze will break through, which is about 60 feet ahead. Both this work and the winze are now being pushed ahead with three shifts, in order to get the block opened up as speedily as possible. Cambria. —A small leader was intersected in the drive towards No. 7 winze this morning, but no gold was seen, although the quartz was of a promising nature.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Cambria. —The mine manager wired yesterday : "Cut nice-looking leader at No. 4 level." Trenton. —There is very little change in the country in the bottom of the shaft since my last. The contractors are making better progress; six feet six inches (6ft 6in) have been sunk during the week. The machinery, ropes, etc., are in good order. New Fearnought.—The hangingwall portion of the reef continues to snow nicelooking mineral, the quartz being of a kindly description. The drive is going through a good class of country, and is in a distance of 1") feet from the crosscut. The drive on hangingwall stringer is in a distance of '20 feet from the crosscut. The stringer continues small, although showing colours of gold when breaking down. Have suspended operations here, and have commenced to further extend the crosscut, which is passing through an excellent class of country. Several stringers have been intersected, showing nice-looking mineral. New Prince Imperial.—Cleaning up took place this evening from the two trial parcels taken out from No. 1 reef in thestopes above No. 3 level. Twenty loads from the eastern stones produced the good return of 89ozs, and 10 loads from the western end 28ozs amalgam, which should yield 37ozs retorted gold. Both these returns are, I consider, very satisfactory, and I have now every confidence of making both places pay. In the eastern end there are between 60 and 70 feet of backs, while that in the western end is entirely intact, as the hangingwall of the big reef has never been worked in this end of the mine. The reef in both workings is at present looking fairly well, especially in the western end, where gold is now seen pretty freely every breaking down, and as the quartz contains some first-class mineral, it may make some specimen stone any day. You will, 1 have no doubt, think the amounts crushed and returns small, but when you consider there are only six men employed, you will understand that we cannot get over the ground very quickly. All of the tributers' returns have been verv poor this month, consequently a good number of them have given up their sections. The following parties crushed during the past week Dare and party, two loads for lOdwts; Lyes, three loads. Tozs 17dwts; Boles, three loads, 3ozs ; and Harris, six loads for sozs 19dwts melted gold. The manager telegraphed yesterday : " Banked 3Sozs lOdwts retorted gold. - ' '

THE MAHAKIPAW A GOLDFIELD. [BY telegraph.—press association.] Wellington, Monday. Mr. Gordon, Inspecting Engineer of the Mining Department, has forwarded his report to the Minister of Mines on the Mahakipawa Goldfield. After describing its discovery, he goes on. to say : —"I think it probable that a rich quartz reef will be found at or near the head of the southwestern branch as the creeks get worked up. The whole of the bed rock in this district resembles Otago schists in the vicinity of Skippers and the Shotover mines. The total number of men on the field at the time of my visit was about '200, of whom 90 held claims in which payable prospects had been obtained. The present extent of known auriferous country will not admit of a large population, as the ground that is considered to be payable is about wholly taken up alieacly, an „ newcomers must be prepared to go prosper..,, The Adelineof the range is very steep, and i»„ «, a ,y places nothing but bare rocks show on the surface, so that there is not much dependence to be placed on finding a large amount of alluvial gold on the sides of the range. Those who have claims on the creek bed will probably not be able to get much gold for the next two months, as the flow will always destroy their workings, and the creek bed being too narrow to admit of water being kept to one side. There is, however, a likelihood of a good deal of gold being got when the dry weather sets in, and the field, so far as can be judged from the present prospects, is likely to last about two years. There are good indications that auriferous quartz lodes will yet be found in this neighbourhood, but it is extremely rough country to prospect. There is also the probability of gold being found on Mr. Cullen's land on the flat through which the creek passes, but if so it will be expensive country to work, on account of the largo quantities of water there will be to contend with, so that the ground will have to be rich before it can be profitably worked."