THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9146, 30 August 1888, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

MINE MANAGER'S REPORTS.

Hikutaia.Since my last report we have driven 20 feet further north upon the main reof in the drive we put in on the northeast Bide of the creek, which I mentioned in my last report, but I am sorry to say that it has not yielded any encouraging prospects in that direction, for the distance it has been driven upon, therefore I have discontinued the drive for the present. No. 2 drive, south side of creek, we have laid down a tramway, and commenced driving south on the reef, and have gone about 10 feet on it. The reef here is well defined, about 2 feet thick, and we are getting muon better prospects from it than could be obtained when Mr. Seaver reported on it, and I have great hopes that it will still improve as we get further under the hill. By pushing this drive on al>out 40 feet it will bring us underneath where we got some of the best prospects on the surface, and it will be at a 56 feet deeper level than the prospecting drive on the side of the spur mentioned in my last. This drive is now in 65 feet, and we have just cut the reef, but have not driven through it. It is a strong body of stone, but I have not seen any gold in it yet. lam sending 1601b of ore to the Melbourne Exhibition. The Government pays all expenses, and will return it. Saxon.—At No. 5 level the contractors have driven 16 feet during the past week. The country has been more favourable for progress for the last few days, and part of the reef has been broken down. It is about 1 foot thick, carries good mineral, and shows a few colours of gold. The ninth stope on the main reef from No. 4 level has been advanced 8 feet, and the tenth 12 feet. The reef is from 12 to 15 inches, and colours of gold are seen when breaking it down. On No. I footwall leader the fifth stope has been beaten up to the break ; the sixth has been advanced 12 feet, and the seventh 13 feet. Another stope has been started. This leader is from 4to 6 inches in thickness, and shows good colours of gold. Above No. 3 level, the leading stope on the footwall reef has been extended 15 feet, the second 14 feet, the third 16 feet, and the fourth 13 feet This reef is from 10 to 12 inches in thickness, and is fair crushing dirt. The fifth stope (13 feet wide) has been advanced 8 feet, and is of the same description as in my last report. One foot of crushing dirt on the hangingwall, and 15 inches on the footwall, with small leaders between, in which, as well as in the larger portions, colours of gold are seen. On hangingwa.il reef the leading stopo is up to the face of drive ; the second ana third stopes have been each advanced 12 feet and the fourth 14 feet. The reef is well defined in the third and fourth stopes, and colours of gold are frequently seen in the quartz. Five or six pounds of picked stone came from the third stope on Monday. Cleaning up and retorting took place to-day for the return of 2210zs retorted gold. For this return 69 loads of general dirt and 2301 ha of picked stone were crushed : the picked stone gave 171ozs 3dwtfi and the general dirt 49ozs 17dwts. Two hundred and sixty-seven loads were crushed for the 190ozs lOdwts of which I informed you on Saturday last. The amount of picked stone is in excess of that reported from time to time, and is accounted for in the following manner : When the stone is got it is estimated at so many pounds, not actually weighed, and when brought to tne surface taken at once to the bank for safe-keeping: and in addition to what is classed as picked atone, many pounds weight of stone containing good colours are saved, not worthy of being specially reported, but all weighed together previous to crushing. New Manukad. —Mulligan's leader is looking about the same as last week, but I think it will improve in the next stope. The dirt being crushed is just about payable. Will clean up this week Tributers : Kerr and party have just finished a crushing of nine loads for the splendid return of 95ozs of gold. They had 1071 bs of picked stone to back it up. Cambria.The crosscut at No. 4 level is now in a distance of 92 teet. The reef in the face of the crosscut is about 20 inches in thickness. The quartz is kindly-looking for gold. There is splendid white sandstone country on both the hangingwall and footwall of the reef. The winze on the No. 6 leader is down a depth of 5 feet. The leader is about six inches in thickness. Colours of gold were seen through the quartz when breaking down the leader. The fourth stope oil No. 7 leader is along 24 feet. The leader in the face of the stope is four inches in thickness. Colours of gold were seen freely through the quartz when breaking down the leader. The fifth stope west on the main reef is along 50 feet. There are about 12 inches of the hanging-wall portion of the reef being broken out for crushing. The sixth stope west on the main reef is along 29 feet. There are about 9 inches of the hangingwall portion of the reef being broken out for crushing. The hangingwall leader which comes in in this stope is also being carried along. It is about 6 inches in thickness. Gold was seen through the quartz when breaking it down. I have found it necessary to increase the number of men driving on the hangingwall leader at the intermediate level to six by removing two men from the stopes on the main reef and hiring two additional men. The leader in the face of the drive is about 9 inches in thickness. Dabs and colours of gold were seen through the quartz when breaking down the leader. 30 loads of quartz have been crushed during the week for the return of 82oz of amalgam. Six loads of tailings have been put through the berdans for the return of lloz lOdwt of amalgam. The battery and winding engine are in good working order. Adeline Amalgamated. — The applications' for shares to date amount to 209, and the numler of shares applied for is 44,517. As there are only nine applications to come in, the meeting to form the new company will be called for to-morrow by advertisement in the Herald, so. 1 iat the amalgamation of the Diamond, Rose, Adeline, Dubbo. and Josephine claims.will be under weigh in a day or two. The five companies are practically extinguished, the Adeline Amalgamated Gohunining Company (Limited)—to be registered—being the owner of the various holdings in one block.