THE GOLD FIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9154, 8 September 1888, Page 6

THE GOLD FIELDS.

[FROM our OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] VVaihi.—Mr. J. W. Walker is making rapid strides with the fixing of the plant. The massive beams and framings for the Globe mills, stone • crusher, pans, and settlers are facing placed in position, and will be fixed tfc about a fortnight. The work of placiup the engine and boiler is also proceeding sifNsfactorily. The draining shaft is now down 96 feet. Bain, the contractor, has three shifts at work, and should be through in about) a fortnight, when the pumping machinery will be fixed without delay. In the mine, which I visited on Wednesday, some most satisfactory ore is being grassed. The drive on the Union reef is producing some grand mottled ore, the reef averaging six feet full and bye. From the Rosemonb workings also there is some first-class rock to grass. About 80 tons ore, on a rough average, are ready for a start as soon as Mr. Corbetfc has the plant complete. This is being rapidly augmented. Mr. Walker has the pick of the Upper Country miners at work. There are altogether on the site over 100 men, including wages u.:n, contractors, experts, &c. Everything is being done most systematically, and judging from present appearances, there should be no doubt . that the mint} will be oue of the most orotic*

able on the peninsula. Of > course everything rests on the reefs being payable at the lower levels, but experts in judging country, rock, and other characteristics that point to the presence of gold, are unanimous in the belief that the gold will be found at deep levels. Those who know most about it, have not the slightest doubt of this. , , Waitekauri. —Mr. John Read, of the Thames, who is about to visit Melbourne and Sydney, paid a visit on Tuesday last to the Saxon mine (late Eclipse), at Waitekauri. Air. Read, who has a keen eye to a likely speculation, has described this claim as one that if the merits of it were known to capitalists would be jumped at as a firstclass investment. He has therefore made arrangements with the owners of the mine to negotiate in Melbourne for the sale of their property. The claim has simply had the eyes picked out of it by a miner named Skeen, who has at times made rich patches out of the reef, and there is no doubt that properly opened up and developed this claim would be one of the most profitable on the field. Its area is 14J acres, and there are three well defined reefs on it. Marototo. —It is understood that a large portion of the money put into Marototo by Australian capitalists will be expended in opening up the country between Marototo and Waitekauri.

Mata.— mine manager wired yesterday :— Lead big. See cola on bottom level. Broke through to winze. ' Cambria.—The mine manager reports as follows Cleaning up and retorting for the fortnight took place yesterday for the following return: 53 loads of quartz crushed for 450z lOdwt; 161b picked stone for 14oz ; 11 loads of tailings, soz; retorted gold, 640z lOdwt; melted gold, 630z lOdwt.