THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9163, 19 September 1888, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[FROM our own correspondents.]

Thames, Tuesday. Trenton.—The contractors are making fair headway with the sinking of the shaft, and should finish their contracted depth (100 feet) about thu end of the present week. Alburnia.—There is no change to report from this company's workings. The manager has now on hand about eight loads of quartz, and 40 pounds picked stone, the latter being nearly all obtained during last week. Two tribute parties— viz., Hennessy and party, and Foster and party, have completed crushings of three loads each, for r,he respective returns of 3ozs lOdwts, and lon 12dwts gold. Caledonian.—A parcel of ten loads of quartz obtained from the stopes on Rowe's leader above No. 3 level is now being treated at the company's battery, and is shaping for a return equal to l£oz or 2oz per load. The leader still averages about six inches in width. At No. 2 level the drive on the loader going towards No. 1 reef is in a distance of about 12 feet, but although colours of gold are seen when breaking down the leader, which is about 2 inches thick, still the prospects are not so encouraging as might be wished for, consequently it is doubtful whether this work will be continued much longer. Coromandel, Tuesday. The new find at the Tiki is still ma'-'ng a good deal of stir. The owners have ut in a drive below the road, and cut the reef, showing good gold, and they are very confident of being able to make a good rise. The leader is small, but they are only on the surface at present. The country is splendid, and, if properly worked, likely to turn out well.

i The syndicate who has Vizards, Vaugi hans, and Nelson in hand still hangs fire, although I understand the expert (Mr. | Armstrong) was thoroughly well satisfied, | and the large number of samples he took

turned out exceedingly good when assayed. I am inclined to think that these syndicates want too big a. slice off the cake themeelves; It is a pity the buyer and seller cannot arrange things face to face. There would not be so much outcry about big prices then.

Pdkepoto.—This is a block of freehold of 70 acres right in the centre of the gold bearing channel of country, being a portion of Trig Hill, and rising abruptly some 500 or 600 feet from the flat. There are numerous gold-bearing reefs and leaders striking through it at various angles. The whole hill is the finest sandstone. Several drives have been put in cutting reefs, etc., from which test parcels have been taken, ranging from Joz upwards per ton, but nothing like systematic work has been done. Although it stands right in the line of strike of the Kapanga rich reefs nothing has been done to prove that they exist there, although a large reef has been uncovered which is supposed to be theKapanga, and a short time ago a very large well-mineralised reef was discovered, ana it was found that a prospecting drive had been put in some years ago, and driven about three hundred' feet parallel, about twenty or thirty feet off. Last week a large cross leader was discovered by the owner, containing a splendid show of gold on pounding it up. The Cross and Green Harp reefs of the Coromandel Company will also strike into this ground, as they strike nearly at right angles to the Kapanga reef. Unfortunately the owner is not in a position to erect machinery and work the ground properly, but I believe he if very anxious to have it worked, and will sell or make liberal terms with any capitalist to work the ground. It is a great pity if the necessary capital is not forthcoming, as from the nature of the ground and its position it must some day become very valuable. Coromandel Mint.—l am very glad to hear that affairs have been finally settled in Auckland to work this ground. I understand they intend first to work tho silt on the foreshore, as it is known if they commence sinking they will cover up a large portion, which will thus become useless. A breakwater will have to be erected, and the sea dammed back, and I have no doubt a very large quantity of gold will be got, and it will also set at rest the supposition as to whether a large reef does or does not cross the end of the wharf and shed this gold, and by working over the foreshore first they will also locate the various reefs and leaders, and be in a better position to start a central shaft to work the ground. The Coromandel company have at last connected the pump in tne main shaft with the engine, and everything works splendidly. Sinking will bo resumed immediately. The whole affair reflects the greatest credit on the manager, Captain Hodge. I have no hesitation in saying it is one of the best pieces of work on this Peninsula, and he assures me it will be quite capable of pumping 1000 feet if necessary.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —own CORRESPONDENTS.] Waiht, Tuesday. Martha Extended. The tributers have cleaned up as follow :—McKenna, 57ozs : Brown, 27ozs; Stevens, 37ozs; Chappel, 37ozs, for seven weeks'run in the Company's battery. Owharoa.—Farmer and party cleaned up for two months' work 171ozs of gold, valued at 47s 6d per ounce. Marototo.—lt is incorrect that Mr. J. H. Moore, of Marototo, goes to Sydney.