THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9182, 11 October 1888, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[from our own correspondent.] Thames, Tuesday. Alburnia.—The reef in the stopes above the battery level is not yielding hardly as good a grade of quartz as formerly, which is accounted for by the fact that the country encasing it is hardly so firm as could be wished for, being evidently affected by the proximity of the surface. The highest stope is now some 70 feet above the level, and within about 30 feet of the surface. The reef ranges from six to eight inches in thickness, and shows colours of gold when being broken down, but no picked stone has been obtained for the last two or three weeks. There are now fully '20 loads of quartz on hand, with 601b of picked stone, and a start was made at the Caledonian battery on Monday evening to treat the same. Saxon.Yesterday a breaking down of the reef at No. 5 level took place for a length of about 18 feet hill ward of the small heave which recently crossed the face. Up against the heave, the reef showed a width of about 7 inches, but it enlarged to 18 inches by the time the face was reached. The quartz broken was of a promising character, and contained some nice mineral, whilst, colours of gold were also seen, but nothing rich enough to designate as picked stone was met with. In order that the drive may be pushed ahead as quickly as possible, the manager has suspended the rise recently started about 180 feet in from the shaft, it having been found that the. ventilation was not sufficient to provide two parties of men with a supply of fresh air, and as the drive is the most important work of the two, preference has been given to its continuance. To remedy the ventilation, however, and at the same time to provide another outlet for escape in case of accident, a winze is to be sunk from No. 4 level, which will connect with No. 5 level some (30 feet ahead of the present face. By so doing, the manager also hopes to be enabled to carry the drive in underneath the payable run of gold met with at No. 4 level, without having again to either rise or sink, and thereby economise expense.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] t Thames, Wednesday. Cambria.—No. 1 hangingwall leader was intersected in the rise above No. 4 level to-day, its size being about nine inches. Saxon.—Three shifts of men are now engaged in sinking a winze from No. 4 level to No. 5 level for ventilation purposes. Manukau. — A small leader has been intersected on the footwall of Mulligan's leader in the stopes above No. 4 level, upon which driving has been started, and about 01b picked stone have been obtained. New Devon.—The owners of this claim (late New North Devon) have decided to float a company for working the same, and Mr. Harcourt leaves for Auckland to-morrow to place the plan and prospectus in Mr. McDonald Scott's hands. Great Barrier Copper Mines.—The s.s. Pearl left here this morning for the Great Barrier Island, having on board Messrs. Ralph, Lawrence, Vivian, Campbell, Redfern, and two or three miners. The object of the party is to inspect the copper mine and to obtain further samples of ore. Mr. Vivian, who is an experienced copper miner, has been engaged by Mr. Ralph to report on the value of the copper lode, and the best mode of working it, whilst Mr. Redfern is a photographer, and will prepare photographs of the mine and its surroundings. The party expect to return on Saturday next. Pakroa, Wednesday. Rose (Karangahake). — Richards and Devon cleaned up after crushing 22 £ tons for 740z of melted gold. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Cambria.The rise on the leader in the tee drive at No. 4 level is up a height of 35 feet. The leader in the top of the rise is about 9 inches in thickness. There is some nice-looking mineral through the quartz. Colours of gold were seen when breaking down the leader. The winze on the No. (> leader, below No. 3 level, is down a depth of 31 feet. The leader in the bottom of the winze is rather split up at present. Colours of gold were seen through the quartz when breaking down the leader on Thursday last. The fifth stope on the Mo. 7 leader is along 23 feet. The leader in the face of this stope is 4 inches in thickness. Gold was seen through the quartz when breaking down the leader. The third stope east on the main reef, over No. 3 level, is along 20 feet. There are about 12 inches of the hangingwall portion of the reef being broken out for crushing. Gold was seen through the quartz when breaking down the hangingwall portion of the reef. The leading stope east, over the intermediate level on the hangingwall leader and main reef, is along 18 feet. There is some nice looking mineral through the hangingwall portion of the reef, in which gold was seen when breaking it down. Gold was also seen when breaking down the hangingwall leader in this stope. The second stope west, over the intermediate level on the hangingwall leader, is along 20 feet. In the face ot this stope the leader is about 12 inches in thickness. Gold was seen through the quartz when breaking down the leader. Thirty-five loads of quartz have been crushed during the week, for the return of 730z lOdwt of amalgam. The battery and winding engine are in good working order. The mine manager wired, yesterday : Cut No. 1 leader in rise at No. 4 level."

Adeline Amalgamated.—Excellent progress is being made with the drive in the Adeline section crosscutting from the No. 1 to No. 2 reef. The country is excellent, and there is now coming in in the face tlintics and mineral veins, which is a sure indication of gold. The late Silver Mint claim (now the Bonnie Jean), between the Rose and Adeline and Silver King section, has been pegged into the Company's area to square the block, for which the owner is willing to receive 400 shares in the Company, and awaits the sanction of the directors._ This addition will prove a great acquisition to the Company. May Queen. — l'he amended prospectus is in the printer's hands, and will be issued immediately. The paid-up part of the vendors' shares being eliminated, the terms are liberal, and all objection to the company being speedily floated is removed. Saxon.—No. 5 level: 15 feet of reef stripped in the latter part of the week was broke down to-day, and is .a compact body of stone from a foot to 15 inches in thickness, carrying fair minerals, and a little gold was seen close to the break that I mentioned in my last report. The country around the reef is at present exceedingly tight, but I feel sure a change of country is close at hand. The drive has been extended 18 feet for the week, making a total distance of 310 feet from the shaft. J. he rise started last week from this level to No. 4 is now up 10 feet; the reef here is about 9 inches in thickness, and in breaking down the quartz on Saturday last (as per wire) lOlbs picked stone were obtained. A small leader crosses from the hangingwall and junctions with the —at this point the gold was obtained. I have to discontinue this rise at present, owing to the insufficient ventilation, as there is not sullicicnt to carry on both works, and as the drive is the more important of the two I have adopted this course and removed the men to No. 4 level to sink a winze; this will be sunk til) feet ahead of the present face of No. 5 drive, so that by the time the winze is down the drive will be forward. When these works are connected, ventilation will be sufficient at No. 5, and enable me to carry on stoping operations at the point near the rise, or any other work that is thought advisable. At No. 3 level on the footwall reef this drive has now been timbered up to the boundary, and the leading stope has been carried up to within 12 feet of the boundary. The reef in this stope averages about two feet in thickness ; but in the second and third stones the reef only averages about six inchesthe two stopes occupying a length of 40 feet. In the fourth, fifth, and sixth stones the reef averages from 18 inches to two feet. By this you will see that the reef varies in thickness very much. In the seventh stope, which is the highest on the footwall reef, it is about three feet in thickness. This and the sixth stope have produced the most picked stone for the week. The hangingwall reef: Three stopes are in progress here—Nos. 4, 5, and 6. This is a strong mineralised reef, averaging in thickness _ about two feet, and small patches of picked stone are coming to hand from the fourth and fifth stopes. No. 1 footwall leader: Three men are employed here stoping under No. 3 level, and now carrying on two stopes. _ This leader is from four to six inches in thickness, and small patches of picked stone coming to hand occasionally. When the above-mentioned stopes are carried along up to the break, I intend to push on the crosscut, and open up this leader at No. 3 level. The battery has been kept fully employed all the week, with the exception of the first start, and an average of "26 loads per day has been put through. Amalgam for week (on hand), 3750z; picked stone saved (as per wire), 751b. New Manukau.—l cleaned up and retorted after crushing 24 tons of dirt from Mulligan's leader for the poor return of 270z of gold. I think the returns will improve, for the leader is looking better, and 1 have met with a small leader in the footwall, and it has shown gold freely when taken out. I am driving on it back towards the old stopes on No. 5, and

I think it is one of the leaders worked in the footwall of No. 5. Got through the _ lode the last breaking down, and 51b of picked stone were saved. No. 3 level: The drive on the break is looking about the same, showing a little gritty quartz in the face. lam saving the dirt for a trial, for it looks very well for gold, and I think it will be larger in time. Kerr and party start crushing to-morrow, and expect a good payable return, for they have a little picked stone to back it up.