THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9218, 22 November 1888, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

« [from our own CORRESPONDENTS.] Thames, Wednesday. Albtjrnia.—Operations on behalf of this company' are confined to stoping out a new block 50 feet in length, just opened up on No. 2 hangingwall leader (otherwise known i as Jobe's leader). This block is a conI tinuation eastwards of the one from which the crushings for the past six months were | obtained, and its prospects as regards payableness are equally good. At present the leading and second stopes are being carried along above the drive, in both of which the leader averages from six to nine inches in thickness, but it looks best in the leading stope, where it is compact and frequently shows colours of gold. In the second stope the leader carries a lot of clay and rubbly quartz, but it is expected to improve as the stope advances forward. In working this block the junction of another small leader will be carried upwards about 10 feet, in from the face of the old stopes, and branch stopes diverted upon it on the footwall side of the hanging-wall leader. Where tho junction is now showing, both leaders are mixed up a good deal with clay, but it is possible that as the stopes are worked upwards the leaders may become more defined, and have a beneficial effect upon each other. All operations on behalf of the company have ceased in the stopes in the old block, which is now being worked by a party of tributers. There are now about 13 loads of quartz on hand, and 531bs of picked stone, but it is not likely that crushing will be commenced for two or three weeks. The quantity of general dirt in hand would have been considerably more had it not been for the fact that several of the old drives have lately been requiring extensive repairs. ><ew Fearnought. —The works in progress in this mine consist of the extension of a main drive at the Waterfall level, and the cleaning out of the old Luck's All lowlevel previous to the commennement of prospecting operations on one or more of the numerous leaders already intersected. Tho main drive at the Waterfall level was commenced some months ago on a small, ' leader, which afterwards ran out, consequently operations were suspended for tho time, and a crosscut started to intersect the Bam bury reef ; besides which, a winze was commenced on a small leader that made its appearance a few feet in from the mouth of the drive, and from which a pound or two picked stone were obtained at the point of intersection. Neither of these two prospecting works, however, came up to anticipation, therefore they have been suspended for the present, and work resumed once more in the main drive. This drive is now in a distance of over 80 feet, and its object is to intersect a large reef, the outcrop of which can be seen on the ridge of the spur at the surface. When intersected the intention is todrive upon it eastwards, to where alarge slide is expected to cross it, in the vicinity of which it is hoped a payable run of gold will be met with. The drive is passing through an excellent channel of white sandstone, but it is of a rather tight description, and this, taken together with the fact that only one shift is employed, prevents very speedy progress being made. Another '20 feet, however, should see the reef to hand, and then 100 feet requires to be driven on its course to get up to the point where the slide is supposed to cross it. The cleaning out and repairing of the old Luck's All low level is nearly accomplished, and in a day or two it is intended to commence prospecting on a leader about five or six inches thick, some '250 feet in from the mouth of the drive, upon which no work has been done beyond cutting through it. In fossicking upon it a day or two ago, tho manager picked out two or three small pieces of quartz showing some nice rough gold, and this has decided him j to drive westwards upon it a few | feet. Should it not prove remunera- i tive, he intends diverting his attention I to a small leader which exists in the hang- • ingwall of the Republic reel, which was I profitably worked at this and other levels | some years since. There are other reefs ; and leaders intersected at this level, not- j ably the Republic reef and Luck's All leader, which proved very remunerative when worked at higher levels, but at this particular level very little work has been done. The probabilities are, however, that with systematic and vigorous development, all of these quartz bodies could be worked to advantage by the present company; certainly they are worth prospecting. [by TELEGRAPH.OWN correspondents.] Paeroa, Wednesday. WAIHI. Stlverton. —This mine has now recommenced work. Mr. E. Quinn is appointed manager. Martha Extended. — The tributers cleaned up yesterday, with the result of: Brown, 76ozs ; McKenna, 53ozs ; Chapped, 16ozs : value, about £2 18s. Waihi G.M. Co.—Messrs. J. Russell, Hean, and other directors have visited this mine, which will commence reduction early next month. There are over 2000 tons of good ore on hand. KARANGAH4.KE. Adeline. — Messrs. Melhose and other directors visited this mine to-day. The prospects are very promising. Parkes Furnace. —Another Parkes furnace is to be erected here. Mr. Parkes is at Rotorua. Wattekacri.— Skeen is getting good gold in the Saxon. Jubilee.—Mr. E. K. Cooper is hurrying the erection of his Jubilee plant. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Cambria.—The No. 1 leader in tho intermediate level east over No. 4 level is about nine inches in thickness. Colours of gold were seen through the quartz when breaking down the leader. Dabs and colours of gold were also seen to-day in the stringers on the footwall side of the leader. There is splendid white sandstone country in the drive. The No. 6 leader in the intermediate level east, over No. 4 level, is two inches in thickness. Colours of gold were seen through the quartz when breaking down the leader. Six men are still employed carrying along the last stope east on hangingv/all leader over the intermediate level, below No. 2 level. Dabs and colours of gold were seen freely through the quartz when breaking down the leader. The battery is now running one shift on company's quartz and public crushing. The battery and winding-engine are in good working order. New Prince Imperial.—l have to-day removed the two men who were employed in the stopes above No. 3 level, and started them to cut out a chamber, preparatory to sinking a winze on the lead showing in the crosscut at No. 1 level. The tributers have driven some 15 feet on it and have seen gold pretty freely. The lead is small, being only a few inches thick, but it looks very well, and I am hopeful that if we cut it in the class of country we are brat No. 2 level, that it will be payable. I have at present only one man and myself in the crosscut at No. 2 level, and would like, in the course of a day or two, if the indications warrant it, to put on another man or two, so as to push on the work quicker. New Alburnia.—The leading stope on the hangingwall load has been extended 14 feet, and 101b of picked stone have been obtained from this stope during the past week. The second stope has been advanced about the same distance. No gold has been seen in it as yet. The average thickness of the quartz in both stopes is 12 inches. There are 13 loads of quartz on hand and 601b of picked stone. I intend to crush in the course of a week. Several of the tribute parties have secured small parcels of picked stone. Henderson and party and McCaoe and party have given up their tributes. Saxon.— At No. 5 level 85 feet of the reef that was stripped in the drive was broken down in the latter part of last week. The reef averages about 18 inches in thickness. A little gold was seen at a point near the winze, where the reef was somewhat disturbed with a watercourse running through it. I have put 10 loads of this through the battery as a trial, and although no large yield was expected, still it yielded at the rate of ioz to the load. This quartz, although lowgrade, still will pay, and especially so if the company had a battery of their own. The drive is again started, and good progress is being made. No. 3 level: The drive along the course of the hangingwall reef has been driven a farther distance of 10 feet, and I am pleased to say is through the broken country, and the reef has been again picked up fully 18 inches in thickness and carrying some fair minerals, and to-day four pounds of picked stone were obtained. I am still of opinion that the reef at this point has split up into two branches, and that the footwall branch will also be picked up at a short distance from the break or disturbed country. However, I will not be in a I position to start on the footwall branch for some time at least, not until the drive advances sufficiently on the present hangingwall branch. No. 1 footwall leader : This leader has been cut in the crosscut at No. 3 level, and is a compact leader from six to eight inches is thickness. No gold ' been i

! seen, still the leader contains some favourable minerals. Stopes above No. 3 level on f ootwall reef : The stones in progress, Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, are all producing payable quartz, the reef in places is rather smaller j than usual, but a little picked stone is 3 coming to hand occasionally. Hangingwall 7 reef : Two stopes are in progress, S and 9, j ! both turning out a good supply of payable I quartz, with occasionally a few pounds of 1 ! picked stone. Battery : During the week - has been fully employed, with the exception of 10-haad stopped for nearly two days from a breakage to machinery. 153 loads have been * ' put through for a yield of 4630z amalgam. a Picked stone on hand, as per wire to-dav. I 801b. J ' , _ New Masukac. — Mulligan's leader look- ' ing about the same, but no picked stone last : week. Will be starting a new stope to--1 I morrow east of winze, when I expect to get "! good dirt. Will start crushing to-morrow, ' and I expect a better return this month. i Mata.—l am carrying on the second * stope on the west side of the winze with two ; men. The leader is looking better. We have . got 171b cf picked stone during the week ; , not very rich, but the gold seems to be scattered well through the stone. We have , got 571b picked stone altogether and about jSO tons of quartz. Ido not think we will get " i anything through the battery this side of j Christmas.