THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9263, 17 January 1889, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[FSOM OUB. OWN COBKESPOSTDENT.] Thames, Wednesday. SaxonJ—A ■ lUtle picked stone was again obtained last aight from the reef at No. 5 level. .The country still continues of a splendid description, although rather tight. There is yet no sign of the break.

Cambria.—Operations upon Nos. 1 and 6 leaders below No. 3 level have been suspended for the present, and the only productive work now in hand are the stopes upon tho hangingwall leader bolow No. 2 level. The new crosscut into the footwall of the main reef at No. 3 level, underneath the old run of gold, is now well under way, but before it could be skirted the drive had to be cleaned out and repaired, and tho footwall of the old stopes cut through, all of which are now accomplished. Tenders are being called for six tribute blocks in various parts of the mine. Sylvia (Tararu). —Another reef has just been intersected at the low level, which is now in a distance of 950 feet. The exact size of the new body is not yot known, and although no gold has yet been seen in the quartz, still it is well mineralised, and has every appearance of being gold-bearing. At present there is a large flow of water coming from it, which somewhat retards operations. It is probable that this may turn out to be the Little Agnes reef, which is the one sought for, as the tunnel is now in the distance anticipated to be driven before ib would be intersected. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. New Manukau. —I cleaned xip and retorted last week the amalgiun from the dirt crushed in last three weeks' work for the payable return of 26 ounces of gold, from '20 tons dirt from Mulligan's and branch leaders —No. 4 level. Work was resumed last week in vour mine after the holidays, when stoping on branch leader off Mulligan s lode, and driving on No. 3 level to pick un leader met with in the stopes. This leader is now to hand in the drive. It is small, but looks fairly well, but no gold has been seen as yet. The i mineral indications are favourable for gold. I am taking out a trial crushing, and I think this leader will improve when it gets away from thebreak,and brokenground. Mulligan's leader is looking well in the stope for gold, but none was seen last breaking down. Some time ago I reported Go van and party, tributers, getting payable gold in the Crown section, close to Manukau ground, in small leaders. So I have this week put on two extra hands to break out a few loads as a trial, and by the look of the leader it should prove payable. This work is from the Crown battery level. New Alburnia. — Operations are being pushed ahead on the hangingwall lode without any important change to report.- The fifth stope has shown gold frequently, and a few pounds picked stone have been bagged during the week. The quartz in the fourth stope "has opened out to 18 inches iu thickness, but I am only saving a few inches of the best looking on the hangingwall. The tifth stope on footwall leader lias been beat home to the old workings. There the lead is small, but showed a little gold at each breaking down. There are about 15 loads of quartz on hand and 20 pounds picked stone. 1 intend to start one man, with the trucker's assistance at spare times, to drive on hangingwall lode eastwards from the main cross- ) cut B level, for the purpose of prospecting the block over Jobe and party. This block is intact for 100 feet in length, and from the battery level to the surface. The above party's last crushing of SS ounces was taken out from 15 to 30 feet below this point on the same lode. Saxon. —No. oor new level: In this drive, 15 feet has been driven during the past week. The same progress has not been made as in previous weeks. This, however, can be accounted for by the reef being now much larger, and the full width of the reef from wall to wall being carried with the: drive. The reef is from 5 to 6 feet in thickness, and of a similar character to that previously reported, namely, the hangingwall portion 18 inches and the footwall 12 inches, and the centre portion a network of small leaders, carrying gold and showing it freely at each breaking down. This is opening up a valuable block, and there are no signs of a break as yet. The country is still tight, but a splendid goldbearing class of sandstone. From this, for the past week, about lolb of picked stone have been saved. The drive going west from No. 10 stope (which I will in future call No. 2 level), has been extended west a further distance of IS feet for the week, and east, 71 feet. This No. 2 level is now formed and timbered up a total distance of 208 feet on the footwall reef at a height of 79 feet above No. 3 level. The same level, along the hangingwall portion, lias been formed and timbered up 35 feet. The reef at the western end over the late tributers block still continues rubbly, but carrying a large quantity of mineral. From he present face a distance of 53 feet requires still to be driven to connect with the rise being put up from No. 3 level. The rise at No. 3 level is now up a height of 52 feet, and 27 feet still remains to be risen to be in a line with the drive above mentioned. The stopes in progress on the footwall reef are Nos 6, i, S, 9, and 10, which continue to turn out a large supply of crushing dirt. I have started a >io. 11 stope over the No ; 2 level (this in future reports call No. 1 or leading stope over the No. 2 level). This is started near the junction of footwall and hangingwall reefs. The reef at this point is much larger and heavily mineralised. The hangingwall stopes in progress are : No. 10 (this stone is now being formed as No. 2 level). I have also started No. 11, or leading stope here. Both the drivei and stope are turning out a large supply of heavily mineralised quartz, which is yielding fairly well at the battery. In all these stopes, although no large quantity of picked stone has been saved, still gold is freely seen in them. During the week 192 loads of quartz have been crushed for a yield of 531 oz of amalgam as follows :— nSoz'from berdans and 4130z from plates. Picked stone on hand 501b. Cambria G.M.C.—Six men are employed breaking out quartz on the hangingwall leader below Iso. 2 level. Colours of gold were seen through the quartz when breaking down the leader. A crosscut was started yesterday at No. 3 level in the Cambria section of the mine, into the footwall of the main reef, underneath the place where the rich run of gold was obtained, to intersect any droppers or leader that may be in the footwall of the main reef. The battery is now running two shifts—five stampers on company's dirt, and fifteen stampers on public crushing. Four and a-half loads of tailings have been put through the berdans for the return of 7oz. lodwt. of amalgam. The battery and winding engine are in good working order.