THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9308, 11 March 1889, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[FROM our own correspondents.]

Thames, Saturday. Trenton. —The contractors in the shaft sunk about 5i feet during the week, besides doing gome timbering. They are now down the depth they contracted for, but it will take them two or three days longer to square up the bottom. The country still remains rather hard.

New Manukau.Mulligan's leader in the stopes above No. 4 level is looking extremely well, the quartz being well mineralised, and showing a little gola. Another crushing is being broken out from the small leaders in the Crown section near the boundary of the tributers' (Govan and party) boundary. It will be remembered that a crushing taken from here a few weeks ago proved remunerative, and it is anticipated that the present one will result as favourably. New Prince Imperial.—Dunn and party, tributers, have completed a crushing of 5 loads of general dirt aud a small parcel of picked stone for the excellent return of 41oz 7dwt melted gold. The company have commenced operations upon the same leader, underneath the tributers' block, and so far have met with encouraging prospects.

Saxon.—The different works in hand in this mine have been carried on as usual during the week, without any apparent change. The crosscut at No. 5 level is still in rather tight country, and this, together with the heated atmosphere, caused principally by the influx of gas, prevents very speedy progress being made. The stopes above No. 2 level are yielding the usual supply of crushing dirt, which is shaping well at the battery. Scotia Creek (Waitekauri). —Mr. J. F. Heighway informs me that he has been appointed to the charge of a mining proporty recently secured by the Australian Gold and Silver Extraction Company in this district. The present proposal is to break up and crush the numerous auriferous boulders existing in the creek, and with this purpose in view the old Flora McDonald battery of ten stampers, now standing in the Tararu Creek, has been purchased for removal to the scene of operations. A contract has been let for forming a track from the main Waitekauri Road to the proposed battery site, and when this is completed a start will be made to cart the machinery on the ground.

Cambria. —The crosscut at No. 4 level has been started to be extended, to meet the winze now being sunk on the leaders at No. 3 level in the Darwin section. The drive will be pointed to go straight for the winze, and should not take long to effect communication. This will open out a good block of ground, now intact, and as the leaders shed good specimens in sinking the winze, the operation is promising.