THE OLD FIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8157, 20 January 1890, Page 3

THE OLD FIELDS.

[from OOP. own correspondent.] Thames, Saturday. Lone Hand.—A further breaking down of the quartz in the low level took place today from both of the leaders, when colours of "-old were seen, and the quartz found to be nicely impregnated with a good class of mineral. Both leaders tire now drawing near each other, and will probably make into one body n few feet ahead. At the upper level there is no change to note, the quartz coming to hand from each working being of a payable nature, as is evidenced from the good return banked yesterday, namely 1010/. melted gold from 50 loads general dirt, and 1:1 pounds of picked stone. May Qi'een. —No. 4 reef eastward is still being followed, its size being about nine inches, and still composed of a rubbly description of quartz, which is being saved for a trial crushing. It is intended to follow this reef tip to the break which crosses the country some distance ahead, but before that point is reached it is probable No. 2 reef will junction with it and materially improve its value. The drive which is being cleaned out westward on the worked-out portion of No. 4 reef has been put into good order for a length of 30 feet, and the point where No. 1 reef is expected to be found should be reached in about ten days' time. Cammuia. —The drive on the cross-reef at No. 3 level has been surveyed during the week, and there still remains a distance of from eight to ton feet to drive up to the Moanataiari boundary. The country continues of a first-class description, and during the past few days colours of gold have again been seen in the quartz broken from the hangingwall portion of the reef. At No. 4 level the driven upon No. 7 leader is in about 20 feet, with the leader averaging six inches, and showing irold freely. Payable quartz is coming to hand from tho stojjes upon No. 7 and the western leader below No. ."{, and also from the slopes upon the hanging wall of the main reef above No. 3 level. New Manukau. —Tho intermediate or " monkey" drive in the new block upon Mulligan's leader, above No. 4 level, has been advanced sufficiently during tho last two or three days to allow a start being made to sink a winze down to the les'el upon the new leader intersected a few days ago. When this is accomplished the ventilation of the block will be attained, and a pass can be formed for sending the quartz down through. Cold has been seen pretty freely in till tho quartz yet broken from tho new leader, and a little [licked stone obtained, so it appears probable to be a valuable addition to tho block which is now being opened up upon Mulligan's leader, as it can be worked conjointly with it on the western side of the break. The manager intends treating a trial crushing from it soon. Saxon.The winze recently started at No. 5 level west of |he shaft on some large watercourses, with the objcct of connecting these watercourses with the shaft and thus draining away the water from the latter, is now down 30 feet, which is 4£ feet lower than the level of the water in the shaft. At this depth water has been met with— not merely a soakage, but almost a solid body, which proves that the country surrounding the shaft is full of water at a certain depth. It may here be mentioned, however, that there is a slight drainage going on, for since the 3rd instant the water lias gone down in the shaft 14 inches, but at this low rate it would take too long a period to wait until ib had drained down to the desired depth for opening up No. 6 level. The manager, therefore, is collecting informa-

tion as to tho nearest point for tapping any watercourses from the No. 6 level of the Prince Imperial shaft, with the object of placing before his directors some other scheme for the development of their lower level, although there is no immediate hurry for doing so, as at present sufficient remunerative blocks are opened up at Nos. 4 and 5 levels for keeping their full force of stampers going for the next 12 or 18 months. Still it is advisable to get the new low level opened up as speedily as possible, for the prospects met with in opening up No. 5 level appear to indicate that the ground under foot will be even richer with the precious metal than those blocks now being oporated upon above, as picked stone was obtained in carrying along all the drives. This theory is also sustained by tho results obtained so far in the winze now being sunk upon the main No. 1 reef hillward of No. 1 break. This winze is down 14 feet, and tho reef is fully 5 feet in thickness, and encased by a good class of sandstone country. At every breaking down which has taken place up to the present tiuio colours of gold have freely been seen and a little picked stono obtained, whilst tho quartz lms also carried a spendid class of mineral. St.oping is bt>ing carried on upon this lode above tho level for a length of about 230 feet between the Nos. 1 and 2 breaks, the lode averaging a fair size and yielding a considerable quantity of payable crushing dirt. The sto pea upon the footwall, hangingwall, and No. 2 reefs are all in full swing, there being nearly a total length of 700 feet in hand altogether upon these reefs, besides which drives are in progress upon No. 2 reef and the left-hand branch of the hangingwall reef. It may also be mentioned that No. 2 reef has nover been intersected at any of the upper levels between Nos. 1 and 2 breaks, so that the block now being opened up should be both a valuable and extensive one. At No. 4 level tho crosscut into the south-eastern portion of the mine lias been extended a distance of about 158 feet. In this crossCut, No. I footwall leader was first intersected, and opened up for a length of 150 feet, and the leading stope carried along and passes formed, so that everything is now in readiness for working it to advantage. Forty feet beyond another reef was intersected, and this is now being 'opened up. It ranges from one to two feet in thickness, and shows "old at every breaking down. At this level a start has also been made to break out a trial crushing from the main No. 1 reef between Nos. 1 and 2 breaks, at which point very little has yet been done upon it. Tho reef is of very large dimensions, and should it prove payable will add materially to the general output of quartz. The general cleaning up for the last fortnight will take place on Monday next, and retorting on Tuesday. [itY TKI.KGRAI'II. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Tit am Saturday. market. —Manukau, buyers Is fid ; May Queen Is 4d, sellers Is lid ; Moanataiari, buyers 5s ; Alburnia, Is yd ; Saxon, sellers 5s l!d ; Trenton, sellers .'is Gd, buyers 2s !)d. The legal manager of tho following mines paid a visit of inspection at Thames on Saturday lust, and has furnished the following reports : — Camhria.—The battery has undergone a thorough overhaul, and is now in complete working order, advantage having been taken during enforced idleness by the laying of new water mains by the Thames County Council. The battery, pending the completion of the latter work, being forced to remain idle, cannot start until it is furnished with water-power, and must remain so for three more weeks. The stoppage of the battery, however, does not interfere with work at the mine. The output of quartz goes on all the same, and the next crushing, when the battery resumes work, promises to be a large one. The main reef in the Darwin section is being stoped both east and west above the intermediate, towards No. 2 level. No. 7 leader and its branch are being stoped from the intermediate, below No. 3 level. No. 7 leader is being driven on at No. •1 level, all of which works are yielding quartz of a highly payable character, and will continue to do so for a great length of time. The No. 7 at No. 4 level is an important lode, averaging 9 inches in thickness, and will carry a distance of 100 feet to the Mary Ann section of the Waiotahi Company's claim. The quartz, contains specimen blotches of gold, as can be seen at the company's otiiee. The joint drive on the cross reef in the Cambria section has still 9 feet to go before the Moanataiari boundary is reached. The reef itself averages a foot and a-half in thickness, and gold has been seen in it, while two leaders, or rather tho casing of the reef itself shows strong dabs and colours of gold. The country for gold is simply magnilicent. This company will have 70 leet in length on the level of the drive (No. 3 level), and each succeeding stope will be greater in length as it ascends. As the cross reef is intact to the surface, the operations here should exercise an important bearing on the future of the mine. Altogether the appearunee of the mine generally has the look of substantiality, with prospects to last for years. A sample of the leader on the hangingwall of the cross reef can also be seen at the company's oflice. Trenton.—The improvement in matters on reaching the brace of the shaft became evident, all being bustle and activity, with something to show for it in the beginning of a paddock of quartz from the hangingwall lode, m which gold has been frequently seen. The three leaders intersected in the bottom level appear to have come nearly together in live feet driving in the direction of the Saxon, and promise to become solid a few feet further ahead. There will be fully 40 feet to drive on it before reaching the Saxon boundary, and as there will be IS inches of crushing dirt there will soon be a good-sized paddock of quart/.. The rock borer was engaged in extending the main tunnel in which the footwall lode is expected to be to hiind at any time. The country is all that can oe desired, and the character of the quartz is mineralised anil of the best description. A sample showing gold is at the company's oilice. The Saxon plan at the local ice was examined, and the bearing of the lodes kindly pointed out by Mr. Dunlop, who saw the sample of quartz, and pronounced it to be similar to the hangingwall lode in the Saxon. Lone Hand.—The mine manager was very jubilant over an excellent crushing then linished, and sanguine of the next one being equally good. The contract for a third hundred feet in t he low level tunnel is just about finished, and less than another hundred feet will reach this company's boundary. The lode in the face of the low level tunnel has now been joined by the leader last met with, and lias become one. Ly survey the lode has been ascertained to be the Moa, and will now be driven on continuously and without halting to the Manchester section. The quartz will be saved up to that point, and then crushed by it,sell. The country continues of the best quality. A sample of the quartz showing gold from the low level can be seen at the company's oflice. It may be safely predicted that the handsome balance now at the company's credit will be the nucleus of a first dividend. •May < ( U ; kks. —In the course of ten days the No. 4 drive west will be cleaned out and re-timbered to the No. J lode, which latter is expected to put the company on gold. The drive on No. ■! lode eastward has been driven 72 feet, about half the distance it has to be driven to reach abreast of the winding shaft. Tho bearings of No. 2 lode show that it must form a junction with No. 4. 11l that case No. 4 lode must lie beneficially affected. When the drive is abreast of the shaft a contract for a crosscut from the shaft to the drive is reckoned on as part of the plan that will be adopted to save extra trucking, and for more economical working. Meantime the quartz from the lode is Doing saved. The appearance of the lode is improving. The country in which it is encased would indicate that gold may be found at any time. There is sure to oe a change when it approaches the slide at the shaft. There appears to be no doubt that the continuance of the lode through the slide will lead to further developments, injunction with other lodes known to exist in the claim further east, and in which gold has been found. The mine manager is very sanguine as to gold being met with in the coursc of the operations. Blanche. —The mine manager is quite sure of having a payable block of ground in hand in a short time from where he is now working. MINE MANAGER'S REPORTS. Lone Hand.—Cleaning up and retorting took place yesterday, for the following return, as per wire : —SO loads quartz crushed for 83oz; 151bs picked stone, for 21oz : retorted gold, lOloz; melted gold, lOloz 3uwt. In view of the men in the mine having only taken one holiday atChristmas and New Year, in anticipation of the colony's Jubilee, I would recommend that the mine be closed from the 28th instant to Saturday, the Ist proximo. In this way, after the week is broken, work will start afresh on Monday, the 3rd proximo.