THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8268, 29 May 1890, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[FROM our own correspondents.] Thames, Wednesday. Marototo Gold and Silver Mining Company.—The first cleaning »vp and retorting for this company at its newly-erected reduction plant will take place to-morrow. A good return is expected, as some of the best ore has been treated since the starting of the plant.

Saxon.—The manager has started to crosscut into tlie hangingwall of No. 2 reef at No. 5 level, with the view of intersecting No. 3 roef. A distance of 10 foot has already been driven, and the reef is expected to be to hand in live or six feet more. A fresh body of water was met with in the Imperial crosscut last evening, but notwithstanding this the water in the company's shaft is 'now disappearing more slowly than during the early part of the week. Watson-Denny Pans.—Messrs. Bowden and Clirao have just completed arrangements with the Watson-Denny Company, of Melbourne, for the erection of twelve of their grinding and amalgamating pans. Six of them have arrived and are now being placed in Messrs. Bowden and Climo's premises on the foreshore under the supervision of the company's manager, Mr. J. K. Elliott, and tho remainder will be put up as soon as the necessary arrangements have been made. To make room for these pans fifteen berdans have been removed trom the building, but two others have been retained for the convenience of cleaning up from the pans. Crawford's G.M. Co.—Operations in tho Nana level were suspended to-day, and the twelve men employed there have been temporarily discharged. Tho new low level, however, will be continued ahead as usual, in order to test the reef underneath where the best prospects have been obtained in the Nana level. Already there is a great improvement in tho country being penetrated, and the reef is also looking better. The framework for the reception of the winding engine, etc., has been erected by Mr. McDermott near the shaft, and a portion of the machinery is in position. The building-in of the boiler has also just been completed by Messrs. J. Buckley and Sons, upon whom the work reflects the highest credit.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Cambria.— 4 level : Very littlo quartz has been broken for the past week in the drive on the branch of No. 7 leader, the men being engaged in stripping it. Intermediate below No. 3 level: The third stope over the western drive is along 47 feet. The leader still showy gold pretty freely when breaking down. The quartz from the stope on No. 7 leader also shows gold freely, whilst on Friday hist 10lb of picked stone were obtained (as per wire). Intermediate above No. 3 level: The leading stope on the new leader is along 40 feet. The leader will average five inches in thickness, and shows a little gold when breaking down. A second stope nus just been started on this leader. The drive on the small leader from the third stope on the main reef is in a distance of ."57 feet, and the leading stope over this drive is along 15 feet. The leader in the drive and also in the stope will average rive inches in thickness, carrying splendid mineral, and also shows gold. The crosscut at No. '2 level is now in a distance of 100 feet. I would recommend that it be stopped for the present, and that two men be put on to drive on the leader cut in this drive. Judging from the favourable mineral it is carrying I thiuk it worth a trial. The battery and winding engine are in good working order. Trenton. — Hangingwall drive east has been advanced 14 feet during the week. The load is IS inches in width, and is highly mineralised. The sandstone in each wall is most congenial for gold. A leading stope has been in hand on the same lode in the past week, but west of main crosscut. Here the quartz is mainly formed into small branches varying in thickness from one inch to three inches. The bauds of sandstone through which these brandies traverse is of an excellent description for gold. Strong blotches have been obtained from this point during the past week. Footwall lode: The stopes throughout are without change to note since my last. Crushing is proceeding with ten head of stampers, and the dirt is shaping for a payable return. Lone Hand. —The eastward drive on the Manchester reef at the lower level is now in a distance of 70 feet from the crosscut. There are now about two feet of quartz in the face of this drive. In a few feet more driving the two reefs that are being carried along in this drive will junction. There is a good class of mineral through the quartz, and colours of gold were seen when breaking down a portion of the reefs to-day. The country is everything that could be desired. The drive westward on the .Manchester reef is now in a distance of 84 feet. The reef in the face of this drive is about 12 inches in thickness. There is a splendid class of mineral through the quartz with gold through it, and the country is of a first-class description for gold. The leading stope over the eastern drive is along 55 feet. The reef in this stope is about nine inches in thickness. There is some good mineral through the quartz. The second stope eastward is along 22 feet. The reef "u this stope is 15 inches in thickness, colours of gold were seen through the quartz when breaking down the reef. The leading stope over the western drive is along 23 feet. The reef in the face of this stope is about two feet in thickness. Good blotches of gold were seen when breaking down the reef. Crushing is still proceeding at Bull's battery with 13 head of stampers. These will be stopped for about Id hours to allow Mr. Bull to make the connection with the other 10 head of stamps. Then the full force of the battery (23 heads of stamps) will be employed on the company's quartz. May Queen. —The crosscut from the shaft is now in a distance of 114 feet from the shaft. This drive is still going through a splendid class of white sandstone country. 'I he drive on the No. 1 lode is now in a distance of 77 feet. The lode in the face is about four inches in thickness. Gold was seen through the quartz when breaking down the lode. '.Che leading stope on No. 1 hale is along 29 feet. The lode in this stope is four inches, and gold was seen freely through the quartz when breaking down the lode. There are now about eight loads of quartz in the paddock, which was broken out from No. 1 lode. The winding engine is in good working order.

Blanche. —I have intersected the Wade reef in the crosscut at the low level. It is not so large as in the winze, but should make on driving hillwards. The country is of the same class as in the winze. There are about 120 feet to drive to get under the winze, so we should have a good block at this level. I have not broken down much of the reef as yet, but so far it looks well anil carries good mineral indications.

New Moanataiari. —The quartz from the Cambria cross lode shaped much better towards the finish. The fine gratings were used, and .there was a good deal of the gold in the box. 24 loads were put through altogether for GOoz amalgam, which ought to yield 15 or ]6oz gold. 1 have again started to extend the drive, to see if the lode will make through the Hat head which turned it off. This Hat head is lying back very fast, and is narrowing in the block upwards, so if 1 can pick the reef up through it on the level the Stopes can be easily extended again. A few feet in length of the lead going oft' into the footwall of the Reuben Parr reef in the western drive was broken down to-day. It is from (i to 8 inches in thickness, and shows some nice dabs of gold. Saxon. — No. 5 level: At this level the principal work carried on is the opening up of the new block on the Nos. 2 and 3 reefs near the shaft. On the No. 2 the drive has been discontinued near the shaft, and the leading and second stopes are now in progress west of the rise. In these stopes the reef averages from 12 to 15 inches, with gold occasionally seen, and is shaping well at the battery ; on the same reef, going east of rise, two stopes are also in progress, here the reef known as the No. 3 reef junctions in the stopes with this No. 2 reef, and averages 3 feet in thickness, and carries some splendid minerals, some 151b of fair picked stone was obtained near the junction of the two reefs. No. 3 reef has now been driven on from the No. 2 reef stope back for a distance of 14 feet into the north-west wall, and proves to be a compact body of stone 18 inches in thickness, well mineralised, and of a payable nature. I have, therefore, started a crosscut from this level to intersect this reef at a point 30 feet west of the point where mot with in the stope, and I expect by the end of the present week to have it in hand and connection made with the drive in progress from the stopes. All the stopes (three) above this No. 5 level are fully manned, and the usual supply of payable quartz coining to hand from all of them. No. 4 level: The drive on the course of the new reef east of south crosscut has been extended a further distance of 15 feet during the week, and the reef has varied in size from (i to 18 inches. Occasionally a little picked stone is met with. The reef is running in a splendid channel of country, and at present almost the same course as the south crosscut (at least within a few points), and so long as it continues on this course I do not consider it advisable to start the south crosscut, as this drive in its present course will answer the two purposes of prospecting the reef and also crosscuttiug the country. The stopes on this reef and also on No. 1 footwall leader , are fully manned, with a good supply of

payable quartz coming to hand from both, and occasionally a few pounds of picked stone are being saved. Drainage crosscut from Prince Imperial shaft: As per wires and report forwarded, the hard bar was cut through on the 22nd instant. As soon as the drive had passed the hard country and entered the soft or sandstone country the water commenced tooozeiand flow freely from the surrounding country, and in less than 12 hours commenced to drain away from the company's main shaft, and since the above date the water has dropped 26 feet and is now in the shaft 61 feet under the No. 5 level. There still remains 19 feet of water in the shaft, and should the present flow of water continue in the Prince crosscut, the shaft should be clear by the end of present week. The crosscut will still be continued at least for another 15 feet, at which distance the Prince Imperial break or cross-course should be met with, and no doubt cutting this will assist the drainage of the country very considerably. Cleaning up and retorting for the fortnight took place to-day for a yield of 3130z retorted gold from 40+ loads of general quartz and 351b of picked stone. Magnolia.—The lower level is in 30 feet, and all timbered up, and a box drain in the centre of the drive. The drive is six feet high, four feet in the bottom and three feet in the top, clear of the timbers. I have been obliged up to now to use sole pieces in every set, as the ground is very heavy. It is all clay, but it is trotting a little better now. At the end of next week, if I get through the clay, I will call public tenders. City of Du.vkimn.—During the past week operations have been confined to driving on the John Bust reef, in the City ground. Fair prospects by mortar tests can be obtained for the whole distance driven on the course of the reef, viz. 27 feet. In the present face of the drive there is a fine body of stone over four feet wide. The prospects here are the best, indicating that the reef is improving as driven upon into the hill, lam stacking the whole of this body for crushing, as the gold appears to be evenly distributed across the reef. The gold is very fine, and it is impossible to form an idea as to the value of the quartz. One thing is certain, the reef is intact right through the mine, and no work whatever has been done upon it. I have started a man to work upon the road, with a view to get down a trial crushing as soon as possible, pending the arrival of the directors to consult with me as to the advisability of opening up the City Low Level. Orlando.—Bendigo reef contractors have driven 10 feet for the week, making the total up to 46 feet. The reef has been split up a little from the break but is coming together again in the face, the last breakingdown snowed some nice blotches of gold through the quartz ahead of the break, about 22 feet from the point where the gold was first met with. The prospects of this reef are very encouraging so far, and should be a good guarantee for furthering future operations on it. Carpenter's reef: I have discontinued work here until a more seasonable time on account of the quantity of water coming down through the reef, I found it both dangerous and unprofitable to work under the circumstances. I have started the men to drive east on the Bendigo reef from the surface on the same level as the contractors are working. The distance from this point to the crosscut is about 300 feet, when connections are made will prove a great advantage, for the "workings on both reefs can be carried on through this main adit level.

Caledonian.— The drive on No. 1 leader has only been extended five feet during the week, as the men were employed timbering up the drive so as to allow the stopes to be carried forward, which will improve the ventilation. The drive on the leader is now timbered up for a distance of 80 feet. The leader in the face of the drive is very much improved, and is more kindly-looking for gold. The leading stope has been carried forward to Rowe's Pass. The leader in this stope is about eight inches in thickness; in breaking it down no gold was seen, but the quartz has a very promising appearance. The second and third stopes are now being carried along, but I have not had any quartz broken out this week over the place where the gold was obtained in the stope and the drive. Two men are still employed in the intermediate drive on No. 2 reef. There are several stringers of quartz on the hangingwall side of the reef carrying good mineral, and the reef in the bottom of the drive is more ompact and more favourable for gold than I ave seen it.

Consols Licensed Holding (Hape Creek). —The number of shares applied for in the company being floated is 24,700.