THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8273, 4 June 1890, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

KUAOTUNU. A QUARTZ CRUSHING COMPANY FORMED. A meeting was held yesterday at the offices of Mr. W. R. Cook, Queen-street, of persons interested in the Kuaotunu Goldfield, for the purpose of forming a quartz crashing company. Mr. H. Brett presided. It was resolved that a company, to be called the Kuaotunu Quartz-crushing Company, be established with a capital of £5,000, in shares of 10s each. An influential directorate was nominated, and the election is to take place on Thursday evening next. Mr. Cook was appointed secretary, pro tc.m. The company intends to start operations at once, and will immediately erect twenty head of stampers, and a steam plant on the field. The latest pan process will be used. There can be no doubt that this is a very important step in the direction of opening up the Kuaotunu field, and the operations of the company will be watched with interest by those concerned in the progress of mining interests. [BY telegraph.— correspondents.] Thames, Tuesday. Sharemarket.—Dives, sellers 2s ; Lone Hand, sellers 8s; Moanataiari, sellers ss; Saxon, sellers 6s 9d. Trenton.—A cleaning-up and retorting for this company took place to-day at the Cambria battery, after crushing 90 loads quartz and a few pounds picked stone, with the result that 540z lOdwt gold were obtained. Crushing is still being continued. Saxon.As the object for which the drainage crosscut from the Imperial shaft is now accomplished, viz., intersecting the break to drain water away from No. 6 level, this work is now suspended. Tho water in the company's shaft fell 2.' feet during the last 24 hours. The new reef in the drive from the Southern Cross cut at No. 4 level is now 18 inches thick, and is looking very promising. ]01b picked stone were saved from the reef during the last couple of shifts. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Trenton.Hangingwall drive east: Communication has been effected with the footwall drive since my last report, the distance driven east of crosscut being SO feet to the junction ; thus we have from the Saxon boundary about 170 feet in length. There is a strong body of stone about 4 feet wide and heavily mineralised at the junction of both lodes. I shall be disappointed if something rich is not met with in proximity with the said junction either above or below the mineral alluded to. The No. 2 lode has intersected the footwall lode, its course being just due east, the clay of which it is mostly composed is charged with some good minerals. Should it develope into a payable lode at this point it would greatly enhance the value of the company's property. Driving can be carried on here, or in the footwall lode when convenient, without any difficulty, as the ventilation is as good as it can be since we holed through. Hangingwall lode west of crosscut: The leading stope has been squared up to the face of the drive, and i we have to-day commenced to drive with i two shifts towards the Saxon boundary. Some nice dabs and colours of gold have been seen in the quartz during the past week. Footwall lode : No. 5 stope is 08 feet from the western boundary : No. 4 stope is 93 feet; No. 3 stope is 114 feet. Each of these stopes have shown strong blotches and colours of gold during the week. Only a little has teen done in Nos. 1 and 2 stopes for some few shifts past, as the men have been employed on No. 2 lode and timbering, etc. The mine manager wired yesterday : Retorted 540z lOdwt gold ; crushed 90 loads and a few pounds picked stone." Blanche.—The reef in low level has much improved since last report. There is now a fine looking lead about nine inches very heavily mineralized, and although as yet no gold has been seen, the quartz is similar to that in tho winze, and may expect gold any breaking down. City of Dctnedin.The adit level on the Black reef in the city section, is still being driven hillwards. The reef is now eighteen inches in width, well defined and the country good. The stone looks well, and prospects remarkably regular by mortar test. I purpose starting a rise on the reef at once, for the purpose of stopping out a trial crushing. I have also constructed a ground shoot and connecting tram to enable me to get the quartz to the battery. I have likewise decided on a position pending the approval of the directors., for a lower level. This point will give us a further depth on the reef of sixty feet, also a capital position for a wire tram to connect with the battery. I have not as yet been able to resume operations on the Charter reef, owing to the weather, but will do so shortly. Magnolia.—We drove 25 feet last week, all timbered up and water table laid, making in all 55 feet from the mouth of the tunnel, and 50 feet of an open cutting made a total of 105 feet. The g-ound is still very troublesome ; it is nearly all clay. We got to take out 6 feet in the bottom, 4 feet in the top, and 7 feet high to get our timbers in, and with every set of timbers up to now I have been obliged to use solo pieces. I had two men on for the first week, and four for the second and third weeks. I shall start next week with other two men, and try it with three shifts to get into better ground. Ido not think the way the ground is at present that it would be advisable to let it by contract until the ground changes. As soon as it changes 1 will report to you. The lease was granted on the '29th May, and it con- ; tains a little over 17 acres. j Otama (Kuaotunu). — parcel of CO tons of ore from this mine is now being treated at the Moanataiari battery, Thames. Mr. George Comer is in charge, the former manager, Mr. Rowe, having resigned, A good payable return is anticipated. Freedom.—Since my last 20 feet has been driven in eastern end, making the total distance from crosscut 107 feet. About 12 feet back from the face we passed through a fault, which heaved the lode about two feet to the north or left hand side of the drive. We have now got clear of it, and when breaking down the reef today it has opened out to a width of 18 inches, and is incased in good fair sandstone country. The lode shows abundance of iron pyrites and other good minerals, and the quartz looks very well for gold. Western drive : Five feet have been driven in this end for the past week ; the lode averages about five inches wide, and shows colours of gold occasionally when breaking down.