THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8326, 5 August 1890, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[by TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]

Thames, Monday. Sharemaiucet. — Divos, sellers, 2s 4d ; Manukau, sellers, Is 2d ; May Queen, 2s 3d ; Norfolk, sellers, Is 6d ; Saxon, buyers, ss, ' New Whau Claim. A few pounds of nice specimens, obtained from tho Sons of Freedom reef, at the battery level, by a party of tributors, were on view this evening at Mr. Frater's office, and attracted considerable attention. DEEP LEVEL CROSS G.M. CO. A meeting of tho shareholders of the Deep Level Cross Gold Mining Company was held in the Insurance Buildings yesterday afternoon, to receive the report of the committee appointed on the 12th June last. Mr. G. S. Kissling occupied tho chair. Mr. Batger, chairman of tho committee, said that they had made a strong effort to buy up tho mine, and had issued a prospectus for this purpose, but the support they had received was altogether insufficient to warrant them in taking any further steps, lie, therefore, moved that tiio committee give public notice of the withdrawal of the prospectus. This was seconded by Mr. Dickey, and carried unanimously. The meeting then dispersed, after giving a vote of thanks to the chairman. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. New Moanataiari.—The cross reef in the drive at No. 3 level of the Cambria shaft has not shown any signs of improvement for the past week, but as there were only two men engaged the distance driven was not great. Point Russell level: The water at the intermediate, level has again been troublesome during the past few days, caused by the recent heavy rain, and the crevices in tho reef getting filled up with sediment prevents the water ~'om draining away. Tho reef in the stopes continues to look just the same, and the usual quantity of crushing dirt is being obtained. There has also been about 15 pounds of picked stone selected during the week. Main tunnel : Mot quite so good headway has been made this week, there being a good deal of time spent in hauling up the timber now. The total height now up is 170 feet. 1 was in hopes that another week would have seen us through to the intermediate level above, but from tho sound of the men working I am satisfied there is still fully 25 feet to rise. I have been calculating the height between tho tunnel and the Point Russell level at 270 feet vertical, which is correct at the Point Russell pass, but as ( lie incline in tho Point Russell level from toe pass to the brace of the winze is considerably greater than tho incline in the tunnel level, the vertical height will be increased fully 15 feet, which would give us over 200 feet to rise instead of ISO feet as first calculated. This will take a week or two longer than anticipated, but there will be a much greater extent of backs when the work is completed. New Prince Imperial.—When breaking down the quartz this week the leader is making larger in the back of the third st.ope; the quartz looks very well, and shows a little gold ; the country is also improving a little. I will start another slope in the beginning of the week. Conncil and party have crushed nine loads of quartz for 2(>oz melted gold. Dare and parly have crushed three loads of quartz and four pounds of picked stone for 7oz ISdwt melted gold. Mr. Jobson inspected the winding machinery this week, and found everything in good order. New Manukau. —The long-looked-for improvement in No. 5 lode in the stope lias come at last, but lam sorry to say it is too close to No. 3 level to be of great value, as it is only two feet below the level, and the gold that 1 reported by wire was got close up to break in the lode. It will be a few days before the lode is broken down again, for it jumps into the hangingwall six feet, so I hope it will make gold on the other side of break.

Nemesis (Kuaotunu). —The drive has been extended 'JO feet during the week. Two small leaders have been cut through carrying a little gold. The ground in the face at present is a little tighter and more blockey, but 1 do not think this will carry very far from observations on the surface. We should cud several reefs in this drive, and 1 hope some of -them good. The crosscut has been extended a further distonce of 20 feet during the week. The ground in the face is a little better the last few feet of driving, and is now a good class of sandstone. Another reef should be met with in another few feet of driving. Otama (Kuaotunu). —Since writing last the drive on No. 1 reef, No. 1 level, has been extended 11 feet, and I ar.i 'leased to say has greatly improved. \V< have got some of the coarsest gold from this reef 1 have ever seen on the field, and prospects from lfnhvfc to an ounce to the ton. The reef still keeps about the same size. I consider this of great importance, and we will have about 10U0 feet on the course of this reef to our southern boundary. No. 'J rtef, No. 2 level: The drive has been extended 10 feet. The reef keeps about the same size and quality. We have had to timber up this drive, as wit so much wet weather the water drains down and causes the sides to frit away. The Lady Carringlon are putting in a low level through a portion of our ground to get into their own on our southern boundary. 1 would suggest that we go in with the Orient Company, and help to extend this level with the Carrington, as then we will have a right to work through this level, and it will be a great advantage. Writing on August 'J the, manager says :—The drive on No. 1 reef, No. 1 level, has been extended a further distance of 11 feet, and the reef still continues about the same. lam thinking of going around the spur about 500 feet towards our southern boundary, and opening out on No. 1 reef, if the weather keeps line, as there were some nice prospects got on the surface. The drive on No. 2 reef, No. 2 level, is in a good channel cf country, and still piospects about the same. Try Figure (Kuaotunu).No. 2 south stope is now in about 27 feet. The reef continues about live feet in width, composed of hard solid quartz, and very good quality. The north end No. 2 stope is in 20 feet. The reef is six feet wide, and prospects well. The low level has been pushed ahead this week four feet. Reef continues 10 feet in width, and portions of it prospect well. It certainly is improving. The gold looks to be of excellent quality. The wire tramway was started to-day for the first time. It works splendidly. When the feeding hoppers are finished one man can send down to battery about 30 tons per day of eight hours. Battery returns for the last fortnight are 30'Joz of retorted gold, crushed from 00 to 70 tons. The boxes have been only roughly cleaned out. If everything was thoroughly cleaned up it would still swell the return. This is the first cleaning up from the boxes for about three weeks. The battery is in first-rate order, and works well. I think we will be able to work three shifts hero next week, and keep it up for the future. Carbine (Kuaotunu).—During the week driving has been continued on the reef northward from the winze, and with satisfactory results. The face lias been carried in a further distance of nine feet, and at each breaking down of the lode good payable prospects have been obtained. Some of the stone has shown gold pretty freely, and a few pounds of it may be classed as fair picked Stuff. This richer portion was got from a vein on the footwall side of the reef, averaging some three or four inches in thickness. Although the quartz taken out within the last day or two has hardly been equal in quality to that obtained in the beginning of the week, still the present show in the face of the drive is satisfactory, and appearances are favourable for a continuance of payable ore. Stoping has been commenced in the block to the south of the winze ; bub the small amount of work done there has not yet led to anything worthy of special mention. In the low level operations have been suspended on the east branch of the reef, owing to the increased tightness of the country. It will be advisable, however, to push on the drive as soon as an addition to the present working staff is considered expedient. Attention is, for the present, being given to the west branch, in which direction the country is a good deal easier. The vein, as now showing in the face, is about 15 inches in width, but it may at any time increase in sine. Prospects have improved somewhat since work was resumed upon it, and a portion of the quartz is being saved for treatment.