THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8362, 16 September 1890, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Monday. Shark market.—Caledonian, sellers, 2s 9d ; Consols, sellers 9d ; Dives, sellers 2s 3d ; Freedom, sellers Is 6d ; Golden Age, sellers Is Id ; May Queen, 13s 6d to 14s 3d, buyers 14s ; Moanataiari, Bs, sellers 8s 6d ; Orlando, Is Id, sellers Is 2d ; Saxon, Cs ; Trenton, 2s 9d, buyers 2s 9d ; Victoria, sellers Is (id ; Hazelbaak, Is 9d, sellers 2s ; buyers Is 9d ; Junction, Sd. Oriental. — Mr. W. Potts has been appointed manager of this company's mine, and operations are to be commenced immediately. Moanataiari.—lslb picked stone were obtained to-day from "footwall reef in leading stope, 100 foot level. Victoria.The contractors hare made a good start in the crosscut at the Prince Imperial No. 3 level, ar.d are penetrating an excellent sandstone country. Freedom. —The tender of Livingstone and party at 17s per foot has been accepted for driving 100 feet upon hangingwall portion of 23rd June reef at the low level, and will commence work immediately. ORIENTAL LICENSED HOLDING. A meeting of shareholders in the above was held at the office of Mr. H. Giltillan yesterday afternoon. Mr. Adam Porter occupied the chair. It was decided to form a company to be called the Oriental Gold Mining Company, with a capital of £10,000, divided into 40,000 shares at 5s each, nil paid up. The memorandum and articles of association were adopted as submitted, and the following gentlemen were elected , directors:—Messrs. Adam Porter, S. T. George, Jas. Frater, Jas. McGowan, and J. M. Sharp. Mr. H. Giltillan was appointed secretary, and Mr. E. Waymouth auditor. The company starts under favourable cir--1 cumstances, having a balance of £320 in hand, and it is almost certain that the Occidental reef runs through the ground. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Wairoa (Kuaotunu). —The crosscut since starting has been extended 20 feet, and I think about 30 feet further should see the reef at band. We are penetrating a nice channel of sandstone, and if the same class of country carries up to the reef we should be well rewarded. I have put on a man to trench on the eastern fall of the claim to pick up the Jusfe-in-Time reef, which should cross on this fall, and as soon as picked up, if prospects warrant, will go down and cut it about 60 feet lower. Shotovkr (Kuaotunu). —I haye pegged off the 10 acres adjoining as directed, and 1 found a reef which I did not know of before, giving good prospects. Carbine (Kuaotunu). — The state of things in the upper workings of the mine and also in the No. 1 tunnel is much the same as at the date of my last report. In both places work has been carried on continuously on the footwall vein, which has given a steady yield of good ore. The ftuff obtained from the upper workings has perhaps been of even better average quality than that taken out the previous week, and neither has there been any falling off in the quartz got from the tunnel. Occasional small patches of superior stone, in all about 151b, have been dropped upon during the week. The rise put up from the tunnel to meet the winze is now through. Since the completion of the tramway in the No. 2 level, the drive on the reef there has been continued, and the face now shows a good-looking body of stone over 5 feet in width. Since my last report some work has been done in prospecting the north end of the claim. In one place, where the lode has been cut through near the surface it is 4 feet in thickness and carries gold. Try Fluke (Kuaotunu). —There is very little fresh to report for the week. Low level has been continued a further distance of IG feet, which makes a total of CS feet. The reef has widened out again to 10 feet, from portions of which I obtained better prospects than I have seen yet in this drive. It i-< not as solid stone as I expect to see it. The No. 4 south stope is completed, namely, as far as those overhead (37 feet). We will continue this a further distance, which will act as an intermediate level, and to which a rise i can be put from the low drive. It will prove a great advantage for air as well as for future working. The reef here is still 4 feet solid stone, and shows gold in same. The No. 4 north is also completed, namely, 34 feet. The reef is between 4 and 5 feet, all of which is treated, and from portions of which small prospects only are obtainable. A fresh one, No. 5, has just been started. The reef is 9 feet wide, and all goes through the battery. The amalgam has not been cleaned up for the week. The crushing continues to shape well, but a a far as I can judge at present not quite up to former ones.

Red Mercury (Kuaotunu). —Since my last work has been suspended in the low level, pending laying tramway, etc., which I hope to have completed in a few days. A start will then be made to drive south with two shifts. I rind, on having a survey made, that we will have to drive south 34 feet, to be directly under the winze in No. 1 level, and then rise 43 feet 9 inches to the bottom of the winze, which is sunk II feet 0 inches, thus making 55 feet between Nos. 1 and 2 levels. The low level driven some months ago by the John Bull Claim to cut the Try Fluke, is, I find, about ten feet inside the Red Mercury boundary. The drive is in a total distance of 66 feet. Mo. 1 reef was cut about 40 feet from the entrance, and is about eight feet wide, and of a friable nature. It has also been driven on south about 10 feet, the quartz broken out and paddocked, of which there is about 10 tons. No. 2 reef was intersected 60 feet in, and is about one foot wide, but I am unable to say how they prospect, as I have not yet tried them. New Moanataiari. —The drive eastward on the footwall lode at the 100 foot level has now passed well through the cross reef. The lode after passing through the latter was much smaller, but is now commencing to make again, and is continuing to show gold. The leading stope has been started here, and will be carried along after the drive. In the western drive on the junction of the footwall lode and Reuben Parr reef there is a strong body of quartz, fully three feet in thickness, the whole of which is being sent to the battery. No work has been carried on in the eastern drive on the main reef for the past few days,, the men being engaged connecting the end of the stopes with the level, for the purpose of ascertaining if the drive is on the main portion of the reef. The reef in the stopes is looking much the same, and continues to produce a fair amount of payable crushing dirt. Everything now is in good working order here, and I will shortly be in a position to open another level from the rise 100 feet lower down. Battery ; Ten head of stampers are engaged reducing the quartz coming to hand, which continues to shape as usual. Amalgam on hand (cold water) to date, 190ozs. Magnolia.—The contractors drove eight feet last week, making a total of twenty feet for the fortnight. We are into the reef now about eight feet, and not through it yet. The water is just as strong as ever all over the face. I have started to repair No. 2 level, and I am going to put on a couple more men this week. As soon as the level is repaired I shall start to sink the winze.

New Manukau.—The new leader in the stope still carries the best of minerals for gold, but none has been seen. The stope is now up to the slide, and the hands are breaking out a trial crushing on Mulligan's, which looks well, but rather small at present. Will start crushing the trial on Monday from the new leader. When finished, the last of the No. 5 lode will be put through', and I expect another good payable return this month. Hazklbank.— A sample of the stone broken out from the bouudary of this company's ground, and mentioned in the report appearing in Monday's Herald, is now on view at the offica of Mr. F. A. White, 83, Queen-street.

Koaotunu.—The following report was received too late for the meeting held on Thursday :—I beg to submit the following report on the work done and the results obtained in the Kuaotunu mine : In the beginning of March I, in company with Mr. Dewar, ■ made an inspection of the ground, and we decided to pub in a crosscut from the eastern boundary in the hope of intersecting some reef or reefs. This was driven 110 feet without results. A second drive was then started immediately over the western end of No. 1 drive; this was carried a distance of 75 feet without results. A third drive was then started immediately over the western end of No. 2 drive, and carried 165 fee* without result®.

A -fourth drive was then started immediately over the western end of No. 3 drive and carried 140 feet without results. Thus it will be seen that 490 feet of crosscutting was done from east to west, but no quartz or leaders were cut, the country being a brown soft sandstone nob favourable for carrying leaders. At the same time this work was in progress two men were employed pubting in a prospecting drive near the western boundary. After driving 140 feet a. favourable looking leader of 15 inches thick, running nearly north and south, and supposed to be the Red Mercury reef was cut. This leader was driven on north 35 feet, and opened out to 2 feet 9 inches thick, and gave prospects of gold, by pounding. At this distance from the crosscut it came in contact with broken country and operations were suspended, driving on the leader was continued southward at the same time for a distance of 32 feet, and it varied in thickness from IS inches to 4 inches, but no gold was obtained; this work was suspended and the men put to sink a winze under where the best prospects were got to the north of the crosscut, and it was sunk 41 feet, gold being occasionally obtained in both the rubble and solid stone ; the reef varied from IS inches to 1 foot thick for the distance sunk. At times the air was bad and prevented the men from working, and when unable to go on sinking I instructed them to drive on the leader southward, which has increased in size to 22 inches thick, and I am very pleased to inform you that very rich crushing dirt is at last coming to hand, estimated to be worth 3 to 4 ounces to the ton ; if it continues as at present I would advise sending a 10 ton parcel to the Thames for treatment. The men are now engaged preparing timber to timber up the drives. Tuesday : I have been trying reef to-day, and gold is freely seen in the stone.

Monowai (Knaotunu). —I have had one of the spurs trenched up with varying success, and have cut several small leaders varying in size from two inches to a foot, and all carrying a little gold. Intend to start on Monday to put in a level, and expect shortly to cut something very good. Stanley (Kuaotunu). —I have been trenching and general prospecting surface of Stanley ground. Some quartz got on the surface prospects excellently. We are trying to pick up the reef, but as there is a great depth of surface and flinties to contend with, I think it will be cheaper to put in a few surface drives. Nemesis (Kuaotunu). —The crosscut has been extended 30 feet since writing last, and another reef has been intersected, which carries the best looking quartz we have met with yet, and prospects well. I expect another reef a few feet ahead. It should be to hand next week.

Otama (Kuaotunu). —No. I level No. 1 reef : The drive has been extended 20 feet, making now a total distance driven on of 160 feet. The reef in the face of the drive is 0 feet wide and carries a little gold all through, but the hangingwall portion carries the best prospects. The crosscut that I started to cut a reef outcropping on tho surface has been driven SO feet, and have just broken into the reef, but am not yet through to the footwall. I have tried several prospects from the hangingwall portion and can find a fair prospect in every trial. After cutting through this reef I will turn and drive north on it with one man and put the other man down in No. 2 level to drive south on No. 2 reef to get under the junction of Nos. 1 and 2 reefs where I hope to meet with something good.

Trenton.—The drive east of junction has been extended a further distance of 8 feet during the past, week. The lode is about 15 inches in thickness, and is composed principally of rubbly quartz, which is well mineralised. The sandstone on each side of the lode is very linn, and of a very tine grain, intermixed with bright mineral, which is conducive for gold. No. 4 level : Rising and sloping is being carried on here. The leader has not been taken down since my last. The country is still as good as ever for gold. Footwall lode : No-. I and 9 stope« above No. 5 level has shown an improvement since last reported on, and more gold has been seen through the stone. The lode is from 12 to 15 inches in width. The new crosscut has been lengthened by 5 feet in the past week. We have just struck, with a drill hole, what appears to be a strong body of quartz, and which is likely to be No. '2 hangingwall lode. Shall know more about it in a day or two. Adeline Amalgamated (Karangahake). —There has been nothing done on the reef in the face since my last report, as I have been all the week in the bush, splitting timber, and securing the crosscut whero required. 1 will have everything secured, and ready to make a start in the face by Thursday. Mr. James Liddell is willing to accept the tribute on the terms you proposed. New Fearnought.—l have discontinued crosscut. I have commenced driving hillward on the reef recently discovered. We have extended thedriveeight feet from crosscut during the week, through a good class of country for gold. The reef, which is of a rubbly nature, will average one foot in thickness. The quartz is well mineralised. The legal manager of the following companies returned yesterday from Thames, having seen each of their mine managers, and sends the following remarks : — Cambria.—The rise on the main reef above the Mo. 2 level, to hole into the Nightingale drive, is fairly under way, from which important results may reasonably be expected, as gold was found overhead at the road level. This will prospect an entirely untried portion of the mine. All the other works are going on as usual with good crushing dirt coming to hand.

Trenton.—Now that a new lode is coming in from the Saxon, 100 feet south from the footwall lode, the crosscut will require to be extended that distance to intersect it, and as the hangingwall branch east past junction is calculated by the surveyor to be only 150 feet from the May Queen slide, through which gold was found so abundantly, that work will be prosecuted as at present. The prompt payment of outstanding calls and further exertions will ensure as wonderful results as its neighbours, the Cambria, have proved on the one side, and the May Queen on the other. Lone Hand.—Excellent progress is being made in pushing forward the drive on the main lode east of the low level in the Lone Hand section. The lode and country are all that can be desired for gold. The No. 2 break has not yet been reached. The operation of stoping out the lode at the winze is proceeding vigorously. There will soon be another crushing. May Queen*. —The hoppers should be finished on Wednesday next. In that case crushing should start on Thursday or Fri day, but in any case will not start later than Monday. There are about 100 loads of quartz on the brace and stowed in the workings below ready to discharge into the hoppers. The directors will be able in the course of the week to open the mine to visitors, notification of which will be made. The ;legal manager visited the brace with Mr. Barclay, who showed him the effects of the late heavy rains on the quartz and the gold disclosed thereby. Two samples taken from the heap are at the company's office for inspection, the dirt having come from the Mo. 4 lode east, and with an astonishing display of gold. Blanche.—When the winze and the several leaders are fairly connected with the level to the winze, the mine manager is very sanguine of the block proving payable. New Fearnought.—The report of the mine manager is published above, and from his known perseverance is sure to succeed in opening up and finding gold. Consols.—The preliminaries as to machinery required for forking out the water and winding from the shaft have been so far settled, and no unnecessary time will be lost in making a start.