THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8375, 1 October 1890, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAM. —OWN COUKESPOKDEXTS.] Thames, Tuesday. Sharemarket. — Cambria, 4s 7d, 4s sd, 4s 9d, sellers ss, buyers 4s 4d ; Caledonian, sellers 3s 3d; Flying Cloud, sellers, 8d; May Queen, 12s 6d, sellers 12s ; Moanataiari, 7s 9d, sellers 8s; Saxon, sellers Gs 3d ; Trenton, sellers 4s, buyers, 3s 6d. May Queen. —The break has been met with in tha western drive on No. 4 reef, which practically ends the reef in this direction unless it is found that the branch has been swerved into the footwall country. Moanataiari. —The usual monthly crushing was completed to-day, for bhe return of 191oz. retorted gold, for which 238 tons general dirt and 1301b picked stone were crushed.

Cambria.—Splendid prospects are being met with in the rise on the main reof above No. 2 level. A shot in the reef this morning disclosed strong blocks of gold, showing as freely as was seen last week. The reef where cut through in the drive is fully 2G feet thick, but in tho rise only about two feet of the hangingwall portion is being broken at present, in order to make room for the timber before cutting further into the reef.

Saxon. —About 51b picked stone were obtained to-day from No. 1 reef in the winze below No. 5 level. At the same level the new reef has been intersected, ranging in thickness from 10 to 12 inches, and showing gold freely. When this is opened up and connection made with No. 4 level the manager hopes to be in position to obtain a supply of quartz sufficient to run the company's battery three shifts instead of two as at present. The fortnightly retorting to-day produced 191oz lOdwb melted gold, the product of 320 loads goneral dirt and 301b picked stone. Pakroa, Tuesday. CROWtf. —The Lambcrton mills in the Crown mine started operations on 100 tons of ore yesterday. Casiiel Plant.—A number of tenders were received for the construction of the new Cashel plant, Karaugahako. Details were cabled to Glasgow, and tho results will bo known .ibout Friday. Te Akoha, Tuesday. A petition signed by a large number of the residents here and ab Waiorongomai was presented to Warden Northcroft last evening, praying the protection asked for by Ferguson's syndicate be not grunted, but to no avail, two months being granted them.

SECRET G.M. CO. At a meeting of the shareholders in the Secret Gold Mining Company (Kuaotunu) held on .Monday, at tho oflice of the company, Insurance Buildings, it was decided to register tho company under the Companies Act, 1882, with a capital of £2000, divided into 32,000 shares of Is 3d each, 16,000 fully paid up and IG.OOO contributing. Tlio following gentlemen were appointed directors : —Messrs. C. W. Sanders, S. Youldeti, William Stephens, VV. J. Moore, and F. Nicholls. Mr. J. Young was appointed secretary. The fee for transfers was fixed at Iβ.

N.RW ALBURNIA. The annual meeting of the Now Alburnia Gold Mining Company was held yesterday afternoon at Mr. l>. G. MacDonnell's oflices, New Zealand Insurance Buildings, Mr. James Frater being in the chair. The directors' report, the balance sheet, and the mine manager's report, were submitted, and adopted, as follows :— DIRKCTORS' RKPORT. In presenting you with our report and balance-sheet, wo regret to state that the operation* for the ]>a.st year have not been attended with the success financially our late manager, Mr. Radford, led us to anticipate. This in a great measure is due to the large amount of dead worl; which had to be carried out, such ;is the extension of levels and the cleaning out and putting in repair old drives, ite., and possibly to the fact that wo did not vigourously push forward the work of the mine's development, as it would have necessitated the calling up of capital, which owing to the general up to recent dates in mining and business generally we did not think it prudent to do. You will be pleased to learn that acting on the advice of Air. Radford and your local director, Mr. Dtinlop, we secured for a merely nominal sum the ground once hrld by the Devon Company. The securing of this ground, in our opinion, should and will largely enhance the value of your property. In reference to the works now in progress we submit the mine manager's report, and as he deals fully with the matter we have not thought it necessary to supplement the same further than by the remarks already made. The balance-sheet herewith presented exhibits in full a statement of the receipts and expenditure, assets, and liabilities and capital account. On perusal of the same it will be observed that the expenditure for the year has been very small as compared with the area and valuable nature ot the ground held. The cash assets though small, are nevertheless, we are pleased to say in excess of the liabilities. In pursuance of the company's rules the present directors and auditor retire from otliee, but being eligible for re-election, offer themselves for the same. Balance-sheet for the year ending 22nd September, 1800 :—Receipts, £1897 l'As '2,1 ; expenditure, £17M 2s Id; liabilities, £,'SO hh Id; assets, £101 ( Js l()d. MINK MANAGERS REPORT. The mine manager reported as follows :— I took charge of your mine on the 3rd July, and my first operation was starting acrosscut at battery level to intersect Dixon's reef, which was met with after driving a distance of 47 feet, and has since been driven on a distance of 00 feet east aud 35 feet west of crosscut. The reef averages about 15 inches in thickness, and is well mineralised with colours of gold well distributed through the quartz. The two erushings from here have yielded Gfioz 12dwts of melted gold from 4(5 loads of quartz and 201b picked stone, while showing the heavily mineralised character of the stone the tailings realised £'20 Ss. Owing to the lightness of the air and want of ventilation this work is temporarily suspended, to remedy which a crosscut is being driven from the intermediate level on specimen leader, to connect with the intermediate level on Dixon's reef. This crosscut is now in &5 feet, and a further distance of $> feet should connect both levels, and give ample ventilation. As soon a;< this work is completed the work on Dixon's reef will be <it once started, and a large and valuable block will be opened up for profitable working. The work on the specimen leader has been driving aud sloping. From a trial of nine loads of general quartz a return was obtained of 9oz lO.lwts of melted gold which will prove remunerative when better ventilation is obtained and work carried on vigorously. As soon as the present work for air is completed, ventilation secured, and the work on Dixon's reef in full swing, I intend to turn my attention to the Sons of Freedom and other valuable reefs traversing the company's ground, from which I believe satisfactory results will be obtained. There are two parties of tributers in the company's ({round, both working on the Success reef, one party from \\ liuu level to battery, the other party from battery level to the surface. Both parties have been getting fair crushing flirt. I have every reason to antici|>ate that the work on Dixon's reef during the coming year will prove very satisfactory, as there is a large block left unworked, and the erushings from it have yielded so well, and there is so much ground unprospected (in which known reefs exist) that there is little doubt of payable returns being got from some of them.

ELECTION OF DIKKCTORS. The old directors—Messrs. C. Alexander, J. Frator, F. Clarke, J. Dickey, and T. Dunlop—were re-elected. Mr. Menzies was re-elected auditor. INOREASK OF CAPITAL. The question of increasing the capital of the company came under consideration, and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. George, "That the directors take into consideration the advisability of increasing the company's capital by the issue of new shares."

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. May Queen. —The legal manager writes : —The main lodo has been driven westward from the crosscut to the slide which crosses from the shaft. The stopes on the reef from the above point to the face on the drive, a length of 200 feet, will now be able to be systematically carried along. It is calculated that the present staff will easily keep the 15 head stampers now employed going continually. Cambria.—No. 2 level : One more set of timber will complete the timbering of the rise on the main reef for tho present ; but, before this can be put in, about five or six feet of the reef has to bo shot down in the lefthand corner of the rise. It was in '".is corner that the gold was seen. Some of the pieces of stone show large blotches of gold, and could be classed as fair picked stone. Intermediate, below No. 2 level: The leading stope is now being carried along on the cross leader. No quwfez hae

been broken down as yet. . The second sfcope on the small leader is along 45 feet; the leader is four or five inches in thickness, and shows gold when breaking down. The leader in the drive off the cross leader will average six or seven inches, and still shows gold. The men working here were engaged most of the past week repairing one of the old passes on the No. 6 leader. We have now a convenient way of getting rid of the dirt from this end of the workings. No. 3 level: The drive on No. 7 footwall leader is in a distance of 30 feet from No. 6 drive. When breaking down tho leader on Thursday last, gold was seen freely through the quartz. This leader will average about six inches. Gold is still seen in the quartz coming from the western branch of No. 7 leader. No. 4 level: There has been no quartz broken from here for the past week. Crushing for the company with 10 head was started on Wednesday last. There will be about GO loads to put through. The battery and winding engine are in good working order. Trenton. —No. 2 hanging wall lode, No. 5 level : The lodo in face of drive east of new crosscut is a compact, healthy-looking body of stone, fifteen inches wide, and the country is very favourable for the disposition of gold. I have discontinued driving here for the present, and commenced stoping with two shifts, in order that we may get a trial lot for our next crushing. The drive easb of junction has been extended nine feet during the past week. Nothing fresh of any consepuence has been exposed since my last. Rise above No. 4 level: Two shifts will "bo employed here after today, so as to hasten up to No. 3, where wo hope to find the good gold said to be left on the boundary. We could get to that point much quicker had not the boundary pass collapsed betweon Nos. 3 and 4 levels. No. 1 hangingwall lode, eist of main crosscut : Stopes are being taken off from east end of rise wo pub up some time since. The lode will average about twelve inches in width, and we have seen a few dabs and colours of gold when breaking ib down in tho week past. The contractors made a start this morning. Lonk Hand.—The drive eastward on the Manchester reef at the low level is sbill going through a, splendid class of country for gold. The No. 2 break is running along with the reef. There is good mineral in both the reef and tho break, and there is everything that could be desired for gold. The drive has been extended 17 feet during the week, making the total distance from tho crosscut 361 feet. The fourth slope west of the winze on the Manchester reef is along s(j feet. The reot in the face of this stope is about nine inches in thickness. There is some nice looking mineral through the quartz. The lifth stope west of the winze is along 35 feet. The reef in the face of this slope is about nine inches. There is a splendid class of mineral through the quartz. Colours ot gold were seen when breaking down the reof. The sixth stope west of the winze is along 1!) feet. The reef in the face of this stope is 12 inches in thickness. There is a good class of mineral through the quartz, and colours of gold wore seen when breaking down the reef. Crushing will be started on Wednesday next. Nkw Feaknouoht. — Have extended the creek level drive a further distance of 10 feet dnring the week, making a total distance of 29 feet driven on the reef from the crosscut. Tho leader, which i< a welldefined body of quartz, fullv 12 inches in thickness, and well mineralised, is encased in a soft sandstone country. During the last few days there are more quartz stringers crossing tho face of the drive than previously. Divks.—The intermediate level has been advanced !) feet during the pa,sb week, and the junction of the two leaders cut. in the back slopes has been reached, making in the face a fine body of stone about 18 inches in thickness, containing favourable mineral indications, and showing occasional colours of gold. In the leading stope, tho quartz stripped last week, about 12 feet, has been broken down, and, although no picked stone came to hand, the quartz looks healthy, and good colours of gold were seen through it. Five stopes arc in progress above this—three going west, and two east ; in the former good strong colours are seen, but in tho latter gold is not so plentiful. The crosscut on the main flinty has been extended 17 feet for the week, making 12S feet from tho flat sheet. The country is still kindly for gold, and the scam carries good minerals. Daring the week n quantity of water w;\s cue coming in from the back of tho drive. As tho hopper is full, I will not break much quartz, but go on stripping for the present. Honokoxu.—Tho main tunnel is in about 201) feet, tho crosscut about 30 feet. To get under where the gold was got above we will havo to go another 30 or 40 feet with the main tunnel. The country in this face is nice sandstone, good shooting ground. The face in the crosscut is a harder sandstone, with black mineral veins running through it. The " flinty" we are driving on in the crosscut ought to junction .vith the leader in about another 20 or 30 feet. Tliis junction ought to make a patch of gold if the country continues as good as it is now.

Pinfire. —I commenced operations on Monday last, the 22nd, with two shifts, to clear away a slip from the mouth of the Lone Star low level tunnel. We have the timber on the ground cleaned, and laid rails in drive up to the Lone Star reef, a distance of about '2(JO feet. We are now engagred cleaning out drive on reef. The eastern face from crosscut is in about 40 feet, and the western about 12 feot, from crosscut. About 00 feet in from mouth of tunnel there is a strong body of quartz dipping south, running about oast and west, and looks very kindly for gold. Then in a further 140 feet there is another leader about two or three inches, running about east and west, dipping to the north, and about 00 feet further in from this we get the leader that Mr. Buckland got tho golden stone from, and which he took to Auckland ; then along another 10 feet the Lone Star reef is reached. So far a« I nan see, there is about a foot of crushing dirt here : reef running about east and west, and dipping north. FiA'iN<j Cloud.—During the past week we have been engaged rising: on the hangingwall reef of the Sons of Freedom. We have risen about six feet,—just the height for a stope. 1 have started the men to go seaward of tho rise, as the reef is looking better in that direction. We have cut into the reef about four feet, and we are not through the reef yet ; thero is some goodlooking mineral through the quartz, such as leads mo to believe that we may get gold at any time. lam saving some of the quart/, to test its value.

Junction. —We are now in a distance of 13!) feet from the main tunnel. The ground was easier at the beginning of this week. I was in hopes that it would continue so, but it has again become tight. Thero are a lot of quartz veins crossing the faco, which makes the ground bad for shooting. lam in hopes of gotting through this aud into a bettor channel of country. Tho ground should become better as we gob up towards the reefs. Six feet have been driven this week.

FKKEDOMi—Low level : Fairly good progress has been made here during the past week, 10 feefc having been driven. I anticipate better progress next week, as the country in the face to-day is more favourable for progress than the contractors have had since commencing work. Upper level : Driving and stoping on hangingwall reef is being carried on at thin level, without change to report. Footwall leader: The drive on this leader has been advanced eight feet during the past week, total distance driven 14 feet. No breaking down has taken place here during the week. Magnolia.—The drive has been extended 22 feet in the last fortnight, making a total of G'22 feet. The big reef in the lower level is 2i fuet iii thickness from the hangingwall to the footwall. The last 6 feet of the footwiill of the reef is mixed with horses of sandstone. As we passed the footwall of the reef it is a nice blue country full of small mineral veins. I have one leader running: with the drive north-east; and the big reef runs north-west by south-east, just right angles of one another. 1 shall have No. 2 level finished by the end of this week, and be able to get down and start sinking. Nkw Moanatatari.—The western drive on the Reuben Parr reef at the 100 foot level has again been resumed. The lode has narrowed in considerably and is looking better, but has not so far shown any gold. In the eastern end tho drive on the course of the break has been advanced 10 feet through a good description of sandstone. No, 6 stope is the only stope which has been in progress on the main reef during the week. The western drive on the footwall lode b now 18 feet through the break or cross section of soft country. This lode is getting stronger again and is continuing

a most regular course, and I am pleased to say Still shows gold freely when broken down. Two stopes are in hand here, from both of which good crushing dirt is being obtained. At the 200 feot level the drive going west has been extended 12 feet. Un Saturday a strong flow of water was met with which has considerably drained away to-day. There is a body of quartz some 10 inches in thickness showing in the faco._ I cannot say whether this may be a portion of the reef or not, but the quartz is somewhat similar to that in the main reef on the 100 foot level. There has been 242 tons of quartz and about 1301b of picked stone treated for the return so far of G49oz cold water amalgam, but there should be another lOOoz to come yet. Victoria.—There is little change to report except that the crosscut has met with a hard blue bar. This Ido not dislike, as nearly all the best gold-bearing reefs in this part of the field have been in the vicinity it these bars. Tho distance driven up to date is 45 feet. Calkdonian.—-The crosscut drive at No. 1 level has been extended a distance of 18 feet this week. It is now iti a distance of 70 feet. It ia excellent country in the face. Should this continue, about another week will put this drive into the Young American lode. A leader 3 inches in thickness was cut in this drive in tho beginning part of the weok, but it only came half way down the drive, and I did not think it of sufficient importance to wire to you. I have removed the men from the crosscut at No. 2 level, and have them employed in driving westward on the first leader that was cut through in the crosscut at No 1 level. The leader is about 6 inches in thickness in tho face. In breaking it down on Friday colours of gold were seen in the quartz. Lrcoi'i CiD. —I have commenced operations to clean out and repair a crosscut from Canadian Gully to cut a leader that was worked about eleven years ago on the surface to a depth of 20 feet only, and which gave as much as 10oz of gold to the ton. The man who worked on it states that ho left gold in the floor of this drive, but the ground was filled in by him. Tho crosscut which we are cleaning out was in the same state then that it is now, and will give GO or 70 feet of backs on this leader, and we are certain to cut some other leaders before we get into it. We huve got 40 feet cleaned out, and rails laid for that distance, and some timber put in whore tho ground was bud. I will as-certain next week, if possible, the distance we will have to go to cub this leader. If it had not been for having bo curry the timber such a long distance up the hill we would have made much better progress with the crosscut.