THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8404, 4 November 1890, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Thames, Monday. Sharemarkkt.Cambria, sellers 4s 3d, buyers 3s 9d ; Caledonian, sellers 2s 9d ; Consols, sellers 10d; Dives, sellers 2s j Freedom, sellers Is ; Flying Cloud, sellers od ; Golden Age, sellers lOci; Lone Hand, sellers os; May Queen, 5s 6d, sellers 6s ; Moanataiari, 7s 3d, 7s 2d, sellers 7s fid,' buyers 7s ; Alburiiia, sellors 6s ; Orlando, sellers lid; Saxon, 4a lid; Trenton, sellers 3s 3d.

Trenton.—A further parcel of 101b picked stone was obtained to-day from the footwall reef in the rise above No. 4 level. The Batteries. —The repairs to the county waterrace being now completed, all the batteries on the field resumed crushing operations early this morning. May Queen.— A large supply of quartz has accumulated from various workings during the recent stoppage of crushing operations, in consequence of which an effort was made to secure an additional five head of stampers at the Cambria battery, but this request could not be acceded to at the present juncture. There is every probability of there being a change in the management of this mine shortly, as I hear on good authority that the present manager, Mr. Barclay, has sent in his resignation.

Saxon. —Operations in this mints are now in full swing again, and a sufficient supply of quartz will now be available to keep the company's battery running full time. Driving westward upon No. 3 reef at No. 6 level was resumed to-day, the reef being a large body and looking very promising. Communication is expected to be effected to-morrow between the winze which is now being sunk upon the new reef below the No. 4 level and the rise above No. o level. When this is accomplished the workings will be well ventilated, and a largo block will be available for stoping upon thi reef, which is expected to yield very remuneratively.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Nkw Moanataiari. —There are now fully 120 tons of quartz stacked in the buttery, but as I purpose treating the picked stone oil Monday, and retorting on Tuesday, there will not be much of the gold from this quartz in the month's return. On the '200-feet level the men are now engaged driving on a body of stone about a foot in thickness westward of the break. Some of this stone looks very kindly for gold, and the country is getting a good deal firmer. 100 feet level : The footwall lode in the eastern drive is still coming round to the left, so that the junction with the Reuben Purr reef should shortly be met with. There was no gold seen here at last breaking down, which is the first occasion since driving was commenced on this lode. The slopes here, of which there are four now opt..ted, are all looking well, especially the third, from which I wired the Nicked stone yesterday. In the western drive 011 the main reef there is a considerable improve merit taken place, and I was very pleased to bo able to wire you that '201b of picked stone had been obtained. The distance from here to the eastern face on the footwall lode is now 200 feet. There has been none of the stopes manned here during the week, the men being engaged in the eastern drives on the break and Reuben Parr reef. There is little change to report from either of these drives further than that the ground is getting kindlier and better for gold. City of Dunedin. —No. 1 level: Stoping 011 the reef has been continued for the past week, and the reef looks very promising and continues to yield a considerable quantity of quartz. The reef in No. 2 level is five feet wide, and the mortar tests and the appearance of the atone is fully jus promising as in the upper level. This will open up a most extensive block of ground. As the reef so far appears to get larger as driven upon hillwards, and as the range rises rapidly, the backs naturally increase on the reef. Owera.—The low level • has been extended 12 feet for the week, and the reef still keeps about the same. Can see colours of gold through the stone. The country now in the face of the drive is first-class, with mineral veins running through it, so that before long I hope to be able to report picked stone. There is every indication of it as the drive advances. Red Mercury (Kuaotunu). — Since my last report the drive 011 the reef south has been extended another seven feet, making a total of *22 feet. The ore to hand from this portion of the reef (south) is of a similar grade to that reported last week. The drive on the north is advanced eight feet, and the reef is larger and in better country for working. The ore coming to hand is of a high grade, and should give a handsome return when treated. Invicta (Kuaotunu). —Since my last report the drive on the reef has been extended another 10 feet, making a total distance driven of 50 feet. The reef during the last week has been smaller and more compact, consequently it gives better prospects. I have had one man surface trench ing during the last three or four days. Two nice looking leaders have been cut close to the reef we are now driving on, which give a fair prospect when pounded. Golden Gate (Kuaotunu). —Since the contractors gave up the drive, we have extended it 35 feet, and the reef has averaged about a foot all through, of nice looking quartz. The country is everything that 20uld be desired for gold. The reef is now pretty solid, and is coming in full of mineral, which I believe will lead us on to something good.

Carbine (Kuaotunu). —Driving is being continued on the footwnll vein in No. 1 l«vel. The ore has increased in thickness and prospects better than it did at the date of last report, and appearances seem to indicate that a fresh run of gold is at hand. Work has progressed as usual in the blocks above the level, and quartz of good grade has been met with. In No. 2 tunnel the reef is smaller at present than is usual, it* size being under two feet, but it is yielding stone carrying payable gold. In the north low levels tho contractors have made fair progress during the week. The distance driven is now about 25 feet. Twenty-one tons of quartz have been sent from the mine, and will be forwarded to the Thames by steamer to-day.

Pride of the Hills (Kuaotunu) —The contractors are making good progress with the crosscut tunnel They are working two shifts, and the country has got much easier since they started. They have driven up to date a distance of 40 feet. Another 40 feet of driving should bring ur. close up to the line of reef.

Maori I'Ait (Kuaotanu). —Wo started driving on Monday last for the reef referred to in my last report. The drive is now in about IS feet, and the country is somewhat tighter than the general run, but is of a kindly description for gold, and full of iron veins and quartz stringers. We can get a little fine gold in some of the stringers by crushing and washing. Seventy feet further driving ill take us under where we got the best prospects on the surface, when I hope we shall have something better to report.

Surplus (Kuaotunu). —Since last report tho drive on No. 4 reef has been extended nine feet, making a total of 56 feet. The reef has been broken down daily, and shows coarse blotches of gold each time ; a few rich stones were got at the beginning of the week. The reef averages 15 inches, and is well mineralised, and should crush well when properly treated.

Stanley (Kuaotunu). — Slow progress has been made in No. 1 drive during the week. Tho ground being heavy, has had to be timbered up. The contractors in No. 2 drive are in about 75 feet, and continue to tap water as the drive proceeds. I have driven 13 feet in new drive No. 3. The country so far looks very favourable.

Otama (Kuaotunu).—The drive oil No. 2 reef. No. 2 level, has been extended 40 feet from the winze. The ground has improved very much the last few feet of driving. We should see the junction of No. 1 reef this next week, unless it runs away much faster than I expect, as it is olily about eight feet from the top of winze in No. 1 level.

Nemesis (Kuaotunu). —The drive on No. 1 reef: The reef has improved all along as far as driven on, about 35 feet. We have broken through to the surface, and I have gone down about 70 feet lower down, and will start a low level on this reef. 1 have picked up the reef, and can start right on it and prove its value downwards. No. 2 reef is a nice, compact body of stone, and carries a fair prospect of gold. I have had a paddock cut out, and am stacking

quartz for treatment) at tho battery when started. Kohinoor (Kuaofcunu). —The contractors started on Monday last, and are making very fair progress. The drive is penetrating a good class of country. lam in hopes to strike something good in this drive, as where the reef is opened on the surface some splendid-looking stone was obtained. Victoria (Kuaotunu).— In the low level tunnel we are making good progress. We have driven .and timbered up this week over 30 feet, making in all a total distance of 109. The leader referred to in my last report has opened out to about one foot through, and shows a little gold by crushing and washing. We have now passed through it, but will further prospect ib after we have the main rjef in hand. Monowai (Kuaotunu).The crosscut has been extended a total distance of 85 feet, and has carried nice country all the way. We have not met with any more quartz since passing through the formation of the rubbly reof. I put one man out trenching last week, and we have picked up a nicelooking reef about a foot thick, and it gives a fair prospect in the dish. I will start to drive on this. Opal (Kuaotunu).— Since my last report we have not done much on No. 1 reef. The country, as I stated in my last, is still favourable to driving. We have to grass about five to six tons of quartz, and the reef now showing is a nice compact body, About two feet to two feet six inches in width. So far the tests I have made have been favourable.

Pride of the Hills (Kuaotunu).—The contractors for the crosscut tunnel commenced work with two shifts on the 13th October. The country for the first few feet was rather hard, and they were obliged to use dynamite. It has since improved and they are now making good progress, and hare driven up to date about 34 feet. About forty feet further driving should bring us near the line of reef.

Wairoa (Kuaotunu). —The crosscut has been extended a total distance of 80 feet. We passed through two reefs about 6 inches thick, and about 6' feet apart, which gave very fair prospects. We have not seen any quartz since we cut through the reef. I intend now to drive south, to get under where the best prospects were got on the surface. The drive on the big reef is in splendid country. Diamond (Kuaotunu). —I have driven 25 feet south on Dives' reef. There is a little more gold in the reef the last few feet, bub not enough to save. The reef is from six inches to one foot. I tried the leader in the Diamond section of the ground ; it is about 9 inches thick.

Try Fluke (Kuaotiinu). —The low level is in 157 feet south of winze and a decided improvement lias set in this week. The reef is fully five feet in width and gold is visible in some of the stone. The intermediate level north is 73 feet from the winze with an eight feet reef. The hangingwall portion Continues to produce fair crushing dirt. The footwall side is poor. All is treated at the battery. No. 7 south stopeisin33feet from winze ; reef is live feet, and bears average crushing ore, and No. 7 north is in 28 feet, with an 8 feet reef which gives small dish prospects. There has been 12 feet in all s toped on the back of No. 1 level ; reef is not so large as it was in the drive, but produces good crushing stone. I knocked off the man driving a prospecting tunnel for the Kuaotunu lode but started it again to-day. as possibly the lode has taken a bend up the hill, so intend to go a few feet farther. I have not been very successful with outside prospecting this week, but there still remains a large area of ground untouched. A man has been put on to fill up thestopes which have been worked out. There were six tenders received for the new low level of 500 feet in one lot. ranging from 16s to 18s lid per foot. There are three men engaged preparing a trestling, etc., for the new low level to lip over the public road. The total amalgam on hand to date is 4S3oz, onethird of which is gold. The mine manager telegrapher! yesterday : " Retorted late on Saturday ; A total of 1770z."