THE GOLDFIELDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8423, 26 November 1890, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS

[BY telegraph.—OWN correspondent.] Thames, Tuesday, haremarkkt.—Caledonian, sellers, 2s 6d ;

Consols, sellers 9d; Lone Hand, sellers 4s3d; Manukau, sellers Is; May Queen, sellers 4s 6d ; Moanataiari, sellers 7s 3d ; Orlando, sellers Is ; Trenton, sellers 4s. Hongkong.—Ten pounds picked stone were reported from the mine tnis morning. Saxon.—The usual fortnightly retorting took place to-day, for tlje payable return of 2370z sdwt melted gold, for which 401 loads general dirt and 251b picked stone wore treated. Trenton. —A further portion of the footwall reef at No. 3 level is now being stripped ready for another breaking down, which will probably take place near tho end of the week. Consols.—The directors of this company have appointed Mr. John Gabbons superintending engineer for thai erection of winding and pumping machinery upon their shaft site, which work is to be proceeded with at once. > _ . May QuEE\'.- j -Operutionß in tho drive which was being put in from the left-hand crosscut in search of No. 4 reef, not having been successful, the manager has suspended work at that point, and brought the men back to extend the eastern drive straight ahead through the broken country, The manager this afternoon received instructions to proceed at once with the sinking of the company's shaft to a further depth of 100 feet. Tenders will be receivable up to Friday afternoon.

KUAOTUNU. [from our own correspondent.] Mining matters are progressing fairly in this district, though rather slow. No doubt this is owing to the want of crushing facilities, only the best stuff being worth sending to the Thames ; but I am glad to say tho*new battery is rapidly nearing completion, and then will be able to treat a large quantity of stuff. lam afraid that some of the mines about which thero is so much talk now will not be able to keep tho battery going. At my visit they were just building in'the boiler, which is a very powerful one, capable of working up to GO horse-power. The concrete foundation is in, ana a good deal of tho brick-work done. A few weeks now should see the whole affair well under way. Surplus.—There has been a good deal of talk about this mine of late, and not without reason, for they have a splendid reef in hand, and have carried gold for over GO feet; in fact, they have got picked stone and specimens the whole of the distance. The reef is about 18 inches thick, of brown sandstone, tho gold being very coarse in places. The reef strikes right through the claim, and backs of considerable height can be got. Great Mercury.—Great preparation is being made to start this claim on a large scale. A low level is being pushed in. Machine, water rights, mullock tips, etc., have been secured, and a machine of the most improved pattern is to be erected with amalgamating pans, etc. Try Fluke.—Mr. J. Goldsworthy has just taken charge of this mine, and very courteously showed me over the mine. . A large block of what is supposed to be the richest ground has been stoped out, but the bottom is not out of it by any means, and I shall bo very much mistaken if it does not ftcain come to the front as good as ever. Afr. ♦Goldsworthv contemplates making several changes in the style of work, all of which take time, but of the future of the mine there is little danger. In the low level at the southern end the reef is about three feet wide, _of nice looking stone, ' and gold _ is showin". "I am inclined to think another shot of gold is coming in there. The directors visited the mine on Friday, and no doubt decided the position of the new low level, and various other matters which demand their attention. Kafai.—The low level is now nearly up to the supposed courso of the reef, and I .am glad to find a very great improvement in the country. It is now good yellow sandstone, easily worked, which speaks .volumes for the futur. of, the mine, especially as the Try Fluke is getting gold, as-it-nears their boundary. Carbine.The manager has started to sink on what might be called the specimen leader, in order to.open up communication with the bottom level. It looks as well as ever, and will no doubo turn out much more stuff equal to the late crushing. The muin reef in the low level is also looking very promising. Some portions of it are payable, and I yet expect to see a good shoot of gold in this mine. Waitaia.— No. 3 reef is looking as well as ever. It still maintains its course, and nice gold has been carried along over GO feet, and the reef has also been picked up on the opposite side of the gully and some very good stone taken therefrom. There is also another almost parallel reef on that side about 15 inches, showing gold very freely. The manager is now getting the mine into fair working order, and only wants men to be able to turn out a large tonnage of payable ore. Bonanza.—The manager has got a splendid reef in hand, about 18 inches thick, from which good prospects can be washed in the loose, and by crushing the stone. The reef strikes nearly due east and west, and will cut the Arizona and Bonanza No. 2, where there ought to be a good deposit of the precious metal. Arizona.The manaser is driving on the new reef which, however, is rather small, but is well mineralised, and tho country also, the gold being very coarse. Keystone.—The manager is making good headway with the main level, lie has had a hard bat - to break through, but has succeeded, and is now in better country. Tho first reef will be in hand in a few feet, and the other will take about 10 feet of a crosscut to reach, and the third will require about 100 feet. All these reefs give good prospects, and are likely to turn out well. Lucky Hit.—There is a fine reef in hand in the top level, from which very good crushing stuff is being paddocked. The reef is from 15 to 18 inches thick, and should be worth from 1J to per ton. The country adjoining is excellent, and it only requires to be worked to be a good goldproducer. New Find.McGregor and party havo got a very nice reef, showing- course gold, on tho other side of the Waitaia. Very little mining work has yet been done, but the surface prospects are exceedingly good, and the inference is that the reef is equally rich.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. . Trenton.—Footwall lode, No. 3 level : The face of the drive is now in a distance of 3- feet from the boundary. The lode will average for that distance about one foot in width, and hitherto it has yielded handsomely, having produced not less than 2911b of specimens and picked stone, 441b of which came to hand on Saturday last, and of which I wired you. The country can scarcely be surpassed for crold. We commenced here with three shifts last Wednesday. This drive will be pushed ahead about 30 feet more, after which I intend to sink, in order to communicate with the rise as soon as possible. Stripping is again in hand here. We have beers squaring up an end of ground during the best part of the past week, preparatory to our rising. We commence the rise to-day with three shifts. The lode at this point has a strong and promising appearance lor gold. The main crosscut has been rather tighter the last day or two. It has been extended 12 foot during the*p:ist. week. No change to mention in No. '2 hangingwnll reef. Camjhua.— No. '2 level : The rise on the main reef is now up a height of 30 feet. On account of the flukey nature of the ground in the hangingwall, a start was made to break down the stripped portion of the reef of the reef (about 5 or 6 feet) to allow a set of timber to be put in, some of the quartz carries good mineral, and also shows a little zinc blend. Intermediate below No. 2 level: Tho leader at right angles to the cross leafier in the leading stope westward, still continues to show gold, and occasionally two or three pounds of picked stone are saved. The leading stope has been stopped for the past few days, and tho men put to extend the drive on the cross leader ; this leader at present is small (about 3 to 4 inches in thickness), but shows gold very freely, and as per wire on Saturday 15 pounds of picked stone were obtained. Stoping is still proceeding on the mineral leafier, without change to report. No. 3 level ; The second sto[>e on the wostern branch of No. 7, two leaders are still boing carried along in this stopo, and during the past week a few pounds of picked stono were saved from them. No. 7

footwall leader. During tho week about --o feet of the leader were broken down, the leader will average about 7 inches in thickness, and is composed of nice kindly looking quartz. No. 4 level: No. 7 leader in the second stope will average about 8 inches in thickness, and at present shows goid pretty aeely, whilst on Saturday (as per wire) 1U pounds of picked stone were obtained. Crushing for the company is still proceeding with 10 head, and will probably be finished on Thursday. , * , lt . Lonk Hand.—The drive on the Manchester reef eastward, at tho low level, is passing through a splendid class of country for gold. There are some small seams crossing the face of the drive striking into the reef, which is a good indication for gold in this mine. The reef in the_ present face will average about five inches in thickness, and is carrying some good mineral for gold. Tho drive has been extended 14 feet during the week, making the total distance from the crosscut 490 feet. Tho seventh stope west of the winze on the Manchester reef is along 55 feet. The reef in the face of the stops is about 15 inches in thickness. There is good mineral through tho quartz, and gold was seen when breaking down the reef. The eighth stope west of i;he winze is along 37 feet. The reef in the face of this stope is six inches thick. Colours of gold were seen when breaking down the quartz. The ninth stope west of tho winze is along '21 feet. The reef in this stope is about six inches thick. Colours of gold wore seen freely through the quartz when breaking down the reef. May Queen.—The drive eastward is still going through broken country. In the face of the drive there is a small leader about J two inches in thickness, but tho quartz is rather white looking. The leading stopo east on the No. 4 lode is along 103 feet from the crosscut; the lode in the face of this stopo is about three feet in thickness. The second stope is along 141 feet east of the crosscut; the lode in the face of this stope is about 12 inches in thickness. The third stope is along 115 feet from tho crosscut ; there are about nine indies of crushing dirt in the face of this stope. The fourth stopo is along 87 feet east of the crosscut the lode in this stope is nine inches in thick-; ness. The fifth stope is along CO feet east of tho crosscut; tho lodo in the face of this stope is about 12 inches in thickness. The sixth stope east on the No. 4 lodo is along 39 feet; in the face of this stope the lode is about three feet in thickness. Gold was seen freely when breaking down the lode on Saturday list. The fifth stope west of tho crosscut on the No. 4 lode is along (>0 feet ; the lode in the face of this stopo is about two feet in thickness. The sixth stope west of the crosscut is along 22 feet ; the lode in the face of this stopo is about 12 inches in thickness. There is a good class of mineral through the crushing dirt in all the above stopes, and the country on both walls of the lode is of a first-class description. The fifth stopo on the No. 4 footwall branch is along 85 feet; the lode in this stopo is about nine inches in thickness. The sixth stopo is along 61 feet; the lodo in tho face of tins etope is about six inches in thickness. There is a good class of mineral through the quartz. Hot water amalgam on hand to tho 24th instant, 5340z sdwt. Freedom. —Low level : The reef drive has been advanced nine feet for tho week. The reef at the faco of the drive at present is very large, beine nearly the wholo width of the drive ; the quartz is not so promising in appearance as could be desired. Sloping is proceeding as usual at the upper level; the third stope has been advanced 15 feet from the rise; the quartz is well mineralI ized, and of a promising appearance, but ' has shown no gold for the week. I have commenced to rise at a point about 70 feet east of the main crosscut ; the reef here is a nice compact body of stone about nine inches wide, encased in a fine channel of country both for gold and progress. Several strong colours of gold were seen here when breaking down the reef yesterday. Victoria.—During the past fortnight a distance of 19 feet has been driven in tho joint crosscut; this distance brings us up to the boundary. Caledonian.toping is being continued on the Young American lode. In breaking it down to-day 51b picked stone were obtained. lam of opinion the lode will now improve as it is risen upon. Tho quartz in the rise on the main lode near the Otago shaft still continues to carry a great amount of nice mineral, and as I mentioned to you in my letter of Saturday, colours of gold have also been seen in breaking down the lode.

Prosperity.—l am of opinion we are now in close proximity to the break, and a decided change has taken place in the country and reef. The country is of a splendid class of sandstone, with black mineral veins striking through it. The reef here varies from three to twelve inches in thickness. When breaking down the reef, I found there was a favourable change taking place in the reef, which showed large blotches of coarse gold in the quartz, and also carrying a good class of minerals which usually accompanies gold. In continuing the breaking down, on Saturday last, we also got blotches of strong coarse gold. The reef is improving as we go down.

Orikntal. —During the past week we have made good progress with the drive, having driven 25 feet, for the week, making a total distance of 109 feet. There is no change to report in the ground, and should it continue the same we ought to have the Occidental reef in hand before the Christmas holidays. Cm* of Dun'f.din-.— No. 2 level: The work of stripping the reef is being proceeded with in this level. A rise is up some distance, and the leading stope is being carried along the course of the reef, and will shortly be broken down and forwarded to the battery. Also the ' necessary tramway to the point is well advanced. The present crushing from No. 1 level will not be finished up before the middle of next week. Magnolia.—The lower level is extended this week 10 feet, making a total of 706 feet. The reef has turned right over, and is dipping eastward, and is split up into stringers ; but we still see colours of gold in it. It is a splendid country for gold, full of mineral veins, and a good working country. No. 2 level : The winze is down a distance of about 19 feet, and I see colours and dabs of gold all through the stone, but the water is very troublesome. Junction". —The crosscut is now in a distance of 180 feet. There is a good deal of mineral in the country that we are driving in. Eighty feet of hard ground has been driven through. I think a better class of country should soon bo met with. Flvi.no Cloud.—The reef in the rise and stope averages from IS inches to 2 feet, in width, a well-defined body of stone, but so far none of the precious metal has been seen in taking down the quartz. We struck a reef 2 feet in width on the footwall of the hangingwall reef, which I believe to be the Sons of Freedom, cast of junction. Norfolk. —I have continued driving intermediate from the bottom of winze westward on California reef. The dirt coming to hand gives good prospects. I have driven 10 feet from the winze. lam saving

the whole width of the drive, which is about 5 feet, and leaving the same class of dirt under foot.

THE PUniPUHI FIELD.

A valuable opinion regarding the prospects of tho Puhipuhi field has been given by Mr. Leslie Mac Arthur, a well-known export who recently arrived from Australia. Mr. Mac Arthur, who is now at Whangarei, has just visited the l'uhipuhi district. He says ho was decidedly pleased with the field, and that there can be no doubt as to its future. There is abundance of quartz there. Most of the facings which he exhibited were argentiferous, and some gave indications of being gold-bearing. The field must attract foreign capital sooner or later. In reply to the question, " What do you think of the district as a whole?" Mr. Mac Arthur said: "I think it has a better future than any district. I have erer seen either in New South Wales, Victoria, or Tasmania, and it would only require a brief visit from the most, sceptical to demonstrate that fact. You have an inexhaustible supply of coal at Kamo and Hikurangi, ana the presence of iron and limestone in close proximity I consider a most important factor. From my experience of the Hikurangi coal, after using it in my Mcta furnace, I think it would be difficult to surpass it for quality. You also have a fine harbour, easy inqit'ss and egress, and your climate is perfect. The rural scenery is charming, and your Orangeries, vineries, and orchards remind one of Parramatta. The district is a perfect sanatorium. I have no doubt but that if Australians knew of its resources, climate, and scenery, they would flock to it. I have written to my friends in Australia describing tho place in those terms. Ido 1106 know of its equal anywhere else."

Some excellent specimens of stono from the Puhipuhi field were received yesterday by Mr. W. R. Cook. They were taken from the following claims :Prospectors No. 1, Prospectors No. 2, Little Agnes, Silver Fleece, and United.