THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8472, 24 January 1891, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[from our own correspondent.] Thames, Friday. Freedom.—Operations at the upper level have been suspended for the present, and during the last few days the manager has cleaned out an old intermediate level, for a length of 300 feet lower down the hill, where he intends sinking a winze upon the junction of the 23rd of June reef, with what is known as McLean's leader. The rise from the low level upon this junction is up 28 feet, but as yet no gold has been seen, although tho reef bears a very promising appearance, and averages a foot in thickness.

Flying Cloud. —The intermediate level upon the Sons of Freedom reef is in a distance of 40 feet. During last few feet the reef has been disturbed by a break, but it is now coming together again and is looking favourable for gold. In fact a little gold has been seen in a nice looking vein about an inch thick on its hangingwall side. The loading stopo is well advanced, and the second one is now being brought along. In these stopes the reef averages 18 inches in thickness, and has shown a few colours of gold. Saxon. —The contractors for driving the crosscut at No. 6 level to intersect the main No. 1 reef have driven about 70 feet, which is half of the required distance. The country being penetrated, however, is very hard and difficult for shooting out, so that progress is slow, notwithstanding the fact that the company's rock drill is used in the work. Besides this, the air is very bad for working in, on account .of a lob of gas oozing out of the Ho. 2 reef. This latter fact, combined with the proximity of the crosscut contractors, prevents operations being commenced upon No. 2 reef until No. 1 reef is intersected and a connection is made with the winze already partly sunk below No. 5 level, which connection will provide a proper system of ventilation. The operations at present being carried on upon tho various reefs at Nos. 4, 5, and 6 levels are nob so remunerative as could be wished for, as the reefs are at present rather small and of low grade, which makes it difficult to keep up a sufficient supply for the battery. Thames, Friday. Shaukmakket. —Cambria, sellers 3s 6d, buyers 3a 3d ; Flying Cloud, 4d, sellers 5d ; May Queen, sellers 4s 9d, buyers 4s ; Moanataiari, sellers 13s 3d, buyers 12s fid ; Norfolk, Is 7d; Orlando, sellers Is Id, buyers lid; Trenton, 3a 2d, sellers 3s 3d, buyers ."5s ; Victoria, sellers Is lOd ; Hazelbank, sellers Is lOd.

THE WAIOROiNGOMAI MINES.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]

Te Akoiia, Friday. Mr. H. H. Adams is haul at work fixin tlio Waiorongomai battery, lie expects t be ready by Monday morning. A good number of men have been put on in the mine, under Hugh McLiver, and havo opened up a splendid leader, carrying good gold. Mr. Thomas Gavin has also a very nice show in the lease recently taken up.

Bonanza.—The annual meeting of the Kunotunu Bonanza Cold Mining Company was held afc the office of Messrs. Cook and Gray, A.M.P. Buildings, yesterday. There was a largo attendance of shareholders, and Mr. W. R. Bridgman presided. The report and balonce-shceb were read and adopted. The balance-sheet showed that the receipts for the year were £762 2s, whilst the expenditure was £694 8s 3d, leaving a credit balance of £65 l'.is 9d. However, as there were £101 (is worth of calls still to be paid, the total credit balance amounted to £166 19s 9d. The report stated that there were four payable reefs in hand, one of which had been recently discovered, and was over four feet wide, giving splendid prospects all through. This was in addition to No. 2 reef, from which a crushing of 10 tons had been taken to the Thames, and had given a return of over 4 ounces to the ton. Owing to the irreat expenso of transit, the directors hail deemed it advisable not to crush again until the new battery was opened on the field. The chairman congratulated the shareholders on the appointment of Mr. F. Stone as manager, and stated that the prospects for the forthcoming year were bright, owing to the appearance of the mine, and to the fact that crushing power would be available. The retiring directors were reelected, and Mr. J. Lush was appointed to" a vacancy on the board. Mr. \V. R. Fiattray was appointed auditor for the ensuing year. Regret was expressed at the death of Mr. Thomas Snell, who had rendered valuable service to the company as a director. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings. Cambria. —A rise will be pub up on the leader found in the crosscut at No. 2 levol to hole into the riso on the main reef. This operation will answer more than one purpose—it will determine the relation of the leader to the main reef, and throw somo light on the silicated portion of the latter, the quartz of the leader being also silicated. The leader has shown gold, and some good pieces with gold have beon picked from the quartz in the reef at the top of the rise, where they may be expected to junction.

May Queen'. — The) sinking of the new winze on No. 4 lodo in the City of London portion of the claim ](Xi feet deep, and holing into the end of the old drive at the next level, enables the company, after the drive is cleaned out., to drive on the No. 4 lode eastward to meet the May Queen slide. When the latter is intersected the entire new level will be drained and perfect ventilation secured.