A TOUR OF THE GOLD FIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8475, 28 January 1891, Page 6

A TOUR OF THE GOLD FIELDS.

THE THAMES. [by our own REPORTER. 1

Anything in the shape of a detailed report I of mining operations at the Thames proper j would be simply a work of supererogation, considering the efficient manner in which the various phases of the mining industry in its great centre at the Thames are so excellently detailed from day to day by Mr. Coad, the local agent of the New Zealand Herald, who seems to be indefatigable in his vocation, and whose reports I was informed on all sides alForded the fullest satisfaction. Any remarks which I shall have to make will therefore be of a goneral character, or if there is anything in them of a special nature it will only have reference to some features which attracted my attention or to portions of the field which do not so generally come under the supervision of your local agent. Work was only just resumed after the holidays when I reached Quartzopolis, and in many instances the batteries had not yet resumed operations. In many of the mines also a considerable number of men had been knocked off when the holidays set in, and there was a feeling of uncertainty as to whether operations would be resumed, and if so, on what scale in some of the mines, and an anxious look out was kept for the visits of Auckland directors of companies who had to decide as to what operations should be resumed and what works should be carried on. There was, however, a very hopeful feeling in regard to the future prospects of the field, and the principal mine, the Moanataiari, opened the ball with some display, for the very first breaking down of ore after the holidays brought to hand some 60 or 70 lbs of specimens and greatly improved prospects. The Trenton followed the lead with a good breaking down, and other leading mines followed up with encouraging prospects. Tho big pump was working steadily and evenly and the only mine which seemed to be troubled with water was tho May Queen. It appeared that the water in this mine is dammed back by the largo clay slide which runs through the district, known locally as the Moanataiari slide, and it will be necessary to penetrate through this to afford a vent for the water into the strata, which is drained into the big pump. This may occupy a month or two, but it will not be time lost, for when the drainage is effected operat ions can be resumed on a larger scale, and with greater comfort and safety than previously. Details of this have, however, been fully published, and 1 need not further refer to them, nor indeed to any of the leading mines of the place. On the day after my arrival at the Thames quite an influx of Auckland gentlemen, directors in many of tho mines, arrived, and conferences were held with many of their managers as to what works should bo carried on, the directors themselves payin? visits of inspection to the mines. I may as well here refer to a few of those mines, as a great deal of uncertainty prevailed regarding their future, and the question of continuing or stopping work in them was one of great importance in the district. *

The plan of operations to be adopted on the Golden Age, Waiotahi Creek, gave the directors some anxiety, not on account of want, of reefs, but on account of the large number of them which had been opened. Mr. James Langsford is manager of this mine, and no one should be better acquainted with the reef system of this section, tor to my own knowledge he has been working in it since the end of 1867, when he was a shareholder in the West Coast claim on Messenger's Hill, and I was one of the less fortunate owners of the Perseverance claim adjacent. That is, however, a reminiscence on which I do not dwell with delight, so I will let it pass. Well, as I said, the question before the directors was a somewhat difficult one. The mine is now ventilated from No. 1 level, giving a depth of 100 feet of virgin ground, and there are nine different lodes opened in it varying from a few inches to 21 feet, the latter which is known as the Golden Age reef, and which is intact to the surface, being just intersected at a depth which gives backs of 300 feet at J.he highest point of the hill. Very little has ever been done on this fine body of quartz, but. Mr. Langsford has strong hopes that it will turn out well. A winze is down on a small lode known as No. 3, which dips into another, a stronger body about 3 feet thick, and this winze connects the No. 1 and No. i' levels. The small lode lias been partly stoped towards the surface, anil the ore gave good returns, but the larger lode was intact. Good gold was also got in No. 4 lode, and after consideration the directors gave instructions to the manager to let contracts for driving on this and other lodes, and to put on a few wages men on the surface workings, and to prospect the Golden Age reef.

The Orlando claim, Moanataiari Creek, was another of the claims visited by the directors with a similar object, and they decided on a plan of operations. The mine adjoins the well-known Alburnia, and it was decided to continue stopiug on a 15inch lode which shows good gold, and from which there are now on hand twelve loads of ore and 201 of picked stone. The prospects were considered satisfactory. It was al?o decided to cut out a chamber in the new level and to sink 011 the big reef known in the early days as the Carpenter's reef, to a depth of 70 feet in order to ascertain whether the gold goes down with a view to putting in a low level from which to work it, should the prospects warrant the expense. I was informed that 10 loads of ore taken from the large reef near where the winze is to be commenced, gave a profitable return of 'i.joz 15d\vts gold. A eontract has been let by the Calliope Company, the owners of the adjoining claim, to drive on this reef. They start "in the Orlando ground and will follow the reef through it for 130 feet before they reach their own boundary. This will have the effect of prospecting the reof to that extent, and as there is payable quartz now in the face the advantages to the company will be very considerable.

The Freedom mine, in the Moanataiari Creek, is also one which claimed the attention of the visiting directors in respect to the best method to be adopted for future operations, and they visited the mine before coming to a decision. At present the old 23rd of June reef is being mined in an upper level, and fair prospects are being obtained from the lode, which is about 1.3 inches in width. A low level, in which the reef has been driven 0:1 for about 300 feet, partly by the old Alburnia Company, and continued by the present company, gives good prospects, and a rise is now being put up, with a view of meeting a leader for merly worked on tribute, and which gave returns of Ooz to the ton. There lias, so far, been no crushing from the low level, but « quantity from the upper level crushed during the month of Deq&jnber, am aged 16dwt to the ton. It was decided to continue present operations, and by-and-bye to commence opening out 011 the Sons of Freedom reef, which traverses the company's ground.

These are just a few of the matters which occupied the attention of the directors of various companies who visited the Thames after the holidays, but far and away the most important event was the starting of the Sylvia Company's new plant in Tararu Creek, and amongst those presentwere Mr. Agnew, chairman of directors. This magnificent plant has been crected under the supervision of Dr. Scheidel, a German expert, on the same methods as the famous Frieburg Works. It is a veryextensive plant, and of somewhat complicated structure, but every faith is held in its adaptability and suitability for t he ore which it has to treat. The ordinary battery process will in the first instance be used, and the free gold will be saved on the copper tables, but all the debris then passes through an elaborate system of concentration. All the concentrates arc carefully saved. -It is not in the meantime intended to treat the concentrates at these works, and they will be probably shipped home until such time as the requisite appliances are provided. The plant is a very costiy one, and it is hoped that the results will justify the expenditure. Mr. Agnew in the course of a brief conversation told me that they were satisfied from tests that the Sylvia ore contained a large proportion of gold ; Dr. Scheidel told him this process would save it. They had given him everything ho asked for, no expense was spared to secure efficiency, and they looked forward with confidence to the future. I may just add that the mino is connected with the battery by an endless wire tramway, with self-tipping buckets ; and the reef, which is a large one, and which near the surface

yielded excellent gold returns to the shareholders of the Little Agnes, is well opened up, so that there need be no scarcity of ore. Near the surface the ore was free milling, and the gold was easily saved by the ordinary battery process, but at a depth of about 100 feet it became so intermixed with other minerals that it proved thoroughly refractory. The ordinary process could not save the gold, and hence the necessity for the costly, elaborate plant which has now been erected. The directors appeared to bo thoroughly satisfied with the plant and appliances, and should it prove tho success which is anticipated, it will open up a future for many other mines in the Tararu district, which they cannot hope for otherwise. Another mine which occupies a very prominent position in Tararu is tho Norfolk, recent returns from which have been most satisfactory, tho last before my visit being 950z lGdwt from 80 loads of ore. The company have a powerful water - power crushing plant of their own, and the mine is connected with it by a wire tramway capable of sending down 35 tons a day. A winze is now being sunk to connect the new level with the upper workings, and when this is effected the manager expocts to bo able to keep continuously at work with '20 head of stampers. A new venture has been started in this creek, in a claim known as the Kaiser, an area of 30 acres. A reef has been opened in a drive put in above the creek level, which has all the characteristics of the Sylvia ore, being largely impregnated with galena and other minerals. Dixon's Syndicate battery (the old Flora Macdonald) has its full force of '20 head of stampers engaged on the company's own ore, which is transmitted to it direct from the mine by an aerial tramway, and the City of Dunedin mine is now being connected with tho same battery. This claim, and its famous black reef, were many years ago tho great features of the Tararu Creek, and operations are now bcintr continued on a reef three feet thick, which runs parallel with the old black reef, and it has many of the characteristics of the latter. It is within 28 feet of the old reef, and crushing fromitsofar have averaged lOdwt to the ton, a return which when the ore is treated in quantity will yield a good margin of profit, more especially when there will be no second handling and no trucking or carting expenses to meet. The upper and lower levels are now connected. The proprietors have a special arrangement with the Dixon's Company for the use of 10 head of stampers at a chcap rate when they require them, and this concession, I understand, was made in recompense for certain water right privileges surrendered to Dixon's Company. . I A discovery which may prove of the | very greatest importance has been made in Waiomo Creek, about eight miles north of Grahaiustown, in an area comprising the old Waiomo and Gem claims, and which is now owned by Mr. Peter Hansen and others. The reef opened varies from one to live feet in thickness, and contains good samples of gold and silver, showing the latter in the chloride form, the bullion being worth from £1 5s to £1 10s per ounce. The lode has been extensively opened, and assays and small tests, have given most extraordinary results. It is opened for a length of 170 feet, and has been proved payable all tlnit distance, and it lias been traced for a further distance of •100 feet down the hill. There are about 300 tons of ore oil hand, and a sample of half a ton is being prepared for dry crushing at the School of .Mines, from which a rich return is expected. Air. Hansen informs me that it is intended to put up a crushing plant, and adopt with it either pans, or if arrangements can be made for the use of the Cassel process, that will bo adopted instead, as he thinks it would prove the most suitable.

In this sketch I have confined myself to features not so generally reported on in the ordinary way, but I may say that as the result of my visit to the Thames after an absence of nearly 14 years, I was pleased to notice the general vitality and spirit of hopefulness which existed. There is no doubt the substitution of water power for steam in almost all the crushing plants has greatly lessened the cost of reduction, and improved appliances enable the batteries to save a larger percentage of the auriferous and argentiferous metals contained in the ores than was jiossible formerly. I also noticed very few men out of employment, and did not hear a single complaint, of bad times. There is a general feeling that the opening year is likely to prove a prosperous one at the Thames, and should this expectation be realised the whole colony will share in the prosperity of of this great quartz-mining centre.