THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8482, 5 February 1891, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.OWN . CORRESPONDENTS. Thames, Wednesday. Siiaremarket. — sellers, Is 7d ; May Queen, 4a 7d, sellers 4s 9d, buyers 4s 3d ; Moanataiari, sellers lis 9d, buyers lis 3d; Orlando, sellers Is W ; Saxon, ss; Trenton, sellers, 3s; Victoria, buyers, is 6d. ■ ■■'/.:/ ::•;'

Moanataiari. —Communication was today effected between the rise above the 200-feet level and the winze below the 100feet level. Cambria.—lt is probable that the rise upon the main reef above No. 2 level, which is now up a height ot 85 feet, will be suspended until connection is effected with the new rise now being put up on a foobwall leader. The loaders at the intermediate level below No. 2 are all looking well,' and several pounds of picked stone have recently been obtained from them. ' : ' t May Queen.—Owing to the influx of gas, operations in this mine have been at a standstill all the week, bub it is probable that the contractors for driving the new crosscut and the men employed in stoping upon No. 4 reef will resume work tomorrow morning, it is doubtful if operations can be resumed in the drive at the bottom of tho new winze, but preparations are now being made for directing a current of air down this winze, and when completed, there is not much likelihood of the work again being suspended. Saxon. —The crosscut at No. 6 level is now in a distance of over 90 feet, which leaves about 30 feet more to drive, to intersect the main No. I reef. To-day a nice looking loader, full 8 inches thick was intersected in thiscrosscut, carrying large blotches of copper pyrites and colours of gold. It is encased by an excellent class of sandstone. Another leader should be intersected about ten feet further ahead to correspond with the one cut when No. 5 level was opened up. The prospect for getting gold in the main reef when intersected is very encouraging indeed, for the indications met with in sinking upon the reef below No. 5 level have so far been very good, as strong blotches of gold and frequent parcels of picked stone have been obtained at that point. The winze, however, is at a standstill at present, consequent upon the influx of water, and men have been removed to carry up the rise upon No. 1 foobwall leader above No. 4 level to connect with No. 3 level, where several pounds of good picked stone have recently been secured.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Cambria.—No. 2 level: The rise ou the main reef is up a height of 85 feet. The reef at present is composed of stringers and rubbly quartz, some pf which look very promising. I would recommend that this rise be stoped. until the rise on the footwall leader hole through to it. This rise would not only test the main reef at this point, but will be beneficial as a pass for sending dirt through. By so doing, it will save a lot of labour. At present most of the dirt from the rise has to be shovelled down, on account of the great underlie of the reef, intermediate below No. 2 level: On Friday last a promis-ing-looking leader about eight inches in thickness was cut crossing the face of the drive on the mineral leader. It is carrying good mineral, and striking towards the main reef. The drive is now being driven upon it in this direction. The second stone on the cross leader is along 45 feet. The leader here still continues to show gold pretty freely. Also in the drive on the same leader a few pounds of picked stone were saved daring the week. The men in the second stope on this leader are now engaged carrying along the leading stope on the mineral leader. A second stope is now being carried along on the leader at right augles to the cross leader, and when breaking down the leader on Monday last eight or ten pounds of picked stone were saved. No. 3 level: The second stope on the footwall branch of No. 7 leader is along ten feet. The leader is about eight inches in thickness, and showed some nice colours of gold when last breaking down. Some good crushing dirt is still being obtained from the stope on No. 7 western branch, with occasionally a pound or two of picked stone. No. 4 level : Stoping is proceeding as usual ou No. 7 leader. The leader looks well, and still shows gold when breaking down. Trenton.— New lode, No. 5 level: Driving has been carried on both east and west during the week past, but progress has been slower than usual, five feet only having been driven at each point. I am sorry to say that tor two or three days last week the air was very light, especially so on Thursday, when all the men in the mine had to leave off. The candles would scarcely burn. We had no difficulty on Friday and Saturday as the wind was in our favour until yesterday, when again we had to give up the idea of descending the shaft after making two attempts to do so. But I am pleased to add that we have made a start this morning, and trust we shall be able to continue. We have just commenced crosscutting into the hangingwall at No. 4 level. About 25 feet of driving should intersect No. 1 hangingwall brand). No. 3 level: We have cut into the footwall 6 feet through tight but highly favourable sandstone for gold. The face of leading stope above No. 3 level is 48 feet from the boundary, the lode averaging about one foot in width for that distance, and it has produced pockets of picked stone hero and there up to the last breaking down. I expect to commence crushing next Thursday. We have about 26" loads of general stuff and 1181b of good picked stone on hand. Lone Hand.—The drive ou the Manchester reef eastward has been extended 13 feet during the past week, making a total distance from crosscut of C2O feet. During the former part of the week our drive was passing through a rather dark class of sandstone country for gold-bearing reels; but I was pleased to notice on Thursday morning last that a very favourable change had taken place with regard to the nature of the country. The country which we have had since Thursday last is of a good description for gold-bearing reefs, intersected with small mineral veins, and making a little water through the seams until this morning we cut a nice, well-defined break, with a little water draining through it. The ninth stope west of the winze on the Manchester reef .is along 78 feet. The reef in the face of this stope is about seven inches thick. There is good mineral showing through the quartz. We have commenced to beat this stone forth over the block of ground which adjoins the Adelaide boundary. The tenth stope west of the winze is along 57 feet. The reef in the face of this stope is about 12 inches thick. There is some good mineral seen through the quartz when breaking down the reef. The eleventh stope west of the winze is along 37 feet._ The reef in the face of this stope is about five inches in thickness. There is good mineral through the quartz, and colours of gold seen when Breaking down the reef. The intermediate drive east of the Manchester winze is driven a distance of 8 feet. We shall not break down the quartz in this drive until wo clear one of the hoppers to store the quartz. I intend to keep the quartz from this drive separate to ascertain its value. We shall start to crush .what quartz we have on hand on Thursday next. May Queen.— tenth stope on the No. 4 lode is along 4G feet. The lode in the face of the stope is six inches in thickness. There is some good mineral through the crushing dirt. The eleventh stope is along 18 feet. The lode in the face of this stope is nine inches ; colours of gold were seen through the crushing dirt. The contractors have extended the crosscut 11 feet. The country in the face of the crosscut is very tight, being hard rock, but I don't think this country will last long. The gas has been very trouble'some in the mine. The men have not been able to work in the western drive at the bottom of the winze since Wednesday last. I am centreing the winze down with tongued and grooved boards to carry down the air, but yesterday the gas was half-way up the winding shaft. To-day we can get down to the level,«and I am in hopes that the mine will be soon clear of gas again. Crushing will be started at the Cambria battery on Wednesday next, the 4th. The winding engine and gear are in good working order. Saxon.— 6 level: The crosscut has now been extended a distance of 90 feet from the footwall of the No. 2 reef, the country although of a splendid gold bearing class is exceedingly light. The winze being sunk from No. 5 on the No. 1 reef to meet the crosscut has been sunk a farther depth of 10 feet, the reef is fully 5 feet from wall to wall, and gold is freely seen, and a few pounds of picked stone have been saved, but in this winze the' water is becoming troublesome again, and I have discontinued sinking for a day or two to allow it to again drain off. During the stoppage of the winze I have removed the men, and started a rise up from the stopes oh the No. 1 footwall leader above No. 4 level with the intention of connecting with the No. 3 level, the leader here is 9 inches in thickness, and since starting the rise 201bs of good picked stone have been obtained. From Saturday till twelve o'clock last night (Monday) the whole of the men were unable to go down the shaft owing to the mine being full of gas. New a.—Battery level: Stoning east and west of the winze sunk on the Sons of Freedom from this level has been started. The reef which is about one foot thick showed a few colour of gold at last breaking down, while the mineral Indications are all that could be desired. Success reef: The stopes in progress on this reef are being con-

tmued about the same as usual. The reef which is from three to six inches-in width is now composed of a more rubbly nature than usual, carrying a good percentage of silica and other favourable indications for gold. A No. 5 stope has been started on this reef, and by continuing this stope west for a distance of 40 feet the junction of this and the Sons of Freedom reef will met with. Intermediate level: This ' drive is still being continued, the country at. present being penetrated is of a most favourable description, and while breaking down the reef on Thursday last several stones were picked out showing strong colours of gold. On account of the battery being engaged, crushing was not started until this morning. Golden Age.—The contractors Clarkin and Trainor (six men employed) have driven , nine feet on No. 4 reef, No. 2 leval. A cross reef 18 inches in width has been cut through. This reef, I think, will prove to be No. 3 reef, being in the position that I expected to cut it. We have not seen any gold in the cross reef, but continue to see blotches of gold in No. 4 reef at each breaking down. This reef has continued its course through the cross reel and is now in a good class of sandstone country. Dives.— In the back stope above No. 2 level about 10 feet of the reef has been stripped, and in the stope below 17, but no quartz has been broken since my last report. These stopes are running through a splendid channel of sandstone country, and the many mincraiscams by which it is intersected are looking very healthy. Little Nell*.— top level has been driven 24 feet 6 inches for the past week, or a total of 90 feet from the flat-sheet, going •west. There is no improvement yet in the reef, and I do not anticipate a change until something strikes into the reef, which should occur at any moment, as the drive is now in such a distance.

Prosperity.—During the past week the drive hillward has been continued by two shifts for a further distance of 10 feet. There is no change to mention since my last report. Vizards. —The No. 2 reef is to hand. It is a fine looking reef, carrying two fine walls. The stone is well mineralised, and looks well* for gold. lam still driving ahead to cut the, No. 3 reef. j Pride ofKaraka,— level : Since my last the drive has been extended a further distance of fourteen feet, making a total of 261 feet. During the past week a change for the better has taken place. We got through the hard rib of ground on Friday, and the country in the present face is composed of a nice white sandstone.