THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8531, 3 April 1891, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Thursday. Siiaremarket.—Cambria, sellers 3s 3d ; Caledonian (old issue), sellers la 6d; Consols, sellers Is 4d, buyers Is 2d; Hazelbank, 2s paid up, - buyers Is 6d; Lone Hand, sellers 2s 6d; May Queen, 6s 2d ; Moanataiari, sellers 98 3d ; Alburiiia, sellers 3s; Trenton, sellers 2s lid,- buyers 2s Id ; "Victoria, sellers Is 7d ; Waihi, sellers 28s 6d, buyers 25s ; Alfred, 7d. Mountain Flower.—slb of picked stone were obtained to-day when breaking down a portion of the footwall leader on the leading stope recently started east of the winze.

Hazelbank.—A leading stops has been started upon the crossing at No. 1 level overhead, where the picked stone was lately obtained in the drive. The reef looks very well, and should yield a good class of quartz. Moanataiari. — This company's usual monthly retort took place to-day, with the result that 3950z 12dwt of melted gold were obtained, for which 855 tons of general dirt and 1001b of picked stone were crushed. Operations in the mine are proceeding vigorously, bub the quartz broken from all parts is of moderate grade. At the 200 feeb level the north drive from the chamber is in about the required distance to intersect the Reuben Parr reef, but there are yot no signs of it. If not met,with soon Mr.Clark purposes driving on it where it is exposed to view in the winze recently sunk from the 100 feet level upon footwall reef. The leading stopo upon the footwall lode at the 200fcet level has been beat up to the western face, and the second stope is now" being carried along, but no gold has been seen in the quartz so far. Driving east on this reef at tho intermediate level, about 20 feet abovo the back of the 200-feet level, has been commenced, but so far operations have been confined to stripping the reef, so that no quartz has been' broken. The east drive upon the same body at tho 100-feet level has also been resumed, and the drive upon tributers' leader suspended for the present. The south drive upon the cross leader is still being proceeded with, and a fair class of country is being cut in the various stopes. A little gold is seen, with occasional small parcels of picked stone, but'an improvement allround would be very acceptable.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Cambria.No. 2 level: The rise on the main reef is now up a height of 120 feet. We are at present cutting through a leader from 4 to 5 inches in thickness, composed of clay and gritty quartz, dropping down from the hangingwall, and dipping in an opposite direction to the main reef. What effect it will have upon the main reef, I will not be able to tell for a day or two. Intermediate, below No. 2 level: A few pounds of picked stone were obtained during the past week from the third and leading stope on the cross leader, whilst good colours of gold were also seen in the quartz from the second stope on the leader at right angles to the latter. The leader on the drive going towards the main reef continues to look as well as ever. At present its average width is about 20 inches ; it is carrying good minerals, and shows nice colour:! of gold when breaking down. Gold is also seen in some of the small stringers in the dig. No. 3 level: During the past week a little gold was seen in the third stope on No. 7 footwall leader. At present the leader will average about 9 inches in thickness, of nicelooking quartz. Stoping is still proceeding on No. 7 western branch, and the quartz still continues to show gold. No. 4 level: A good supply of fair crushing dirt is still being obtained from the stope on No. 7 leader, with occasionally a pound or two of picked stone. Crushing is still proceeding for the company with five head, and will not be finished until some time next week. The battery and winding engine are in good working order. Trenton. No. 5 level: Nine feet have been risen in the past week, making a distance of 48 feet above No. 5 level. The sandstone is of a harder nature, and the lode is much smaller than it has been for some days past. No. 4 level, No. 1 hangingwall branch : After sinking 10 feet, communication was made with the Saxon workings on the boundary on Thursday last. We now have ample ventilation. A leading stope is being taken along from the boundary eastward. Footwall branch at same level; The branch has been broken in the leading stope for 24 feet in length, its average width being 4 inches, and it showed gold pretty freely for that distance, and a few piclced stones were obtained. Workings above No. 3 level: No. S stope is now in hand. The lode will average one foot in width. Both it and the country looks well for gold. About 31b of picked stone have been obtained from here during the past week. We have commenced to secure the drive east at same level with a view of extending it.

Lone Hand.The north-west crosscut on the break has been extended 48 feet from the main drive. After extending the crosscut 42 feet we intersected a leader four inches thick, as advised by wire on Wednesday last. I was of the opinion that there was more quartz ahead of us, and therefore continued the crosscut another six feet, by which we have proved the reef to be 18 inches in thickness intermixed with small layers of sandstone. We have stripped about live feet of the reef, which I intend to break down to-mor-row. The country which we are penetrating is not very good, it being of a dark class of sandstone for gold-bearing reefs. There is a good flow ot water making through the reef, which should have the effect of draining the Moa level and all the surrounding country. I shall make a start to-morrow to take up all the -water from the upper levels in the Lone Hand section and lead it back through the Moa level and make all necessary preparations for sinking a winze on the Moa level, commencing at the place where Mr. Barclay got good gold in the level. Tenth stope west of the winze on the Manchester reef is along 90 feet. The reef in this stope is about seven inches thick. Eleventh stope west of the winze is along G3 feet; the reef in this stope is about 18 inches thick. Twelfth stope has not been manned during the past week. Thirteenth stope west of the winze is along 29 feet: the reef in this stope is about 18 inches thick. There is some good mineral through the quartz, and colours of .gold seen when breaking down the reef. Intermediate drive east of the Manchester winze lias been extended six feet during the past week, making a total distance of 44 feet from the winze. The reef in the face of this drive is about seven inches thick.

Alfred.—Since my last we have completed a crushing of 17 loads of general dirt, and 451b of picked stone, for the return of 460z 12dwt of melted gold. The intermediate level is now in a distance of 73 feet, going east from the winze. The reef in the present face is showing from six to eight inches in thickness, alid gold is seen through the stone when broken down, and the country is of a first-class character for gold. I have now two shifts engaged here in order to keep the drive ahead of the stopes. The leading sfcope is now along 60 feet; the reef here being 18 inches in thickness, and shows colours of gold when broken down. The second stope is along 33 feet; the reef is 12 inches thick. Gold is also. seen here at every breaking down. These are the whole of the works in progress in the mine at present, and it is worthy of notice that gold is seen in each place where quartz is broken.

Try Fluke (Kuaotunu).—On cutting into the reef referred to in my telegram this morning, I found the reef was only about two feet through. From the appearance of the reef and stone when first cut, I thought it was the main reef. Before sending the telegram I cut into the reef about eighteen inches, and there was no appearance of a wall, and I got some good prospects from crushing and washing the stone. I am now of the opinion that this is a dropper from the reef, and that the main body of the reef is some little distance ahead. We are driving on the eastern branch of the Kuaotunu reef, which is about 18 inches through, and continues to give fair prospects. The western branch is also about 18 inches, and gives prospects. lam of the opinion they will both junction as we drive north. But they are now too far apart to take them both in one drive. The reef-in the winze is about six feet, and prospects about ..the same as when last reported. Amalgam on hand, 103oz lOdwt. Later : Just cut the reef in the low level, and got three feet into it. Mr. Smith, one of our directors, was with me when I took samples from the reef, which prospected very well. No appearance of the eastern wall. Will cut through it and send you a full account of it on Saturday uejt.

Mariposa. (Kuaotunu).—The mine manager telegraphed yesterday : —" Finished retorting last night. Return, fourteen and ahalf."

Souvenir. —On Thursday, 19th, we completed all the necessary dead work, and commenced to break out quartz on that date. We have been carrying on operations upon Nos. 2 and 3 stopes In the former we find a body of quartz about two feet six inches big. Upon breaking this down and carefully examining it, we deem it best to only save about one foot of the hangingwall portion for the mill. The portion of the reef consists of a kindly description of quartz, carrying a good class of mineral, and shows colours and dabs of the precious metal whenever we break the lode down. In No, 3 stope the reef is about two feet wide, and the quantity of crushing dirt saved for treatment from this stope would be about nine inches wide, and of a similar quality as that saved from No. 2 stope. The country in the hangingwall of the reef is all that can be desired, being of a first-class description of sandstone, interlaced with a great number of black mineral seams striking into the lode.