THE GOLD FIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8661, 2 September 1891, Page 3

THE GOLD FIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT. Thames, Tuesday. Sharemarket.—Cambria, 2a 2d, sellers 2s 4d, buyers 2s 2d; Consols, sellers Is Id ; Dives, lid ; Hazelbank (Is 9d paid up), sellers 2s 6rt, buyers 2s 3d ; Lone Hand, sellers Is Id ; Moanataiari, sellers 8s 6d ; Alburnia, sellers 2s 6d, buyers 2s 3d ; Orlando, sellers 9d : Saxon, sellers Gs 6d ; Victoria, sailers ls7d. Moanataiari. —The usual monthly cleaning up and retorting to-day resulted in the satisfactory yield of 4Sooz sdwts melted gold, which is the product of 849 tons general dirt and 2001b picked stone. Alburnia.—Crushing is proceeding for this company at the Cambria battery, there being about 100 loads to put through, the bulk of which is from Dixon's reef at the battery level. It is shaping for a payable return. Dives.A body of quartz, which the manager believes to be the Dayspring reef, was met with to-day in the crosscut at No. 3 level. Up to late this afternoon it had been penetrated for 12 inches without) any sign of the opposite wall. A splendid class of sandstone exists on its footwall side, and the quartz carries good mineral indications. The Duke reef should be meb with 30 feet further ahead. May Queen. —The contractors have completed sinking the requisite depth for the well hole at the bottom of .the shaft, and are now engaged in putting in the necessary timber, which will bo finished some time to-morrow. After that is accomplished a few guides will be placed in position near the bottom of the shaft, after which all the mullock broken in stripping No. 4 reef during the last few days will be wound up to the surface and a start made on Thursday to break the stripped portion of the reef down.

COROMANDEL MINT G.M. CO. [FROM OUR own CORRESPONDENT.] lii company with Mr. Mills, managing director, I visited this mine on Monday last, and was very well pleased to find the work in such a forward state. This company have had a great deal of difficulties to contend against. There is a large proportion of loose gold in the mud on the foreshore, and several attempts have been made to get this, and although many ounces of gold have been won, in the end the work had to be abandoned simply for want of . capital to erect a breakwater, etc. In doing this work they found, however, that the bed rock was traversed by a number of gold-bearing leaders, and from two at least they were able to take out specimens. They endeavoured to work them, and a shaft was put down some 70 feet, but although the seawater cannot get through, being prevented bv a layer of impervious mud, there .was still a soakago from the hills adjoining, which was too much for hand labour, and they eventually secured the engine and plant from the South Kapanga mine. These will prove the ground to say, 150 feet deep, then if a larger engine is required the present one will answer admirably for winding. This engine lias been erected in a most substantial manner. They are now calling for tenders to sink the shaft another SO feet. They intend to drive both ways from the shaft, as there are known leaders on both sides which can be reached in 60 or 70 feet, while others are some distance further, including the far-famed Green Harp reef, which strikes right across this ground. PUfifpUHl MINING DISTRICT. [from our own correspondent.] The slow progress made at the Prospectors' is partly owing to the fact that they are all the time experimenting, and trying to treat the ore without losing much silver. This, it seems, is not very easy, but they are always improving, and expect to have a steady output in another week or two. An impression now gains ground that the silver ore of Puhipuhi is different from any other silver ore yet discovered. It looks exactly the same as the Nevada ore, but it is said to contain other minerals which make it require a different treatment. It must be borne in mind that getting silver out of a small piece of stone by an assay is a very different matter from treating it in quantities. We have now learned about enough to become conscious of our ignorance, and this is a great point gained. The people interested in Puhipuhi have sobered down considerably within the last few months. Sixty-two pounds weight of silver came into Whangarei the other day, and created very little sensation. They could have stood a ton of it. This is not owing to any want of faith in the field. It is simply owing to the fact that enthusiasm will not last for ever. The low price of scrip is owing to another very simple cause. The men who believe in the field have no money to buy scrip. This, however, will make no difference to the ultimate success of the field. The silver is there, and it will be got out. To this end no exertion has been: spared. ' The prospectors, ana in fact, all connected with the field, deserve till praise for their efforts. They have stuck to it like men, and when the history of Puhipuhi comes to be written, it will show a good 5 record of pluck and perseverance under trying circumstances. As an instance of how long it takes to find reefs, it may be mentioned that two of the oldest claims in the field only struck real good stone about a month ago. These claims are known now as the Waipu and the Young' Colonial. We also hear of theComstock No. 3 as another case in point.' ' r . . -

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Cambria.—During the past week gold had been seen pretty freely in the third stone on the main reef above No. 2 level, aud a pound or two of picked stone saved. A little gold was also seen in the second stope. Rising upon the break has just been started for the purpose of carrying off the fourth stope. Intermediate below No. 2 level: In consequence of the, air becoming very, light in the stops on the cross leader, I removed the men to the stopes on the leader at right angles to the latter; two or three pounds of picked stone were saved when last breaking down the leader, which will at present average about four inches. There is nothing fresh to report from the stope on the new leader. No. 3 level: A few pounds of picked stone came to hand from a leader from four to five inches in thickness, cut in the stope on the western branch of No. 7 leader, which I think will prove to bo the cross leader, now. being worked at the intermediate above.. A few pounds of picked stone were also saved from the stope on No. 7 foot wall branch. In the leading stope the new leader is at present divided into several veins, averaging in all about 10 inches of crushing dirt; in some of the veins gold is frequently seen. A little gold was seen in the stope on No. 7 leader above No. 4 level when last breaking down. Crushing for the company was started on Friday evening last. The battery and winding engine are in good working order. May Queen.—The contractors for sinking the shaft will be down the required depth below No. 2 level for the well hole by Tuesday morning. They will then timber the well hole, put in opening out set for the chamber, and finish the shaft, which will take till about Wednesday morning. I will then put down the flat-sheets in the chamber, and have the mullock trucked out of the western drive, and will then start driving west on No. 4 lode at No. 2 level. A start was made on Thursday last to strip the No. 4 lode eastward of the crosscut; at No. 2 level. It is now stripped for a distance of 10 feet. A little of the quartz was broken down with the shots when skirting to strip the lode, and gold was; seen freely through the quartz, ihe lode is encased in splendid country for gold.v I will not break down the lode until the snaft and well hole are completed, which will take to Wednesday, and I will break down the lode on Thursday. The winding engine is doing the work splendidly from the new level, and all the gear is in good working order. * Consols.During the past week, good progress has been made towards completing all necessary surface works, before being able to commence winding. The repairs to the shaft are complete. The clips are in position, as also are the cages. Trucks are on the mine. Irani way from surface of shaft for mullock tip, and platform for flatsheet are finished. 1 he collar of the shaft has been puddled with clay, and box laid from collar ladder of the lift to carry away water. There still remains a little work to finish tho foundation of the balance beam. Will be able next week to commence cleaning out levels. Pumps and machinery are working very smoothly. ' New Fearnought.—The belt of hard country referred to in my last report has proved to be a dike, and I am highly pleased to state that I have got through it, and entered a splendid class of hard, white sandstone country. The dike was just six feet in thickness, with hard, calcined walls on each side, and running in th same course as the leaders, so that I got through it quickly, having intersected it at right angles. The crosscut has now reached a distance of 49 feet since driving commenced, and I expect to be able to report better progress in future. Trenton.lhe contractors have extended the main tunnel a further distance of 9 feet, two shifts during the past week. No change to report as yet in the ground. Three shifts are now employed here. We have cleaned out and laid rails up to the face of the drive east of the main crosscut on the new lode, No. 5 level.

Norfolk. — During the past week the drive going west from the rise at No. 2 level has been extended 16 feet. The country in the low level has become very tight again, tor the week the contractors have extended it a further distance of eight feet. There is a good deal of water coming out of the face, therefore I think it will not be long- before we are in good driving ground again. Calliope.—A portion of the reef which was stripped in the drive was broken down on Monday, and colours of gold seen in the stone, which was about six inches wide. "* Driving was again started in the afternoon, and a further distance of 12 feet lias been driven, and the reef was broken down to-day. It is rather smaller, being about four inches wide, the stone being of a very promising description, containing good mineral indications, and colours of gold were seen in the quartz. The country still continues of a very good description. The reef was also broken down in the rise, and is about nine inches wide, and colours of gold were visible through the stone. The leading stope is now along '20 feet. The reef was broken down yesterday, and showed colours of gold, and continues about the same size. ' Souvenir.—l opened out on "Big Reef 'e going westward on Monday last, and have been driving in that _ direction during the week. The lode here is not quite so large as going eastward, being but three feet big, bull is of a much more promising description for gold. The quartz is more kindly and carries a fair percentage of favourable minerals, notably "stratamata." Another feature is the channel of country through which the reef traverses, it being a nice kindly saudstone witli a number of black mineral veins running through it and into the reef. The distance driven for the week is six feet. Crackshot.—We have driven five feet this week ; there is no change in the nat ure of the country, that is, as to its gold-bearing qualities, because on breaking down the cross lode several pieces of stone showing nice gold were picked out. Magnolia.— have finished a crushing of 21 loads of quartz from No. 1 crass lode for 2ooz 17dwts of gold. The next crushing I have will be from No. 2 leader. The contractors will complete their contract to-day, 31st inst. The ground is still hard, but not so much so as it was, and more favourable for gold. Victoria.—The drive going east along the course of the No. 4 reef at No. 6 level hag now been driven a distance of 14 feet. The reef continues about a foot in thickness. A little gold has been seen at each breaking down. A start was m.-ule this morning to open out on the west side of crosscut. The reef on this side appears, to look much stronger ; however, no quartz has yet been broken here. Dives.—The prospect of socn reaching the Duke and Dayspring reefs, and that in a favourable situation, has much improved during the last few days. The hard country we ' have lately passed through has given place to a. kindly class of sandstone, evidently the casing of the reefs we are driving for, being exactly similar to its surroundings in Nos. 1 and 2 levels, and in the Welcome where James and party are working on this (Dukes) reef with highly payable results. The crosscut has advanced 17 feet for the week. Sylvia.The ore coming to hand from the topes is of good quality. The reef continues to maintain its large size; it will average seven feet, for 200 feet along as far as it has been driven in the last two contracts. The leading, or No. J, stope is driven a distance of 160 feet; No. 2 135 feet, No. 3 115 feet, 5 and No. 4 70 feet. All the ore broken in these slopes has been sent to the mill for treatment, which has given satisfactory results, and for the week there have been 601b of ntone selected, making 3601b on hand up to date. Low level: Contractors, have finished driving 100 feet on the main reef. For the whole of the distance the reef is of good payable character, and the ore now in the face of the drive gives good assays, and judging by indications it looks as if it would make rich ore. I have let another contract to drive 100 feet more on the reef at 13s per foot. No; 1 reef The drive on this reef has been extended eight feet, making a total distance of 45 feet. There is a slight improvement in the last eight feet. J. J Caledonian.— No. 2 reef in the Otago section of the mine looks a good deal better. As per wire 101b picked stone were obtained last week from the footwall portion of the lode. There is a strong body of quartz at this place, somo of which is carrying very nice mineral. The drive on 'turtle's leader at No. 1 level appears to be going through a blank piece of ground, us there are only small bunches of quartz here and there in the seam of clay where the leader should be. About four feejfc of the leader was broken down to-day, and gold was freely seen through the quartz. It is from four to six inches in the face. Great Mercury Proprietary (lvuaotunu.) — Main level: Drive on No. 1 big lode (contract) litis been extended 17 feet. The country in the face -is rather better thau it was, and the reef : is more compact and promises to make again to its usual size. The prospects are much about the same. The whole of. the quartz has been crushed. Winze level, No 2 Try Fluke reef: The main drive oil the reef north has been extended eight feet and the leading stope 19 feet. Mo. 3 stope' ha« been started and extended 22 feet. The reef ' in the different faces averages three to :■ four feet wide and yields very fair crushing dirt. Tram level, No. 8 Red Mercury reef : The main drive on reef south (contract) has been extended K) feet, the leading stope 47 feet, and No. 2 stopo 30 feet. No. 3 has., been started and extended 20 feet. The reef in this portion of the mine varies from one foot to three feet wide, and yields a very'fair grade of crushing dirt. I crushed 220 tons oft ore for a yield of 150oz 15d\vt> of retorted: ■ gold. ;; ■ . - -■ V.