THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8680, 24 September 1891, Page 6

THE GO LDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Wednesday. Shakemauket. — Consols, sellers Is 3d ; Dives, sellers Is; May Queen, sellers 6s ; Moanataiari, sellers 7s 3d ; Orlando, sellers Gd ; Saxon 4s lid, 4s Gel, sellers 4s 9d ; Victoria, sellers is 3d ; Waihi, sellers 17s Gd.

Pride of Karaka.—For several days past the reef being driven upon at the low level has been much disturbed by tho proximity of a break, but to-day the country became more settled, and the manager is confident that the reef will shortly make all right''again. Saxon. — drive upon the new reef at No. 6 level, which has been at a standstill for the last two or three days to allow the leading stope to be carried along, was resumed to-day. Nos. 1 and 2 -reefs at same level have both opened out to between three and four feet in thickness, and are looking very promising. ■ ■ , May Qdeen.—This company's' prospects continue of a very encouraging ractcr, and the output of quartz is being gradually increased, so much so that Mr. Moore anticipates shortly to be able to keep 15 head of stampers employed instead of 10. In addition to keeping the eastern drive upon JSo. 4.10 de manned at No. 2 level, three stopes are now underway east of the winze and two west. The reef throughout varies from two to 2$ feet in thickness, and colours of gold are seen very frequently. Consols. —A start has been made to sink a winze upon the specimen leader below No. ; 2 level. . It is about five inches in thickness, and colours of gold have been seen in some of the quartz taken down to make room for the timbers. A" start was also made to-day to clean out No. 3 level, with the view of commencing to drive shortly to get underneath the winze mentioned above. The pumping machinery is working very satisfactorily, and the water is easily kept under control by working the pumps 10 hours per day only, at a speed of about ten strokes per minute.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Cambria.—A good supply of f»ir crushing dirt is still being obtained from the stopes on the main reef above No. 2 level. The quartz looks well, and still carries mineral and a little gold : rising on the break is now in progress, for the purpose of carrying off the fifth stope. At the intermediate, below No. 5 level, stopiiig is proceeding as usual oil the new leader, arid also on the one at right angles to the cross leader ; gold was seen pretty freely through the quartz in the latter, and two or three pounds of picked stone were also saved. No. 3 level : Good crushing dirt, and frequently a pound; or two of picked stone still continues to come to hand from the stopes on the western and footwall branches of No. 7 leader. A few pounds of picked stone were saved during the week from the leading stope on the new leader at present this leader averages from seven to nine inches in thickness. The drive on the supposed cross leader is now in about 20 feet eastward from the drive on No. 7 leader ; the leader still averages about six inches, and shows a little gold at each breaking down. During the week there was very little work done in the stope on No. 7 leader, above No. 4 level, the men being engaged repairing the adit level and drives at No. 3 level. At the battery preparations are made to pat ill one of Mr. J. C. Eraser's amalgamating pans, which will likely be placed in position, and working this week. The battery and winding engine are in good working order. Trenton. —No. 5 level: The main tunnel is now in a distance of 60 feet from new lode, lf> feet having been driven in the past week. The ground is without change to report. The drive east on new lode, No. 5 level, litis been advanced a further distance of six feet during the week past. More would have been driven hero but for other jobs demanding attention. The sandstone is'firmer, and is of a much better description for gold than it has been since driving was resumed. The lode is about 15 inches wide, with defined walls. The hangingwall carries two or three inches of clay and grit, and the footwall portion is from one inch to three inches wide, bub it is . much moro compact than the hangingwall portion. The stone has a very promising appearance for gold at present. I am pleased to advise you, we saw colours and blotches when breaking down last Friday, also some good mineral indications. There is a horse of mullock in the centre of the lode 10 inches thick, with mineral veins intermixed. May Queen.The drive east on the No. 4 lode is now in a distance of OS feet from the crosscut. The lode in the drive will average about 2 feet 6 inches in thickness. Gold was seen when breaking it down. There is now 16 feet of the lode stripped. The leading stope east is along 48 feet from the winze. The lode in this stope is about 2 feet 6 inches in thickness, There is good mineral through the quartz, and gold was seen when breaking it down. The second stope cast is along 48 feet from the winze. The lode is about 2 feet 6 inches thick, and gold was seen when breaking down the lode. A third stope east from the winze was started to-day. The leading stope west is along 18 feet from the winze. The lode in this stope will average about 3 feet. Gold was seen when breaking it down. Crushing was started at the Cambria battery this morning with 10 stampers. The winding engine • and gear arc in good working order. Consols. — The drive on the specimen leader at No. 2 level has been picked up, retimbered, and cleaned out for 38 feet during the past week. At present a chamber is being formed from where the, winze will be started. Will be able to commence sinking some time through the week. A start will be made on Monday to clean out No. 3 chamber and level. This accomplished a drive will be started seaward on No. 1 lode towards the break and where the specimen leader and No. 1 junction. The bucket and bottom valve of plunger lift lias been 'changed this week. A. Allen, engineer in charge of machinery, reports: 'Lhe feed water-heater has now been rearranged, and is working very satifactorily, the water now being as hot as the teed pumps will throw it. Before this was started tho water was cold, which makes a considerable difference in the consumption of fuel. It has been necessary to move the cylinder into line, as it was wearing the brass bushes in the stuffiing box of the cylinder end. The slides have also had to be levelled and lined, thereby doing

away with unnecessary friction. The matters all tend to reduce the consumption of fuel. New Fearnought. — The crosscut has been driven six feet during the past week, making a total distance of 66 feet since driving recommenced. The precise length of the crosscut is now. 154 feet. The crosscut is still continuing through an excellent class of country, though getting a little tighter in consequence of the ground becoming interspersed with stringers. Caledonian.Sloping is being continued on the No. 2 reef in the Otago section of the mine ; but, as the quartz in the stopes going westward has not been looking quite as well this week, I have discontinued those stopes, and have put the men on to carry a stope along the' eastward from, the rise 'on it. There is , a large body of quartz where this stope has been commenced, which is carrying a good deal of mineral; it also looks more promising for gold than it does going westward. : There appears to be a slight improvement in Turtle's leader as it is being risen upon. It is about eight inches in thickness near the Hazeibank boundary, and in breaking it down gold has been seen f.v.ely through the quartz here for the last two days. Dives.—'The drive eastward on the reef in crosscut at Mo. 3 level has been extended 12 feet' since opening out, and the two portious ;so stripped have been broken down. The i larger one ou the haimngwall aide of the dig maintains its size of about 12 inches, and still carries the favourable minerals it held when first cut. The footwall portion has decreased in size, being now from four to live inches, bright minerals are. here in plenty and a little gold is occasionally seen. There is also an improvement in the nature of the sandstone between these portions of the reef. Try Fluke (Kuaotunu). —During the week the drive on the main reef south at No. 3 level has been continued. The reef in the end of the drive is now only about three feet through, and the prospects are not quite so good. We have only the footwall portion of the reef with us in the drive just now. iam of opinion that the prospects will again improve when the eastern branch junctions with the main reef. The stopes from the south rise going north have been pushed on, and continue to produce a fair quantity of payable ore. There is no change to mention in the north stopes. The drive on the Kuaotuuu reef at this level is now in about ten feet, the reef is from nine to twelve inches through, and a fair prospect of loose gold can be got in it by washing. The leader mentioned in my last as likely to be the Carbine small leader, is so far very small and in very tight country ; but some of the prospects are very good, and the cold is much coarser than that in the •nain reef. At the No. 2 level there has been a great change within the last two days in the Kuaotunu reef. It has now opened out to about three feet, and is much easier worked. Should the reef continue to keep its present size, a few men could break sufheient ore to keep the battery iroing. We have crushed for the fortnight 208 tons of ore, for a return of 110.V ounces retorted go'd from the battery, and one ounce of retorted gold from a ton of tailings taken from the head of the huddle.

Chackshot.—The dig on the hanging wall of the cross lode has been pushed ahead over seven feet this week, but I have not taken any of the reef down. Changes are very frequent in the country, and rock in this locality, the latest is soapy heads and jointy rock, both of which I look on as favourable indications. The flow of water from the cross lode has not abated any since my last report. Pride ok the Hills (Kuaofcunu).— During the week the drive on the reef at the low level has been continued. The reef m the face is about 15 inches through, but so far carries very little gold. The country is a good deal easier. I have started the men to work again in the top workings to-day. They will commence to break out quartz at once.

Saxon.— No. G level: The drive on the No. 1 reef at this level lias been driven a further.* distance of 15 feet. The reef contiuues to average 2 feet 6 inches in thickness, heavily mineralised, and gold frequently met. On the 19th instant 101b of lair picked stone were saved and 101b on the 17th (as per wire). On this two stopes are in progress. No. 1 or leading stope has been carried a distance of 33 feet east of No. 2 break, or 10 feet from present face of drive. The reef in this stope averages about the same width as in the drive. In the second stope the reef is not quite so large, owing to its being still close to the No. 2 break, but gold is more frequently seen here. The reef averages about 2 feet. No. 2 reef (same level): In Jhe drive along the course of this reef the first breaking down of quartz took place to-day, and although no picked stone was saved still gold was freely seen. The reef is a well , defined body of mineralised quartz, fully 18 inches in thickness. A leading stope isalsoinprogress. New reef at same (No. (i) level: The drive along the course of this reef lias, during the past week, been extended a further distance of 1G feet. The reef averages 18 inches in thickness, and is composed principally of clay and ribs of quartz, and occasionally makes blows of quartz, and it is at these blows where the picked stone has been obtained during the past week— on the 17th and 201 bs on the 18th. Two stopes have been started on this reef east of the No. 2 break. The crosscut or drive along the course of the No. 2 break from No. 2 reef drive to connect with No. 1 drive has been fairly started. Stopes on No. 1 main reef between the Nos. 1 and 2 breaks over No. 6 level: Five stopes are in progress here, three east of winze and two west, which are turning out a large supply of general crushing dirt, and occa ionally a little gold is seen. No. 5 level: The principal work carried on over this drive is the two stopes in progress lon the new reef. The reef averages 18 inchcs in thickness. No. 3 level: Work has to-day | been resumed at this level, with the extend- | j ing of the crosscut being driven to cut the j new reef. The reef should be to hand in 10 to 15 feet more driving. The breakage to the Big Pump, so far, has not interfered with our workings. The amalgam on hand is 410ozs, and picked stone on hand lOOlbs. Magnolia.—During the week No. 4 stope westward has been extended G feet, No. 5 stope, 9 feet; No. 7 stope, 6 feet; No. 8 stope, 7 feet: and No. 8 stope, eastward of the winze, 7 feet. The leader averages from nine inches to one foot in thickness, and shows colours of gold. The drive on No. 1 cross-lode was extended during the week six feet. I crossed another leader with No. 1 crosslode which is about four inches in thickness, and shows a few colours of gold. It runs in the same direction as No. 2 leader. I shall continue driving on No. 1 crosslode in the north-west direction to intersect other leaders in that vicinity. Occidental. —Four men are still employed driving on the Loyalty reef hillwards, but nothing of importance has been discovered. The reef where we broke into it was about 15 inches wide, showing a little bright mineral, but going hill ward it splits up into small veins and clay heads. Two men are employed rising on the hangingwall veins on the main level, and small parcels of picked stone come to hand at each break in? down. Four men are still employed driving on the footwall reef below the main level with satisfactory results, as at each breaking down dabs of gold are freely seen, and small parcels of picked stone are saved. This reef is a strong bodv of stone IS inches thick, encased in very hard sandstone, interlaced with numerous flint veins, and carrying plenty of bright minerals. Victoria.The drive going west of the crosscut at No. 6 level, along the course of the No. 4 reef, lias been extended a further distance of 12 feet. The country is becoming more kindly. The reef is also more compact —being now 15 inches in thickness. According to. the course this reef is running it should junction with the No. 3 reef in GO feet more driving. In the drive on the eastern side of the crosscut the reef was cut off by a break, and I have had to drive 12 feet along the break before the reef was again picked up. At this point the reef is fully IS inches in thickness, and a little gold visible. However, very little quartz has been broken since the reef was met with cast of the break. _ Otama (Kuaotunu). —We are still rising on the leader, and good prospects continue. A crushing is now taking place, and will be completed to-morrow. The return should be a fair average of the value of the leader.: When the rise is to the surface we will be able to get out a large crushing quickly. The manager wired yesterday : .The trial crushing from the rise on the leader of eight tons of quartz, Gil) specimens, and 1711) picked stone, produced GOoz lOdwt of retorted gold. •Woodstock United.— manager wired yesterday : The return from 25 tons is lOOoz melted bullion, its value being about 50s per ounce, ' '

PUHIPUHI. Whangarei, Wednesday. Prospectors'. — News from Puhipuhi states that they have run the No. 2 level fairly into the No. 3 lode at Camp Creek. The lode is solid and full of sulphide. The manager is now laying a tram through the new cutting, and expects to finish today. Crushing is expected to commence on Monday. No attempt will bo made to treat tho ruby ore in the shoot of silver till the intermediate level intersects it. s This it is expected to do noxb week. A winze has been opened on tho Elsie lode to test tho surface section.