THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8881, 18 May 1892, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Thames, Tuesday. Hazelbaxk.— crushing of 60 loads of quartz was completed at tho Maonataiari Battery for this company to-day for the return of 470z sdwt melted gold. May Queen.—A portion of No. 4 reef was broken down to-day in the eastern drive at No. 2 level. Tho reef maintained its size of about six inches in tho top of drive and a foot near the bottom, whilst excellent mineral indications and a little antimony were seen in the quartz, but no gold was seen. The contractors at No. 3 level are still passing through an excellent class of firm sandstone country. Calliope.—The manager of this mine, Mr. C. Waite, to-day received notice from his directors to suspend all operations in the mine at once, and apply to the Warden for four months' protection. Acting under these instructions, all employees wore today discharged. 1

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Cambria.—Sloping 011 the main reef above No. 2 level is proceeding as usual, and the prospects being met with are still very encouraging. No. 3 level: Several pounds of picked stone were obtained during the past week from the small leader iu the footwall of the cross leader; and a few pounds were also saved from the cross leader in the third stope going towards the main reef. Their average thickness at present is four and eight inches respectively. No. (J leader has also vielded a little picked stone during the week. This leader is at present divided into two branches, averaging from three to four inches each. In the second stope the main reef is at present being broken down. The quartz is heavily mineralised, and looks very promising for gold. Two or three pounds of nice picked stone were obtained from a small leader in the " dig" striking towards the reef. A good supply of fair crushing dirt is still being obtained from the stope on the numerous quartz veins, and also from the main reef and small leader in the second stope on the right of these veins. No. 4 level : No. 7 footwall leader continues to look well, and during the week has yielded a few pounds of picked stone. A crushing for the company of 129 loads of general quartz and 451b of picked stone was finished on Thursday last for the return of 107oz 161b melted gold. Crushing for the company is proceeding with live head. The battery and winding engine are in good working order.

Lone Hand.—Driving operations are still being carried on as usual at the intermediate level upon the No. 3 leader. The drive, which has been extended 17 feet from the No. 6 break, is penetrating a class of country of rather a mottled appearance, it not being so congenial for gold as I would like to see it. However, it may change tor the better any time. The leader, which is about an inch thick, still carries minerals of a favourable description, but 110 gold has been seen during the past week. I intend to push this drive ahead for a while yet, as 1 am expecting to meet with other breaks as the drive advances—that is, if the# breaks which are showing in the upper level should continue to make down. P.S. The tributers are all at work as usual: none of them appear to be doing much good, with the exception of Sulivan and party, who arc at present breaking out a large quantity of quartz.

May Queen". —The drive on No. 4 reef, No. 'J level, has been extended 15 feet (i inches for the week— 30 ieet G inches the last fortnight, through good sandstone country; 20 feet ot the reef was taken down. No gold was seen in the stone, but the reef still carries every indication for gold, copper pyrites and a little antimony lias made its appearance this breaking down. The crosscut at No. 3 level has been driven 17 feet for the week—making 30 feet for the fortnight. The last 15 feet is good sandstone for gold, full of mundio. The distance from the winze is now 185 feet. The drive is nine feet past the No. 2 reef, and is still in good country. The reef is running nearly north-east. This will be worth driving on at some future time, and if it turns out anything like it did in the City of London it will be a great acquisition to your mine. 1 have stopped the two men in the stopes until the quartz is crushed. There are about six loads in the hopper from here, and 1- loads from the drive. Shall start crushing about the middle of the week, if the battery is available. The contractors, No. 3 ievel: Their price has been reduced to 25s per foot, which I think is a fair price. The two men who were stoning are over at the Trenton, gathering up material. According to wire I took charge of the Trenton on Saturday. The inventory of machinery and mining material, as wired ; it will take two or three days to get them to the surface. There was a small accident to the water tanks on Saturday. The chain broke, and the tanks dropped away and broke some of the shaft. 1 have been repairing the guides and fixing the chains to bale out the water before we can get up the things. Shall be ready by the morning to start sending them up. There is a large quantity of piping in connection with the borer, as well as pipes carrying water, rails, timber, and other materials, to come up, which will save buying ly-and-bv. _ Consols. —Owing to the reductions in the stall", operations are at present suspended at No. -1 level, and are being vigorously pushed ahead at the intermediate levels between No. 2 and No. 3 levels, and the stopes under No. 3 level, between No. 3 and No. 4 levels. _ Intermediate level between No. 2 and No. 3 levels : The drive west from the winze has attained a distance of G5 feet. The drive is penetrating a splendid class of country for gold. The leader shows a width of seven inches. The leading stope has been advanced nine feet during the past week ; the leader is four inches in width. The lourtli stope west has attained a distance of 21 feet from the winze; the leader is seven inches in width. Cold has been seen freely in the quartz broken in this stope. The drive east from the winze has been extende 1 seven feet during the past week ; the leader shows a width of five inches. The quartz broken through the week has shown gold freely. Stopes between No. 3 and No. 4 levels : On the main lode, the fourth stope under No. 3 level has been advanced nine feet from the end of ground, and now forms an intermediate drive over the stopes from No. 4 level ; the lode is two feet ill width. No quartz has been broken down this week. The pumps and machinery are working splendidly since Mr. Price's alterations to machinery. New Fearnought — Met with the shaft on Saturday. Survey progressing. Will forward result forthwith. Junction.The main crosscut has been advanced six feet during the week. _ The country has become tighter. Several stringers from two to three inches in thickness have been met with during the week. I think it would be advisable to start driving westward on the leader that was met with last week. Norfolk. —We have now completed the hoppers and wire. The wire is working very satisfactorily. We will now be able to put our quartz direct into the hoppers from the mine, instead of handling them twice as it was previous to removing the hoppers. I intend to commence on Monday to put the quartz into the hoppers that we have stacked outside of the drive. Owe it A (Whangapoua).— mine manager telegraphed yesterday Work proceeding satisfactorily. Battery will be connected with the mine and reservoir next week.