THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8883, 20 May 1892, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

MONTHLY SUMMARY. [from OCR own CORRESPONDENTS.] Thames, Thursday. There is very little news of importance to chronicle as the result of the past month's operations, as the mining industry still continues in a languid condition at this end of the field. Projects for the opening up of the lower levels and the prospecting of the back country with a view of instilling new life and energy into the industry are still being discussed, but as yet no very decided action has been taken towards carrying the proposals out, although there is but little doubt they will havo to be tackled sooner or later, and the sooner a start is made the better for all concerned. One proposal that has been made towards testing the deep levels is the amalgamation I of the old Queen of Beauty mine with the Saxon Gold Mining Co.'s property. A meeting of the latter's shareholders was held on the '22nd ultimo for the purpose of taking into consideration the future working of the mine, and the result arrived at was the passing of the following resolution : — " That a committee, consisting of members of the Board of Directors, and Messrs. King, Brimblecombe, Macfarlano, and Porter, be appointed to make inquiries as to the advisability or otherwise of amalgamating with or purchasing other mines ; and also to consider such other matters as may be deemed advisable for the better working of the mine, and to report in a fortnight." In accordance with this resolution, the committeo then appointed met on the 6th instant, when Mr. T. A. Dunlop, the company's mine manager, laid before them three schemes for the development of the company's property, namely :— 1. To drive from the 640 feet level of the Big Pump shaft to tho Saxon shaft, connect the same, and then crosscut to intersect the reef, when 150 feet of backs would be available, the cost of the project (which includes cost of pumping as well) being estimated at £10,155. 2. To erect pumping machinery on the Saxon shaft, sink to a depth of 640 feet, and then crosscutting for the reef, the estimated cost being £15,308. 3. To amalgamate the Saxon and Queen of Beauty properties, erect pumping and winding machinery on the latter's shaft, and then crosscut for the Saxon reefs from the Queen of Beauty 745-feet level, which would provide 298 feet of backs upon tho Saxon reefs, the whole being done at an estimated cost of about £15,000. This latter cost, however, would not include the sum that would have to bo given for tho Queen of Beauty property, but this would be largely provided for in the giving of shares in lieu of cash. If this No. 3 scheme is carried out, tho present capital of the Saxon Company will probably be doubled, but before anything detinito is done the whole matter will be laid before a meeting of the shareholders, which is shortly to be held. That the scheme is a good one is beyond doubt, as the Queen of Boauty shaft is considered to be the key to tho low levels of the field, independent of what the reefs contained in the property at the higher levels might turn out; but the one great difficulty to surmount is the securing of the necessary capital to carry out the projected works.

One important step that has been taken during the month is the amalgamation of the May Queen and Trenton properties. The latter company has been working for many years past with rather unsuccessful results, but is possessed of a valuable winding plant. Tho May Queen Co., on the other hand, has every prospect of developing valuable blocks upon their No. 4 reef and lower levels, bnt is deficient of the necessary machinery for carrying out the works. The amalgamation of tho two properties, however, provides for the interests of both companies, and will be of mutual benefit, for the Trenton section will be accessible from the May Queen workings for being further prospected whenever it is deemed advisable to carry out such work, whilst the providing of the necessary winding plant to the May Queen Co. will enable the lower levels to be tackled in a systematic manner at once without incurring very much cost. The terms of the amalgamation are, that the Trenton Co. is to receive one share in the May Queen Co. for every four shares held under its own constitution, which will necessitate the creating of 9000 additional shares in the May Queen Company, whilst the latter company are also to liquidate what liabilities that may re main against the Trenton Company after the calls now due are paid, but which sum is not expected to exceed £-50.

At a recent meeting of the Thames Borough Council, the Mayor (Mr. James Renshaw) moved the following resolution : —" That this Council agrees to spend up to £10 per month, in accordance with Government arrangements, in encouraging prospecting works in the Borough, and that a Goldfields Committee be appointed to superintend the outlay." This resolution has now occupied the attention of the Council at two consecutive meetings, but as yet nothing definite has been arrived at, and the matter is still in abeyance. The feeling of Councillors in the matter, however, is that there is not sufficient scope within the Borough to carry out any very elaborate works, but that if concerted action was taken in conjunction with the Thames County Council, some more foasible plan of working might be adopted, such, for instance, as the extension of the Moanataiari Company's main tunnel. It is expected that the Hon. Air. Seddon, Minister of Mines, will shortly pay this district a visit, and it is understood that the Miners' Union will avail themselves of his presence towards the obtaining of Government assistance for carrying out the extension of the above-mentioned tunnel, and also for assistance to prospectors in developing the back country.

The Big Pump has been idle ever since the 28th of March last, in order to allow the water to rise from the 500 feet level to the 400 feet level, as none of the companies now in operation are working beneath the latter level. The water, however, is now almost up to the height mentioned, and the pump will probably resume operations in a day or two. Tho last monthly meeting of the Drainage Board was held on the 11th inst., when it was announced that in future pumping operations would be confined to the 400 feet level, and as this meant a very material decrease in the cost of operations, the question of reducing the assessment on the contributing companies was discussed. It was, however, considered more prudent not to interfere with the assessment at present struck until such time as the cost of pumping to the 400 feet level has been definitely ascertained, but it was resolved to allow a rebate of 50 per cent, for the present month to all contributing bodies who are not in arrears on the 31st instant, and a hope was expressed that the same course could be adopted next month. The financial position of the Board is now in a very satisfactory state.

Operations in the several mines of the Thames district during tho month have not been prolific of very successful returns, but the works now in hand are not nearly so extensive as was the case a few months back, as many of tho companies have slackened off considerably. Still, some good work is being done, especially in* the Moanataiari, May Queen, Saxon, Victoria, Hazelbank, Cambria, Waiotahi, and one or two other mines. Of the individual gold returns made public during the past four weeks the following are the principal : —

Oz dvvfc Alburnia, 15 loads 7 14 Alfred Claim, 10 loads 38 0 Calliope, 87 loads 36 8 Cambria, 129 loads 201 0 Consols', 72 loads 76 11 Hazel bank, GO loads 47 5 Lone Hand tributes, 46 loads ... 120 7 Moanataiari, 1049 tons 400 16 Pride of Karaka. '26 loads ... 36 10 Sheridan's Claim (Tajm), 9 loads 113 1 Trenton, 8 loads 13 3 « Waiotahi, '200 tons 181 14 Woodstock (Karangahake), 14 tons 79 0 The following is a statement of the quantity of gold purchased by the Thames branch of the Bank of New Zealand during the month of April: — oz. dwt. Thames County ... ... 1,809 15 Ohinemuri County 202 18 Piako County... 69 15 Coromandel County 7 8 Thames Borough 824 16 2914 12 The following is a return showing the quantity and value of- the gold and bullion

obtained in the Hauraki mining district for the year ending with March 31, 1892 :— Gold. Bullion. Value. —' Oz. dwt. (Jz. dwt. £ s. d. Thames Borough 15,783 19 nil 42,475 311 Thames County 18,004 15 11,046 19 02,012 10 8 Ohinemuri County 1,641 9 20,053 15 35,843 18 0 Piako County .. 978 12 nil 2,727 7 8 Coromandel County 12,101 14 nil 33,011 9

Total .. - 40,500 9 31.10J 14 170,070 18 0 The year's output shows an increased value of £16,821 17s 6d upon the value of the return for the year ending March 31st, 1891, which amounted to £159,249 10s 6d. But the increaso was brought about principally through the aid of tho bullion returns from tho YVaihi and Sylvia mines, and the gold yield from the Kuaotunu goldfiold. At Tararu, tho Sylvia Gold and Silver Mining Co.'s roduction plant is now in full operation upon ore coming to hand from tho company's mine, and the results obtained are of an encouraging character. The result of the crushing carried on during tho month ending on April 30 was as follows £ s. d. Concentrates on hand, 65 tons G'7scwt, value 1,140 10 1 Free gold from plates, 670z value 243 2 6

Total ...... -. .. £1,383 IS 7 The Norfolk Gold Mining Co. is still proceeding with the development of its main reef at No. 3 level, and so far the results have been very good. A considerable tonnage of oro is now to hand, and lately preparations havo been in progress for removing the same down to tho battery. At Waiomo, the Monowai and Mount Zeehan claims are being further developed with small staffs of miners, and satisfactory prospects are being met with. The owners of the new reduction plant lately erected in the district are about to increaso its efficiency by adding to it a boiler for the generating of steam, to heat the contonts of the amalgamation pans. In the meantime the rock-brcaking machine is engaged in reducing ore to a convenient size lor the grinding pans. It is also understood that tho Mount Zeehan reduction plant, which is erected at Lower Tararu, is to be overhauled, and some necessary improvements made, previous to recommencing the treatment of ore from the mine.

Detailed accounts re the mines in the Upper Thames districts, will be found in pago 3 of the summary ; bub it may bo mentioned, however, that the Waihi Gold and Silver Mining Co. had a very successful run during the four woeks ending with the 7th instant, during which period 1387 tons of ore were treated at the company's plant, for the handsome return of bullion valued at £4085. Tho average number of stampers running for the month was 50 head. A slight accident occurred to tho steaming boiler after tho cleaning up took place, which necessitated the hanging up of a portion of the stampers for a few days, bub tho necessary repairs were at once proceeded with and duly effected, and the full force of the plant is now again in operation. CokomAndel, Thursday. Tokatea.—For some time past this mino has been under a cloud, very little gold coming to hand, and the various tribute parties were becoming disheartened, but a short time ago one of the parties, for want of something better to do, began to fossick over the old tip, and, to their very agreeable surprise, found some good stone. They worked on, and have obtained several very good crushing?. This of course has turned other people's attention to these old tips, and no doubt they will be all overhauled Part of the scheme for floating this as a new company was to bring in water power and crush all these old tips, as it was pretty certain they would pay, but I think no one had any idea there was so much gold hidden in them. It may not be too late yet, as the tributers cannot deal with them wholesale, and cheap crushing would, no doubt, make them pay well. Royal Oak.—Tito tributers are again on good stone, and will have a fine crushing before long. The leaders in this ground are very small, and the ground exceedingly hard, but when they are on the gold it is very rich. I understand tho difficulties are being smoothed away with the old company. KOI'ITRCKAITI. This district is not flourishing as well as could be expected, though some of the claims look pretty well. They evidently have not struck the jugular yet, although there is gold all about. I should like to see the ground a little better tested tieaward. KaPA-VGA.—Nothing of any importance has transpired in this mino during the past month. The big machinery is still going up, and will take some time yet. In the mine there is very little work doing at present. Blag rove's.—Some of the material for the pump has been placed on the ground, and the site prepared, but the work here is very slow, and nothing much will bo done until the Kapanga machinery is finished. CABBAGE BAV. The Council are repairing the road to enable Vizard's party to get their crushing machinery along. This is a small waterwheel and battery. I understand Mr. Vizard estimates he has enough quartz lying ready to go through sufficient to pay all expenses. The mine is looking well, and likely to give steady employment for some time to come. Mackenzie's claim has also a [rood lot of quartz on hand ready for crushing.

WHANfiAI'OUA. Lillis and party had a nice crushing of 83oz from a few tons. The leaders in this mine are rather small, but are pretty good. They have one good-sized reef from which good crushing stuff can be obtained, but the difficulty of getting it to the battery prevents its being handled at present. Hilda.—Nothing much has been done here lately, but I understand a lot of men have been put on, and that the mine is to be worked vigorously. Owkka. —At the present time this mine has the best show of any in the county. It is well opened up with three levels and connections, and nothing remains but to get the battery to work to have regular returns if it is anything like as rich as it is said to be. However, it has been well tested, and no doubt will turn out well. The battery is rapidly nearing completion, and will be very economical when complete. It reflects great credit on Mr. Langford, who has had some difficulty to bring the mine battery and water-power together, but I am happy to say* he has succeeded admirably. In the first place it was found there might not be sufficient water, so a large storage reservoir was determined on, and a swamp enclosed by a dam, which will hold at least four or five feet of water over seven and a half acres of ground. The river is to be turned into this, and will give an ample supply for a long time without rain. The dam is a very ingenious affair, being tongued and grooved planks driven down and covered with earth, and is perfectly tight, as is shown by the water rising to the level from a few small gullies. Tho river is not yet turned in. The battery is 10-head American with grinding pans and burdans, driven by a Pelton wheel. The tramway connecting with the battery is a horse grade, and had to cross some deep ground, and pass through one deep cutting, the trestle-work being some 35 feet high, and the cutting the same, and empties into a stone breaker, and then into self-acting feeders, so that everything possible has been done to reduce tho crushing expenses to a minimum, in fact, very low grade oro should bo able to be treated profitably. Some 2s or 3s per ton will pay all the crushing expenses. . The erection may cost a few hundred more at first, but it will be amply recouped in the future. There are several other claims around here which with this battery to crush will pay, but none of them are anything like so good as tho Owera. KUAOTCNU. Things in this district are not very lively. The discovery that a large percentage of the gold has always been lost in tho crushings seems to have paralyzed, them but it is nob much to tho credit of those who owned good mines that comparatively nothing has been done all this time toward saving it. It is not usual for men to sit down and say the gold cannot bo saved without some effort. Of course it may be said the cost will be too great, bub even that remains to be proved. Then again, with regard to crushing the charge appears far too high, although it is quite evident there has been no profit in it. Something ought to be done to get cheaper power by electricity or water, or both combined. It is well known that most of the ores at Kuaotunu contain a little gold, but the most of ib is low grade, but if cheap crushing and good gold-saving appliances were used most of it would pay. Some vory heavy work has been undertaken in

the Great Mercury towards settling the vexed question of gold saving. There has been a good deal of interupbion so far, and the process has not had a fair trial. I sincorely hope for the sake of the field that it will be successful; if not, some other process must be tried. I hear that several claims have been taken up to bo worked on their own merits if they pay well, if nob, the men will have to bo the losers, so that on the whole I think we are on the eve of a better state of things.