THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8885, 23 May 1892, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[from our OWN correspondent.] Thames, Saturday. Alburnia.—Mr. A. Thomas, the retiringmanager, to-day discharged all the wagesmen in the mine, and on Saturday next, the 28th instant, will hand over tho management to Mr. Thos. Radford, the newlyappointed manager. Visit from Mr. Gordon.—A telegram was received here to-day, to the effect that Mr. IT. A. Gordon, Government inspecting engineer, left Wellington for Auckland yesterday (Friday) for his usual annual tour of inspection of the northern goldfields, so that he may be expected to be at the Thames in a few days. Thames School of Mines.—lnformation has just been received here from Wellington that four of the five candidates, namely Messrs. Bruce, Paull, Agnew, and Warno, who presented themselves for examination in February last, have successfully qualified themselves for first-class certificates as mine managers. Mr. J. McDermott failed only in subject "J" which requires an intimate knowledge of the ores of the principal metals and their mode of occurrence. These make a to til of seventeen students of the School of J lines prepared by Mr. Park for examination during the past two years and a-half, and the fact that sixteen have secured their certificates is a sufficient refutation of the statement made soma time ago, that the examination-papers were altogether beyond the mental capacity of our miners. Lone Hand.—A crushing of six loads of general dirt and 14 pounds of picked stone, all of which was broken from No. 3 leader at the intermediate level, will be treated on behalf of this company during the week.' Pride of Karaka.—Tho only work now being carried on in this mine on behalf of the company is the sinking of a winze upon McKenzie's reef below the lower level. This has reached a depth of 40 feet, and so far the reef has averaged about nine inches in thickness and shown a little gold. The top block of stopes upon this reef, from where the recent crushings were taken, is to be let on tribute, several applications for it bavins:' already been received. Consols.—Tho results attending this company's operations have not met with that success which was at one time anticipated, and as there is apparently no immediate prospect of an improvement the wholo of the working staff was to-day discharged with the exception of tho manager and one engineer. Tho iattor has been kept on for the purpose of working the pump one shift per diem in order to keep the mine free of water until some definite decision has been arrived at with regard to the future. In order to enable the directors to best arrive at a conclusion Messrs. T. B. Hicks (of the May Queen) and W. Baker (of the .Cambria) have been requested to inspect tho mine in company with Mr. J. Carter, tho manager, and they in turn will submit a report of the same to the directors. If their report is a favourable one operations will probably be resumed ; if not, then it is probable the mine will bo closed down for a period. This is a rather regrettable step, especially after the large expenditure which has been incurred in erecting the really elaborate and most efficient pumping and winding plant now on tho mine, and which has just received some rather important improvements at tho hands of Messrs. Price Bros., but in the present state of the money market, and tho difficulty experienced in getting in calls, it cannot be very well helped. May Queen. —Tenders returnable on the 28th instant, are to be at once invited for the dismantling of the Trenton winding engine and poppet legs, and for their removal and re-erection upon the old Queen of the May shaft, and as soon as the con tract is let no timo will be lost in getting everything in to working order as quickly as possible. Operations in the mine are being proceeded with as usual. The drive j eastward upon No. 4 reef, at No. 2 level, is entering into a much bettor class of sandstone than that which it has lately been passing through, and the reef, too, which is about a foot in thickness, shows better mineral indications, and are such as leads to the belief that payable gold will eventually be met with. The trial crushing which is now being treated at the Cambria battery from this part of tho mine is shaping for about 7>l wis of gold per load of quartz, which will a little more than pay the cost of carting anil crushing. It is thought, however, hat the quartz broken during the last day or two will yield rather better than this, but as yet none of it has reached the battery. The crosscut at No. 3 level is passing through good firm sandstone, and another 40 feet of driving should sec it connected with the Queen of May -diaft, which will probably be accomplished during the next fortnight. There is a probability of a new prospecting work being commenced at No. 1 level shortly, but as yet it has not been quite decided upon. This is the continuation of the drive commenced during Mr. Barclay's time upon the cros.-lole intersected when driving the crosscut from the shaft to intersect No. 4 reef. The drive upon this crosslode is already in a distance of thirty feet in a northerly direction, and Mr. Hicks is very anxious to have it extended towards the boundary with Crawford's Special Claim, which is some 200 feet ahead. His reasons for carrying out the work are because (1) it will penetrate country parallel with that in which payable gold was found in No. 4 reef ; (2) a junction with what is termed the north-west lode at No. 2 level should bo met with about 100 feet ahead; and (3) there is a probability of other reefs and leaders being found striking across it before the boundary is reached. It will therefore be seen that the prospects of meeting with at least payable quartz, if not something better, are very good, and as the entire work can probably be done at a cost not exceeding Cl')'), it is to be hoped that the directors will be able to see their way clear to accede to Mr. Hicks' suggestions.

PROPOSED EXTENSION 01? THE MOANATAIARI MAIN TUNNEL. A SCHEME BY MR. THOMAS RADFORD. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.J Thames, Saturday. Last evening a special meeting of the officers of the Miners' Union was held for the purpose of further considering the matter of the proposed extension of the Moanataiari tunnel. Mr. Thomas Radford, the wellknown mine manager, was also present by special invitation, and he laid before the meeting the following scheme :—With regard to the extension of the Moanataiari tunnel, lie was of opinion (1) that the tunnel, which is now in a distances of 3077 feet, should be turned from its present easterly course and driven in a northerly direction. The advantage thus to he gained would be that the ,tunnel would act as a crosscut, and thereby intersect the Golden Age, Reuben Parr, 23rd of .1 tine, Orlando, Watchman, Star of the South, Success, Sons of Freedom, Dixon's, and other reefs which are well known in the locality; (2) the tunnel should be extended a distance of 2000 feet, or until the Sons of Freedom is cut, by which time all the reefs mentioned above would be intersected with the exception of Dixon's. To carry out this work it will be necessary to put up two rises for ventilation purposes, one oil the Sons of Freedom reef and the other on whichever reef gave the best prospects. The estimated cost of the work would be : For the tunnel, £4000; and for the two rises, £3000; being a total of £7000. The expenses, on a calculation of driving 20 feet per week, would be as follow: — (i men at 8s per day ...£l4 S 0 3 boys at 5s per day ... 4 10 8 SO feet of rails ... . 4 0 0 Sleepers for rails 0 7 0 j Trucking, candles, and blasting requisites ... 10 0 0 Air and water pipes ... 1 10 0 Supervision, sharpening tools, etc 4 0 0 Or a total cost weekly of £38 15 0 The advantages to be derived from such a scheme would, he thought, be readily seen, and in order to successfully carry it out it would be advisable to amalgamate the Aiburnia, Calliope, Orlando, Sons of Freedom, Flying Cloud, Alfred, and Cobban mines, which in itself would effect a saving of at least £35 per week in the cost of management alone. This money, he maintained, could be used to better advantage in assisting to drive the tunnel and opening up other parts of the property. As to how he would raise the necessary funds for carrying out the scheme, Mr. Radford said the Government should first be waited upon to see what assistance they would give; then the Borough and County Councils should be asked to subscribe towards carrying out the project; a public meeting should also be called or the business people waitecl upon to see what assistance could be obtained from them. The mines that

would be benefited by the tunnel should also be subscribers to the work. If the work is carried out, and the Sons of Freedom reef cut in the tunnel, it would give a height of 600 feet on the underlie of the reefs, and about 470 feet perpendicular height, which means a mine nearly as deep as our deepest mines. It will be easy then to drive the tunnel on the reef to Punga Flat, and go right on to the claims in that direction, such as the old Nolan's Candlelight, the Bank of New Zealand, Bright Smile, and others. Once the work was completed, he was of opinion that the Thames goldheld would soon be in a flourishing condition, and that the tunnel would open up work for the next 20 years. He had not made any calculation for the purchase of a, rockdrill or air-compresser, but he thought they could be purchased for about £300, which would have to be added to the estimated cost already mentioned. In conclusion Mr. Radford suggested that all the mines mentioned should throw their top ground open to tributers, for the percentage which would accrue thereby would go a long way towards defraying the cost of the work —a work which he believed, with the deeplevel scheme also carried out, would make the Thames goldfield one of the largest gold producers in the colony. Mr. Radford then directed the attention of those present to a, plan spread out upon the table, which he said had very kindly been gratuitously prepared by Mr. E. F. Adams, surveyor, who had also stated that lie would gladly assist in any matter having for its object the advancement of the goldfield. The plan was carefully considered, and it having been suggested by Mr. Barrett that the old Coronet shaft in the Dauntless ground might be utilised for the first pass for ventilation purposes, it was decided to mention the matter to Mr. Adams, and have the shaft and one or two other things put upon the plan. Some discussion took place regarding the scheme submitted by Mr. Radtord, and it was mentioned by the president and others that it was upon just about the sam« lines as had been previously discussed by members. It was resolved, upon the motion of Mr. McDonald, seconded by Mr. Agnew, " That the scheme for the extension of the Moanataiari tunnel presented by Mr. Radford be adopted, and laid before the Hon. R. .J. Seddon, Minister of Mines, when he visits the Thames, with a view to obtaining Government assistance." Votes of thanks to Mr. Radford for the trouble lie had taken in drawing up his scheme, and to Mr. E. F. Adams for having prepared the plans, were then unanimously carried, after which the meeting terminated. The legal manager of the undermentioned companies, just returned from Thames, has furnished the following memoranda 1 Cambria.— Operations at the mine and the main reef in the Darwin section continue promising, and crushing at the company's battery is proceeding as usual with five-head stampers. The charge for water and the question of the nozzle at the battery has not yet been settled to the satisfaction of the mine manager. I have no doubt that Air. McLaren will adjust it satisfactorily, which is of importance to the company. May Queen.—Everything in connection with the intended removal of the Trenton machinery is in readiness against Friday next. Tenders, returnable on Saturday next, will lie called for its removal and re-erection oil the Queen of the May shaft. In the mine two important works are in progress the crosscut at No. 3 level to the Queen of the May shaft, which will lie completed in three weeks' time, and the drive east on the No. 4 lode at No. 2 level. The lode has opened out to a foot wide of solid quartz of an excellent description, and is being saved for tiie b\ttery, where its value will be ascertained along with the other parcels now being crushed at the Cambria battery, where live head stampers are employed. The No. 2 City of London lode intersected in driving the crosscut to the Queen of the May shaft the manager thinks a great deal of, and considers it important. I would express the opinion whether, as soon as the crosscut holes into the Queen of the May shaft, it would not be advisable to drive west on it and connect it with the City of London shaft, and in view of that to erect the machinery on the City of London shaft instead of the Queen of the May shaft. Taking everything into account, the splendid condition of the City shaft and the Trenton cages fitting it, above suggestion is now worthy of consideration. The No. '2 lode in the City of London claim yielded dividends. Consols.Pending further arrangements, and the visit to-day of Messrs. T. B. Hicks and W. Baker to visit the mine, witii a view to inspect and report on its condition and prospects, the operations arc now limited to pumping the water down to No. 4 level, and also to enable calls to be collected and the finances of the company to be relieved. The winding plant and pump, which cost £2500, are in a superior condition, and the interests of shareholders resolve themselves into the payment of outstanding calls with promptitude, to clear the company of the liability which has been incurred to save any trouble. Ni:w Fearnought. — The Belmont shaft having been found on the surface, and the bearings taken by the surveyor, the spot to rise from the tunnel underneath to meet the shaft has been determined, and a commencement has now been made to put up the rise. Lone Hand. — I saw the mine manager, and he had nothing new to report. He will soon have a crushing 011 the company's account. 1 I azklhan K. —In breaking down Darby's leader to-day 101b of picked stone were obtained, and the leader still continues to carry a considerable quantity of mineral, and looks very promising. RE ELTON" GOLD RETURNS. [BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION". G rkymouth, Sunday. The Reefton gold returns for tho week are : —Globe, 23Soz amalgam from 100 tons ; No. 2 Keep it Dark, 141oz amalgam from 5S tons ; Alpine, 3820z amalgam from 225 tons; Cumberland, 1590z amalgam from OS tons Progress, 3020z amalgam from 210 tons.