THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8888, 26 May 1892, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Wednesday. Hazelbank.—A parcel of 15lbs picked atone was obtained from Darby's leader at No. 1 level this afternoon, and 51bs from the stopes upon the footwall leader at the intermediate level.

Lone Hand. — crushing of six loads of general dirt and 14lbs picked stone, all of which was broken from No. 3 leader, above the intermediate drive, was completed today, for the handsome return of 75ozs 13dwts melted gold. Crawford's Special.—Mr. W. Burch has received instructions from Mr. J. A. Miller, solicitor, who is acting on behalf of the mortgagee, the Bank of New Zealand, of this property, to commence operations in this mine to-morrow morning, with a number of men, as the protection recently granted by Warden Northcroft expires tomorrow. It is probable that an application will be made to the warden for permission to work the ground with a limited number of men for a certain period, or until the mine can otherwise bo disposed of. May Queen. —There is nothing particular to report from this mine, other than that the trial crushing of six loads broken from No. 4 reef at No. 2 level west of No. 1 break appears to be shaping for a return equal to about an ounce per load, which will be payable. In speaking to the manager, Mr. Hicks, re the suggestion made of erecting the Trenton winding machinery upon the City of London shaft instead of the Queen of May shaft, he informed mo he was not at all in favour of such a proposal. He stated that had the crosscut now being driven at Mo. 3 level towards the Queen of May shaft at first been directed towards the City of London shaft, it would have been all right, but to divert the crosscut now or to drive back upon tho No. 'J reef to the City shaft would mean about 150 feet of extra driving at from '25s to 30s per foot, which would be an unwise expenditure and a loss of time now that the Queen of May shaft is within about 30 feet of being communicated with. Another reason for not changing is the fact that the latter shaft is 85 feet deeper than the City shaft, consequently that will bo of great advantage to the company, and a great saving also in developing other levels. Under these circumstances Mr. Hicks considers that it will be to the company's interest now to put the machinery on the Queen of May shaft.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Cambria.There is very little change in the prospects in the stopes on the main reef above No. 2 level. The sixth and seventh stopes have been carried forward to the old workings. Rising on the reef for the purpose of carrying oil' the eighth stope is now iii proftess. No. 3 level: The stopes on the ditieient leaders above this level are still turning out a L'ooil supply of fair crushing dirt, and aiso ;i tle picked stone. The cross leader and the small leader in its footwall have yielded a few pounds of picked stone during the week, whilst No. (5 leader and a small leader in the " dig" on the main reef have also turned out a few pounds. The mass of quartz stringers continues to turn out a good supply of fair crushing dirt. Some nice colours of gold were seen in the main reef in the second stope on the right of these stringers during the week. No. 4 level: For the past week the men have been employed extending the leading stope 011 No. 7 footwall leader. The leader here averages eight inches in thickness, and' has shown gold pretty freely. Crushing for the company is still proceeding, with five head. The battery and winding engine are' in good working order. May Queen. —The drive at No. 2 level on No. -J reef east has been driven 10 feet for the week through good country, the last few feet especially being of blocky sandstone with some nice mineral veins running into the reef. The reef is still about the same size, which was taken down 011 Saturday, carrying good minerals, some of which would appear to be gold at first sight, but 110 gold was seen. I am crushing the quartz that came from this drive at tile Cambria battery. It is shaping about 7dwt to the load. The dirt from the stopes will follow. The crosscut at No. 3 level has been extended 15 feet for the week, and is still in good country. Three weeks more should see this through to the Queen of the May shaft. Trenton : All the rails, pipes, and boards are at the surface, and I am now taking out the guides, some of which will do again? All the material will be brought over to the May Queen this week, so there will be only the machinery and building left at the Trenton to remove. I will call tenders for its removal at once, to be in 011 tiie 28th instant. New Fearnought.—On finding the shaft I immediately had Air. Adams up to make the survey, and have come to the conclusion that a rise put up to the bottom of the shaft, a distance of 60 feet from the crosscut on No. 3 level, is the surest and most expeditious procedure to arrive at where the gold is known to exist. It took the greater part of the week to do some repairs by way of timbering flakey portions of the main tunnel, and have only made, as it were, a start to rise. I would respectfully suggest the necessity of another shift, say, of two men, to hasten the work now undertaken, which will finish the dead work, supply good ventilation eventually, and brine us direct to the lot where the strong gold-bearing lode was intersected. Sylvia.—For the week the drive west m No 3 level has been extended 11 feet, making in all 82 feet. For the last six feet the country has been intermixed with quartz, and there is a favourable change in the country. The rise from the same No. 3 level is now up 50 feet. There was very little done in this rise for the week, the two men being engaged at other necessary works. The stopes ill No. 2 block in same level continue to produce ore of the same grade as usual. _ No. 2 level : The stopes in progress in tins level continue to produce ore of a payable grade. I have bagged scwt of ore from the vein which I mentioned in my last; it does not look quite so well at present. I have done no work on it these last two days, to enable the men to beat the stopes away, but will rosutne operations again next week. I have driven 16 feet on the cross reef in No. 2 level for the week. The reef will average 18 inches, and is improving as far as I have driven. The ore broken from this reef is - sent to the mill. Saxon.The works which is being carried out at present is somewhat the same as what is in last report, with this exception, that leader in drive on No. i reef had rather an indifferent appearance, and the country over head being of a loose nature, the men were removed back to carry _ a short stope over the drive so as to allow timber to be put in to secure the loose ground. Ihe leader in stope is composed of a rubly nature. About lib of picked stone was saved from the quartz. The stope is not completed up to face of drive. The men are now driving cast on same leader, which is composed of quartz of a kindly description. A lew colours of gold arc also seen through it. Ihe drive on No. 2 reef has been extended '2o feet since last report. The reef here is about two feet wide, composed of quartz of a dark rubly nature. Strong colours .of gold have been seen here. The trial crushings from here have been completed, but the amalgam will not be retorted until Mr. Dun lop's return. both parcels shaped for over loz to the load, the battery for the fore part of the fortnight has been at work on the trial parcels, and several parcels from the public; and the latter pait of fortnight the battery hand (according to instructions received from Mr. Dunlop) took advantage of the stopage of the x»ig 1 nmp to clean out the tail race and put same through 1 battery for the return of 2!)oz of amalgam. Junction —Driving was commenced on Monday 011 the leader that was f recently intersected in the main crosscut. The country is of a very favourable description, and there is good mineral showing in the party. I will net out a trial crushing as soon as possible. The drive has been advanced six feet dining the week. , .. , Norfolk.For the past week myself and men have been engaged in sending down the quartz to the lower hopper, and also erecting the tram road over the hopper. I intend getting sufficient timber tor the rise to meet the winze that is sunk from No. - level. , iii i • Woodstock. —Now that the dead work in opening up and timbering the block 011 the No 3 lode is about finished, I think an effort should be made to open out on the Maria reef south of the break in the present face of the level on that body of ore. Occasionally I could with advantage put two of the hand s now employed in the stopes to work in the place named, and I think the results would be satisfactory. So far as the No. 3 lode is , concerned, the show of free milling ore in the twelfth stope is simply splendid, both ms regards quantity and quality. Should it continue so, I shall have another good crushing ready very shortly. Before the winter sets fairly in we should have a smithy to replace the apology for one now in use. We have the necessary timber, and the only thing required is the iron to cover it in. Silverton (Wailii). —Operations are now in progress at three different points on the i outcrop of "the lode, from_ which a large ton- | nage of good ore is being grassed daily. B During the week several samples of the I poorest looking ore in the paddocks were § assayed, and the bullion results varied from

£3 17s to £7 I2s per ton. At the mill several men are now engaged, under the supervision of Mr. Corbett, in excavating a tailing pit, as well as attending to the completion of various other matters, both within and outside the building. In the hopper here there are now stored about 300 tons of ore, which is being added to at the rate of about 12 tons per day by the contractor, for it conveyance from the mine, whercTOßire are fully 80 tons awaiting transit. . New Manukau.—Since my last the small leader being driven on east does not look so well, being very small, and not showing any gold the last few feet of driving, and meeting with another small leader in the hangingwall showing gold freely, I have stopped tne drive and started to sink a winze on the new leader, and it has shown a little gold each breaking down to a depth of 12 feet, and I have picked out 151b to 201b of stone showing gold freely but not good enough to call picked stone. I have crushed 14 tons from the drive, and it is worth about half ounce to the ton. The dirt from the winze will bo crushed some time this week, and it should crush well, but the leader is very small and will not turn out much,dirt, but what it does will be good I think. Magnolia.—Since my last I started another drive further eastward and more downhill. I just came on to the cap of a reef two feet in thickness, and I saw strong dabs of wold in it. If it keeps as it is at present it is payable. In a week's time I will be able to say more about it. Victoria.—At the 160-feet level -. The work in progress at present here is the sinking of a winze, and carrying along of Nos. 1 and 2 stopes on the hangingwall leader. For the first few feet the country in the winze was very hard on account of several small flinty stringers. They have now disappeared, and better progress is being made. Ihe reef here is over a foot wide, and on breaking i down colours of gold have been seen in the quartz. The No. 1 stope has been carried along 40 feet since commencing. The quartz has been broken down. It is of a kindly description; lota of antimony and mineral, and some strong dabs of gold, were seen. The reef is about 18 inches thick. No. 2 stopo: Ten feet of the reef has been stripped here, and the quartz was broken down this morning. Strong colours of the precious metal were also seen through the quartz, which is of a very kindly appearance. _ The reef in this stope is about one foot thick. At the 210feet level: The work going on here is similar to last report. The broken country has not been passed through yet. Eminence. —During the past week the tunnel has been extended a further distance of nine feet. The reef is now two feet in thickness, and carries excellent mineral indications. The country is also very favourable for gold. Pride of Ivaraka.—-Since my last the winze has been sunk a further distance of nine feet, making a total of 39 feet. I have also got all necessary timbers in position. The country that the winze is passing through is a nice white sandstone, interlaced with nice black mineral seams. During the week the quartz has averaged about nine inches in thickness, and carrying some splendid mineral. . I might mention that very little quartz can be broken while sinking the winze, as it is impossible to break it close up, as the flinty, which averages about 15 inches in thickness, is of a very strong nature. I intend opening out from the winze at about 50 feet, as this will give a good block of ground to stope, and will be quite far enough to lift the mullock.