THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8955, 12 August 1892, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

MONTHLY SUMMARY. [from OUR OWN correspondents.] Thames, Thursday; The improvement in the prospects of some of our mines, a3 chronicled in my last summary, has been fully maintained daring the past month, and the outlook for the future is much brighter than for some time past. Especially is this so m connection with the Albornia, Hazelbank, and Moanataiari mines, in each of which properties the results attending the month's operations have been of a very satisfactory character, whilst tho prospects for a continuation of the same are extremely good.

The operations conducted in the Alburnia mine upon what is thought to be Dixon's reef at the VVhau level have attracted tne greatest attention, inasmuch as it appeared at one time as if a rich run of gold, similar to which the mine has been notable for in its past career, was about to be developed, but the hopes in this respect have dot so far been realised, although it is quite possible it may yet eventuate, for the work done so far appears to point to the conclusion that the best prospects are underfoot. The reef being operated upon has been opened up for a length of about 50 feet. It has varied in size from 15 inchcs to over 4 feet, aud running on its hangingwall side has been a heavily mineralised vein averaging about nine inches in thickness, which has yielded several parcels of specimens aud picked stone, with dabs and colours of gold showing in the main body of quartz as well. On the 23rd ultimo a crushing of 7 loads of general dirt, and 30 pounds of picked stone was completed for the handsome return of 1590zs 14dvvts of melted gold, which return far exceeded even the most sanguine expectation, whilst a few days later 765 pounds of the mineralised stone was treated by itself at the School of Mines for a yield of 19ozs of gold. Since then another crushing of 14 loads of general dirt and a fair sized parcel of picked stone has been accumulated, and which is now undergoing treatment, but the yield of gold from the same is not expected to be nearly _ so' good in proportion as the one mentioned above, although it will undoubtedly be a highly remunerative one. Judging from the work done it would appear as if the drive is on the top of a rich run of gold, for the best results have always been obtained near the floor of the drive, and the mineralised vein also makes stronger in the bottom of the drive than in the top, but whether this conclusion is right or not will shortly be determined by opening up a new level underneath the present workings. The Son 3 of Freedom reef at the battery level is not yet to hand, but a most favourable class of sandstone country has just been met with, and the reef is likely to bo intersected at any moment now.

With regard to the Hazelbank mine, the operations upon Darby's leader in the stopes above No. 1 level have resulted in a good class of quartz having been won, together with frequent parcels of picked stone. In the early part of the month a crushing o." 54 loads yielded 1970z lldwt of gold, and there are now on hand between 30 and 40 loads of similar grade quartz besides over 1001b of picked stone, the treatment of which is to be commenced at once. The leader averages about a foot in thickness, and there is every prospect at present of its continuing to yield remuneratively as the stopes are worked upwards. About 40 feet beneath No. 1 level an intermediate drive is being opened up on the same leader. At this point the prospects have not been very bright until a few days ago, owing to the country penetrated being tight and unfavourable for gold, but a most decided change for the better has now set in both as regards the quality of the country and the leader, and colours of gold are now seen in the latter, with every indication ©f picked stone being dropped across soon.

The prospects in the Moanataiari mine have been of a very encouraging character of late, and the gold returns for several months past, although not large, have left a margin for profit. Last fortnight's yield was 2520zs sdwts of melted gold from 527 ton 3 of general dirt and 120 pounds of picked stone, whilst the yield for the month amounts to 443 ozs sdwts from 1040 tons of quartz. Operations are in progress as usual upon the Reuben Parr, footwall, and Golden Age reef, besides 1 other smaller leaders, at and above the 100 feet and Point Russell levels. Latterly there has been considerable improvement noticeable in two or three of the workiugs, and it is hoped that as operations proceed something good will be met with.

In most of the other mines in this district operations have been carried on as usual without any very important changes. -Two of our companies have paid dividends during the month, namely, the Cambria sixpenny on 44,700 shares, and the Waiotahi half-a-crowu on 60110 shares. Both of these properties are considered amongst the best in our district, and there is good reason for behoving they will long continue so. The Waiotahi Company's return for the past month was 199'jy. lOdwt from 207 tons, but the Cambria return 13 not yet to hand. In the Saxon mine operations are now wholly confined to developing what is termed the new reef at and below the No. 3 level. One noticeable feature,in the mine during the past month has been the picking up of the continuation of this reef on the western side of No, 2 break, at No. 3 level, as previous to this it had only been worked on the eastern side of the break. Should it turn out remunerative in the new block, it will be of great benefit to the company, as the reef is intact from top to bottom in this part of the mine. The Victoria Company are sinking a winze beneath the 210 feet level upon their hangingwall reef, with the object of getting down to its junction with the Caledonian No. 1 reef, which point is now near to hand. A crosscut is in progress at the 160-feet level.

The work of erecting the winding machinery, poppet-heads, etc., over the old Queen of the May shaft, on behalf of the May Queen Company, i 3 now nearly completed, and it is expected that the same will be taken over from the contractor during next woek. The new plant is a most efficient one, and is likely to stand, the company good service in the development of the lower levels. During the course of its erection the shaft has been put into an excellent state of repair down to No. 4 level, which corresponds with the No. 3 level in the May Queen section, and at which point driving eastward upon No. 4 reef will probably be. commenced in a few days in order to get in under the run of gold worked at Nos. 1 and 2 levels. The drive eastward at No. 2 level has been suspended for the present, it being intended to conduct all operations in future from the Queen of May shaft. If the opening-up works in connection with the new No. 3 level turn out satisfactorily, this company should soon be banking regular monthly returns of gold.

Another mine that should shortly be heard from is the Queen of Beauty, which adjoins the May Queen on its south-western boundary, and is owned by Mr. T. A. Dunlop. For some time past the proprietor has made strenuous efforts for the introduction of English capital to develop the property, but this not being forthcoming, and as he has great faith in the value of the ground, he has determined to at once set to work to develop the same on his own account. With this object in view he has purchased a winding plant comprising a steam horizontal engine with a 20 inch cylinder and a three-feet stroke and massive flywheel; a Cornish boiler, six feet in diameter and twentyeight feet in length, with galloway tubes ; winding clutch gear, two drums eight feet in diameter with steel rope 1200 feet in length : and a pit head, or poppet frame, 60 feet in height, adapted for both pit work as well as for ordinary winding purposes. A contract has been let. for erecting the same on the western side of the shaft, which leaves the eastern side clear and available for pumping machinery. The contractors have now most all the material on the groand, and have made a start to erect the same, aud when completed it will be one of the largest and most efficient winding plants ever constructed 011 the field.

The Lone Hand Company have lately been testing the Manchester reef in the stopes above the low level, and a few days ago completed a crushing of 66 loads of quartz for a return of 31oz6dwt of gold. This is scarcely a payable result, but it is encouraging enough for warranting further testing of the reef, which is now being done. A party of tributers ■ in the same mine recently crushed 23 loads of quartz from the same reef a little to the west of the company's operations for a return of 250z 151wt of gold. In the Magnolia the new reef lately discovered on the Una Hill is now being opened up at a lower level, and a crushing from the same is now in progress. The Orlando Company are proceeding with their low level, and hopes are entertained that a payable run of gold will be dropped across a little further ahead from the present face. In the Fame and Fortune mine several parties of tributers are at work, two or three of which are doiug remarkably well. Since March 19 last the tributers have crushed altogether 248 loads of quartz for the very satisfactory yield of 7590z lldwt of gold. Most of this gold has been got from leaders ia the footwall of the Golden Age reef, but Mr. Cooper, manager of the mine, considers that the most promising prospects are on the hangingwall side of the same reef in the old Golden Cup section of the mine, which workings are now approaching the main Alburnia slide, and thus necessarily getting into the same channel of country in which so much gold has been found in this part of the field. At Tararu the Sylvia Gold and Silver Mining Company are pushing on with several mportant prospecting works in their mine,

and a few days ago what is believed to be continuation of the main reef was intersected on the western side of the break at No. 3 level, but as yet very little work has been done upon it. The extension of the new No. 4 level, which has been at a standstill for some time post, has also been recommenced. About a fortnight ago Dr. Seheidel banked 12230z of bullion, valued at £625. The Norfolk Company have connected their No. 3 level with Darow's old workings overhead by means of a rise 71 feet in height. The reef showed gold freely all the way np the rise, and there is every reason for believing the company have now got a valuable block opened up and ready for stoping. In the City of Dunedin mine the extension of the new level is being proceeded with, and colours of gold are seen in the quartz coming to hand. Good reports still continue to _ come to hand from the up-country districts. Of course the Waihi Gold and Silver Mining Company occupies the premier position, although the past month's return of bullion, which is valued at £3940, and is the result of the treatment of 1500 tons of ore, shows a slight decrease on the previous - month's return. This is partly attributed, however, to a good deal of time being lost at the battery through the breakage of one of the cam shafts, and also to an accident to the old tail race and the backing of the water through the rising of the river. Everything is now in good working order, and the full force of stampers are again being utilised. The new low level tunnel into the Martha section is now in a distance of 1000 feet, and another contract for driving 500 teet has just been let at lis lOd per foot. It is expected that the reef will be to hand before the termination of this contract. The quartz coming to hand from the big " blow" on the Martha Hill still continues to shape well, but that from the Union section is hardly as good as formerly, but a larger percentage of the bullion it contains is now being saved, which makes up considerably for the In the Silvertou mine the prospects continue about the same, there being little change to notice. The company's mill is now in full operation upon the quartz to hand, and is running very smoothly, but as yet no cleaning up has taken place, so that no public announcement has been made as to the value of the quartz being treated. At Karangahake, the Woodstock and Crown mines are still turning out quartz of a very remunerative grade, and the prospects in both mines are of an excellent character. The latter company have just received the following tenders for the erection of their new reduction works:Kelly and O'Brien, £3650; Moore, £3600 ; Brown, £3280 ; Moody and Co., £2975. The tramway leading from the mine to the new mill site is completed, and the contractor for the water race is making good headway with the erection of the fluming and the bridge across the Waitawheta -River, and a start has also been made. to lay down the concrete foundations for the new machinery. In the Talisman mine the reef operated upon assays for very good results, ana the proprietors are so satisfied with their prospects that they are now making arrangements for putting in a lower level. Prospecting is also proceeding in the Bonanza, Golden Treasure, and Grown Prince claims, with very fair results ; whilst in the Ivanhoe mine a party of tributers have sot out a twenty-ton parcel, which they anticipate will reward them remuneratively for the time occupied in breaking it out. At Komata the heavy rains experienced during the month have delayed the progress somewhat of the tramway connecting Mr. Russell's mine with his battery at Waitekauri, but most of the timber necessary has been cut, and the construction of hoppers and the steep grades on the upper parts of the tramway are now the principal works in hand, and are being proceeded with as rapidly as possible. The enlargements and alterations to the battery are also being attended to, and are progressing very satisfactorily. In Mr. Cooper's Jubilee mine at VVaitckauri very encouraging prospects are being obtained from Butler's reef, and a good supply of quartz is being won. The crushing plant has been working admirably, but until a few days ago it was employed on quartz stacked in the mill some time aeo, so that very little quartz has yet been treated from the present workings. The following is the amount of gold purchased by the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand during the month of July

oz dwfc Thames County 5,671 19 Ohinemuri 1,100 1 Piako 52 19 Thames Borough 626 15 7,451 14 Coromandel, Thursday. The past month has been very uneventful, and owing to the bad weather, very little quartz has been crushed, consequently there is a smaller return than usual. At the same time the outlook is a little better than it was. Kapanga.—There is no great change in this mine. Unfortunately there is not as much gold coming out as one could wish, but the manager is opening up new ground, and it is impossible to say what may be the result-. The starting of the big pump is now within measurable distance, aad I understand that the manager intends then both to sink and drive one of the present levels south a considerable distance, and as it is all virgin ground in this direction, _ there is a fairly good show that the mine will come to the front again ere long.

Blagrove's.—Work in this mine progresses very slowly, the manager being engaged in getting the new engine at work in the Kapanga, but as soon as that is accomplished, no doubt he will turn his attention to this mine, and as soon as the weather takes up, will bring the pumping engine on the ground.

Tokatea.— of the tributers appear to have done any good during the month. There have been two or three small lots crushed, but the yield has not been great. Royal Oak.—The tributers seem to be fairly well pleased with their block, and will be likely to have another good crushing shortly. Bismarck. —Good payable ore is coming to hand, but the silver lode spoken of in my last summary is not as good as expected. A very important sale or private property is taking place, ostensibly for mining purposes, and as gold has been got over the whole of it, it is very probable that some extensive operations will be inaugurated. The purchase is not yet complete, but a large deposit has been paid, and no doubt we shall hear more of it before long. Coromande£i Mint.—The manager is making good headway. Driving west from the bottom level the country is good, and although there is plenty of water there is no more than the engine can easily cope with. The manager is also driving to cut the Pah reef some distance beyond the old working, and in the course of a few weeks they ought to have a reef in hand.

CABBAGE bay. - Vizard and party are getting along with the fixing up of the battery. The weather has been very much against the work, but they hope to be starting shortly.

WHANGAFOUA. Owera.—The first lodgment of gold since the new battery started was made the other day. and amounted to the handsome return of 759 ounces gold. The mine looks well throughout, and is likely to yield a large tonnafre of good crushing material. The battery works well, and very evenly. It is a pity that there is not a little more prospecting in this neighbourhood, as it is hardly likely that the Owera claim has monopolised all the gold.

KUAOTUNU. Things are not looking so bad at all in this district, except for the weather, which has rendered the roads well-nigh impassable, and the people are turning themselves about to find a scapegoat. Of course, the County Council gets abused in no measured terms— some cases very unjustly. The Council has done their utmost, even to the detriment ol other districts, and when they cry out they mast take the same answer which Jove made to the waggoner — their own shoulders to the wheel. Mo doubt , bad roads are very trying, but we must grin and bear it as others have done before us.

Great Mercury.— mine is getting well opened up. They have almost an unlimited amount of crushing material in si(?ht from the various stopes and leaders. The Try Fluke reef alone would more than keep the battery going, and the most of it is payable ore, while the Red Mercury reef is very good indeed. There are several other reefs of large size, which also yield payable ore. Red Mercury.—The principal work in this mine is on the main reef, which is good throughout, and the levels have now been driven the full length of the reef. They have done very little on the Try Fluke reaf as yet, although it strikes right through the ground. Probably when they get their tram at work up to the battery they will deal with it then, as they would have no difficulty in keeping the battery going. Mariposa.— manager has nob been doing much of late, pending the fixing of the battery, but the lake wet weather has precluded any thought of moving the engine for some time. Try Fluke. —The battery has been re paired, and in full swing again, and in fact, it works better now than formerly. The mine is fully manned, and is turning out the ordinary class of ore.

[BV TJSLESRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT &.J Thames, Thursday. Shabkmarkbt. — Albarnia, sales 4s 3d, sellers 4s 3d; Cambria, sales Is 6d, sellers Is lOd; Hazelbank, sales 3d, 4s 6d, buyers 4s 3d; May Queen, sales 3s lid, sellers 4s, buyers 3s 9d; Moauataiari, sales 'ss, sellers 5s 6d, buyers, 5s ; Hew Fearnought, sales

3M; Saxon, sales Is 2d, buyers is 3d; victoria, sales la; Crown (Karangahake), Bales 3s. ''r . Hazel bank.—A portion of Darby's leader at the intermediate level was broken down to-day, when colours of gold were seen. , r The leader averages about nine inches thick, and is still encased by good sandstone country. _ Warden's Court— following applications were granted by Warden Northcroft, to-day:—E. Howse, Young Hopeful claim, Waiotahi; J. Redwood, Try Again,' Karaka Creek;' J. E. Banks, Flying Dutchman, Shellback Creek; and residence sites to P. 'Margaret Hogan.and E. L. Gallagher, all at VVaihi. Protection for three months was granted to C. Waite for Calliope Extended Licensed Holding, and A. R. S. Thorbnrn for Nordenfeldt claim, Shellback Creek ; and two. months' was granted C. Stevens for sluicing claim, Tapu ; whilst an occupation license of 100 acres at Waitekauri was granted to Chappell with certain restrictions. A complaint lodged against the proprietors of the Coliban claim, Moanataiari Creek, for non-working was dismissed with a fine of Is without costs, and a similar plaint against the Adeline Amalgamated Gold Mining Company, Karangahake, was dismissed. A number of other applications were adjourned and several refused. Alburnia. — Operations in the western drive at the Whan level during the week were wholly confined to stopping the reef until to-day when a start was to break down the stripped portion. The first hole into the reef was being bored at the time of my visit so that I saw none of the quartz broken, but the reef showed a thickness of about four feet, and the mineral vein on the hangingwall appeared to be still continuing and about nine inches in thickness. The country in the " dig" still continues a firm class of sandstone with a vein of quartz striking through it towards the reef. The leading stope is forward to where the reef was last broken in the drive, and a second one is now uuderway from the point where the break crosses it. At this point the reef is about 15 inches thick with the mineral more generally disseminated through the quartz, and colours of gold are seen pretty freely. Nothing has been done in the eastern drive this week, the men generally employed at this point being engaged in looking after the company's crushing. There is no sign of the Sons of Freedom reef at the battery level yet, but a good class of sandstone is being penetrated. The company's crushing is not yet completed, and it is doubtful whether the gold will be banked before Saturday. Mr. Radford intends proceeding at once with th? preliminary works in connection with the opening up of Dixon's reef at the 70 feet level.

Moanataiari. —The quartz coming to hand from the intermediate workings upon the Golden A<re reef below the 100 leet level, has shown colours of gold pretty freely during the past week, and a little "picked stone has also been obtained. Until a few days ago only the haugingwall portion was being worked, but the extension of the workings has resulted in the finding of the main footwall portion as well, consequently the supply of quartz from this point has been considerably augmented. It is estimated that there are quite GO feet of backs upon the underlie of the reef to the floor of the western drive upon the same body at the 100feet level, and a good deal or gold was seen when the drive was opened up. It is expected that the present block will turn out to be a most remunerative one. The winze upon the vertical leader below the floor of No. 2 cross-cut' at the 100-feet level is down a depth of 12 feet, but very little gold has been seen so far. There is no change in the stope3 upon the Golden Age reef above the level, but at the Point Russell level preparations are still in progress for stopiug the reef above the eastern drive by carrying along a short stope previous to timbering the drive. Agocd class of quartz is still coming to hand from the stopes on the cross reef, and several pounds of picked stone have been obtained during the last day or two. The other workings are without change. The usual fortnightly retorting will probably take place on Monday next.

MINE MANAGER'S REPORTS. Magnolia.—The drive seaward on No. 2 reef was extended during the week 8 feet, making a total of 24 feet. The reef is about three feet in thickness, and I saw a few colours ot cold in it. The drive hillward on No. 2 reef was extended 6 feet during the week, and the leef is about 18 inches in thickness. No. 1 level, or surface level: The drive was extended 6 feet during the week. The reef is fully 3 feet in thickness, and I saw a few colours of gold in it to-day. I have got from 25 to 30 loads of quartz, and I shall start crushing on Tuesday, the 9th instant.