THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8964, 23 August 1892, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Monday. Skarrmarkbt.—-Alburnia, J sales is 7d, sellers 4s 9d, buyers 4s 6d ; Cambria, sellers is JOd, buyers is 7d; Hazelbank, sales 4s 7d, sellers 4s 9d, buyers 4s 6d ; Moanataiari, sellers 7s, buyers 6s 9d ; Orlando, sales 6d, sellers 7d ; Saxon, sales Is fld, sellers Is 8d ; Victoria, sellers Is. May Queen.The addition to the flanges of the winding drums were completed late this afternoon, and as steam was up at the time the safety cage was lowered and raised again in the shaft, but darkness Prevented anything further being done. To-morrow, however, Mr. Hicks intends impacting the winding ropes and testing them, ana also hopes to complete all other preliminaries previous to commencing winding operations. Hazklbank.— return from the crushing will be banked to-morrow morning, and will be a highly remunerative one. There is nothing fresh in the mine, no quartz having been broken for the last day or two on account of the winding operations being at a standstill for the annual boiler inspection. A breaking down of Darby's leader at the intermediate level will probably take place on Wednesday, by which time a length of several feet will be stripped. Victoria G.M. Co.—We understand that an arrangement has been made with the directors of the Saxon Gold Mining Company for the use of their battery for the purpose of crushing a supply of stuff from the Tookey Hill. A shareholder in the Victoria writes to us on the subject complaining that no notice of the arrangement had been given through the public press, but we learn that all the details have not yet been finally settled. It is stated that the Saxon company undertake to keep the battery in order on condition that the Victoria company divide the profits of the crushing with them. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Sylvia.—Since my last the contractors driving crosscut in No. 3 level have driven 15 feet, making in all 41 feet. The country is composed of tight sandstone of a favourable description, with a heavy flow of water coming from the face. There are also two men driving the main level on the reef which was intersected in the crosscut. They have driven eight feet for the week. The reef continues small._ There seems to be a favourable change coining in the face. No. 2 level: The stopes in this level continue to produce ore of a payable grade. The two men working in Taylor's level are making fair progress with the drive; No. 4 level: There is no change in the class of country in this level. It has been extended nine feet for the week. The contractors driving on Nelson reef in Ohio Creek have driven 25 feet for the week. The reef will average 15 inches. The reef formation has been mixed with clay for the last 15 feet, but is now making into solid quartz of a eood description. Mariposa (Knaotunu). —Having got the shoot half-way up the winze, we commenced yesterday to open out, and so far the prospects are very good. Ihe stopes at bottom of winze have proved to be of good payable ore. I have also this week shifted the forge, and have now got the. tram from underground direct to top hopper, doing away with flstsheet.

llazklbank.—Very good progress nas been made with the drive at the intermediate level on Darby's lead during the week. A soft head in the country has been passed through, inside of this the ground la of a softer nature than it has been, and would be disappointed if picked stone is not obtained here next breaking down. The lead is about 15 inches in thickness in the back of the drive and contains a considerable amount of mineral ; also, colours of gold have been freely seen in the quartz. Six loads from hero are now going through the battery, which is shaping on the plates for about one and a-half ounces to tho load. In the second stope on Darby's, above No. 1 level, the lead is about a foot thick, the quartz being of a rusty nature makes it difficult to see gold. It carrien a large _ amount of silica in which the precious metal is frequently seen. The lode in the third stope has averaged 15 inches in thickness, and continues to look well going up; tiOlb of picked stone was obtained from this stope as per wires, gold being freely distributed through the general dirt. There are about three feet of crushing dirt in the fourth stope, in which gold has been frequently seen, the quartz being of a payable character. There is very little change in the ho. 2 intermediate level since I wrote to you in the beginning of the week. Crushing is proceeding, and is showing up for a good return ; 5'250z of amalgam have been obtained from the specimens, and 4740z from the general dirt. The headings and tailings from the general dirt will not be through the berdaus before Monday ; will retort on Tuesday. The engine will be stopped for two days for the inspection of the boiler; expect to be in a position to resume winding on Wednesday. New Moaxataiari.—The lower or bottom stone on the main footwall portion of th« Golden Age reef above the intermediate level has now reached the break and cross lode. At the point of intersection, which is rather below the Golden floor, the quartz is ot a very dark and flinty nature, being intermixed with the country. On the back of this stope, however, there is a much kindlier class of stone, so that in all probability the quartz in the next stope will be of a much better quality, but little gold has been seen here for the past week, consequently the ore has been of low grade. , The stopes above the 100 feet level are looking much the same, gold being occasionally seen, but of late there has been little picked stone got. On this same reef at the Point Russell level there a marked improvement has taken place since last week. On cutting into the footwall (preparatory to timbering the level) at the point where the break and cross lode passes through the reef, several rubbly ribs of stone were discovered, and from one of these (which is about a foot in thickness) 701b of picked stone was obtained. The section of the reef which contains the gold lies between the cross lode and the main break, and as the V-shaped piece of ground will lengthen upwards, there is every reason to believe that the golden run of quartz will do so also. From the nature of the quartz and the surrounding country formation here it appears that it is the matching piece of that worked on on the western side of the break and cross lode at and a little above the 100 feet level. From the other workings on and above this level I have little fresh to report. There are now two shifts encaged in the Inverness crosscut, so that much more rapid progress is being effected. The general quartz for the past week has been of rather low grade, '200 tons only having yielded 1520z of amalgam. Picked stone, as wired, 70lb. Red Mercury (Kuaotunu). — The contractors have started driving the east branch, but the reef is a good deal split up at present, but I expect to see it get more defined as we get away from the junction. The reef is still keeping a good size in the intermediate level, fully three feet, and shaping fairly well at the battery. The reef in the south main drive still maintaiua its usual size, about 18 inches, with much the same prospect. The stopes are all turning out a good amount of payable ore, in fact, the mine never looked so well us now, and I have any quantity of quartz for the battery. I have 1550z of amalgam from about 50 tons crushed for the week.

Great Mercdky (Kuaotunu). — Main level: The drive south on Try Fluke reef has been extended a total distance from Flat Sheet of 165 feet. The formation at present face is eight feet wide, carrying a little gold evenly disseminated throughout the formation. 'Jhe leading stope prospects fair in gold. This level ha# been securely timbered, and the chamber cut out for winze, and sinking commenced with two men. The quartz in the winze is looking more compact. By appearances I am inclined to think the reef will be more compact and richer in gold as depth is attained. Intermediate level: The drive north is in 12J feet from Flat Sheet. The reef is 3jj feet wide and prospects fair in gold. The south drive is standing at present, as I will be able to take all this ground out from bottom level. We have five chains to drive north at this place before reaching the Irene ground. The last crushing taken from that claim went 19dwt per ton by the old process. . Red Mercury reef, eastern branch: The stones are looking well this week. There are 40 feet of stoping height and 200 feet in length ; this means a large block of ground to be worked out on this level. I have opened this reef on the boundary line of the Golden Gate ground; this will give us 300 feet of backs up to the present level, and 700 feet in length to the Red Mercury boundary. Where opened the stone prospects very well. To work this block I will require to haul the quartz up the hill 300 feet to the present tramline, which is 400 yards in length, and then lower it down to the battery. This means a lot of extra expense, but if it has to be done there will be no difficulty in fixing up an aerial tram to do so. Western branch, Red Mercury reef: The drive south is in 160 feet. The reef at present face is seven inches wide. The ore is very good at face, and the quartz is bigger in the stopes. Battery; The battery has been working five days foe the week. I had to repair the dam as the water was leaking out all round the bottom; the last flood washed part of the embankment away, causing the leakage. Everything is working well at present '

Try Fluke (Kuaoturiu).—During the week the drives north and south at the intermediate on the No. 2 lode htjre each been extended about 10 feet. * The lode varies m size from one to two feet, and is all being sent to the mill. At No. 2 level the north and south stopes are being worked, and are producing about. the usual quantity of ore. At No. 3 level south block we are taking along three Btopes. The reef here is from two to three feet through. The footwall portion gives fairly good prospects, and the lode is improving »3 the atopes are extended north. We are also taking on the leading stope on the main reef in the north drive. The lode in the end of the drive is much smaller than it usually is, but will no doubt open out again when the drive is extended. The gold here is . mostly confined to the hangingwall portion of the lode. We have also resumed stoping from the main winze on the No. 1 or main reef, which is fully eight feet through. The ore on the hanging and footwall gives good prospects. We have not crushed any ore from here this week, but shall commence sending down from here next week. The battery is working well. I have on hand from the plates 3220z of amalgam. Mat Qoeen.-— shaft and chamber mentioned in my last are now in readiness for a start, and as far as can be seen all are in good working , order. Price Brothers are busy putting on the flanges to the drums, and appear to be in a forward state, and if everything goes well, steam will be got up some time on Monday. The contractor w hdrew all his men on Monday evening last, and has since kept on one carpenter and his help to finish up odd jobs. [by telegraph.— association.] Dunedin, Monday. The following returns are reported:— Six-mile Beach Co., 450z Bdwb amalgam ; Jutland Flat, 220z ldwt gold ; Upper Waipori Co., 360z 6dwb 21gr.