THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8982, 13 September 1892, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[by telegraph.— own correspondent.] Thames, Monday. Sharkmarket.—There has been an active demand here to-day for Alburnia shares, caused through the improved prospects at the mine, consequently a large business has been done in that stock, the lowest sale being quoted at 7s JOd, but shortly afterwards sales were effected at 9s, and the latest sales of this evening, which took place after the issue of the seven o'clock list were at 9s. Other stocks were but little in demand to-day. The list issued at seven o'clock this evening was as follows:— Alburnia, sales 7s lOd, 9s, 8s 6d, 9s, 8s 6d, 8s 3d, 7a lid, 9s, 8s sd, 8s Bd, sellers 9s, buyers 8s ; Cambria, sellers 2s ; Calliope, sellers 9d, buyers 7d ; Hazelbank, sales 4s 6d, buyers 4s 6d ; May Queen, buyers 4s ; Moanataiari, sellers 6s 8d ; Orlando, lOd, sellers Is, buyers lOd ; Victoria, sellers lOd. Hazelbank.—Crushing with ton head of stampers was commenced on behalf of this company at the Moanataiari battery to-day. May Queen.—Driving upon No. 4 reef at No. 3 level has been commenced, and it is intended to keep three shifts steadily employed in the future in carrying cut this work.

Cambria. — This company's monthly cleaning up took place to-day, and resulted in the excellent return of 1990z lOdwt melted gold being obtained, for which 158 loads general dirt and 401b picked stoue were treated.

Albuunia.—The prospects of this mine have bean greatly enhanced by the discovery of a small leader on the hangingwall side of Dixon's reef in the western drive at tho Whau level. This leader was meet with early on Saturday morning when breaking down a portion of the main reef, and it was from it the picked stone reported on Saturday was obtained near the point where ib functioned with the main body. So far v.jry little work has been done upon it, but so far as can be seen it is running nearly at right angles to Dixon's reef, and is about four inches in thickness. The quartz is of a lighter appearance to that of which the larger body is composed, and carries excellent mineral indications, and a good deal of silver, whilst gold of a rather coarse nature exists so far as the leader is yet exposed pretty freely. Mr. Radford is of opinion that it is a dropper from Christie's leader, which body is a parallel body of quartz to Dixon's reef, and is distant about 120 feet, and he thinks it traverses the country between the two leaders, so that in that case there will be plenty of room for finding a good deal of gold. The leader lies pretty flat, about 3 feet in 1, and is encased by excellent sandstone country. There is an excellent show of gold now visible in the leader, and as a breaking down will probably take place to-morrow some time, there is every likelihood of a parcel of picked stone being obtained. Dixon's reef is also looking very well, and there are now four or five feet stripped ready to be broken down. There is now a considerable supply of quartz on hand, and a start is to be made to-morrow morning to send it down to the battery.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Owera (Whangapoua). — Stoning operations have been continued at No. 2 and intermediate levels, with the usual average quality of ore. No. 2 level : The leading stope south from winze has been carried in 20 feet; reef two to four feet wide; prospects good. Second stope just commenced ; prospects from the hangingwall very good ; reef two feet wide. No. 2 winze, being sunk to No. 3 level, is down -IS feet; prospects moderate ; reef large, and looks well. The intermediate level lias been extended 20 feet north and five feet south, making the total distance driven on the reef at this level 117 feet. The reef varies from one to four feet in width, and gives good prospects the whole distance driven. The battery was cleaned up to-day for a return of SG4OZ 7dwt of gold from 300 tons of ore. The battery, waterraces, and tramway are all in good repair and working well. NORFOLK.— battery has been crushing during the past week with 14 head of stampers, as we did not want to stop to fix the new belt. The amalgam for the week, 710,z, and the total since we started, 108oz Odwts Ggrs. The total number of loads crushed, 110. On Monday morniug we will start 16 head of stampers, and as we hope to have a good steady run for the week, I expect to increase our yield of amalgam.. We have not been crushing full time, as we had several stoppages to fix water pipe, as some chips from the roof prevented the full supply going on the tables ; also the number of stamps we have been running has varied from 13 to 10, as we did not wish to carry away the old belt. We hope to have a satisfactory yield when we retort on next Monday fortnight. Junction.The drive along the course of the reef has been extended ten feet during the week. The reef is about tighteen inches in thickness, and is more defined than it has been. A more favourable class of country was met with during the last few days, and I hope the change will have a good effect on the reef. The quartz that was stripped during the early part of the week was broken down on Friday. The stone is of a kindly description, and is heavily mineralised. Great Mercury (Kuaotuuu).— level. Try Fluke reef: The formation in the south drive is 8 feet wide; 60 per cent, of this is crushing dirt. The winze on this level is down 19 feet, the reef is 9 feet wide, all milling dirt. The stones in this level are looking well. Intermediate level: The drive north is extended 30 feet. The reef at present face is 4 feet wide, all crushing dirt. Red Mercury reef: Kastern and western branches are giving a f.u.- supply of quartz to the battery. Battery : The battery has only been working 19-J days for the month, crushing 228 tons of ore lor a return of 3230z 13dwt of retorted gold. I have had to shut down three times during the month for the want of fuel. The roads are in such a deplorable state it is impossible to get fuel brought over them, I have shut down again to day. Try Fluke (Kuaotunu).— the intermediate level south drive we have risen up about 11 feet, and started the leading stopes both north and south. The lode varies in size from 9 to 18 inches through, and continues to give fair prospects. North drive : The first and second stopes are in progress. The lode in the second stope has been very much split and intermixed with country rock, but a decided improvement in its size and quality has taken place during the last two days. At No. 2 level I have three stopes working in the south block. There is no change worthy of mention since last report. The lode is about the same in size and quality. In the north block we are putting up 'a. rise to the surface level, and from present appearances I expect to get a quantity of payable ore from this block of ground. No. 3 level south : Stoning on the main reef is being carried on. The lode from wall to wall is about six feet through. The gold is mostly confined to the footwall portion of the lode, and requires selecting. North from the main winze we have three stopes at work. The lode is from four to ten feet through,, and requires careful selecting, as the payable portions runs in bands. We are, however, getting a quantity of ore from this part of the mine. The drive on the No. 2 reef has been extended about five feet this week. The prospects are about the same as when last reported. I shall, however, expect an improvement when the drive is extended north from the horse which has somewhat disturbed the lode. I called tenders for the crosscut east at No. 3 level. The tenders varied from 12s to lGs per foot. I accepted the one at 12s. This crosscut will be a continuation of our No. 3 low level, bearing off a little to the north, so as to intersect any reef or leaders that may be running parallel with our present workings. I fully , expect wo shall discover other lodes in this direction. The first contract is for 50 feet. I have on hand up to date G9.">oz of amalgam and 40oz 15dwt of retorted gold from tailings, j etc. We shall clean up and retort at the ' end of next week.

Eminence.—l holed through to telegraph winze on last Thursday, and since then I have been busy cleaning out the debris which came down into the level from the winze and old workings. This work will be completed within a conple of days. I will then clean out, repair and fix a travelling road in the rise. Owing to the quantity of water coining down the rise I have not broken any quartz since my last. The reef in the drive west of crosscut has been stripped for a length of seven feet. An improvement in the class of country has taken place here within the past few days. I have been compelled to suspend operations here until I get the level cleaned up again.

Citv of Dunedin.—Work is being carried on in pushing ahead the main drive westward. The greater portion of the stone broken from the reef lias been taken from the footwall, and as it has been brought to the surface, dabs and strong colours of gold are seen in the quartz. A large amount of rodinite is coming in on the footwall side, and yet nothing much shows on the outside of the stone, but when broken shows gold freely. During the latter part of the week I have taken down the haugingwall portion, which, to say the least, is a perfect wonder; gold well distributed through the heart of

the rodinite stone. Itance driven during the week is about f oi*et, and old is showing, near floor of drfu-H along the £ e ' / am of opinion that tf>re that I am breaking outwill excel an|»ing that has heretofore been got both irfiantity and quality of the old City of Duntfi's golden days. New Moan ATAiA*-The result of the past week's operations irfe mine produced but very little picked sjfe, only some 15 or 20 pounds of an quality being obtained. The general ore, hoover, continues of a fair quality, but the okit lias just been sufficient to keep 25 lamps dropping. The workings above trantermediate level show no material changiince last week, neither can I report anythi fresh from the stopes above the 100 feet .The leading stope east above the Point Rulll level on the footw all or friable band of hrtz has been carried along over the poinwiere the picked stone was got in the level.*.!though gold has been freely seen well drib.ited through the stone, only a few ports of picked stone were got. Directly over la point where the good stone came from in A drive the reef does not look quite so welbeing more mu"ocky and not so well defini but as there has been none of the solid forition of stone taken down yet, it is justjpssible that the gold will make in it going lwards. The timbering of the level is novw a forward state, so that more of the ml will be put on the quartz in a few day* A nice leader about three inches thick waaissed through in the Inverness crosscut frV main tunnel. No gold was seen, but the |ne looks well, and is certain to contaiulold when further opened up. Amalgam 1 the week, 210oz. Hazelbank.— iilrmediate level on Darby's lead has been (fended a distance of 10 feet this week. Trireef is now more defined than it lias bet for some distance back. It is about 15 incfc in thickness, and looks very promising, attaining a considerable quantity of niineruilso gold has been freely seen in the quartan breaking it out. The country is now all til could be desired. At the No. 2 intermedial an improvement on the cross reef has takeiilace. Colours of gold are seen in the quiz, and a few nice nieces of picked stone we obtained from here on Wednesday. Thlcountry is more settled in the face thane has been since driving was resumed. Tljbrosseut at No. 1 level, that is being put in tlntersect Kelly's, has been cleaned out, il a few sets of timber put in where it waiequired, driving being again commenced feterday. There is little change in the spes above No. 1 level. In the fifth stope tire is a considerable quantity of crushing or. A width of four feet is being taken (£, which is composed of small veins and singers of quartz, in which gold is frequentljteen, and should be of a remunerative charai>r. In the third and fourth stopes the reef i small, but gold is seen every time it is brokji down. Crushing will be commenced atjhe Moanataiari battery on Monday, as tire are over 50 loads of quartz in the honors, and with what will Be broken out, itpill take nearly up to the end of the mom to complete it. P.S. : Since writing my repot lOlbs of picked stone have been obtained pom the intermediate on Darby's. J . Nkw Alburnia.—l wire! you this morning2olb of picked stone. 'Sis stone is from a leader which we have njseen before. I think it is a dropper from L'iristie's specimen leader. It is about four iaches wide, and looks well at present. I Link it is a find of some importance, if it cntihues as at present. Will start to cruslurettbout Tuesday, as my hoppers are full. Fit. have about 30 loads, or perhaps a little ipri.