THE GOLD FIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8987, 19 September 1892, Page 6

THE GOLD FIELDS.

[FROM OCR OWN correspondent.] Thames, Saturday. Alburnia.—Mr. Radford intends to start driving on Monday next upon the new hangingwall leader in the western drive upon Dixon's reef, a sufficient distance having been driven upon the latter body past the junction to allow of the new drive being undertaken. Mr. Radford informs me that the crushing now in progress is shaping very well, and he expects to bank the return either on Tuesday or Wednesday next. Saxon.—The crosscut at No. 4 level towards the new reef on the western side of No. 2 break is in a distance of about 40 feet, and is passing through a fine class of sandstone country. The stopes upon the new reef above No. 3 level on the western side of the break have been manned continuously throughout the week, and during the last day or two there has been a considerable improvement in the quality of the quartz broken, gold having been seen pretty freely. A little gold has also been seen in the quartz coming to hand from the stopes upon No. 2 reef above No. 4 level. There are now about. 70 loads of quartz on hand, and Mr. Crawford had some idea of crushing it next week, but it is now probable that he will wait a few days longer, owing to the improvement in the new reef above No. 3 level. Sylvia. — Several of this company's directors—namely, Captain Colbeck, Mr. S. T. George, Mr. J. Macfarlane, Dr. Scheidel, and Mr. E. McDonnellpaid a visit of inspection to the mine and reduction plant this morning, and, amongst other things, decided to accelerate the extension of their new No. 4 level by putting on another shift, so that in future three shifts will be employed at this level instead of two. The directors were accompanied by Captain Burton, of the s.s. Rangatira, now lying in Auckland harbour, and Mr. Mahoney, architect, of Auckland, and both of these gentlemen : displayed great interest in the company's j reduction plant, it being the first of its : kind they had ever seen. May Queen*. —Judging from the prospects met with so far in the development of No. 3 level, there appears to be every pro I bability of a valuable block of ground being opened up shortly in the vicinity of the Queen of May shaft, which will be an altother new feature to what occurred at the Nos. 1 and 2 levels. During the week three shifts have been employed in extending the drive ahead from the bottom of the winze sunk below No. 2 level, and so far as can now be seen it would appear that there are three reefs to deal with instead of one. What is known as the footwall portion is about seven inches in thickness, and is running a course a little north of east. Then there is what ha* been called the hanging wall portion, which is about a foot thick, running a little south of east, and inside of this again another rib of quartz is branching off from the footwall portion. As yet, however, very little can be said about either of them, for it is just possible they may come round and join one another and form one strong reef a little distance further ahead. About ten feet of the footwall portion was broken down to-day, when colours and dabs of gold were seen pretty freely in the quartz, especially at the points where the other portions branched off. A splendid class of. sandstone country prevails, and there appears to be every prospect of the qaartz being of a very remunerative character. [BY TELEGRAPH.— own CORRESPONDENTS.] Thames, Saturday. Skaremarkkt. — Alburnia, sales 7a 6d, sellers 8s fid, buyers 7s 9d ; Cambria, sellers 23 ; Calliope, buyers 5d 5 Hazelbank, sales 4=, sellers 4s ; May Queen, sellers 4s lOd, buyers 4s 6d ; Magnolia, sellers 6d ; Moanataiari, sellers 6s 9d ; Wiiihi, sellers 14s 6d, buyers 13s. Magnolia.—This company's crushing of 20 loads was completed to-day for 7oz of gold. Piicsnix.—This company have decided to commence operations in their mine on Monday next, and have appointed Mr. A. Thomas, late manager of the Alburnia mine, to the management of the same. It has been decided not to work from the Sons of Freedom level for the present, but to commence a tunnel from the Tinker's Gully side, with the object of intersecting and testing several reefs which outcrop on the surface. Pakroa, Saturday. Imperial (Karangahake).—Mr. Clementcleaned up three ton for 15oz 12dwt. Mr. Corbett, of the Silverton, proceeds to town to-day. It is expected that his conference with the directors will lead to either dry crushing being substituted for wet, or the cyanogen process being used. Try Fluke. — The mine manager telegraphed on Saturday :—" Three hundred and twenty ounces retorted gold from 520 tons ore." May Queen.—The mine manager wired on Saturday:—"Broke down footwall reef, showing strong colours and dabs of gold, No. 3 level No. 4 reef." Phoinix.—Mr. Archibald Thomas has been appointed mine manager, and his recommendation has been adopted to commence a drive in virgin ground at the lowest available level north, in the belt of auriferous country to terminate at the Alburnia boundary. Thus every leader and reef will be intersected at right angles. It has been decided to execute i the work with wages men under Mr. Thomas, who knows every inch of the ground, and where to expect gold in the line of the j Alburnia gold. He is sanguine that no long time will elapse before gold will be got in the l direction above indicated. [BY TKLEORAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.! Reefton, Saturday. Gold returns for the week : Alpine, 381oz amalgam from 400 tons ; Globe, 184oz amalgam from 190 tons ; No. 2 Dark, 1450z amalgam from 62 tons ; Big River, 184oz amalgam from 106 tons ; Progress, 3320z amalgam from 120 tons.