THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9027, 4 November 1892, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

MONTHLY SUMMARY. , [from our own correspondents.} ' Thames, Thursday. The past month has been characterised by a general improvement in the Upper Country districts, both as regards the prospects in many of the mines which have been in operation for a considerable time past, and also in connection with a new discovery about midway between Marototo and Waitekauri, but locally nothing has transpired to excite much attention. The question of sending out prospecting parties to test the back country district formed a subject of debate atfa recent meeting of the local .Miners' Union, and as a result a committee was appointed to draw up a report on the subject with the view of submitting the same at another meeting to be held shortly. That it is necessary something should be done in this direction is beyond dispute, therefore it is to be hoped that some tangible results will accrue from the steps already taken. One of the most important features of the month has been the intersection of the big Martha reef at the new main adit level in the Waihi Gold and Silver Mining Company's mine. .This has been a work of considerable magnitude, the total distance driven to reach the reef being about 1500 feet, but the results met with as regards the value of the quartz broken up to the present have fully realised expectations, and in a very short time hence a large supply of valuable ore will be available from this part of the company's property. The reef has been intersected on its hangingwall side, and the work of penetrating it to the footwall side is now being proceeded with as rapidly as circumstances will permit. Up to date the reef has been cut into a distance of about 20 feet, and assays made daily from th quartz broken have given an average value of loz Bdwt of gold per ton, which is considered very satisfactory indeed, for the richest portion of the reef has always been found on the footwall side in the upper workings. The point of intersection is 150 feet from the "blow, which is the richest portion of the Martha lode. What its thickness will prove to be at this point it is difficult to state, but it is generally supposed to be about 40 feet, and when it is taken into consideration that the length available upon the line of reef is more than 2000 feet, with an average height of 54 feet of backs, it will be seen that the company is possessed of a block of ground which is likely to last them for several years to come, and one which will no doubt yield them handsome dividends. Operations in the other parts of the mine are being proceeded with as usual, and the results obtained are of a most profitable character. During; the four weeks ending with the 22nd of October 1461 tons of quartz were treated for a return of bullion valued at £3216, the quartz treated being obtained from the Martha and Union reefs. The average number of stampers employed during this period was 53 head, all of which were used on the dry crushing principle, the wet crushing having been disposed of altogether. In the Union section of the mine a start has been made to open up No. 2 level from the pumping shaft. The distance required to be driven to reach the Union reef is about 300 feet, about one-third of which is already accomplished. This work is in the hands of contractors, who have undertaken to drive the distance for 8s per foot. So far an excellent class of sandstone country has been passed through, and if it continues up to the reef, the latter should be to hand within the next two months. In the Silverton mine all work has been at a standstill for several weeks past, awaiting the treatment of some of the large tonnage of quartz that was already in the paddocks, but operations are to be recommenced again at once. At the battery a larger measure of success has attended the treatment of the company's quartz than was the case with the first crushing. This is owing to a better knowledge of the capabilities of the machinery, and also to the latter working more smoothly than in the first instance. During the month a cleaning-up took place after treating 130 tons of quartz, with the result that 119oz of bullion were obtained. In the adjoining mine—the Gladstone— shaft has been sunk to a depth of 40 feet near the boundary of the two mines, and a crosscut is now being driven from both sides of the shaft with the object of intersecting the continuation of the Silverton reef. The new discovery alluded to above was made in the Waitekauri district about the middle of last month by those indefatigable prospectors the Lowrie Brothers. So far as can be gathered, the locality of the find is situated about three miles up one of the main branches of the Waitekauri River, above Mr. T. H. Russell's battery, and it is just possible that it may be the north-eastern continuation of the Waitekauri line of reefs, it being almost iu a straight line of the same. The Lowrie Brothers have been prospecting in this locality for about twelve months past, and have at last succeeded in dropping across what is believed to be a valuable reef some 10 or 12 feet in thickness, in which gold has been traced for a length of about 12 chains. The quartz is of a, brownish hue, and carries blue sulphide streaks, and is very similar in appearance to the quartz obtainable at Waitekauri. Since the reef was discovered 10 claims of 30 acres each have been pegged out on its supposed course, but as yet no work has been dene upon it, with the exception of exposing its outcrop a little more fully at several points. At present the prospectors are engaged ia cutting a bridle track from Marototo to tie scene of the find, in order to get stores, etc., up to the Elace, so that it will likely be some time yet efore much can be done on the reef. At Komata Mr. T. H. Russell lias a number of miners employed in driving a low level and in stoping on the reef, which varies from 8 to 10 feet in thickness at the upper level. So far very encouraging results have been met with, and as the opening-up works proceed the reef maintains its quality. Early in the month a trial crushing of about 550 tons was treated at Mr. Russell's battery at Waitekauri for a return of 1400oz of bullion, which was considered very satisfactory. Crushing is still proceeding at tie battery, where all the machinery is working admirably, the wet crushing being the process in vogue. At Karangahake the prospects in the Crown mine continue to be very good, but the contractors for the erection of the new crushing plant met with a little misfortune during the month, through a portion of the new building being damaged by a severe gale. They are now busily engaged in repairing this injury, and are also making very good headway with their contract. In the Woodstock mine a good class of both free milling and refractory ore is coming to hand from No. 3 lode, and a contract has just been let for driving on the course of the Maria reef. A crushing of the free milling ore is no*(v under course of treatment. The other mines of the district are without change. At Owharoa an Auckland syndicate, who have acquired the old Smile of Fortune and Radical mines, are overhauling the old Smile of Fortune battery and putting it in repair, in order to test the quartz that they are now breaking out from a new low level recently opened up. They have about 200 tons of quartz already on hand, aud the battery is expected to be ready to treat it in about three weeks hence.

The Thames mines have developed no new finds or new reefs during the month, but the operations conducted in most of them have resulted in a fair measure of success. The Moanataiari have crushed 1157 tons of quartz for 4330z 4dwts of gold; the Cambria 179 loads for 186oz; the Hazelbank 89 loads tor 2280z; and the Alburnia 37 loads for 60oz wts. The latter company have commenced their new crosscut at the 70 feet level towards Dixon's reef, and expect to complete it in about two months, the distance required to be driven to reach the reef being about 150 feet. The May Queen Company is pushing ahead its new No. 3 level from the Queen of May shaft, and expect soon to be up to the payable run of gold making down from the No. 2 level. In Crawford's miue operations are being carried out with the view of systematically opening up the mine at both the upper and lower levels, and gold is seen pretty freely in the reef at the former point. A new company is just being formed to take over this property. The new winding plant has been completed on the Queen of Beauty mine, and Mr. Dunlop has put on a staff of men to thoroughly overhaul and repair the shaft before commencing operations in the mine at Nos. 3 and 4 levels. Some of the other mines are proceeding with important prospecting works, and in several instances there is a very good show of something good being eventually found. In the Norfolk mine, at Tararu, there has been a great improvement of late in the reef operated upon at No. 3 level. This has opened out to about 12 feet in thickness, and all of it is saved for crushing. The reef, however, carries a large percentage of galena ore, which the ordinary battery process is unable to cope with successfully, and in order to overcome this difficulty the directors have arranged for the erection of one of the Luhrig German concentration plants at their battery, the patent rights of which are held by the Ore Dressing and Gold Extraction Company of London, whose representative, Mr. G. S. Pitcairn, is at present on a visit to this district. In the Sylvia mine a sufficient supply of quartz is coming to hand from the upper workings to keep the company's concentration plant going eight hours per diem, but the search for the western continuation of their main reef at No. 3 level has not yet been attended with success. Very fair progress is being made with the extension of the new No, i level, -:- - "■;'■. = ",,,.■ .'iA*&

The following is the return of gold, And bullion purchased by the banks in each mining centre of the Hauraki district for the quarter ending September 30 :—:. oz dwt gt Thames Borough - - 2,628 3 0 Thames County ' - „ 9,007 1 0 Ohinomuri County _ .. 2,226 12 12 Coromandel County - 3,767 2 0. Piako County, - „ 191 7 0 .Total' „ .. .. 17,823 512 The above. return does not include the Waihi Company's yield of bullion during the same period, which was valued at £12,074. Neither doe 1 ) it include the bullion obtained from Mr. Russell's mine at Komata, which was banked a few days ago, but has not yet been made public. It should be mentioned however that included in the return for the Thames County are 35930z bullion from the Sylvia mine, Tararu Creek, valued at £2025; but even after deducting this amount, the quarter's re-urn show an increase of 16280z on the return for June quarter, which amounted to 12,6020z. Coromandel, Thursday. Kapanga.—The big pump is working very satisfactorily, and of course there is now no difficulty with the water sinking. The main shaft is progressing steadily, and if all goes well, we shall soon have the honour of having the deepest shaft in the colony, and I expect to be able to say payable gold at the deepest level too. The indications so far are very favourable," and gold got at this depth in payable quantities would open up a new era in this district. I am sorry to say work in the upper levels is not so satisfactory, very little gold being got, although a large amount of prospecting has been done, but I should be glad to see the main levels extended farther north and south, especially south, and I see nothing to hinder as rich shoots of the gold being got as ever, and the ground is nearly intact at both ends. On any other goldneld this would have been tried years ago. Coromandeli Mint.—Unfortunately this mine came to grief last week by breaking into the old workings of the Pah. The men below at the time had a most miraculous escape from drowning—in fact, how they did get out is a mystery, but it goes to show the urgent necessity of plans of all underground workings (below water level) being made and recorded; then an accident of this nature would be unlikely to occur. In this case it was supposed the men were driving in solid ground, and giving the old workings a wide berth, when suddenly the face came away and the water swept them out, and as the Pah is connected with the Coromandel Company's workings, they had the full force of the whole. I understand the company will not give up without an effort, as they are endeavouring to pump the water down to the 40 feet level, and if they succeed in that they will endeavour to dam back the Coromandel water at that level, as that is where the connection is made. Golden Point.—Some time ago this mine was taken up, but so far little or nothing has been done. A short time ago protection was granted for three months, but nothing appears to have been done since. TOKATEA. There are several parties tributing on the hill, but none of them appears to be doing any good except the Royal Oak tributers, who have a fairly good block in hand. CABBAGE BAY. There is a little more attention being turned to this district lately, no doubt owing to Vizard putting up his little battery. The latter has now got fairly to work, and on very good stuff, and in a few weeks we shall hope to see a fairly good return. McKenzie's Claim have a large paddock of stuff ready for the battery. It prospects very well, and should shape well under the stamps. Shamrock. —A party of Maoris have taken up this ground, and have taken out a good many tons of quartz, which is considered payable. MANAIA. This district is receiving a little more attention of late, several parties being out there. Perhaps the best show is the Prospecting Association, who have part of the ground formerly' held by Raffin and Blackmore. They are putting in a low level to cut their reef, which turned out so well in the upper levels. If they venture is anything of a success they will probably extend their operations in the neighbourhood. From time to time rich patches of gold have been got, but nothing of a permanent character; but the country is good, and the place deserves a better trial than it has had yet. Owera. —This mine continues to turn out good payable stone, although it is evidently not so rich as formerly, but with the remarkably cheap means of crushing which they have almost anything containing gold will pay-1 MATERANGI. This district just now is receiving more attention than any other place. Mr. McNeil has a fine payable reef, and is likely to do well; in fact, the more it is opened up the better it looks. In a winze sunk lately they have a very nice show of gold. They have some 20 tons of quartz at grass, and will be having another crushing shortly. Several other claims have been taken up, and the owners are well satisfied with their prospects. Quite a small township has sprung up, and if the next crushing in bulk is satisfactory, a battery will be erected on the ground. KUAOTUNU. Things in this district are in a decidedly healthy state. The weather has now taken up, and of course the roads are getting firm. It is to be hoped the Red Mercury will endeavour to get tram communication between their mine and battery during the summer months, as it will be impossible to keep the road open during winter, with their heavy traffic. The principal mines are still j looking first-rate. The Try Fluke are very busy getting up ' the plant for the Cassel process, and in the meantime the mine is turning out the average class of ore, of which they have an unlimited quantity. Kuaotunu.— Wilson is endeavouring to lick this mine into shape, but he lias an uphill job, as although he has a large reef, it is low-grade, and will not bear the cartage. —Things are improving considerably in this mine, the manager being very sanguine of opening up a payable block.

Red Mercury.—This mine still maintains its premier position. The stopes are yielding the average quantity and quality of quartz, and the mine is getting well opened. Great Mercury.— manager is making a move to open up the lower levels of this mine. The quartz going through is nearly up to the average, and they have an unlimited supply, but they require more crushing power. They are also erecting a plant for the Cassel process. They have a large supply of tailings to deal with. No doubt if these applications of the Cassel process turn out well they will be very largely extended. New Reef. — Some stir lias lately been made by the discovery of a new reef near the Waitaia claim. It is large and prospects very well, but it has not yet been sufficiently opened up to enable one to pronounce on . its value.

' LATEST MINING NEWS. [by telegraph.— correspondent.] Thames, Thursday. Sharemarket.—Alburnia, sellers 8s 9d, buyers 8s 3d ; Cambria, sales Is 9d, sellers 2s ; Hazelbank, sellers 3s 3d ; May Queen, sellers 3s .'lod ; Moanataiari, sellers 6s 6d ; Victoria, buyers Bd. Calliope.—The contractors for driving the crosscut towards the Bendigo reef are still passing through very tight country, and consequently are making very slow progress. A few colours of gold have been seen in a small leader about an inch thick, which was passed through about the end of last week, and a few colours have also been seen in another small seam of quartz that is being carried along with the crosscutj which shows that the country is gold-bearing. Nothing of any consequence has yet been met with in the stopes upon the junction of the footwall reef and No. 2 leader, although a few colours of gold have been seen. Orlando.—The new low level has been advanced about 180 feet since commencing to drive upon the reef, which leaves about 130 feet further to go before getting up to the winze sunk some years ago from the old Goldfinch level, 70 feet higher up, and in which it is stated payable quartz was met with. During the last few feet of driving the reef has been somewhat disorganised, but in the face to-day more solid quartz was making, and the formation of the reef was about two feet in thickness. The country is a fairish class of sandstone, but requires a little improvement before much gold can be expected to be found in the reef. A leading stope has been carried along over the drive for a length of about 15 feet at the point where gold was seen freely when the drive was brought along, but as the reef did nob continue to look as well as it did in the drive the stope has been suspended until the quartz broken has been treated at the battery. About five loads have been secured, and this will probably be forwarded to the battery on Saturday. ;' . Warden's Court.—Tie following applications were dealt with by Warden Northcroft this morning — H. Baker, Perseverance, Komata, adjourned to Paeroa, to be heard there on the Bth instant Murdoch Munro, residence site, Waihi, also adjourned to Paeroa for Bth instant;, J. •&*£" bury, tramway, one mile in length, in s>neuback Creek, from the Nordenfoldt low level to P. Hansen's battery, or bottom «*&«*"* back Creek, adjourned to Bth e ™™?£l>. for the applicant to further consider his position John Cook, residence, site Punffft Flat, granted; JMiza„ Kobmson,3ehcerite, R WaihL adjournedlto So* fw Btb instant.* Andrew Ahoxburn,

protection for three months for Sylvester licensed holding, > Tararu, granted ; John Boles, residence site,; one acre, Kuranui, granted r John McConnell, dam 60 feet in length, Karangahake/ adjourned for hearing at Paeroa on the Bth instant; John Duggan, Achilles claim of four men's ground, Karako Creek, granted: John Harms, occupation license of 20 acres, Punga Flat, granted on condition that Harms in no way interferes with mining operations ; Peter MacFarlane, occupation license of 20 acres, Mackaytown, adjourned to Paeroa for hearing on the Bth instant; John Neaves,' Juno claim, Tapu Creek, granted; Samuel Lowrie, Magician claim, of one man's ground, Marctato, granted Ngaroma Whaiapu, protection for three months for the Manukura claim, Puru Creek, granted. Moanataiari.— several days past very little quartz has been broken from the stopes upon the Golden Age reef on the eastern side of the break above the Point- Russell level, the men having been engaged in filling in the .large cavity that had been opened up by taking out the large width of the reef at this point, but the leading sfcope upon l the footwall portion going west of the break has been manned as usual, where a width of fully six feet of crushing dirt is being broken out. The quartz from this point continues to show a little sold, and shapes very well at the battery. The winze on . this portion of the reef below the level is down a depth of 19 feet. So far the results obtained have not been so satisfactory as were anticipated, but during the last day or two a little gold has been seen, and a few pieces of picked stone secured. A connection has been effected with the winze lately sunk below the old Dauntless level and the workings upon the Reuben Parr and footwall reefs above the Point Russell level, consequently good ventilation has now been secured for these workings, and stoping has been resumed upon both bodies. A few pounds of nice picked stone have been secured during the week from a rise which is being put up on the cross-reef on the northern side of the Reuben Parr reef, above the 100-feet level. This rise is being put up for the purpose of providing , another pass for sending the quartz broken from the Reuben Parr and footwall reefs above the Point Russell level down to the 200 feet level, and will thus save considerable labour, A block about 50 feet in length is also being stoped upon the cross reef above the 100 feet level, between the Reuben Parr and footwall reefs. In this block the reef averages about a foot of crushing dirt, and occasionally yields some very fair stone. There is nothing fresh from the stopes upon the Golden Age reef above the 100 feet, with the exception that a small parcel of picked stone was got yesterday from a branch of the reef striking off into the footwall. The rise in the Inverness section above the main tnnnel level has attained a height of 133 feet, but no quartz has lately been met with.

Albttrnia.— to the falling off in the quality of the quartz broken from Dixon's reef in the western drive and stopes at the Whau level, these works have been suspended for the present, and a start made instead to extend the eastern" drive upon the -.same body, which work was commenced yesterday with two shifts. So far operations have wholly been confined to stripping the reef, but sufficient is seen to prove that it does not make more than half-way up the drive above which point there is a clay formation only. It is advisable, however, to push this drive ahead to see whether the reef will improve, for ifc is all new ground ahead, and well worthy of a trial. The crosscut towards Dixon's reef at the 70 feet level, is passing through a firm but good class of sandstone. It is now in about 12 feet past the starting-point, but as yet only two shifts are employed, although three will be employed as soon as the 160feet level is ready. The cleaning out and repairing of this latter level is now being Eroceeded with more rapidly since the first reakdown in the drive was passed through, and the rails have been laid down for a distance of 120 feet beyond the top of the pass which connects with the Sons of E reedom level. For the next 100 feet the level is quite clear with the exception of about six inches of water and slush on the floor, so that very little difficulty will now be experienced with that pa,rt, but at the end -of chat distance there is another breakdown in the drive for a length of about 30 feet, the far end of which is right at the bottom of the pass which connects with the 70-feet level. Mr. Jobe, who is acting as manager during Mr. Radford's illness, expects to have the level cleaned out and rails laid down up to this pass by the end of next week, and when it is accomplished all the dirty and tedious work will be finished, and it will be all plain sailing with the opening up of Dixon's reef at the 70-feet level. Great credit is due to both Mr. Radford and Mr. Jobe for the manner in which they have carried out the re-opening up of these old levels, for the work was not only most difficult of accomplishment, but also of a dangerous character, but happily it has been carried out expeditiously and without injury to anyone.

I MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Hazelbank.— is a great improvement in Darby's lead. In the drive at the intermediate level the quartz contains very nice mineral; also a little gold was seen yesterday in breaking it out. About 151b of picked stone were obtained from the leading stope on Monday, but this was put through with the crushing just completed. As per wire, 89 loads of quartz and the picked stone was put through the battery, for the splendid return of 2250z lOdwt melted gold. The prospects of the mine still look very encouraging. Victoria. the 160-feet level the drive on the course of the hangiugwall leader has been continued, and in breaking down the leader on the Ist instant about 81b of fair picked stone were saved. A leading stope lias also been started to follow up the drive. The leader still continues small, but looks now improving in the drive. At the 300-feet level the drive has been continued along the course of the Mo. 1 Caledonian reef, and has now been driven a distance of 25 feet from the crosscut. There is a slight improvement in the country at this level, it being a better class of sandstone, and also an improvement in the reef— better minerals are making ther appearance. Oo other change in the mine.