THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9028, 5 November 1892, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

I \Vt TELEQEAPH.— OWW CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Friday. SHAREMARKETv-Alburnia, sales 8s 9d, sellers fa, buyers 8s 6d; Cambria, sellersi2s; Hazelbank, sales 3s, sellers 3s 3d r Moanataian, BelJers 6s3d; Victoria, sellers 7id. New Manukau.-A crushing of about 20 tons of quartz from the leader in the surface "workings was completed to-day for a return of 17oz lOdwfc melted gold. Waiotahi.— This company's usual monthly retorting took place to-day, and resulted in the excellent yield of 2470z 3dwt of melted cold, for which 215 tons of quartz won from all parts of the mine were treated. Albuknia.—The crushing; of 40 loads of quartz broken from Dixon's reef in the western drive and stopes at and above the ivhau level, which has been in course of treatment for several clays past, was completed to-day for the return of 35ozs 16dwts of melted cold. This is a considerable falling off upon the previous returns obtained from this reef in the block mentioned. May Queen.— Operations in this mine for some time past have been confined to driving eastward upon No. 4 reef at No 3 level in order to get in to the continuation of the run of gold which is supposed to be making downward from the upper levels. The point Mr. Hicks started from was at the bottom of the winze sunk by Mr. Moore from No. '2 level. On commencing the reef at once divided into two portions, since known as the hangingwall and footwall branches. The footwall[branch was first followed, as that appeared to lie going direct for the spot desired to be got at, But after driving a few feet it diverged to the left, and eventually went ott at almost a right angle to the proper course. The hangingwall branch was then started upon, and this seemed to go near the course desired until a distance of over 100 feet was driven, when it turned off too much to the right, but thinking it was OHly a slight deviation in the reef, Mr. Hicks continued following it with the hope of its coming back to its proper course again, which, however, it has failed to do. In this drive a slide or break was met with about '25 feet in, and this has hugged the reef all the distance since driven, which probably accounts for the reef taking the course it has done. As to continue the drive in the direction the reef is now shaping for, would be going still further away from the point sought for, and as a small seam of quartz was noticed striking off into the footwall or lefthand side of the drive, about 60 feet back from the face, Mr. Hicks has decided to suspend the drive for the present, and to open out on this seam instead, to see whether it has any connection with the reef, and whether it will strike off in the proper direction to reach the point, where the gold is expected to be found. This latter work was commenced on Wednesday last, siuce when about 10 feet have been driven, and the seam of quartz has opened out to fully three inches thick, and so far has gone in the right direction. On its hangingwall side, and separated by two or three feet of sandstone near the top of the drive, are a couple of small leaders which come together as fihey make downward, and which eventually junction with the larger leader in the floor of the drive. The quartz in these leaders is of a very promising description and carries some nice bright mineral, whilst the country encasing them is also a good description of sandstone threaded with black mineral seams. If these leaders continue the course they are now taking, they should lead up to the clay slide which is being sought for, and which in turn will lead direct on to the reef, to accomplish which will require about 60 feet of driving all told. In order, however, to make doubly sure of what he.is doing, Mr. Hicks commenced yesterday to drive off sharply to the left from the face of the drive on the hangingwall branch, where there appears to be a gritty clay seam striking off. This also appears to be going in the direction desired to go, and by following it a few feet something may perhaps be discovered which will throw a little light on the present state of affairs. It is thought, however, that the drive on the leaders first mentioned will turn out to be the proper direction to follow, for even if they should deviate from their present course, the drive could be continued as a crosscut in the direction desired to go. Of course it is to be regretted that any difficulty should have arisen in getting in to the run of gold, but it may turn out all right yet. There is another feature as regards the identity of the reefs in this mine that may not be out of place to mention just now. Mr. Hicks has a wide and lengthened experience of this part of the field, haviug been manager of the old City of London mine for many years, which section of ground is now included in the May Queen Co.'s property, and he is of opinion that the reef that has hitherto been worked for No. 4 at Nos. 1 and 2 levels, and from which the gold has always been obtained by this company is No. 2, and a look at the plan of the underground workings, where the course of the two reefs can be traced, seems to bear out , this opinion. Of course, it does not matter much what reef it is so long as the gold is found, but still to identify the reefs may lead to other developments and runs of gold. Mr. Hicks has been expecting to meet with the junction of Nos. 2 and 4 reefs in the drive on the hangingwall branch, the face of which is now past the point where he expected the junction to occur. This, however, has not taken place, and he is now not sure but that the leader he has started to drive upon 60 feet further back will prove to be the continuation of No. 2, it having been thrown back to that point by the break which has been carried along in the drive. If this is so, then that alone will prove whether his theory is right that it is No. 2 reef that the gold has been obtained from in the past, and not No. 4 as was always supposed.

JOHN BULL G.M. CO. An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in the John Bull G.M. Co. was held ab Mr. D. G. MacDonnell's office yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of taking into consideration the position of the company. Mr. H. Rees George occupied the chair. It was resolved, on the motion of the chairman, " That the company enter into voluntary liquidation, and that Mr. D. G. MacDonnell be appointed liquidator, the question of remuneration to be left in the hands of the directors. . MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Consols.— is being pushed ahead by the tributing party in a systematic manner. The main drive is being pushed ahead slowly by two men, and they are now in a much better class of country, and they hope for an improvement here at any moment. The balance of the party are busy in the stopes above No. 2, and have a considerable amount of quartz in hand. They commence crushing to-day, and will crush about 80 or 90 loads. Several sub-tributes are let on No. 1 and specimen leader, but from these I have nothing of consequence to report. Carter and party are still very sanguine of success, and I must say they deserve it, for they have had a very uphill job so far, but I believe that they will be well repaid if they only stick to it. The machinery and everything in connection with the mine is being kept in first-class •working order, and there are over '20 men in all employed in the mine, so that a good deal of ground is being turned over, and it is likely that something may coma to light before long. _____________