THE GOLD FIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9177, 18 April 1893, Page 5

THE GOLD FIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TiiAMEfi, Monday. Sharemarkkt.— sellers la Cd ; Hazelbank, sellers 2s sd; May Queon> | sellers 3s, buyers 2s Gd; Moanataiari, j sellers 4s Gd. SVLVIA.—Owing to the financial position ! of this company not being in a very satisfactory conditon, a bailiff was put in posses- , sion of tho company's reduction plant at Tararu, to-day, on behalf of tho Bank of New Zealand. Moanataiari.—The manager, to-day, banked lG4oz 4dwt of rnf lted gold, as the result of the past fortnight's operations. For this return, .'155 tons of quartz and 551b of picked stone were crushed for 1330z Sdvvt, and 513 tons of surface dirt yielded 30oz lGdwt. Atjjurnia.—A start was made, to-day, to send down the quartz on hand to the Cambria battery, where crushing will be commenced with 10, head of stampers, to-morrow ! morning. At the mine, breaking down the | reef in the western drive was continued to- | day, and the second stope was started over tho drive. MAHAKIRAU, MERCURY BAY. [FROM a correspondent.] The prospects from Messrs. Brice and party's claim, Mahakirau, are looking as favourable as ever. Up to date they have taken out IGoz Kidwt of gold worth £2 J7s 7d per oz, besides 28lb of quartz which will yield about on ounce to the pound. This quartz is being taken out of the clay up to a depth of about 6 feet, which is supposed to have slipped from the hills in the immediate vicinity where the reef from which this rich deposit originally came is supposed to lie hidden. There are several other parties besides the ftbovementioned one, prospecting this district, and it is the general belief tho reef will he found at no distant date. Messrs. O'Brien arid party are taking out somo live tons of quartz which is to be sent to tho Thames for treatment. This lot is being sent as a trial crushing, having been taken from a large reef in their claim, which is situated about a quarter of a-milo from Bryce and party's, the Mahakirau Creek intervening'. Should this parcel turn out, say from half to three-quarters of an ounce to the ton, it will be a really good thing for tho district, as the reef is large and water power for crushing unsurpassable. For tho information of intending visitors the Mahakirau is situated about nino miles from Mercury Bay, and the distanco can be traversed on horseback in an hour and a-half with ease.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Hazkldank.—Fair progress has been made with sinking the winze on Darby's from the intermediate level. The lead is about a foot in thickness, and is well defined. The quartz contains very nice mineral, also gold has been freely seen every time the lead has been broken down, and about ten pounds of picked stone selected. The lead looks better in the bottom than it has done at any time since sinking was commenced. It will be advisable to open out another level when the winze attains to a depth of about 70 feet. To do this it will be necessary to have communication with No. 3 level, and for this purpose I intend to put up arise in the country to meet the bottom of the winze from the back of the drive that has lately been cleaned out and repaired at No. 3 level. This will be commenced at once to effect communication as soon as possible. Prom the back of the drive to the depth mentioned will bo about 55 feet. There has not been much done in the drive this week, as the men have been employed in other places. Sloping operations are proceeding as usual above the intermediate level. The lead maintains its average thickness, and gold continues to be freely seen in breaking out the quartz in the different stopos ; also 151b of picked stone have come to hand from here during the week. The leading stone is still being carried along on the cross-reef at the No. 2 intermediate level. The quartz is carrying very nice mineral, but no gold has been seen here lately. There is not much change on the Young American, at No. 3 level, beyond seeing a little more mineral in the quartz. Mariposa (Kuaotunu). — quartz going through the battery is from No. 1, the same as last week. When the ore on hand is put through I will clean tip and go on on No. 2 where I have got all hands at work, and as long as I can keep the battery going—which will only be for two or three days at most— and clean up again to prove which is the best ore both in quality and value. Of No. I there will be about GO tons go through. Will clean up on Monday. Amalgam on hand, 49 ounces. Pridk of Kanaka.—l to-day wired you result of our crushing, which is an excellent one, some of the stone being exceedingly rich. The trial parcel yielded just what I had anticipated, as we saw no gold when breaking it, but an improvement might show itself in the next stope. There are about l'icwt of concentrates from vanners to be treated Gowt from the trial lot and about the same weight from the general stuff. There is no change to report in the character of the sandstone iu face of drive since my last. Try Fluke (Kuaotunu).— drive north on the main reef at No. 2 level has been extended this week 15 feet. The lode is from eight to 10 feet through, and carries gold in three distinct bands, varying in size from six to twelve inches each, which we are saving, and the prospects are improving as we drive north. More particularly has this been noticeable the last two days. 1 have still two men employed sloping in the block above the No. 1 level. There is yet a. large quantity of ore to come from this part of our mine that will pay well for taking out. The stopes north from the main winze above No. 3 level are being pushed on as usual, and continue to supply a quantity of payable ore. At No. 3 level we have been timbering up the i drive on the No. 2 reef, and putting in shoots and passes ready for stopiug. This work is now finished, and we are starting the leading slope south from the bottom of the winze. The lode there is about 18 inches thick, and gives fairly good prospects. Next week I shall continue this drive north from the winze, as we have yet about 100 feet, to drive to the boundary. I have also started one man to drive on the main reef north at No. 3 level, and in a few days' time shall be able to put on another shift here so as to push on this drive. The crushing. the battery is shaping fairly well. I have on hand from the plates, for the week's run, llSoz of amalgam. The cyanide plant is working well. The machinery is also working well. The prospects of the mine generally are improving as wo develope the reefs, and with a few more stampers I am in good holies we should be able to pay regular dividends. Great Mercury (Kuaotunu). — During the past week the dam has been completed and the men employed thereon have been removed and employed on the formation of _ tram, of which there have been seven chains completed. The shaft has been sunk to a depth of 38 feet, and a chamber cut 10 feet by 5 to receive pump, and a start made to sink .further to connect with water-race tunnel, which I expect to take place early next week. The contractors in this tunnel have been delayed this week on account of a How of water from the face. This tunnel is now penetrating a solid sandstone country. They have a further distance of IS feet to drive-to shaft. The contractors for Try Fluke No. 3 crosscut are making good headway ; 78 feet is now driven. The crosscut for Red Mercury reef has been extended a further distance of 28 feet for the past week. Battery : I have employed the foreman and engineer to shift pulleys and one of the pans to make room for the driving pulleys for pump, also take down and rescrew water-pipes, which were leaking badly, and cement pan shoes in position. Victoria.—Cleaning up and retorting took place to-day for a yield or 31oz 13dwt melted gold from IG loads of quartz and 151b of picked stone. The return is not quite up to previous crushiugs from the same leader. It is now the intention to commence stoping over the intermediate drive, where a larger supply of quartz may be expected. Three hundred-feet level : Better progress has been made here during the past few days, as there has been a decided improvement both iu the reef and the country.