THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9186, 28 April 1893, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— own CORRESPONDENTS.] Thames, Thursday. Sharemarket.—Cambria, sellors Is 6d, buyers Is 2d ; Calliope, sellers 3d ; Hazelbank, sellers 2s 6d, buyers 2s 2d ; May Queen, sales 3s, sellers 3s; Moanataiari, sellers 4s 6d ; Orlando, buyers lOd ; Saxon, sellers Bd, buyers fid.

Count? Water-rack. -Owing to several sets of timber giving way in a tunnel through which the water passes above the Mangakirikiri Creek, all the batteries were brought to a standstill about eleven o'clock this morning ; but it is expected that the necessary repairs will be completed so as to allow of them resuming operations about twelve o'clock to-night.

Orlando.—Since the hangingwall reef came in and junctioned with the footwall portion a distance of about 12 foot has been driven, and in the face now the reef formation is about 15 inches in thickness, but judging from appearances it is not of much value at present. There is a small rib of quartz on either side, but the centre portion is almost wholly mullock. Very fair sandstone, however, exists on both, walls, so that an improvement may bo met with at any moment. A few shots have been put in during the week on the hangingwall portion in the back of the drive, and from here some very fair looking quartz vas saved, in which good mineral indications and several strong colours of gold wer»» found. At this point the reef is about 15 inches thick.

Alburnia.—Operations in the western drive on Dixon's reef at the 70 feet level are at present confined to stripping, and it is doubtful whether there will be another breaking down before Monday next. At the point where it was last broken, however, the reef shows a thickness of about 2J feet, and is composed of a more rubbly description of quartz than was previously the case, which is looked upon as being more favourable for gold than when the quartz is hard and solid. The " buck " quartz still continues to run on the hangingwall side of the reef, and is broken down as the " dig" is carried along. It is now thought that this " buck " is really what is known as Christie's dropper running along with the reef, but this of course will be proved as the drive advances. The second stope has been carried along as far as the face of the leading stope, and during the last few shifts operations have been confined to grading down this end with tho object of resuming the leading stope. At this point there is a " blow" of quartz fully six feet wide, the centre portion of which is composed principally of what appears to be a very fair grade of rubbly quartz. The hangingwall portion is much harder and solider, whilst on tho footwall side appears to bo making the same "buck" portion that was noticeable in the workings at the Whau level, and also in tho winze so far down as tho rich gold carried, but which has never been found in the drive at tho 70-feot level nor in the leading stopo up to the present time. This, it is thought, may have a very important effect on the reef directly, for it may bo found that the gold carries downward with it. From present appearances it appears to be gradually making downward in a westerly direction, and if this is the case it should be met with in the western drive at the next breaking down of the reef. Good progress is boing made with the grinding of the blanket tailings accumulated from the 60 loads of quartz just passed through the Cambria battery, but it will take two or three days longer to complete them. As far as can be seen, however, a return of at least ljoz of gold per load of quartz may be expected.

Moanataiari.—The obstructions thrown in the way of this company's operations, as the result of the recent subsidence of the block of ground lying between the Golden Age and Reuben Parr reefs, situated on the western side of the cross reef, are fast being overcome, and in another few days the principal workings will be in good order, and operations on the different re§fs will be in full swing again. The drives that were most affected by the subsidence are as follow :—At the 100-feet level: Wh.it is known as the south drive upon the cross reef, the western drive upon the Golden Age reef, and a portion of the drive upon the footwall reef. With regard to the former and the latter drives, they will in the ordinary course of things have to be put in oider again, but the drive on the Golden Age reef is not likely to be required again, as the payable portion of the block it opens up is worked out, bub if ever it should be found necessary to still further prospect the reef westward, it can be done by driving a short crosscut from the western end of the drive on the footwall reef. At the Point Russell level, the drive which opens up the Golden Age reef on the western side of the main break received considerable damage, and also the drive upon the cross reef which connects these workings with the Reuben Parr an« 4 footwall reefs. This latter drive is nob of much consequence, but the former one, which is on the hangingwall side of the Golden Age reef, is being thoroughly overhauled, and is already in a good workable condition. The quartz faces that have been manned a? yet are the extension of th a extreme eastern stopes upon the Golden Aye reef above the Point Russell level, the stopes upon the junction of the Reuben Parr and footwall reefs, and the stopes upon the cross reef in the block lying between the Reuben Parr and footwall reefs below the Point Russell level, so that as yob the supply of quartz coming to hand is nob very large. Preparations, however, are almost completed for resuming stoping on the cross roof in tho block lying between the footwall and Golden Age reefs, below the Point Russell level, and a few days more will also see the stopes upon the Golden Age reef above the level more fully manned. Operations have been carried out as usual upon the Inverness lender without any stoppage whatever. The leader still continues to show a little gold, and if anything it appears to improve in quality as the stopes are worked upwards. Five head of stampers are employed upon the output from this leader, and five head have just been started bo crush the quartz obtained from the other workings ; 20 head have also been kept employed upon surface dirt, but it is now intended to reduce this number to 15 for a few days, the stampers being required for public crushing.

Sylvia Gold and Silver Mining Company.—L meeting of Auckland shareholders in this company was held at Mr. S. T. George's office, Insurance Buildings, yesterday. There was only a moderate attendance, and the business was of a private nature.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. May Queen.The timbering of the winze, crosscut, and drive was completed on Monday morning last. Both drives east and west were then started, with two shifts in each. The leading stope was also started east of winze towards the break, with two shifts. The reef in this stope is split by a small horse of mullock one foot in thickness. The quartz on each side 13 about nine inches, carrying good mineral and silica. No gold has been seen in this stope. The reef in the eastern end is thrown to the left by a small clay head. Colours of gold were seen in the quartz when breaking down. The western drive is now crossing the large flinty which you will recollect was met with some time ago when driving for the reef. The reef has made a large blow up against this flinty of rubbly quartz, carrying a Urge quantity of mineral. No gold has been seen. This quartz is being sent to the battery, and has not been running long enough to know its value, as only five head ate employed, and only running 48 hours as yet. I have just been to the battery and cleaned up the amalgam from the plates after 48 hours' run, the result being 320z of hot water squeezed amalgam. There has been about 10 loads of quartz put through the battery. This is, I think, very satisfactory, as a commencement from No. 3 level. North Star.—Since my last report I have been working in the intermediate level getting quartz. It looks as good as that reported in my last, I have nine loads from here in the paddock, and also four loads from the winze. In the quartz in the winze colours of gold were seen. Th« winze is a depth of 56 feet. The reef here is ten to twelve inches thick. In the No. 4 level the drive has been extended twelve feet, a total of 96 feet. The quartz here looks as well as that reported in my last. I have nine loads from here.in the paddock. The reef in the face at present is about two feet thick. I intend to start crushing at Bull's battery on Thursday. mmmmmmmmmm _ mmm __ m-m __

Notwithstanding the great competition amongst Tea dealers the public should insist upon having what they ask for. Arthur Nathan's Reliable Blends, of Geylon, India, or China, are the beat going. 75