THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9306, 15 September 1893, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] i Thames, Thursday. Sharkmarket.—No list was issued, to' day. May Queen.— The only thing fresh' to reporb from this.mine is that the reef in the eastern drive at No. 3 level is again making strong, but as yet no gold has been seen'in the quartz. Orlando.—A considerable change for tho better has manifested itself in the class of country penetrated in this company's low level during the last; day or two, and the reef has also improved in appearance. Previous to the change the country was of rather an unsettled character, but now a good firm class of sandstone prevails on both walls. The reef i 3 about 18 inches in thickness, and is composed of a most promising description of quartz, in which very fair mineral indications prevail, and when breaking a portion of the reef down to-day several strong colours of gold were seen in the quartz. Alburnia.—Judging from present appearances, and the quality of the quartz coming to hand, this company is possessed of a valuable block of ground above the 70-feet level on the eastern side of the winze which connects with the Whau level, and recent developments have disclosed the fact that the block is a much more extensive one than was ab one time thought to be. At first it was thought the run on gold would not make below the No. 5 stope or intermediate drive, but the extension of the eastern drive at the 70-feet level, the face of which is now vertically underneath the face of the No.' 5 stope, has revealed the fact that quartz of a payable character has carried down to that depth, and the stope which is now being brought along over the drive is yielding quartz of a 'very fair grade, in which colours of gold have been seen, and a few pounds of picked stone secured. As soon as this stope has been carried along to the face of the drive it is intended to put up a rise on the reef, with the object of connecting with a small winze that was started upon the hangingwall portion of the reef from the floor of No. 5 stope close to the face. The object of desiring a connection at this point is to Erovide an outlet for passing the quartz roken in the upper stopes down to the 70feet level, and also to enable the lower stopes to be started off from it if necessary, as it is now intended to stope out the whole of the block which has so far been left standing between No. 5 6tope and the 70feet level. Nos. 5 and 6 stopes have been at a standstill for several days past. These two stopes are advanced a distance of 68 feet eastward from the winze, and there is an excellent show of gold visible in the hangingwall portion of the reef in the face of No. 5 stope. The quartz is also highly mineralised, and especially so where a start was made to-day to sink the small winzo from the floor in order to connect with the stope just above the 70feet level drive. As before mentioned, the dip of the rich run of gold and mineral appears to be eastward, but the eastern drive at -the 70 - feet level is nob yeb quite far enough ahead to catch it, provided ib makes down to that point. No. 7 stope has been started about 30 feet in from the main winze. Ab this point the reef is also divided into two sections, but both are looking very we'll. , The hangingwall portion, however, is undoubtedly the richest with the precious ■ metal, for this morning 2">lb of very nice picked stone were secured from it. No. 7 ; stope westward of the main winze has been in progress upon the reef for several days past, but the quartz broken has shown very little gold. It is heavily mineralised, however, and shapes payably ab the battery. The No. 7 stope upon the footwall dropper is now to be carried along, and when it has reached the end of the ground which is being stoped, Mr. Dunlop purposes putting up a rise upon it in order to ascertain its position at the Whau level. The crosscut which is now being driven for the purpose of intersecting this dropper at the 70-feet level is in a ; distance of about seven feet, which leave? a ; further distance of about 28 feet to drive j before the leader is expected to be inter- I sected. Gold Purchases.—The local branches of the Bank of New Zealand and New South Wales purchased gold as follows during the month of August :— Bank of New Zealand: Thames County, 16560z lOdwt ; Ohinemuri bounty, 22680z Bd\vt; Thames Borough, 8650z 19dwt: total, 48200z 17dvit. Bank of New South Wales : Thames County, 2550z l'idwt; Thames Borough, 9dwt: total, 3SSoz ldwt. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Victoria.—l6o-feet level: A start has been made with the stope over this level on the main reef aud also oil the small hangingwall leader. In the last a little gold is freely seen and a few lbs of picked stone is being saved. In the main reef so far but little gold has been seen. The rise on the main reef over the 100-feut level has been carried up some 30 feet, and bettor prospects have been met with during the past week, some good mineral making its appearance, and yesterday a few lbs of fair picked stone was saved. Work on the other small hanging and footwall leaders over this level is being pushed forward, but so tar no improvement, It is intended shortly to commence driving on the main reef at the 100-feet level to the south-west of crosscut. The hangingwall reef should junction with the main reef inside the first 100 feet driving along the course of the main reef.