THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9610, 7 September 1894, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE GOLDFIELDS.

MONTHLY SUMMARY, (from oca own CORRESPONDENTS.! • Thames, Thursday. THAMES DISTRICT. . THE subject of testing the deep levels of the Thames Goldfield is once more about to be brought forward, as Government has . , t purchased a diamond rock-drill capable If Coring to a depth of several thousand fit This drill has been purchased with the view of using it to test the low levels of ;Ee rroldfielda of the colony by means of boring and the Thames l>.®p Level Committee which comprises two representatives ® ch from the Thames Borough and County Councils and Miners' Union, has through £ secretary already applied for its use on this field A reply to this request has been received to the effect that although Govern-' ment had purchased a diamond drill, still it had nob been delivered, but as soon as ib was available an opportunity would be afforded for proving- the lower strata of the Thames coldfield by means of the drill in question. The same committee were also informed a few days ago by the Minister of Mines that the consideration of Mr. Murray's (the Victorian mining expert, who a few months ago mid the Thames an official visit of inspection) report and assistance for the deep levels will also shortly be dealt with by Parliament. Ib will therefore be seen from the above that some definite action with regard to the development of our deep levels is likely to be undertaken at an early dS The May Queen Gold Mining Company is making excellent progress with the extension ofits ISO. 6 level from the Saxon shaft for the purpose of opening up another level in the May Queen section of the mine. Since last) summary the contractors have driven a distance of 138 feet, so that a total length of 1839 feet is now opened up eastwaul of the Saxon shaft, ami the May Queen section has been entered upon, a distance of 85 feet having been driven since the course of the drive was altered to enter the last-mentioned section. This still leaves a distance of about 1000 feet to drive before a connection is effected with the Queen of May shaft. Operations have now been commenced to clean out) and repair the Queen of May shaft below No. 3 level, and when that work is accomplished a starb will be made to drive from the •haft in order to facilitate the connection with the No. 6 level as quickly as possible. The company still continues to obtain a limited supply of very remunerative quartz from what is known as darkens leader, between Nos. 1 and 2 levels in the Saxon section, and a crushing of 33 loads was completed one day last week, for the good return of 151oz Sdwt melted gold. The tributers employed in the mine have also crushed during the month 64 loads of quartz for a total of 1270z 7dwt- of melted gold. In the Moanataiari mine, payable results continue to attend the operations carried on upon the Golden Age foot wall leaders above the Point Russell level, and Jones' leader at and above the 100-feeb level. From these two points a total of 318 tons of quartz have been crushed during the past mouth, for the remunerative yield of iS9oz of gold, whilst 1161 tons of surface dirt were also treated for a return of 58oz of gold, making altogether a total of 2470z for the month. Good progress is being made with the new prospecting crosscut) at the eld 150-feeb level, and by the end of this week the manager hopes to reach the old Golden Calf section of the mine. In the Alburnia Co.'s mine the extension of the Clune's level upon the line of Dixon's reef has been interrupted somewhat by bad ventilation, but the level is now nearly into the point where payable blocks upon the reef are expected to be found, and the manager hopes soon to be able 'to bank regular monthly returns of gold. In the Orlando mine the extension of the new intermediate level is being pushed ahead as fast as possible, and lately there has been a considerable improvement in the quality of the reef that is being followed, colours of gold having been seen in the quartz ab nearly every breaking down. The Hazelbank mine has fallen off lately in its output of quartz and returns of gold, bub there is still a good prospect of its again improving shortly, as a considerable amouut of work is being carried on. During the past month 45 loads of quartz were treated for a yield of 760z 4dwb of gold. The Cambria mine has also receded in its output of late, but this is owing chiefly to the leaders being somewhat small that are being operated upon. A crushing of 30 loads of quartz was completed lasb week for a yield of 520z ildwt of gold. It is probable that this company will resume operations at its No. 4 level again very shortly. The New Fearnought Company lately finished a crushing of 10 loads of quartz for 2loz 15dwb of gold. The Victoria Gold Mining Company is meeting with very fair prospects in the new works lately undertaken upon No. 1 reef at the No. 4 level of the Saxon shaft, and there appears bo be every prospect of _ payable gold being met with shortly. The St. Hippo Company is under a cloud at present, the efforts that have been made for some time past to discover a payable run of gold having so far proved unsuccessful. Altogether 31 loads of quartz have been crushed during the past month for the poor return of 13oz 19dwt of gold. There is a move on foot just now to amalgamate this and the Lone Hand mine, with the view of going in for a lower level from the May Quee~n mine, bat no definite action has yet been taken in the matter. The Norfolk Company completed a crushing of 73 tons a week or two ago for 690z 13dwt of gold. At the lasts sitting of the Warden's "ourt, the Mining Inspector made application for the forfeiture of the Deep Sinker special claim, situated on Block 27, and held by Mr. R. ,R. Hunt. Mr. Miller, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the owner, and asked for an adjournment of the proceedings for a period of four months, in order that he might have time to communicate with Mr. Hunt, who is at present in England. Mr. Miller stated that Mr. Hunt had been endeavouring for the last two or three years to secure English capital for the development of the in question, and according to letters received from him, and which were now in his (Mr. Miller's) possession, there was every reason to believe Mr. Hunt would eventually be successful if a little more time was allowed him in holding the ground. Another reason for asking for the adjournment was that the ground was nob such as could be developed by merely working men, but would require considerable capital to properly open ib up, as deep sinking would have to be gone in for. The application *vas adjourned to the first sitting of the Warden's Court in January next. Ab the same sitting application was made by the Mining Inspector for the forfeiture for non-working of the Consols licensed holding, ab Hape Creek. Mr. Miller appeared on behalf of the defendant company, and admitted the ground of complaint), also agreeing to the forfeiture, but asked tor an extension of the time allowed for the removal of the machinery. The chief reason for making this application was, he stated, that the Consols Gold Mining Company had disposed of the winding and pumping machinery standing on the ground to Messrs. Price Brothers, who thought ib would be best to leave the same standing in case anyone else took up the ground and wanted the machinery to work it, as, by so doing, a considerable saving would be effected. It would be a pity to remove the machinery, which would then be valuable only as old iron. Had ib not been for these circumstances, the company would- have surrendered the ground earlier. With reyard to the ground, His Worship made out a decree of forfeiture, with costs lis, extending the time for the removal of the machinery until 31st December nexb. ~ WAIHI DISTRICT. "

The Waihi Goldmining Company maintains its position as premier bullion-pro-ducer of New Zealand. For the four weeks ending August 26, 2070 tons of ore were treated by the cyanide process, resulting in the extraction of bullion of the value of £6168. The payable character of the extensive lodes now being worked by this company may be regarded as established beyond all doubt, and, so far as it is possible to judge, these will be found to live to a great depth. The company has . had under consideration the'advisability of , increasing their battery by the addition of 20 stamps, bringing the -total' number up to 80. While the management .was very careful about expenditure in this direction, it was felt that the, prospects of the mine fully warranted the outlay, and it has been .decided to proceed with the addition con-

templatfld with all convenient haste." 'The new works - will be in hand immediately, and can be cairried forward without inconvenience or stoppage of present operations, so the.b • the regular monthly yields of bullion and the quarterly dividends will not be affected. * - * The Cassel Gold Extracting Company have treated 1440 tons of tailings during the past months for a yield, of 134102 of bullion, valued ab £1777. WAITER DISTRICT. The mining industry in this district has received a slight check during the month owing to the Grace Darling mine not turning out the success that for some time pasb has been expected of it, bub nevertheless a lob of good useful prospecting work, is being done in several of the new claims recently taken up, apart from thab carried on in the now well known and well

established mines, suoh as the Komata, Golden Cross, and Jubilee. With respect to the Grace Darling, very little work is ab presenb being done in the mine, bub the battery is employed in treating the besb of the quartz thab was broken oub some time ago, with the view of ascertaining its correct value. There appears to be every reason to believe that with careful management the mine may yeb be worked profitably, bub ib is evident that great care will have to be exercised in making a proper selection of the ore available. Very little work has been done in the Portsea during the: month, bub small staffs of men are employed in several adjoining claims, and in some very fair prospects are obtainable. In the Komata mine a splendid grade of ore is being won from the lower workings, and as a result of the excellent yields of bullion obtained of late, the directors have been enabled to declare another dividend of sixpence per share. I understand that this property is under offer to an English syndicate, which is represented in this colony at the present time by Captain Argall, manager of the Kapanga mine ab Coromandel, and Captain Hodge, \\'hp has lately arrived from the old country. These two gentlemen visited this mine on the 13th ultimo, and were very favourably impressed with its prospects, but nothing has been made public of any decision they may have arrived at. At the Golden Cross mine ib was discovered in the

early part of last month thab the reef intersected at the lower level was nob the same one as was worked at the upper, levels. Consequently the extension of the cross-cub was resumed, with the resulb that on the 20th ult. the main reef was cut in the low level, and the drive on the reef is now being pushed on as fast as possible towards the winze, which has been sunk 40 feet from the upper level. Until connection is made with the winze, a regular supply of quartz cannot be maintained for the battery. The connection should be made, and the regular running of the stamps commenced towards the end of the coming month, when very substantial returns can be relied on, as the nature and value of the stone out of the

winze is moat satisfactory. Ab presenb bhe battery is running two shifts a day on odds and ends of the quartz from the surface. KARANGAHAKE DISTRICT. Mining matters in this district are showing up very well, and before long the bullion returns will be greatly increased, as additional crushing power is being provided for. Of course, the New Zealand Crown Mines Company occupies the most prominenb position at present, and is likely to continue so for some time to come, but the Woodstock United Company is going to run ib pretty close very shortly. As stated in last summary, the directors of this last-named company have decided to augment their reduction plant by additional stampers and a cyanide plant capable of treating 50 tons of ore per week. Mr. Adams, the contractor, is making excellent headway with these now arrangements, and the whole of the material required for building purposes is now on the site, whilst all the machinery has been landed at Paeroa and is now being carted out to the mine. The necessary excavations are fairly underway, and the blocks and ground plates for the percolation portion of the planb are all in their place. The position selected for the new planb is admirably adapted for the purpose, inasmuch as the ore intended for " treatment will pass almost automatically from the kilns right through the whole course of battery treatment. Ab . the mine the No. 3 level has been extended a distance of- 225 feet- on the No. 2 lode, which varies from three to twelve feet in thickness, and carries a high percentage of the previous metals for the whole of that length. The leading stops is also along a distance of 150 feet, and the second stope 40 feet, j whilst the average height of backs | to the level alone is 146 feet. lb will thus be seen that there is an abundance of ore available for treatment, even supposing the new plant was ready for an immediate start. The directors, however, have wisely determined not only to push forward the work of further opening up the No. 2 lode, but they have also decided upon driving a crosscut from the No. 3 level into the No. 3 lode, which is distant c.bout 300 feet. This lode proved very rich at No. 2 Jevel, and there is every hope of ib being equally as good at the new leveL Operations in the New Zealand Crown mine are still of a remunerative character. The precious metal is seen pretty freely in the ore broken every day, and, as the returns show, the ore is of good grade. The company's plant still continues to work in splendid order, and all the machinery is in good condition. The owners of the Talisman mine are at present pubting up a rise from their No. 2 level to connect with the No. 1 level, and in doing so are breaking out ore of a very good quality. The proprietors of the Earl of Glasgow claim have erected a five-stamper battery, and are at presenb connecting the same with the mine by means of a tramway. They hope soon to commence treating the ore available in their property. Several other parties are at work in the district, bub there is nothing of special importance to record from them at the presenb time. WAIORONCO.MAI DISTRICT. In this district a good deal of ueeful work is being done by private claim owners and tribute parties, bub the owners of the old Loyalty mine appear to be the most prosperous jusb now. This party completed a crushing of 53 trucks of quartz a few days ago for the very profitable return of 138oz 9awt of gold, valued at £3 4s 9d per ounce, and they have a good-sized block opened up on the reef, which they believe will turn out equally as well.