THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9615, 13 September 1894, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

fFEOJI OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Wednesday. Victoria.—Another breaking down of [a portion of Mo. 1 reef at the Saxon No. 4 level took place yesterday afternoon, when colours of gold were again seen, and the reef averaged a thickness of about 18 inches. The country still continues tight, bub is congenial for gold, and is interlaced with mineral seams.

May Queen.— crosscut at No. 6

level is now penetrating a very favourable class of country, and consequently the contractors are making good headway this week. Two parties of the company's tributers completed crushings yesterday, as follows :—Sherlock and party crushed two loads of quartz for the excellent yield of 220z 17dwts of gold : and darken and party obtained lOoz Gdwt of gold from three loads of quartz. JBazelbank.— stopes upon Darby's leader and the cross reef are being continued, with rather moderate results. Colours of gold are seen at almost every breaking down of quartz, but of late very little picked stone has been secured. Fair progress is being made with the extension of the new crosscut at the No. 2 intermediate level towards the Young American leader. Two shifts are employed at this point, and the face is now in a distance of about 26 feet, which leaves about 50 feet further to drive before reaching the point where the leader is expected to be intersected.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Mew Moanataiari (September B),—Since our last clean up there have been 90 tons of quartz and 319 tons of surface material put through the battery, for the respective returns of 71 and 420z of amalgam. The amount of picked stone secured from the different workings during the past week has been very limited, only some 151b being obtained from all quarters.' The usual supply of crushing material is still forthcoming from the Golden Age footwall leads over the Point Russell level. A good deal of sandstone has to be treated with the stone from here, as the different ribs of quartz from footwall to hangingwall are taken out in places for a width of over 35 feet. All this has to be carefull sorted over before being shovelled into the passes. Jones's lead in the leading stope over the 100-feet level looks much the same as in the level, a few pounds of picked stone being got from the two small, ribs of fine-grained quartz which run along on the hangingwall and footwall of the lead. This lead has a very promising appearance, and ought to improve as the stopes are extended upwards. 150-feet level: The face of the S.E. prospecting crosscut is now forward to the boundary of the old Golden Calf section of the company s ground. The distance driven from the main winding shaft to, this point is 370 feet. Hitherto the drive has been carried along over the back of the level originally put in by Mr. Robert Comer, but will now be penetrating solid country, consequently progress will not be so rapid. Some dimculty has been experienced in the carrying on of the surface workings lately on account of the wet weather; nevertheless, we manage with four men. to keep 15 head of stamps pounding away three shifts.