THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9718, 14 January 1895, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[by TELEGRAPH.OWN correspondent.] Thames, Saturday. The Sharemarket. — Hazelbank, sellers Is ; May Queen, buyers 4s 3d ; Moanataiari, sellers 4s 6d, buyers 4s 3d; Alburnia, sellers, 2s 3d; Talisman, sellers, 7s 61; Bonanza, sellers la 4d; Golden Cross, sales 255, 265; Retreat, sellers 8d ; Monowai, sales ss, 53 lOd, 5s 2d, 53 3d; Broken Hill, sellers Is. Hazklbank.—The manager's recommendation to let tributes in this mine, has been adopted by tho directors, and applications for several sections are now being invited.

Thames Drainage Board.—The following nominations were received to-day for seats on the Drainage Board for the ensuing year:—Messrs. J. Friar Clarke, Robert Comer, James Dickey, Richard Spratt, William Scotb Wilson, Francis A. White, George Schwartz Kissling. As the nominations did noo exceed the number required the returning officer, Mr. J. Young, declared the same to be duly elected. M»y Queen. —The main crosscut towards the Queen of May shaft at No. 6 level has been extended a distance of 28 feet during the past week, which makes the total length now opened up pant No. 4 reef 9tt feet, and leaves a further distance of 12! i feeb yet to drive to connect with the shaft. Rather tight) country has been penetrated during the week, and this, together with the fact that a good sized drive is Doing opened up, accounts for what may appear the slow progress made. No quartz has been broken from No. 4 reef during the week. Operations upon it, which are confined to one shaft, only having been devoted to merely stripping the reef, and it will be about the middle of next week before a breaking down tioes take piace, according to present arrangements. Theret is nothing new to report re the north-weSg lode at the same level, except that it i. making more quartz than it previously didf Clarken's leader has yielded a fair class Of quartz during the week, colours and dabs o 6 J gold' having been seen pretty freely, bu very little picked stone has been secured.

THE TALISMAN MINE.

I'aeboa, Saturday.

The bullion from the Talisman mine was lodged at the Bank of New Zealand to-day. The net return from 280 tons treated at the Crown Battery is over £2300, being at the rate of £8 5s per ton actually banked. This is without doubt the largest yield for such a quantity known in this field for many years past.

TRY FLUKE G.M. CO. | FROM our OWN REPORTER.]

During ft recent visit to Kuaotunu, I found that although work hud not been resumed after the holidays the time had not been lost, for the battery and plant had undergone a complete overhaul. The mine has been largely extended in area during the last year or two, tho Carbine and Kuaotunu having been added by purchase in 1893; and tho latest purchase, the Mariposa, was made in 1894, and during the last year an addition of five head of stampers has been made to tho crushing plant, besides which a dividend of 6d per share has been paid, and a quantity of dead work executed. In the Try Fluke proper, the reef from the main or No. 3 level has been largely stoped out, tho principal portion of tho ore treated during the year being obtained from this source. The main level has been pushed into the Kuaotunu section, an area of 15 acres on the north-east boundary of the old mine, and the No. 2 reef is being worked from an intermediate level 50 feet above the main level, and here the reef is throe feet in width. The level is not advanced enough yet to roach the Fluke reef, but operations are being carried on on this lode in the Carbine section, the reef being about two feet thick at present. The newest addition to the company's property, the Mariposa, an area of 4J acres, has been connected with the battery by a shoot, a hopper, and a self-acting tramway. The Mariposa low level is 200 feet above the Try Fluke main level, and the reef in it averages from three to four feet in width. The ; principal supply of ore for the last month's crushing was obtained from this source, and it gave a fair average return. There is a large area of reef opened here, and an extension of about 60 _ feet south of the present workings will bring the drive into the Carbine section. This will give a total length of 300 feet of reef opened, and 90 feet of backs to the surface, all of which is intact. In connecting the Mariposa workings with the battery Mr. John Goldsworthy, the manager, laid off tho tramway in such a manner as to make it available for the new main level which it will soon become necessary to open. Tho crosscut at this new level will, ib is estimated, have to be driven 1000 feet to reach the Try Fluke j main reef, bub it will intersect other lodes which crop out on the surface, and which have never been prospected. The level, will give backs of 200 feet below the present main level and 300 feet deeper than the Mariposa main level. A Winze is now being sunk from the main level, on the Try Fluke reef. Ib is down 40 feet, and the reef, which is three feet six inches thick, gives fair prospects, indicating payable ore in the deeper levels, and tho country is of an excellent" class. I ascertained that the total quantity of ore treated at the crushing mill and cyanide plant during the year was 6260 tons, the yield from which was 40340z sdwt, value £9330 83 9d. Mr. Goldsworthy considers the present prospects of the mine satisfactory. Of course, with _ ore of such low grade the utmost economy in treatment is necessary, bub on the whole the company may be congratulated on a fairly successful year, and on the present indications of further dividends. It may be remarked that the ore is crushed by the wet process, and a? much as possible of the gold is saved on copper plates and ripples, but the larger proportion is saved by the Caaeel process of treatment by cyanide.