THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9773, 21 March 1895, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

is ' ' . ' -' : —•— A [FROM 008 OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ™. Thames, Wednesday. b Victoria. —Nine loads of quartz obtainec ,b from the company's workings upon Tower'i 16 leader at and below No.'4 level were sen 1 to the Cambria battery this morning, when '■ its treatment will be commenced to-morrow 9 morning, '* May Qoken.— that the connectioi lV between the Saxon and Queen of May shaft) n has been completed by means of the nev '• low level, the work of developing the No * 4 reef and north-west lode is being proceedec " with as speedily as possible, three shifts 8 being employed in each face, and the com % pany's rook-drill utilised as well in th< 8 extension of the drive upon the north-wesl lode itself. This latter drive has been ad ' vanced a distance of about 100 feet from the '* main crosscut, which still leaves a furthei distance of about 200 feet to drive to react the junction with tho No. 4 reef. During 9 the last 20 feet or so of driving there has 0 been a considerable improvement in the ap ? pearance and size of the lode, it having f changed from a mere clay formation of a ' few inches in thickness to a strong body ol 1 quartz fully five feet wide, with two nice 3 walls. In the face to-day, however, then f were signs of the lode narrowing in, as a • small clay head had just come in from the ' hangingwall side, and this appeared to have the effect of reducing the size of tho quartz " on that side. So far no gold has been seen " in the quartz broken, although a little nioe ' mineral is seen, and a very fair class of J sandstone country encases the lode, but if it maintains the change for the better that ' has lately occurred in it, then there is good } reason for anticipating that payable gold will shortly be met with. Mr. Burch, the 1 company's mine manager, intends to push ' this drive forward as quickly as possible, as ' he is anxious to get on to payable quartz, which he is sanguine will be met with long before the junction with No. 4 reef is arrived at. The drive upon No. 4 roef has been advanced a distance of between 75 and 80 feet from the main crosscut. In this drive another " heave" of the reef has jusb taken place, the small mineralised leader which recently came in from the hangingwall side having had the effect of throwing the main body about five or six feet into the footwall side of the drive. Consequently the men have been employed during the last few shifts cutting into the footwall country, for the purpose of getting on to the No. 4 again, which they have succeeded in doing, and also in stripping a few feet of the reef, which is about three feeb in thickness. It, however, is divided into several ribs of very hard quartz, and carries a little nice looking mineral with small patches of silica, in several of which strong dabs of gold have been seen. As yet, though, there has nob been sufficient work to enable much of an opinion being formed regarding its value, but its development will be pushed forward with as much haste as is possible under the circumstances. Judging from the appearance of the " heave" at this point, Mr. Burch is inclined to think that it will correspond with one which ho expected to meet some 35 or 40 feet further ahead, the same as occurred at No. 3 level during the late Mr. T. B. Hicks' management. If this is so, then the small hangingwall leader which has caused the " heave," will turn out to be what is known as No. 2 reef, whilst the No. 3 reef, which has apparently been running along in connection with No. 4 reef since it junctioned with the latter some 30 or 40 feet back in the drive, is still making straight ahead on the course which the drive has been following until the ''heave" which has now taken place occurred. These surmises, however, Mr." Burch intends proving later on, by driving back upon the hangingwall leader or No. 2 reef, whichever it may be. A start has now been made to commence stopiog upon No. 4 reef, a rise having been put up a few feet directly over the point where the main crosscut passed through the reef en route to the Queen of May shaft. In this rise the reef is about 15 inches in thickness, and is composed of several small ribs of quartz. A little gold has been seen in the quartz broken so far, and appearances are in favour of the quartz proving payable. A new and most important work has been commenced this week at No. 3 level, and that is the starting of a winze upon No. 4 reef, about 30 feet westward of its junction with the north-went lode, for the purpose of eventually connecting with the new No. 4. level. As some very gcod picked stone was obtained from the reef from this point in to the junction with the north-west lode at No. 3 level, there is every probability of good results also being obtained in the winze just started, especi ally as the winze in going downward will be getting nearer the junction of the two reefs all the time, and in fact should reach the junction some considerable time before No. 4 level. is reached, as the underlie of the junction is towards the winze. It will take a few days longer, however, to get the winze fairly in hand, although a portion of the reef may be broken at any time. Operations upon Clarken's leader in the Saxon section are being continued with but little change. The leader ha* been picked up inside of No. 1 break at No. 3 level and a little gold seen in it, but so far no picked stone has yet been obtained at that point. In fact very little picked stone has been gob from the leader throughout the whole of the workings for several days pasb, bub colours of gold have been seen pretty freely in the general dirt obtained, and it no doubt will crush for a good return. Tho usual monthly crushing is now in progress at the company's battery. GOLDEN HILL GOLD MINING COMPANY. A meeting of subscribers for shares in the Golden Hill Gold Mining Company was held in the Chamber of Commerce rooms yesterday afternoon. Mr. C. C. McMillan presided. The chairman having explained that' the meeting had been called for the purpose of forming a company, Mr. Wright stated that it was proposed to issue 50,000 shares with 6d paid up ; already 29,000 of the shares had been sold. The idea was to get a pump and engine to pump the shaft dry, and get ab the quartz which up to the present time had proved very payable. While doing this they expected to erect a dam and tho machine to crush the quartz. A pump and engine had already been looked at. This would cost £117 10s, and would throw 3200 gallons per hour, 300 feet vertical. That would be quite sufficient to keep the mine dry for a very considerable time The company were in this fortunatto position that when they had the water out of the mine they had nob to look for gold ; ib was there. He (Mr. Wright) said the thanks of the syndicate wore due to Mr. R. McDonald Scott for relinquishing his right to the legal management of the prop sed company, and also mentioned the gentle ■ manly way in which Mr. Scott had handed over everything in connection with it, and ' refused to accept any remuneration what- j ever for the services he had rendered. | After expressing the belief thabbhe prospects . of the mine were most encouraging, Mr. < Wright moved, "Thatthecompany Deformed under the style and name of the Goldon ] Hill Gold Mining Company, Manaia Creek, Coromandel (no liability), with a capital of £7500, divided into 50,000 shares of 3s each, ; 6't paid up." This having been duly < seconded, was carried unanimously. The j following were elected directors:—Messrs. ] W. S. Wilson, C. C. McMillan, James McFarlane, J. Batger, C. B. Stone, A. R. H. Swindley, and A. Wright Mr. D. G. Mac- , Donnell was appointed legal manager, Mr. , Leers was appointed auditor, and the Bank | of New Zealand the bauk of the company, i Rules having been passed, the proceedings I closed with a vote of thanks to the chair- < man. t — . , MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. [ Cambria (March 18).— Sinking on No. 2 ! leader, from No. 4 level, has been in progress ' as usual duriug the week. Some very promis- l ing looking quartz has been broken, but did 1 not show any gold. , A little prospecting has also been carried on on No. 1 leader from this level, and the little quartz broken from it, so far, has shown strong colours of gold. Above { the No. 4 level, stoping is proceeding as usual f on Nos. 1 and 2 leaders. The leaders con- J tinue to look well, while quartz of a fair 8 ?rade is still being won from them. A few ! nounds of picked stone came to hand from ! No. 1 leader, in the stope going towards the ' main reef. This stope will be forward to the 1 latter in a few feet. There is nothing fresh i Prom No. 5 leader. r May Queen (March 18).—In my last report I mentioned that the rock drill would c be employed on the north-west reef this is A being done, and the drive is now in 87 feet. ' S During the Week an improvement has taken | place in this drive. The reef is now five feet £ -•hick, of a similar nature to what it was at i, Mo. 3 level. There is a little mineral and . " ">''. '.'.'■■'''■ : ./:' . ■ r 'K ;

silica to be seen, bub so far no gold. How ever, a trial will be put through the batter; this week to test its worth. The drive oi No. 4 reef is now in 75 feet. During th week a' lode about three inches thick came ii from the hangingwall. This lode I bcliev d now to.be the No. 2 reef. Nice dabs of goli 's are seen in the lode, and a few pounds o it stone selected, which may be termed pickec re stone. This lode has gone straight througl w tho reef we were following into the footwall I have the men cutting iuto the footwall, tx see if the No. 4 reef is thrown to the left. '. will satisfy myself whether the No. 4 ree is thrown to the left before we extend th< w drive any further. The rise for a stope i *• started at the point where the No. 4 ree d was cut in the, crosscut. A winze will b H started during this week at No. 3 level l- about 30 feet west of the junction of No. < Ie reef and north-west reef. Saxon section sfc The No. 3 level on Clarken's leader is nov [. in 200 feet, and on Saturday the No. 1 breal was met with. The lode during the weel has nob looked so well, being rather brokei F up, but no doubt it will improve afte " makiug through the break. There is nothini B fresh to mention as regards the stopes ove ■s No. 3 and No. 2 levels. A little gold is seen >- and a few pounds of picked stone selected g having obtained 101b for the week. Th« a battery started this morning, and will hi >f kept going day shift until the end of th< e month. r '"•■'' # Mabmion (Karangahake, March 18)— No 3: The crosscut drive has been extended nim a feet during the week, or a total of 33 feet e Softer ground has come in during the las 0 two days. The country is favourable fo; z gold. The reef may be cut any day. No. 1 n reef : Seven feet have been driven since las a report, or a total of 15 feet. To-day a smal if part of the reef was broken down, but th< b footwall was not reached; about a foot it rt thickness was broken out and the quart; j looks very well, and some portions of th< j hangingwall of the lode gave very good pros pects indeed. In three or four days' tim< 0 more will be known about it, as timber ii 1 required to be put in before any more quart; 8 will be shot down. , Broken Hill (March 15.)— Since resuming » operations on the sth instant, we have cui - out a good sized paddock capable of holding e a large quantity of ore, and have commenced ■j to put in a level about 100 feet south of th< . point from where the trial crushing wai i taken, which as it extends will give a large amount of backs. The level has been driver r eight feet, and the reef averages about three ' feet in thickness and looks fairly well, in fact ' very encouraging, J Comstook (March 18).—The crosscut has i attained a distance of 22 feet. The ground s has become somewhat of a tighter nature, I owing to a large uumber of quartz veins cross- , ing the face. I Victoria (March During the past , week work has been carried on as usual in the stopes on Tower's leader, also the sinking ' of a winze under No. 4 level. In the scopes 1 better prospects have been met with duriug 1 the past few days, and the ore coming to hand is heavily mineralised. It is the inteni tiou to commence crushing from this on i Thursday. Tributers : Cleave and party, , from No. 1 level upwards in the Tookey section of the mine, are working a small leader two to three inches in thickness in the hangingwall of the hangingwall leader, and are frequently meeting with a few ' pounds of picked stone in a winze they are sinking from the 70 feet to the 100 feet or No. 1 level, and they are now crushing one load and 301b of picked stone, from which they expect from 50 to 60oz. Victor (Karangahake, March 17).—Since my last report I have strrted to drive to cut the Adeline and Dubbo reefs. The drive for the past week has been driven 36 feet. About 70 feet should cut the Adeline reef, and 150 should cut the Dubbo. Alpha (Waitekauri, March According to instructions, I broke out two tons of ore for treatment at the School of Mines. This was bagged up as the reef waa taken down, and sent from here on Wednesday, reaching the School of Mines at noon on Friday, when they commenced on its treatment at once. Regarding this parcel ot ore. I need only say . that it will be a good test of that part of this reef. The remainder of the week the men were employed in excavating a paddock for quartz aud getting timber for tram and mine. New Whau (March, 16).— my last I advised you that I was engaged removing the smithy, changing room and office from the Whau level to the Sons of Freedom tunnel. This has now been accomplished, and the smithy newly re-erected, but we have still to I finish the erection of the changing room and office, but I have taken the carpenter from this work for the present, as I want him to repair the trestle of the tramway leading to the hoppers and mullock-tip. I am very anxious to push on this work, as I want, to get at the place of operations as soon as possible. I have started four men to clean up the tunnel aud repair the road this morning, which I will push on as soon as possible.; United (Karangahake, March 18).—Since sending you the telegram on the llbh instant, I have had a lot of trouble to find the winze, as the surveyors were 12 feet out of the right direction. I had driven 12 feet north, and was getting away from the class of country and the water. I then turned south and rose six feet, and got the winze. lam glad to say the reef looks well. The little bit of stone I took out gave a two-ounce prospect. The bad air and the water would not allow me to stop any longer. The principal work for the next few days will be prospecting the reef, aud preparing for getting out a crushing. A later telegram states:— Average assay across the reef, north end winze, £12 148 per ton ditto south end winze, £13 4s per lon. Imperial (Karangahake, March 16). —Since the last report of the 9th, we have extended the drive a further distance of 19 feet, and have met with several small stiingers; one of them carries splendid minerals and looks very well, though the country is much tighter, and according to the outcrop we should not have much further to go to cut the reef. This makes in all now 75 feet. We are expecting every shift now to cut the reef. I am also pushing ahead with a ton of ore for the School of Mines. We see gold very freely through the stone, aud 1 think it should give us a good return. It will be ready to send down in the early part of next week. Portsea (Waitekauri, March Since my last report somewhat richer ore was got in driving off the winze, samples of which I sent to Mr. Lawless, but I have not yet received word as to its value, and as the seam was rather small I stopped the work there for the present, as I wanted to try a place on the surface, about a week's work, while the weather is tine. If this does not prove satisfactory, I will put them to drive south in the low level, as I am of opinion that there is a good run of gold to be got. The assays above referred to have been received since above was written, and are as follows -No. 1, hard quartz : Gold, 13dwt; silver, lozSdwt: value, £2 14s per ton. No. 2, rubble: Gold, 4oz 16dwt; silver, 3oz 6dwt : value, £19 10s per ton. Grace Darling (Waitekauri, March 17). —The low level contractors have driven 63 feet for past four weeks, making a total distance of 238 feet. There is no change to report on the country they are passing through, since my last. I fully expect to have the reef to hand withiu the next 20 feet of driving. I will put on*a man at once to clean out the winze and start sinking. I can stow the dirt from there for the present. I have had to take up the rails from there for the low level, as I could not get any from the store. Waverlky (Karangahake, March 18)— We are now iu about 100 feet, and for the last few feet a decided change has taken place. The country having become much harder, but ! still continues very favourable for making I gold. lhe reef has come together in the solid I country, and up to the present is still carry- j ing a little gold, which looks very promising '■ when we met with the junction of the fourfoot lode, but I cannot say as to the distance yet to be driven until the surveyor pays me a visit. New Alburnia (March 18).—In the drive going east on the course of Dixon's reefj fair , progress is being made, considering it is J only carried on with the day shift. The reef is still of a clayey or rubbly formation, about 18 inches in thickness, with several small leaders occasionally coming in from the footwall side. The crosscut being driven to cut the Christey's dropper is still passing through a tight sandstone country. There is so far no appearance of the leader, although j the required distance (according to recent J , survey) has now been driven. Stopes con- :-, tinue to turn out a good supply of payable j , ore. The battery has been working full ! ' time, and as usual 16 hours crushing, and the j grinding plant 24 hours. There has been a slight scarcity of water for the past few , days, and I was compelled to hang up one j stamper in each box so as to allow the speed , to be kept up so that the grinding power , should not be affected. Amalgam. for the past week, 1650z; total on hand, 3400z.