THE GODLFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9830, 27 May 1895, Page 6

THE GODLFIELDS.

[»X TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Thames, Saturday. Sharkmarket.—New Wbaa, sales 9d, sellers 9sd; Hazelbank, sellers 3s; City of Dunedin, buyers, la Id ; May Queen, sellers 10s, buyers 9s ; Moanataiari, sellers 4s 9d ; Monowai, sales 4s 6d, sellers 4s 9d ; Broken Hill, sellers 4d; Royal, sellers 6d ; Occidental, sellers 6d ; Norfolk, sales Is 4dL

Royal (Tapu).—The contractors for the opening up of this company's new low level made a start on Monday last, and since then have driven a distance of 40 feet. Very little work has been done in the winze upon the main reef during the week owing to the water having become somewhat troublesome. A depth of about 30 feet has been attained, and in the bottom the reef is about three feet thick, with colours of gold showing pretty freely in the quartz. The main crosscut at the top level has been extended several feet during the week, but nothing of importance was met w»Ji. Sheridan (Tapu). —The winze upon the main reef below No. 3 level has attained a depth of 44 feet, but only about three feet of the footwall portion is now being carried with the winze. This part of the reef continues to look well, and to show gold freely, but latterly there has been such an inflow of water as to somewhat impede sinking operations. This difficulty, however, is to be got over by the putting of a small force - pump in the winze, which work will be completed early next week. A supply of payable crushing dirt is coming to hand 'from both the stopes on the main reef about No. 2 intermediate level and from the Ophir section, and a cleaning-up will probably take place at the battery next Saturday. Monowai Amalgamated (Waiomo). — During the past week the new level in the Monowai section has been proceeded with, and the main reef penetrated a further distance of eight feet, which makes a total of 14 feet now cut into. About six feet back from the present face a clay head, running the same course as the reef, was met with, and inside of this break the quartz broken has not borne the same promising appearance as the previous eight feet of the reef did ; but still the quartz appears to be improving as the level advances. A very lair class of ore has been obtained from tho stopes from the Gem reef in the top level of the Crown section, and the reef continues to look well. The crosscut for the new level in this section is now in a distance of 37 feet, but it has not been manned continually during the week, as the men have beeu employed elsewhere part of the time. A general cleaning up is to take place at the company's battery next week, but it will probably be near the end of the week before the bullion will be ready for banking. Paeroa, Saturday. Imperial.—A good deal of water has made its appearance in the bottom of the winze, and, as a consequence, the invasion is causing a little trouble. Baling operations by means of buckets have been commenced, in order that the work of sinking might be continued ; but should the water gain on the shaft, the manager purposes suspending operations here for the time, and will push ahead as quickly as possible the low level, for the purpose of picking up the lode, cut off by the break. Should the reef in question be recovered as quickly as anticipated, it will, it is thought, be the means of draining the country through the level, and thus allow sinking operations to be continued until the requisite depth is attained. However, more will be known regarding the matter in a day or two. Bonanza. —A length of about 16 feet has now been opened up on the lode, which in the face shows a thickness of about 5 feet. The quality of the lode has slightly improved during the last few feet, the quartz being of a more kindly nature, and carries a little silicioua matter, while a fair prosspect is also obtained by mortar te*t. In the Dubbo section of the mine driving is in progress to intersect the lode, but there is no material change to report. Alpha.—There is not much alteration in the position of affairs since last report in this company's mine. The reef being developed near the Komita main hopper is at the present time about three feet thick in the face. The drive has now been advanced about eight or ten feet past the large boulder, which your readers will remember came in last week, and bad the effect of pinching the reef as well as interfering with the solidity of the ore formation. However, the country penetrated is excellent, being full of small iron stringers, and should have a good effect upon the lode being developed. A flow of water is also coming away from the face, an indication generally looked upon that another body of quartz is in close proximity. The manager is of opinion that a cross reef is a short distance ahead, which is naturally a reasonable assumption, especially as the country is really full of quartz reef. However, in this case time alone will reveal the fact whether or not the company are soon to be favoured with another lode for development. No arrangement has, I understand, been yet come to regarding the treatment of the ore on hand, but there is no doubt that before any estimate can be put on the value of the reef, a big crushing will have to be put through. The kind of treatment will also have to be considered, as the gold apparently is by some authorities considered to be rather coarse for cyanide. Wealth of Nations. —With a view to gaining some idea as to the value of the quartz being won from the No. 2 lode, a trial parcel of two tons is to be forwarded to the Thames School of Mines next week I for treatment.

VENUB G.M. CO. I A PROFITABLE CRUSHING.

The following telegram was received on Saturday by the legal manager of the Venus Gold Mining Company, Kuaotunu :— " Shipped 1530z retorted gold from 96 tons quartz crushed."

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Waverley (Karangahake, May 21). —I am pleased to say the lode we have been driving on has improved in value, and from prospects obtained from the dish, I consider they are fully payable. The distance driven is now 251 feet to the face, and before the junction of the larger lode is met with, it will require to be driven about another eighty or ninety feet. The country now is perfectly solid and very hard, and being considerably mineralised, has every favourable indication for carrying a run of gold up to the junction. Ivanhok (Karangahake, May 21).—1 have discontinued work on the reef near the river, and have removed the smithy on to the top of the hill, in about the centre of the ground, and have put all hands to work in the drive on the No. 2or Crown reef. The ground in this drive has come in rather tight, causing alow progress, the distance being only seven feet for the week. The veins of quartz in the face are a little more defined, and there is still a well-defined footwall, and a steady stream of water coming from it, which generally indicates that the reef should make into a larger body of stone. Wealth of Nations (Karangahake, May 20).—The No. 2 lode is increasing in size and value. lam driving on this reef northward, and the tunnel is now in 10 feet. I am saving nearly the whole of the reef with the exception of the mullocky stuff on the hangingwall, and fully four feet of the reef may be considered good crushing dirt, worth at the very least £5 per ton. I think that judging by the ore underfoot the lode would improve on sinking. We have 60 feet of backs as at present, but with a lower level driven about 200 feet at least 200 feet back would be available, this I hardly need say with a five feet reef would make your mine a splendid property. I may say that the new crosscut for No. 3, which is now in 30 feet, should cut that reef in about 60 feet more at most. If continued past No. 3 it would cut other lodes, including No. 2, giving No. 2 greatly increased backs.

SOUTHERN MINING.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Greymouth, Sunday. The Roefton gold returns for the week areßig River, 210oz amalgam from 100 tons; Progress, 2300z amalgam from 220 tons; Hercules, HOoz amalgam from 98 tons ; Alpine, 180oz amalgam from 390 tons ; Globe, 140oz amalgam from 120 tons Buller dredge, 30oz gold tor 128 hours; Dark, 2850z amalgam from 248 tons.

Owing to the Press Association telegram from Hokitika, respecting the formation of a large mining company, which appeared in these columns on Saturday, being imperfectly worded, it was mis-read. The negotiations referred to in the telegram are between the Humphrey's Gully Gold Mining Company and Mr. Ziman, of Johannesburg.