THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10008, 20 December 1895, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[ByiBLKOBiPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Thursday. Sharemakket.—Crown, buyors 27s 6d ; Cambria, buyers Is Id; Monowai Amalgamated, sellers 4s 3d; iloanataiari, buyers 5s 6d; Sheridan, sellers la 2d; Victoria, sales 2s 6d, buyers lis sd; Cardigan, buyers Is 3d; Golden Point, buyers Is 3d.

I Victoria.—Cleave and party, tributers in the Tookey section, completed a crushing of three loads of general dirt and a parcel of picked stone to day for the handsome yield of 115oz lOdwt melted gold, which is equal to an average of a little over 38oz per load. Cardigan".—' crosscut at No. 4 level is now just entering the company's own ground, and an excellent class of sandstone country is being penetrated. The crosscut is nob yet quito clear of the reef formation met with a fow days ago. The latter has shown a width of over two feet in places, and some very nice mineral has been seen in the quartz, but no gold has been observed.

Queen* of Beauty.—A party of men wore put on this morning to commence to prepare ft site for tho new pumping machinery that is shortly to arrive from England, in order to allow the Thames deep levels to be tested. Tho cabling of the necessary funds from England to commence operations, has given great satisfaction here, and all aro looking forward to important developements being made during the ensuing year. Moasataiari.— ab the 150feet level are still being confinod to tho dovelopement of No. 2 reef in the Golden Calf section, and to stoping upon No. 4 leader. Good progress is being nude with tbo former work, and tho prospects met j with are of a most promising character. In driving westward the full width of the | drive, somo 6 or 7 feeb is upon quartz, but whether this is the whole of the reef or net), ic is impossible to say at the presunc time. Stoping is also proceeding upon tho same body at both the eastern and western end of the block, and a considerable supply of fair crushing dirt is being obtained therefrom. An improved class of country has been met with in the eastern drive, upon tho Golden Ago root, at the Point Russell level, but as yet the reef has not boon cut into, although the manager purposes doing so in a day or two. A little gold continues to be seen in tho quartz coming to hand from tho Golden Age footwall leaders and the Dawn of Hope reof, but nothing of importance has been met with for some time past. QUEEN OF BEAUTY*. In the account of the deep-sinking operations to be undertaken by the Queen of Beauty Company, published in yesterday's Herald, it was stated that the pumping appliances to be erected were capable of raising "JOOO gallons of water per hour. Iv should have read *2000 gallons of water per minute.

NIL DESPERANDUM G.M. CO. A largely attended iiiestin" of shareholders in the Nil Desperandmri Gold Miuing Compmv was held yesterday at the office of Mr. J, H. Harrison, Shortlaiid-street, Mr. H. Brett presided. The chairman in opening the proceedings said the meeting had been called partly because of a requisition sent in by a large number of shareholders, and partly to explain the results of the recent crushing, which had been anything but satisfactory, The meeting must be considered informal, fur, to give proper notice, it would have been necessary to have carried it forward until after Christmas. But the directors thought it desirable there should be a meeting at once. The Chairman then went on to give the results of assays which he, himself, and others had had made, and which ranged from over IS to over £'26 per ton. Since then, assays equally a3 good had been got, without exception, all warranting the belief that the Nil Desperaudnm was one of the finest properties in the Peninsula. He (the chairman) was inclined to think it was still a good property, although he confessed he, with others, was disappointed with the result of the last crushing. Three tons had been sent to Messrs. Fraaer Bros, and three tons to the Thames School of Mines. The result came out practically the same and they were disappointing. It was eventually decided to have 50 tons of ore tested at the discretion of the directors, 10 tons to be taken from the big reef and the other 40 from the quartzbrought tothepaddock Aproposalthat an expert should be sent to die property was defeated by 15 votes to 11. The chairman stated that Mr. Ciarkson (mine manager), who was present and who gave all information to shareholders, had tendered his resignation, having secured another appointment. Mr. Ciarkson presented a report, in which he stated that the whole reef, in his opinion, would average 10 dwt.«. The size of the reef warranted the erection of a battery plant, for the total cost of crushing would be only 9 s 6d per ton. In answer to a question, Mr. Clarksou said the area of the property was 55 acres. The chairman added that there was £463 to the credit of the company.

AUCKLAND SHAKEMARKET. There was again, yesterday, a healthy tone on the Auckland Slkiremarket, Thames stocks in particular being firm. New Alburnias recovered, with buyers at js, and business in May Queens was done up to 9j 4d, with further buyers at 9s but no sellers under Dj 91. New Moanataiaris, too, wero in demand at os 9d. The news of the Queen of Beauty development, and the report of the finding of a reef in the drive of die boundary of the Cardigan, lifted that stock to Is Bd, with more buvera at Is 6d, with sellers at Is 7d. Waihi Exteudeds hardened, and Byron Bays remained as they were, as aid also, practically Queen of Waihi's. Waihi-Silverton's advanced again with aides at 55s to 57s 6d, and more buyers at the lower figure quoted. Woodstocks were unchanged. There were calls for Talismans at 4d more than on the previous day ; and there were also inquiries fur Waitekauri No. d's at a little higher rate. Kapai-Vermont), Try Flukes, and Waitaias were about as they were. Bunker's Hills improved a trifle.

FREE STOCK EXCHANGE. Fairly brisk business was done at the Free Stock Exchange yesterday, a considerable number of sales being effected, and competition between buyers and sellers vigorous. Moat of the transactions, however, were in the smaller stocks, and the aggregate number of shares disposed of was not in the usual proportion to the number of sales. At the close of the day some of the smaller stocks weakened, but prices quoted were somewhat erratic on both sides. .Sales were effected in the following stocks Waihi Extended, 5Jd, sd; Comstock, 4Jd, sd; Waihi Consols, Is; Juno, sd; Midas, lid; Cardigan, Is 6d and Is 7d; Bunker's Hill, 4s sd, 4s 3d; Golden Hill Extended, lid, Id; Britannia, lOd; Four-in-Hand, lOcf; Pukewhau, 8d; Sovereign, Gd. There were buyers at open call for stocks as follows May Queen, 8s 7d ; Royal, Is Id; Victoria, 2s 4d: Waiotahi, 26a ; Freedom, 3d; Cardigan, Is sd; Puru Consolidated, 9d ; St. Patrick, 4d ; Grace Darling, Is 3d ; Ivanhoe, 7sd ; Nil Desperaudum, s{d ; Sovereign, 4d; Central,Gd; VYailii Consuls, Hid; Hercules, SJ; Waitekauri No. 4, 23 2d; VVailii Extended, 5.V1; Byron Hay, 10d; Teutonic, 4d; Queen of Waihi,2s 6d; Waihi Mint, 4Jd; liapai • Vermont, 9s; Maoriland, Bid; Midas, 10A<1; Try Fluke, 7s; Jupiter, 4s Gd; Bunker's Hill, 4s 3d; Golden Hill Extended, Id; Golden Hill, sd; Hauraki No. 2, Is 2d; Pukewhau, 7d: Welcome Find, 2a Gd; Four-in-Hand, 9^(1: Pigmy, sid New Zealander, sd; Harbour View, sd. GENERAL MINING ITEMS. An extraordinary meeting of Queen of VVaihi Gold Mining Company will be held at the New Zealand Insurance Buildings, on the 10th prox., at 2,30 p.m., when certain resolutions will be submitted. A meeting of subscribers for shares in the Londonderry Special Claim will be held in Mr. William Elliot's office, Bank of New Zealand Buildings, this afternoon, at 2.30. Mr. Elliot reports that he has just received the battery returns and the Hank of New Zealand's receipt for 2G ounces of gold from two loads of dirt put through the Cambria battery on 23rd November, for which the bank paid Fisher Brothers £68 15s Gd, being at the rate of £2 13s 5d per ounce. • Mr. Evans, who lias been appointed manager of the VVaihi Grand Junction, was manager of the Pliccnix (Ota«>).

THAMES WARDEN'S COURT. Thames, Thursday. At the usual fortnightly sitting of this court to-day, before Mr. Warden Eyre Kenny the following applications were dealt with UCKN.SKI> holdings. The following application* for licensed holding were printedM. MeMalion, Dark Horse, 30 acres, Tapu; Fredk. Bennett, Star of England, 30 acres, Tararu; John Howler, Caspian, 20 acres, l'unca CUt; K. McWilliams, New liauraki, 22 acres, Kanaka Creek ; John Abbott, Tasmania, 16 acres, Tara.ru; Hugh Fisher, Londonderry Extended, 20 acres, Puuga Flat. SPECIAL CLAIM. The following special claim? were recommended for being granted :-James Browne, Conservative, 100 acres, Tararu; E. McWilliams, Cumberland Extended, 23 acri's, Karaka Creek; Jamas Iteid, Golden Mount, 100 acres, Tairua; John Goonan, the Codonia, 100 acres, Tairua; J. A, Gray, W&ipuro, 100 acre?, Piuu; liXlvrjrd Shaw, Friend-

ship. 100 acres, Tairua; Thomas Caatien, Ohinomuri, lOOacrcs, Tairua; W. J. Comes, Dynamo, 100 acres, Tairua; Robert Kelly, City of Dublin, 100 acres, Tairua; Tfcoa. MeUett, Mount Taylor, 80 acred, Upper Tararu; 11- B. Lush, Phienix, 103 acres, W'hangamata; George Makgill, Kemuera, ICO acres, Tairua. PROTECTION. The following applications were granted : For absolute protection for the anchor special claim, Ihpe Creek, 11. Koßers; six months' protection for the Square anil Compass licensed holding, Tapu. .Permission to work with a loss number of men was granted in each of the following instances: James McUregor, to work the Whakahawai licensed holding, Ohui, with three men instead of ten for a period of four months; Ueow lE. White, to work the Russell special claim, l'tiru, with two men instead of 31 men for four months; George H. White and J. H. Fleming, to work the Uranus special claim, Pur J. with two men instead of 14 for four months; the Puru Consolidated Hold Mining Company to work the Salisbury and Russell extended special claims, Puru, with four men, instead of W, for four mouths. Mr. Miller, solicitor, appeared in support of the applications for the f.mr last mentioned special claims, and stated that they all belonged to the Puru Consolidated Gold Mining Company. Mr. Kdtrard McWilliams gave evidence in support of the application, and the Mining Inspector said he considered it would be reasonable to grant the requests; after which the Warden granted the desired permission, subject to the payment of rent due on the leases, viz., £49 4s Oil. MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS. The following miscellaneous applications wore granted:!'. Morrin, water-race, Puru Creek; Arthur PitUir, special site, Shellback Creek ; John Ross, Luminary clsim of two men's ground. Canadian Gully; Hori Tamaki, chim of five moil's ground, To Puru; Win. Waddcll, residence site, Karaka Creek; Hugh Torren's claim, i'araru; A. (■. Hansen, .las. llinduian, and John U. Smith, exchange of titles for residence sites. APPLICATIONS ADJOI'R.VED. The following applications were adjourned to January IS: — J as. Onyon, Eclipse licensed holding, Upper I'araru, the granting of which is objected to hjr J. I/Oiuas Smith ;Jas. Heid, I'ukewhau special claim, Tiiiua, which is objected to by Win. Garlick. owner of General Grant special claim; G. H. Budge True King special claim, Taiiin, objected to by the Kauri Timber Company; the same person also applied for the Col.'sen and Light of Asia special claims, Tairua, but they were adjourned under similar conditions; A, K. I)odd, Ulysses No. 3 Extended special claim, Puru, objected to by James Mays ; Reubens Kerry, Now 'I'araru special claim, Tararn; li. Barclay, kix months' protection for Karaka mines, special claims, Karaka Creek. SURPLUS GKOI'ND. Several applications for surplus ground wore dealt with as follows -—James Itankes was granted surplus ground in Dark Horse licensed holding, Tapu; A. K. Dodd, surplus ground in Waipr.nl special claim, Puru ; J. Hastings, surplus ground in Golden Mount special claim, Tairua; A. Watson, surplus ground in Pliienix special claim, WhingamaU; and Charles Short, surplus ground in the St;ir of lingiand special claim, Tararu. Application for surplus ground in the Cumberland Extended. Friendship, Colonial, Ohinemuri, City of Dublin, True King, Mount Taylor, Pluenix, Colos<us, Light of Asia, Golden Mount, Londondorrj 1 Extended, Maori Dream Proprietary, and Sybil special claims, were all struck out, there being no surplus ground in either instance, whilst the applications tor tho surplus ground in the Lincoln, Pukewhau, and Mountain Flower were adjourned to January 10. WITHDRAW The following applications were withdrawnA. McMahon, May Pole special claim, Karaka Creek ; E. R. Edwards, Fiery Cross licensed holding, Tinker's Gully; T. 11. liaison, Ilni special claim, llikutaia; J. J. Mackv, Minerva special claim. Whaug.uiiata; Jaiika McGregor, residence site, Ohui. _________ MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Byron Hay OVaiteknuri, December 11).—Have driven 24 feet since the last report, nuking the ilriva a total of 91 feet. The latest cm-sent proved the reef to be niiu feet wide, the prospects continuing ab.nit the same. Khpikk (December 10V—The No. 1 tunnel has been extended a further distance of •>"> feet for the week, making 00 feet to date. The No. i tunnel is no* in a distancs of 2. feet and fussing through splendid sandstone country, interlaced with mineral veins.

British Empire (Wait«kiuri, December 18). No. 1 drive has been driven in another l.i feet. I have not ret cot the reef, hut have hopes of striking it soon. 1 am still pushing on the upper drive. There are two nice I'loting leaders in this diire. Goliikn l'oi.M(rapu, December lo) —The various works in progress during the past week in onnecti n with the winding plant .re all in an advanced state and lapidly approaching completion Taiuki* Creek (Thames, December II).— Norfolk Section: Three slopes are now in progress on the California reef abore the intermediate level. The lode in these stopes averages from two feet to 111 feet in width, is heavily mineralised with galena ore, anil gives fiir prospects o[ fre" cold. The low letil on the same reef has been extended a further distance of l.i feet, and the reef is from three feet to four feet in thickness. Norfolk South; The drive has been extended a further distance of live feet Ihe reef in the present face is Is inches in thkkno«s, and is highly mineralised. Dunediu section. The present low level 011 the DayDnvn reef has been advanced 10 feet. The reef is thrss feet in width, and the lnusjingwall portion is heavily mineralised with galena ore. The country the lode is now penetrating is a splendid class of sandstone for gold. I'he tributes' level 011 the same reef his been carried forward 12 feet. The reef in the face is fully two l«et in width and shows colours of gold. Two slopes are being continued ibnve this level. Tils tir<t is along Ci feet anil the second it feet. The reef in these stopes averages 2 feet ci inches in thickness, andisslnping favourably at the battery. The City of Dunedin low level has been cleaned out a furtliT distance of 31 feet. The amalgam return for tile week is Sioz iMwtk'ur, making the total amount on hand 4s"oz l'Jdwt 17gr.