THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10032, 20 January 1896, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

LBjr TELEGRAPH,— CORRESPONDENTS.]

Thames, Saturday, Sharkmakket (noon: No seven o'clock quotation).—Moanataiari, buyers . 5s 6d; Victoria, buyers 2i 6d ; Alburnia, sellers 6s; Victoria, sellers 3s; Kuranui, sellers 3s 4d; Puru Consolidated, sellers Is 2d ; Waihi Extended, sellers, 7d ; Waihi Monument, sellers 9d ; New Whau, sellers 8d ; Argosy, sellers 6d. Victoria.—The development on the new reef in the Prince Imperial section of the company's property advanced a stage today. The manager wired that the lode had been intersected at No. 1 level, showing a little gold. The main winze being sunk upon the lode from the adit lovel behind the shaft is fully 90 feet to the eastward, while westward the lode iB supposed to be quite intact. Alburnia East.— reef recently unearthed, which produced stone of a high class, has not shown anything of importance since, but it- is thought that when opened up at a greater depth an improvement will take place. Paeroa, Saturday. Waiteicauri.— following tenders have been received for the excavation of the kiln sites:Keegan and party, £342 15s ; Quinn and party, £243; Cunningham and party, £310; W. Tothill, £363; Murphy and Dickson, £300 ; Bain and Robinson, £209 9s; J, Dynes, £327; Farrally and Hill, £149 109. The latter's tondor being the lowest was accepted, and the contractors have commenced work. Woodstock.—Operations in this mine are once more in full swing, and the coming year will see a number of new works in progress for the systematic development of the property. Already tenders are invited for the driving of five different levels, including the extension of the Nos. 2 and 3 levels on the Maria reef southwards. Hitherto the two latter works were conducted under the wapes system, but it has now been determined to advance the faces by contract. The No. 2 level, it may bo mentioned, has boen driven about 350 fact), while the No. 3 level has boon carried along for fully 550 feet. In both levels a good supply of ore is being won, the lode varying throughout from 4 to 6 foet in thickness, so that ib will be seen the Maria reef is very consistent as regards the maintenance of its dimensions. The quality of the oro is also of a payable nature, the average assay value of the ore treated from the different works being a little over £5 per ton. Included in the list of new works which are to be undertaken, and for which tendors havo been invited, is the driving of the No. 4 level. This work was commenced by wages men at a point about 86 feet below tho No. level, and as already a distance of about 40 feet has been driven the lode formation should bo to hand in about another 40 feet of driving. The country in the face at the present timo is of a most favourable nature, being of decomposed andosito. A start has also boon made with the preliminaries for driving the No. 5 level, which, it may be stated, will be 100 feet lower down tho hill than the No. 4, or on a level with the horse grade section of the tramline. Tendors for this work close on the 24th instant, and it is anticipated that when 130 feet has been negotiated tho oro body will be to hand. These new works when thoroughly in hand will unquestionably givo employment to a large staff of miners, while the now scheme of operations points conclusively to the fact that the Woodstock Co. are, by entering upon those extensivo works, going tho right way to systematically and remuneratively develop their property. In addition to tho works already referred to the extension of the No. 2 level 01*088001 in the direction of the No. 1 or main lode, is also to be taken in hand, and pushed ahead expeditiously, whilst tho opening up of tho No. 3 or Shepherd's reef by means of the intermediate level is being vigorously prosecuted. This drivo has now been carried along on the courso of tho roof for fully 60 feet with oxcollent rosults, tho lode which is from 12 to 18 inches in thickness having produced ore for the length stated, which gave an assay value of from £15 to £20 per ton. Tho block is therefore opening up well, and should havo a good effect upon the bullion returns of tho company, RICH STONE AT COROMANDEL. Coromandbl, Saturday. Rich etono is being secured in tho Pride of Tokatca, and exceedingly good stone in the Four-in-hand, some of whioh is worth 2oz to the pound. Hauraki North has also obtained 60 pounds of first-class stone. The reef looks splendid. HAURAKI G.M. CO. GOOD START FOR THE NEW YEAR. AVERAGE, Boz Idwt 21ors PER TON. During the period from December 14th last to Saturday last, the 18th January—and excluding the period taken for holidays— 278 tons of oro were treated in tho Hauraki Cold mining Company's mino for 1694 ounces melted cold, which calculated at the usual average "of £3 per ounce gives a value of £5032. The start is an excellent one for the new year, the average being the high one of 602 ldwt aud nearly 21grs.