THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10044, 3 February 1896, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

Br TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Thame?, Saturday. Sharemarket.— sales Is 3d, buyers (call of 3d paid), Is sd; Victoria, sales 4s 3d, 4s 4d, 4s 3d, sellers 4s 4d; Talisman, sales 7s 6d, sellers 7s 4d ; Bunker's Hill, sellers 6s; Cardigan, sellers Is 5d ; Puriri, sellers 9d ; Puru Consolidated, sellers Is Id; Waiofcahi, sellers 2Ss j Moanataiari, buyors 6s 2d. Mat Qiiken'.—Tho manager of the May Quee-.i banked to-day 4840zs of retorted gold, the product of 700 load# of general ore and 801b of picked stono. Tho falling off/ in the months return compared with last is due to tho company's mill running only 20 days, and then below the usual rate of speed. The latter defect was owing to the scarcity of water, caused by tho dryness of the season. Tho work of developing Hayes' lodo is proceeding, and colours of gold continue to be seen through the ore obtained. Kirikiri District. — Several special claims have been token up in above district, including three leases taken up by prospectors. Victoria.—At the breaking-down of the now reef at No. 1 level, Prince Imperial shaft, to-day, tho manager wired that 351b of picked stone, 301b from the western drive and 51b from the drive going east, had been secured. Owing to the muggy state of the weather, the air has been very light at No. 1 lovel, which retarded work considerably. With the object of connect* 1 ing with tbe main winze, tho manager is pushing on the eastern drive at No. 1 level. Once this is effected, good ventilation should be tho result. Coromandel, Saturday. Four-in-Hand.—The manager of tho Four-in-Hand lodged 641b of good picked stone got this week, making about 1501b now on hand. The mino still looks firstrate, with gold in the face. Haukaki North.—This mine is getting good payable ore and some specimens. A largo paddock of good general stuff is in band. Pride of Tokatea.— mine has some very rich stone in hand, which has carried gold a long way now. Hauraki.— Tho Hauraki is reported to bo getting exceedingly rich oro in several placos. Bonkers Hill.—Tho manager is getting things into shape, and is very anxious to start sinking. Ho is very sanguine of success. TAPU FLUKE G.M.Co. The annual meeting ot tho Tapu Fluke Gold Mining Company, was to have been held on Friday at Mr. W. H. Chnrton's office, Shorthand-street, but it lapsed for want of a quorum. The balance-sheet prepared showed that the expenditure was £'2Sfi 13s 4d, made up as follows Rent, i's; wages, £141; mining requisites, £39; office, £101; and the receipts weiegold,£22. Acting on authority given by the shareholders at an extraordinary meeting held in October last, the mine is placed under offer in the Home Market, and in the meantime pending the result of these negotiations all operations in the mine are suspended. CRESCENT AND ORIENT. Meetings of shareholders in the Crescent and Orient mining companies were held on Friday with a view to amalgamation. The Orient shareholders met at Mr. W. H. Churton's office, Shorthand-street, in the forenoon, Colonel Burton presiding. A resolution was passed requiring the company to be wound up voluntarily, and the directors were empowered to dispose of the company's property. Mr. W. H. I'hurton was appointed liquidator. Subsequently a meeting of the Crescent Gold Mining Company was held at the offices of Mr. H. Gilfillan, juu., Colonel Burton presiding. It was on his motion agreed that the capital of the company hoincreasedto £22,500, by the creation ol 50,000 shares of 3s each. The Chairman explained that the object of the increased capital was to effect the purchase of the Orient property, which adjoined their own, aud ho thought the shareholders would with him that the system of amalgamation was a most desirable one, and would tend to decrease the burdens of the shareholders generally. On his motion, seconded by Mr. W. Gorrie, the motion was adopted, and a resolution was also passed, on the motion of the Chairman, second' d by Mr. Leighton, empowering the directors to buy the Orient Company's property. GOLD ASSAYER. Mr. George Burns, assayer of the Bank of New Zealand, has received official intimation that he has been appointed by his Excellency the Governor as assayer of gold under the Customs laws of the colony. The appointment is no doubt necessary under the new regulations, but Mr. Burns having already put through his hands and assayed gold and bullion worth many millions sterling during the last 25 or 30 years, the distinction is not very great, nor will it enhance his already high reputation for skill and accuracy. AUCKLAND SHAREMARKET. _ The firmer tendency apparent on Friday on the Auckland Stock Exchange became more marked on Saturday. There were buyers of National Insurances at 18s 3d, and of Auckland Gas (new) at £6 3s, with no sellers of either. Taupiri Coal stocks changed hands at IBs 9(1, with an unsatisfied demand at 18s 6d, but with no sign of acceptance on the part of holders. There was some revival, too, in mining shares. Clnnes were bought at 7d, and as 9d was offered for New Moanataiaris. lhe demand for Victorias kept up, and there were sales at 4s 2d and 4s 3d, with buyers at 4s Id. In Kuaotunu district shares, Golden Links were transferred at Bd, with yet buyers at 7d. R&pai-Vermonts were firm at 7s 6d. Midas were done at Is 3d, with oalls for them at Is; and 4s Id was offered for Try Flukes. Upper Thames shares recovered somewhat. Bvron Bays were bought at Is, Id less being offered tor more. There wore buyers of Grace Darlings at Is 2d. Nil Uesnerandums were done at 2d, with buyers at ljd. Business was transacted in Queen of \Yaihis at 2s and 2s Id, and in Talismans at 7s Gd, with further purchasers at 7s 4d, sellers asking 7s fid. There were sales in Waihi-Silvertons at 555, offers at 54s being refused. There were no sellers of Waitekauris, buyers offering 80s. Young New Zealand® were steady, In Coromandel shares the only business was in Pride of Tokate.is at lid. There were buyers of Bunker's Hills at 4s 6d. FREE STOCK EXCHANGE. At the Free Exchange both on Friday and Saturday better business was done than has been the case for some little time. There was a strong demand for Victorias, and one or two sales were reported at 4s 3d. KapaiVermonts, in large numbers were also done at 7s 6d, other sales being Freedom, fid; Matawai, 2d; Vermont, 7s 61, a line : of 200. There were also buyers as follows j Broken Hill, 5d ; Mouowai, 2s 8d ; Victoria, :4s; Freedom, 5Jd; Grace Darling, Is; I Sovereign,fid; WaihiConsols, Hid; Waitei kauri, No. 4, Is 6d; Young New Zealand, | Is Old; Byron Bay, lOd ; Queen of Waihi, ! Is 9d; Monarch, sd; Golden Anchor, 9d ; 1 Kapai-Vermont, 7s; Midas, Is; Bunker's I Hill, 4s 6d; Golden Hill, 6d; Harhour i View, 3d ; New Golconda, lid ; New Tokaj tea, Is Coromandel Freehold Proprietory, 110 d; Britannia, fid; Four-in-Hand, Is l.Jd; I Progress-Castle Rock, 4d; Hauraki North, Is lOjd. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Taiuru Creek (Thames, January 25). Norfolk section : There are now five stopes in i progress above the intermediate lovel on tho l California reef. The lode still maintains its i average width of six feet. The dirt coining i to hand continues heavily mineralised, and I is shaping fairly well at the battery. The ' low level on tho same reef has been ox--1 tended 14 feet. The lode in the presont face j is now a nice looking, compact body of stone, ; three feet in thickness. Galena and silica 1 are very plentifully distributed through the i reef, and by using the dish a little gold is j seen. The Missouri main crosscut has ad- | vanced six feet for the week; the country , here continues about the same. Duuedin section: The present low level on the Day Dawn reef has been carried forward four feet. The lode in the face is fully six feet in width. The haugingwall portion is showing more mineral than it has none for some considerable distance, and tho stone has a much kinder appearance. Very little has been done in the face of the tributers' level this week, as the drive required timbering. The stopes above this level are being carried on as usual. The reef averages three feet, and is turning out a good supply of crushing dirt. A rise has been started in the centre of this block, for the purpose of getting filling in for the stopes. The crosscut to intersect the parallel lode has been extended four feet. We have met with a "ery tight rib in this face, but I hope another few feet will see us clear of it. The intermediate under the tributers' level has been carried forward 10 feet east and 10 feet west of tho winze The reef in these faces averages two feet, and colours of gold are seen in each breaking down. The City of Duuedin low level has been repaired a further distance of 70 feet. This brings us within 12 feet of the face. We find by cleaning out the level that the reef is much larger I than tUtediaroy lust report, At present I

cannot say what size the reef is, as the whole height of the drive has been taken in tho lode, and there is no appearance of the walls. The contractors have advanced the crosscut to intersect the California reef in this section a further distance of 12 feet. The country in the face is a nice class of sandstone, and there is every appearance of a reef being closc at hand. A start has been made to put the battery level, or better known as the Sunbeam low level, in repair. This work, when completed, will be a great saving of expense to the company; for as soon as connections are made with the City of Dunedin low level, the whole of the dirt broken from the different sections will be brought through this tunnel. This will entirely do away with carting. The amalgam for the week is 6607,17dwt, making the total amount on hand 280oz 2dwt. St. Patrick (Karangalmke, January 27).During the past week the crosscut has been extended a further distance of 12 feet, the country penetrated being something similar to that in my last report. A small leader has been cut through, averaging about eight inches, which shows colours of gold by pestle and mortar treatment. Hauraki South (Coromandel, January 25).—Low level: A further distance of 10 feet has been driven for the week, the country being similar to that last reported. In the winze, which was sunk six feot for the week, making a total of 18 feet, the leaders continue to improve in size and appearance. They contain a lot of mineral and some arsenic, and by pounding the stone occasionally it proves to be gold-bearing. Alt. Nations.—Have extended the low level a further distance of 11 feet, making a total of 120 feet. Cut reef IS inches in good class country. Reef very mullocky; a little loose gold; country in face very tight. GENERAL MINING ITEMS. Mr. Chas. Robinson, of Whangarei Heads, has sent in another lot of stone from the Leading Light Freehold property, I A call of threepence per share has been ' made in the Cambria Gold Mining Company. All shares in the New Whau Gold Mining Company, on which the call due and payable has not been paid, will be sold by auction by Mr, R. C. Carr, as notified elsewhere. SOUTHERN" MINING. [by telegraph.—press association.] Grkymouth, Sunday. The Reefton gold returns for the week aro : —Big River, 2200zs amalgam from 110 tons clean up; Dark, 3'ilozamalgam from 162 tons clean up; Globe, 1950z amalgam from the top plates; Buller Dredge, 18-Joz gold for 112 liours; Cocksparrow Dredge, 3Soz amalgam for 112 hours. AUSTRALIAN MINING. Press Association.—Electric Telegraph.-Copyright. Sydney. February 1. A much healthier tone prevailed in the Silver Sharemarket during the week. Good business was done. All Broken Hill stocks improved, the prices at the latest sales being Proprietary £1 4s ljd to £3 3s (id, closing firm. Gold was negleoted and has a steady declining tendency. Prices closed weak. West Australians are specially out of favour. Investments steady, demand firm, and improved prices. Bank stock is attracting a large share of attention. Melbourne, February 1. The transactions in shares this week were chiefly centred in silver, with a good turnover at good advances. Gold is dull, dragging, and weaker. A good demand continues for better classes of investment. Stocks show an upward tendency. Splendid returns continue to be obtained in the Omeo district. The Anaconda mine crushed 68ooz from 228 tons of stone. During the fortnight a thousand ounces were obtaiued as the result of a crushing at the United Brothers property. Adelaide, February 1. The silver department of the mining market is well supported at higher figures. Gold is dull and depressed. West Australian mines are neglected and declining. Perth, February 1. A rich lode carrying heavy coarse gold has been struck at Iklkigumda, 12 miles east of Kanowyna. A now find is reported from Pilbarra. Burrows and Badgery have opened a reef nine to 18 inches wide, and estimated to go 10i>7. to the ton. The construction of a railway from the Southern Cross to Coolgardie is proceeding rapidly. The contract provides that the line shall be laid to Coolgardie by the middle of March. SUARLAND AND CO., LIMITED. ■ ♦ An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in Sharland and Co., Limited, carrying on business as wholesale chemists and druggists was held on Saturday forenoDii, at their head office, Lome-street, Auckland. In tho absence of Mr. Chas. Sh«rlfin<T; i chairman of directors, Mr. T. H. Ellis, one of the joint managers, wai called to the chair on tho motion of Mr. Owen, seconded by Mr. J. J. Holland. He oxplainod that the business, as shown in tho circular convening the meeting, was to amend the articles of association by cancelling article 11, which empowered tho company to decline to rogister any transfor of shares made by any person indebted to them, and substituting the following The directors may decline to rogister any transfer of a share; (a) Wherosuch transfer is made by a member who is indebted to the company ; (p.) when it it not proved to thoir satisfaction that tho proposed transferee is 0 responsible person ; (c) when they are of opinion that the proposed transferee is not a desirable person to admit to membership, and the directors shall not be compelled to give any reason for thoir opinion; (D) where tho company has a lien on the shares." On the motion of Mr. J. 0. Sellorru, seconded by Mr. Graves Aickin, the motion was unanimously adopted. The Chairman reminded the shareholders that it would be neccssary to hold a special meeting on the 17th instant to confirm the resolution.