THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10046, 5 February 1896, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[B7 TELEGRAPH.—OWK CORRESPONDENTS,] Thames, Tuesday. Shauemarkbt.— Cardigan, sales It 7d, Is 8:1, Is od, Is Bd, sellers Is 8d; Victoria, sales, 43, buyers 3s lid, sellers 4s 31; Alburnia East, 3d. Buyers i Cambria, Is sd; Hazelbank, Is lOd; Moanataiari, 6s. Sellers: Moanataiari Extended, 9d; Moanataiari North, 9d; Mew Whau, 9d j Puriri, Od ; Sheridan, Is; VVaiobahi, 28e; Invicta, fid; Scandinavian, 9d; Golden Lead, 7d. Cardigan.—A reef was cut to-day nine inches thick, and showing colours of gold. Up to the present face a good description of country has been passed through, which led to the idea that in the event of a lode being met with gold would also be found. So far everything has gone on well with the exploring level, which has bean driven ak the rate of 40 feet per week, and it will be continued straight ahead, at the country showing on the south or foolwall side of the lodn is apparently of a superior class to that passed through, being of a dark blue colour with numerous mineral seams striking into tha lode. As the level advances thore is almost an absolute certainly tlmt other branches of this lode system will be mat with, and in the event of this class of country continuing thi prospect of meeting with other goldbearing lodes appears promising, Moasataiari Extended.—Some timo back the exploratory level upon the course of the No. 0 reef tapped a large volume of water, which has continued its powerful flow right up to the present. With this large Inflow carbonic gas also made its exit from the lode into the level, which had the effect of preventing further work being carried on to advantage. In order to remove this obstacle to successful operations the manager decided to bring in an air blast, and endeavour So eject the gas. This work was completed on Monday, and with the introduction of the air-blast the desired effect was attained, and yesterday the face was quite clear, thus enabling the further exploration of this large lode, which is looking very well in the face, to be roiumed. Mr. White states that there is fully half a sluicehead of water rushing out of the reef with tremendous force. No doubt it is draining off some wet section of country, and cannot possibly continue it* flow for any groat length of time. RUB ROY G.M. CO. An extraordinary meeting of the shareholders of the Rob Roy Cold Mining Company, Limited, was held yesterday at the nlfice of Mr. McDonald Scott, New Zealand Insurance Buildings. Mr. T. J. Steele presided. It was unanimously agreed, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Herbert Thompson, " That for the purposes of re-constriiotionand amalgamation with the Talisman Extended Gold Mining Company, Limited, this company be wound up voluntarily under the provisions of the Companies Act, ISS2." It was announced that a confirmatory meeting would be held shortly. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings. WOODSTOCK. At ameeiingof ths local directors of the Woodstock Gold Mining Company, held yesterday, the tenders of Messrs. Price Bros, for the erection of buildings, battery and cyanide plant, with coucrnting and brickwork ; and the tender of Messrs. Seager Bros, for water mains were accepted. HAZELBANK. In reference to the oablegram received from Mr. Melville asking for an extension of time for two months, in which to float the Hazelbank property in the Home market, the matter has been considered by the Harelbank directors, and they expressed themselves perfectly agreeable to grant the extension asked for. The matter now only awaits the cousent of those who have to do with an adjoining property. AUCKLAND SHAREXIARKET. Better business was transacted yesterday in mining shares on the Auckland sharemarket. Cardigans changed hands from h 6d to Is lOd, with a tall to Is 8d; there were buyers at the close at Is 7d. Hazelbanks changed hands a" 2s and 2s 2d, with still a demand at the lower figure. Business was done in Monowais at 3?. There was a demand for NewMoanatiiaris. and exchanges were effected from 5s lOd to 6s, with still a demand at the lower figure, and no sellers nnder6s 6d. Victorias were sold at 3s lid and 4s id, with purchasers at the latter. Kapai-Vermonts were firm at 7s 9d, business being transacted up to Ba. There were many buyers of Upper Thames stooks, offers being made and refused for Crowns at 275; for Wondstocks at 245; and for WaihiSilvertons at .iSs (3d : sales in the last-named were recorded during the day from 58s to 60s. There was littlo demand for Coromandel shares, there being buyers only of Bunker's Hills at 4s 6'l, Pour-in Hands at Is, and Hauraki North* at 2«. FP.KK EXCHANGE. Improvement was again evidenced yesterday in the Free Exchange, where sales were reported in Monowais at 2s lOd, in Victorias at 4s Id, in Cardigans at Is 7d and is Bd, in New Zealanders at 3}d, in Waitekauri No. 4 at Is B)jd, iu Kapai-Vermonts at 7s 10(1, Waitaias at 3s 2d, in Auroras at 4d, and in Four-in-Haud at Is Id. There were buyers in the following;—Alburnia East, 4d; Broken Hill, 7d ; Kuranui, 'is 6d; May Queen, 7s 3d; Monowai, '2i lOd ; New Moanataiari, 5s 9d; Victoria, 4s; Cardigan, Is 6d; I'uru Consolidated. lOJd; St,. Patrick, 5(1; Golden Fleece, 6.jd ; Grace Darliu?, Is 3d; Ivauhoe, 3d: New Zealauiler, 3Jd; Nil Desperandum, 3d: Sovereign 4d : Central, 8d ; Waihi Consols, 1b ; 'Hercules. 3d ; Waihi Extended, 3d; Waverley, 7d; Young New Zealand, Is Id ; Byron Bay, IOJd ; Queen of Waihi, 2i; Monarch, .VI: Golden Anchor, Is; KapaiVermont, 7s IO.Jd ; Midas, llid; Waitaia, 3s Id; Jupiter,3s 9J; Aurora, 3id; Kuaotunu, Is; Golden Link, 7d; Bnnker's Hill, 4s 9d ; New Golconda, lid; New Tokatea, Is 'Jd; Zealantlia, 4d; Britannia, 8d; ProgressCastle Rock, sd; Pigmy, sd; Napier, 6d; Haaraki North, Is 10^1. GENERAL MINING ITEMS. A notification appears in another coluinu that the capital of the Crescent Gold Mining Company is to be increased by tha issuing of 50,000 new share* of 3s each, in addition to the 100,000 shares now existing in the company. The annual meeting of the Talisman (told Mining Company will be hold in the New Zealand Insurance Buildings on tho 14th instant at half-past two p.rn A call of one penny per share in the Wealth of Nations Gold Mining Company has boon made. A call of one penny per share has been made in the Occidental Gold Mining Company. PAEROA WARDEN'S COURT. [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] I'ahkoa, Tuesday. The usual sitting of the Warden's Court was held to-day, when the following applications were dealt with by Mr. H. EyreKenny, Warden APPLICATIONS POP. LICENSED HOI.DIXOS. James Harrow, Waihi West, adjourned. R. C. Greenwood, Ophir Eitomled, Owhsron, adjourned to lSih instant. Rdw.inl Ryan, Botokohu licenced holding, Itot'ikohu, adjourned till 18th inUint. .James Mackay, Beatrice apodal cl«im, <>wli\roa, adjourned till 18th Instant. Hdwtrd Ilyan, Rntolcohn Extended licensed holdim, adjourned till 18th instant. Ildn-ln Kdwards, WnalHi «f Nations Nns. 1 and 2, Karangahake; adjourned till Jrd March, In view of an application for a special claim. Michael O'Connor, doltlim Crown, K»rjn»ah\ke, adjournal for amendment of plan to ISth Instant, ft. C. Speer, Salem licensed holdinr, Walt-kauri, olijtct»d to by the Golden Knnr (Jold Mining Company, C. U. Collins, and J. W. Spoer; objections allowed with costs, Golden Spur Company .03 Maury Collin# £2 2s; the application was tb«n adjonrned to the 18th Instant. J. Carter, Pompeii, adjourned till the 13th instant for the amendment of plans. Ifclwin Edwards, Bulletin licensed holding, Kuaiißihako, I ([ranted. H. Poland and 0. Crosby, Albemarle licensed holding, Waihi, objected to by H. C, Saiage; the objection wn admitted and costs allowed, i 22« ; the case was then adjourned till the lSth instant. JMirin inwards, Qoldbeatat licensed holding; jr*ni«d subject to payment of /A 4s, to deposit the amount within 30 days. Kdwiu Edwards. Rl*lit Bower licensed holding; ebj Jected to by Hugh Butler, on the ground ! thai there wan an encroachment on the Nelvou licensed holding; adjourned till the 18th instant. , James liarrttt, Bulliou liceiwod holding, Karaugibake, granted. APPLICATIONS FOR SPECIAL CLAIMS. Hugh Butler, Golden Stream, Waltelraud, objected t» by Junes llussell, C. 4.. Comas, and W. J. Coraes, adjourned till the IStI) instant; J. N. Baxter, Three Star upecial claim, Waitekauri, adjourned till the lath instant; John Wutsoa Walker, Grand Junction special ulaim, Waihi, adjourned till the 18th instant; Alfred Kidj, i Hercules special claim, adjourned till the 18th laetavt; Siiuiuel Ijowrie, Bank «f England special claim, adjourned till the 18th iuitaut; G. W. 1 Nebraska, aiijsurned till the 18th instant; Robert Olewente, LittU Lizzie, O wlwoa, adjourned Mil the llth instant; James Henry Olarkson, Marguerite, adjourned till the 18th iust; Thomas Mac* Humphreys, Waihi Mint special clalii,' adjournal till the 18th Instant; Waihi *Vajt Cross t Extended, withdrawn; Pierce lj»aiga», Hibomica special claim, adjourned till the XBth instant; Henry 1 Moore, Marburg special cLiim, adjourned till the 18»h instant; C. B. Stone, Masootw, adjoipned till the 18611 instant; Edward Mann Oorbett, Mount special claim, Karangahake, adjourned till the 18th Infant; Waitekauri Gold Minint Company, Golden , Cross, and Crtcsiit special claims. Waitekauri, adjourned till the 18th instaut; WilllamCorbstt, 1 Deep Lead special claim, Waitekauri, adjourawl Hill tto. «*f> /#uw,wftfen eh 9*

Aurifera special claim, Owharoa, recommended; H. C. Savage, Lily of Waihi special claim, Waihi, recommended; C. A. Comes, Goleonda, Waitekauri, recommended to be granted to It. C. Greenwood; William Home, Waitekauri West Cross special claim, Waitekauri, recommended ts be granted to C. Colbeck; Henry Brett, Union Jack special claim, Karangahake, recommended; C. P. Held, Karangahake, Sou'h special claim, Karangahake, recommended; William Phillips, Martha Extended special claim, Waihi. recommended; C. B. Stone, New Zealander special claim, Waitekanri, recommended to be granted to the New Zealander Gold Mining Company; Wm. Horn#, West Waitokauri special claim, Waitekauri, recommended. APPLICATIONS FOR SURPLUS. Applications for surplus ground were granted in connection with the following. properties :—Goteonda special claim, Waitekauri ; West Cross, Waitekauri; Bullion licensed holding, Karanga. hake ; Aurifera special cl dm, Owharoa; Bulletin licensed holding, Karangahake. MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS. James Mackay, water-race, adjourned till the 18th Instant; John Murray, residence site, Owharot, adjourned till the lSth instant for amendment of plan; Jonathan Soaver, water.race, Mangakino stream, granted E. M. Corbett, water-race, tihinemuri River, Owharoa, granted; lilijah Brokenshire, machine site, Karangabake, granted; Kllen Josephine White, residence site, Karangahake, granted. Taxation of surreys charges on the Who'd-Uare-Thought-It; sui-Tojror's casts allowed, £3 3s, by consent. ICdwin Edwards, water-race on the Dubbo Creak, Karangahake, granted; J. Mtriland, residence site, Karaugahake, granted; Mary A, Moore, residence site, Owharoa, adjourned till the lSth instant for evidence sm to freehold land; Stanley Gold Mining Company, tramway, Karangahake, granted; J. J Syms, rest dence site, Karangahake, granted ; Komata Reefs Gold Mining Company. w»t«r.ra.-e. Kotn&la, granted; G. l,iddell, residence site, Karang-thakt, Cnted; George Fnwer, reiiilence rite, Wailoirl, adjourned till the 18th instant; (I. P. Bell, water-raco, Karangahako, grantod. APPLICATIONS TOR PROTECTION, Mary Jane Nicholla, permission to work the Maratoto licensed helding with "in man instead of two. Evidence was given to the elect that 100 tons of quartz had been broken out, and, in conjunction with another property, the mine was under offer to an English Company. In th* meantime only one man could he profitably employed; application granted. Ivanhoe Gold Mining Company, permission to work the Irauhe# licensed holding with four nun instead of ten for four months, granted; Waverley Gold Mining Company, permission to work the Waverley liceused holding, Karangahike, with five men for four months, granted; John Bnckland, protection for the BurbMik special claim, Waitekauri, for six months, granted; Frits Tileinan, permission to work the Taweradredging claim, Waihi, with onemanlmtead ef 13 for three mout j, granted: Stewart R. Stewart, permission to work the Te Puke dredotig claim, Waihi, with one man instead of 13 for three months, granted; Thos. W. Btllair, permission to work the i'e Manaki dredging claim with one man instead of 13, for three months, granted ; T. O'Toole, permission to work Komata Extended licensed holding with two men instead of 10 for three months, adjourned till the 18th Inst, to obtain a letter from Captain Argall re mlfauccmenis made for the sale of the property. William (». Nicholls, protection for the Ohinemuri upecial claim for six months, granted; J. W. Thorpe, protection for Dickson's lead Nos. 1, 2, 3, and i licensed holdings for six months, granted; Usury Loiuas Smith, protection for th» lota special claim, Waitekauri, for four months, granted ; William Home, permission to work the fnbrokon Hill licensed holding, Waltskauri, with two men for throe months, granted; Hob Hoy Gold Mining Company, protection for the Victory licwised holding for two months, graatod. AN INTERESTING CASE. A case in which a good doal of local interest was manifested, wm an application made by Henry Chnrton, of Auckland, for the Golden Giant special claim, Karangahake, to the granting of which an objection was lodged by J. Phillips, iiui., o( Pieroa, ihe main points mi which are a-, f Jiow :-(!) That the land pegged out and applied for by the said William llenry Churton as the Golden Giant special c'aim is not the samo land as that -urveyed and comprised in a plan now deposited in the Warden's Office, Paeroa, as the Golden Giant special claim; (2) that the ground shown on the plan of the' said special claim was not marked out by the said William U6nry Churton or anyone on his behalf previous to making and lodging his said application on the 12th August, 1805; (3 that the land pegged out and applied for in the said application was net marked by a piwt at every angle as required by rule 4 of the regulations of the Mining Act, 18»1, now in force; (<) that the land being appliod tor by the said applicant was pegged a second time, and after the date of lodging the application ; (5) Uut the description given in tbe said application for the Golden Giant special claim is not true and is misleading; (6) the application applies for 100 acres wliureas the plan shows an area of 2(12 acres as being ptfiged out. Messrs. Whitaker, of Auckland, tnd Mu«ller appeared for the applicant, and Uu»sr*. Miller and Kenrick for the o#jector». The first wituess called was James l.aonigan, who gave evidence as to marking out the ground on the lJth August. He stated that four pegs were put in In accordance with regulations, which had been complied with in every respect. The witness in cross-examination was questioned as to the route takon during Uia progre-s of the pegting out, and as the examination proceeded he admitted that he had made a mistake iu examination in chief and rectified the error he had made. His companions when pegging out were Messrs. J. Home and T. McDonoghu«. A deposition signed by William Henry Churton, of Auckland, was then r»ad, in the course of which he stated tint he hail at present in hand the sum ol £500 subscribed by the shareholders for immediate orpiiisjs in working tho ground. It wa< proposed to forma company in lingland for the purpose of working the Slid special claim, which company would lmvs a capital of £100,uiK), of which £20,000 would be at once siibscrib.d for the purpose of working tho said . ground, *nd he believed that the said company would be formed within a reasonablo time. This closed Clio case for the applicant. Mr. Miller, in opening tile case lor the objector, contended that the ground shown on tho plan was not originally pegged out by the applicant or his substitute, and that a very largo area of ground had bean marked out, ami that an accurate description of the same was not shown on the application. Mr. Miller also pointed out that Mr. Jackson, surveyor, had been appointed by the Warden to make the necessary survey of the ground iu question, and when he commenced his work he was told that he was surveying ground belonging to other people. fit then asked the authorities to show him the pegs, when Home one day went over the pround with him, but could only pointont on* peg. this led Jackson to say to Home, "if you can't point out more than one peg yon ha/1 bettor set another surveyor." The result was that another surveyor etfected the rarvey. Lindsay Jackson w»s then called and deposed to tho trouble ho had hid in being shown the pegs. Mr. Home could only show him two pegs, whereupon he refused lo nave anything mora to do with the survey uuless he could be shown all the pegs. Mr. Home tlion replied that ho could show the pegs even if it took all day to do it. In cross-crarainaiioii ho denied that there was any friction over tin matter. He admitted he knew the Golden Giant people were prior applicants for the ground, and yet iu spite of this he refused to liavo anything io do wiih the survey. T. G. Sandee, surveyor for the Ascot Company, who were also applying for the same ground, aiso gavo evidence. James Home, mining agent, of Auekltud, was then called to give evidence le the pegging out, and h» stated that he saw threo out of tho four pwg.s driven in. He bad nut tbv slightest difficulty in pointing out the pegs to Mr. Tole, surveyor, who succeeded Mr. Jackson. He rscollected goinp cut with Mr. Jackson to show him the pegs, but after showing the first they had words, and ho refused to point out any more, because, judging by Jackson s actions, ho considered lint he (Jackson) was acting iu a hostile spirit. In tho courao of cross-examination, witness said that MrDonough did show Jackson a wrung p»g at his request. The Warden here reprimanded witness, whose conduct Mr, Kaunjr held was unjustillable, especially as Mr. Jackson was appointed by the Court, aud was really a Government ofHcor. lie considsrtd that it wa.s only right that the surveyor appointed I); the Warden should rvceive evsry facility in his survey work rather than being deliberately mystified as Mr. Jackson was. Mr. Tole deposed that when he wont to survey the ground there was no difficulty in identifying the pegs on the part of Mr. Horut. CnunsoUhen addressed the Court at considerable length, after which His Worship said that he was in tho position of a jury that could not a«re*, both side* being' very weak. Eventually lie reeoinmundod th« application, nub-j-jcl to a com promise b«twoeii the parties as defined by the pencil-lines drawn by him ;the Warden) on the plan, and initialled II K IC; eich part; to pay their own costs. OTHER ['PLICATIONS. J. Phillip then appliod for tin Ascot special plain evidence couourning which whs given to the effect that he outcrop of a large reef had been discovered, but befor* it could bu opened up and the land thoroughly prospocud, a large amount of money would have to be sp«nt. A syndicate was now in course of formation to do all necessary prospecting, anil they would have a sum of £1000 to spend in this work. A company would thon bo formed to iutrouce additional money to work the laud. Recommended to be granted. J. W, Shaw applied for the Wellington licensed holding, to the granting of which an objection was made by Edward Bain on tin ground that the application askod for ground (hit wits formerly tho old Victorian licensed holding, which had been abandontd; whereas the applicant had pegged out other land in addition, and had not .deposited the money required by l*w. Mr. Kenrick appsared for applicant, and admitted ilm the applicant had pegged land in addition to the old Victoiia licensed holding, and although th* deposit money was ii.suCiciont, it was not a fatal defect in the application. Mr. Miliar, who appear*d for the objector, crniiemlod that as Air.Shaw had applied for the old Victoria ground, only, and had not stated that additional ground was taken up, and had not paid sufficient to defray the mi-toy cipensss, in accordance with the Act the application could not he granted. The Warden said as the applicant had pegged out lind in .uldition to the old holding, and had not stated it in his application, which would IttM required an additional devtfl', lie must refuse the application, with oosts, £2 Si. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Mountain Flowhr (Kuaotuuu;.—Startod oporn(ions on tho property, to cut out a face in order to stsrt a contract to drive i croescut three hundred feet, which will Intersect two itxles which are outDropping on the surface. Accepted tho lowed: tender Tor the oonbmet, and work on it has boon commencod and It feat have been driven through a favourable class of country. Several men ate uow employed. Goi.uhn Tokatea (Coroinandol).— south f&co No. 1 crosscut has been extended seven feot The reef look, well, but is >.oincwliit smaller thin formerly. Tho country in tlio face of croucn, his got much harder. A umall leader showing nice minerals was passed through early in thn week. Orlando (Tliauxu, February 3). — Driving ou Carpenter's reef from the wiuze his been continued; the reef is fully 18 inches iu thickness raid the quartz brokeu lias a kindly appearance, but uo gold was seen thn last broakiue down. The drive gain* westward on the liendigo reef has been extended niuu feet. The reef does not somn to improve, it being still split up into stringon), and the class of country incasing the same is of a slidey nature. It is toy intention to discontinue this work at present. Discovered strong dubs of gold' in the back of drive top loval, 23 feet westward from McLean winze. Bell Rook (Thames, February 3),— drivo th« fault in No. 1 level has been extended a distance of 10 foot, making' a toial distance from the main level 32 feet, The country is rather Armor than it has been, hut all the hotter for gold. No. 2 level: I was engaged during th* week driving seaward. The drive has boon extended a distant* of five feet. Th* reef has been very hard, but this last day or so it got milder. It is a splondid looking stone; the antimony and stratamatais still showing I freely through tho quartz. I Kaiser (Thames, February I).—The drive has now been extended » total distance of 100 feet ou m of rwjliJjuS so iw

I character has been found. In the face the reef Is about 2 feet thick and well deflnnd. The quarts in places carries nice mineral and should improve as it is now running in a good channel of country. Th* crosscut drive is also as usual; 21 feet have been driven for the week; the country is ail tint could be desired. Oliui (Talrua, January 29).-No. 1 tunnel: Have driven four feet in a south-westerly direction in easy sandstone country. I appear to be on the hangingwall of a reef consisting of quart! and flint, but owing to the disturbed state or the country a considerable amount of prospecting wilt still be necessary before any delnite conclusion can be arrived at. The indications are sufficiently encouraging to warrant this. No.! tunnel his been continued with two men, and advanced six feet, making th* total distance driven 150 feet. A decided Change in the country has occurred during the week, and appears to be a breccia composed of gandston* and flint. Victoria (Thames, February 3).—Work has been principally carried on at the No. 1 or adit level, on the n-w reef, in the Prince Imperial section. At the No. 1 level the western drive along the course of the above reef has now bean extended 34 fed. The whole of the distance gold has been freely seen aud upwards of 1401b of picked stone have been irrert. The reef has varied in tiu from six to IS inches. The drive going east lias been extended a distance of IS feet altng th* course of the tame reef. The country for the first 12 feet in this direction was somewhat broken np and disturbed. However, during the past few days the country has been much mors nettled, also th* reef, which is showing a little gold. A few pounds of picked stone were saved at the laat breaking down of the lode. There is still a distance of 7i feet to be driven cast on th« course of the r*s( to oonneot with the winxe sunk from the adit level. Am soon as the connection is made we will be in i position to increase our staff of men, to that permanent crushing may bo commenced. At tho adit level I have had a few men trying to pick up the reef east of the break or fault that cut the reef off some few weeks ago, and 1 am plots til to say that early in the week wo found a small leader, which opening out on proved, iu a few feat of driving, to be the main body, and it has now opened out to fully two and a-half feet in thickness, carrying splendid silica indications, also a little gold has been seen through th* ere. Th* reef on the break was heaved for a distance of IS feat. From the point whore picked up there is still a distance of 210 foot to m driven east lo the point where we boundary with the Waiotahi Company. Piiienix (Kuaotnnn, January 31)— Have been pushing on with tbe prospecting of the two lodes mentioned in my last, on the (north and south boundary. Ilia former taw opened out to twe feet six inches wide, and for all it is a very nice-looking lode it prospects vorr poor this week, though carrying favourable minerals. For the wo*k w» have driven 11 feet. On the .southern boundary the lod« is much broken up, no I have started a surface drive on it, hut unable to got anything for saving. Nevertheless, we have much encouragement, for at times it givos very good dish prospects. This lode, I am of opinion, will inaketspecimeue, for such have been pioked up in this quarter in the early days, and the country is the best I have soon on this field for gold, and cheaply worked. On Monday last wo started a crosscut to intersect the above, which wo bare driven about twelve fejt, at which point I expected it to hand. Instead, we to-day (Friday) cut another lode about fifteen inches wide, running about north and south, and every dish taken from it prospects fairly well. Should we got the junction of thoso two lodes, the one running north and south, the other north-west by south-east, we may get something good, for both give fair prwpecta by mortar tests. New Zkalakdkr (Waitekauri, February IX -No. 1 level: The road has been laid into th* face, and tho reef broken into 7 feet. Th» quarts is of a dark bluish nature, thickly impregnate I with minoral favourable for gold. 5" 2 level: A cross drive has been commenced through the reef to ascertain its thickness at this point. The roof is cut into eight fe-!t, the quartz being of a first-class description for gold. A little gold was seen by dish test. No. 8 reef: This levol has been extended seven feet, »nd some of the reef broken down, the stene looking well. A little gold was also seen here in the dish. CLUNKS (Thames, February —Have driven the low level U feet (or the weak. Ths nature of the country passed through m still about tlio same, as also is the leads-, which is still carrying good mineral indication*. N'kw Whau (Thames, February I).—Th* low level has bean continued on the course of ths reef, and the country around the reef is of a good class for carrying gold. The reef is about three foot wills, composed of veins of quarto and mullock. Some of the veins of quartz look very well and carry a good class af iniuerah. The crosscut is still being oontinued. PURiiu (Puriri).—The total distance driven on the mam reef is now 201 foot. The lode in tho present lie* of the drive averages about eight inches in thickness, tun! is composed of kindly looking quara intermixed with silica. In tile low level crosscut ills total distance driven is lift feet. The country Is still of a hard nature. Have started a slope in back of drive on main reef at a point where we obtained the best fold when driving. We hive beaten ths slope along about 20 feet in length and about two f«*t high. Th* lode 1* about 16 inches in thickness and colours of gold were seen when breaking tha leef down. Golden iilsk Claim, Christcharch syndicate (Mwiia, January 81).—Tho main drive is in 00 feet to Mia face of tho lodo. Hate now started to break down stone from tho face, and I am putting it into the paddock is it has all got more or lees cold in it. The iode lot Its hotter a* it Is driven on under the hill. Tha gold is of a very oeussi character; by the look of it it is of good value. TE PUKK BPHCIAL CLAIM. TO THK EDITOR. Sir,—ln your issne of yesterday It is stated tint " tho Auckland syndicate who agroed to find capital to prospect this ground (To Puke spocial claim) ns,v» backed out of their bargain, etc." This is not eomistsnt with fart, u I will briefly show. Th* Te Puke Prospecting Syndicate was formed on the 7th October, 1196, and £250 wa« subscribed in connection with the enterprise. Two of the prospectors, reported to lie intimately acquainted with the ground, *ere iinmsdiatsiy put on, and at tho coiicltisi'Hi of two mouths' work no risible result was obtained not any roof dl«clos*d, which was contrary to ths anticipations which tho syndicate justified in forming from the report which induced them to •nheeribe their money. An Inspection of ths work was ordered by the committee, which took place on 29th November, when only throe or four days' Work could be shown, th* explanation being that the balance of time hail boon spent in prospecting. Notwithntandlng this discouroglng stato of affairs the committee continued the work on a crosscut reoonimended by the prospectors, which, they stated, eft er»d th* best prospect for the discovery of a reef. On the lsth January, afier fourteen weeks' work, nothing whatever had baen found, ami the committee considered it their duty to call the contributors together, who unanimously decided 10 give up what they had so much ri-a«on M btdiove would only eventuate in tho total wast* of th* sum subscribed. The subscribers have full confidence in Professor Black's opinion, endorsed as it Is by others, that a goldflold will eventually be developed in the To Puke dlstric If the prospering arrangements are 11 propsr hands. The ni"»t of tho members of iliis syndicate are well known as largely interested in mining affairs, and Hums of thorn have net spared time, money, nor effort, In the developm nt of our resource' in every corner of our gol.ldi-lds. -I am, etc., Wiluih Elliot, Hon. Sec. To Puke Prospecting Byndlomto. Auckland, February 4, IS9O.