THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10113, 23 April 1896, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[IX tKLKQRirH.—OWN CORUKSPONDEKT B.]

Thamks, Wednesday. Shmikmarket. — Albarnia, buyers ss; Broken Hill, sellers Iβ; Cambria, aellere Is GJ, buyers Iβ 4ri; Cardigan, sales Is 7d, buyers li 6d; Golden Point, sales Is Bd, buyers Is 7d; Ruranui, sellers 2s 6d ; Hay Queen Extended, galea 6d: Moanataiari, sellers \ii ; Monowai, buyers ss; New Whau, sales lid, sellers lid; Puru Consolidated, sellers Is 3d; Sheridan, buyers 6d; Victoria, sellers 3s 9d, buyers 3s 6d.

Hksald Special Claim (Whangamata). —A trial parcel of quartz from this claim, weighing 18001b after it was dried, has just been completed at the School of Mines for an actual return of bullion which realised £2 7s. The assay value of the ore before treatment was £3 17s per ton, so that a sating of about 86 per cent, was effected. The result is taid to be satisfactory, as the reef from which the above-mentioned parcel was broken runs from fire to six fert in thickness.

Hazklbank. — Very fair prospects are being met with in the workings upon the Young American leader at the No. 1 level and upon Darby's leader in the stopes above No. 1 level. The quartz coming to hand from each point shows strong dabs of gold, and the manager is hopeful of developing payable blocks upon both bodies. Kelly's leader in the drive at No, 1 level has been somewhat split up lately, but there are now signs of its coming togethor again. The crushing which has been in progress for some days past will be completed, and the gold from the same banked to-morrow morning. Pakkoa, Wednesday. Waihi.—lnformation reached Paeroa today that several of the Waihi battery hands have left the employ of that company owing to the dust evil. IMPORTANT TO CONTRACTORS. A case of considerable importance to contractors came betore Mr. H. EyreKenny, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court lnsfc evening, Mr. J. McAndrew, timber merchant, having eued Messrs. Crossby (employer) and A. Ross (contractor) jointly for the price of timber eupplied to erecb a building. The claim was for £69 6s 7d, being the amount of a lien on the contract price, under Contractors and Workmen's Lien Act, 1892, for timber supplied, and claiming that the supply of timber was " work," within the meaning of the Act. Mr. Miller appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. O'Meagher and Mr. Mueller for the defendants. The supply of timber wae at once admitted, and Mr. O'Meagher immediately raised the following points :-(l) That the supply was noD work within the interpretation clauses; (2) that in section 7, which provides for priority of lieu, the timber merchant has no place, and does not come within the definition of "contractor," and consequently the plaintiff had no right to claim a lien. His Worship said Mr. O'Meagher's argument was a now one to him, and had a great deal iu it for consideration. Mr. Miller, for the plaintiff, contended that the claim of a tradesman for material supplied for a building did not come within the Contractors' and Workmen's Lion Act, 1892. Hβ said his friend Mr. O'Meagher had been reading from a copy of Badger's Statutes, which were not printed exactly as the authorised version of the Statutes were, and consequently the sen?§ of the whole thing was altered. The principal point in the case was, did the word "work" include the supply of' material, and nothing could be clearer than the definition in section two of the Act, where the word " work" is defined to mean and include the supply of material used in connection with the work. A similar case had been decided in Auckland when Bishop Luck was sued by Mr. Craig, and although the case was defended by counsel, judgment was given against the Bishop for the material supplied for his buildings. Hα, therefore, held that the supply of material did mean " work," and he argued that if a blacksmith made nails, and supplied them to a contractor, that would be work. Mr. O'Moagher replhd that the making of nails would be work indeed, bes when delivered to a contractor it would be supply of building material. "Jusb so," replied Mr. Miller, and that is a most important factor in the case before the Court, namely, that a large portion of the account sued on wag for doors and saahos, which were actually made by Mr. McAndrew, and supplied, therefore, such must be considered work and labour in any sense of the word. His Worship said thab the point raised as to the meaning of " work" was a most important one, and, consequently, he would like to take time, to consider the matter. He would, thorefore, adjourn the case until noxt sitting of the Court on the sth May. Another case in which the same points were involved was similarly adjourned.

ALPINE FLUKE G.RI.C. (KUAOTUNU)A meeting of shareholders wan held yesterday afternoon at the offices of Messrs. Stone ana Home. Queen-street, convened by Mr. A. Park Home, manager pro tern., for the purpose of forming a company. It was agreed to form a compauy under the no liability section of the Act, to be called the Alpine Fluke Gold Mining Company, with a capita' stock of 75,000 shares of 2s each, and that the qualification of directors be 250 shares. The number of directors was fixed at six, and after a ballot, Messrs. D. F. Ryan, W. Gorrie, Graves Aickin, C. B. Stone, R. C. Carr, and W. Handley were elected a Board of Directors. Mr. A. Park Home was elected secretary; his remuneration being fixed at 30s per week withont transfer fees. The National Bank was appointed bankers of the company j Mr. J. Young, auditor, at the usual fee of £2 2s per audit; and Messrs. Whitaker and Baume, solicitors.

DICKSON'B LEAD GRAND UNION. Mr. C. J. Hutchinson, manager of the Dickson'e Lead Grand Union property, now under offer in the English market, received a cable message yesterday asking him to send Home reports, etc. Reports and plans were forwarded by the outgoing San Frnncisco mail, and an iutimition to that effect has been cabled. GENERAL MINING ITEMS. The prospectus of the Opito Gold and Silver Mining Company, no liability, will be found iu our advertising columns. The company is being floated by Messrs. Burns and Woodhouse. A limited number of shares are being issued to the public, is the property is under offer to % Borne syndicate. Mr. French, mineralogist, proceeded to Coromandel yesterday evening for the purpose of inspecting and reporting on the Cornubia ground, Tokateu Range, Coromandel, on behalf of an English syndicate, as the property has been placed under offer on the London market. The ordinary general meeting of the Alpha Gold Mining Company will be held in the New Zealand Insurance Buildings on the 30th instant, at noon. The half-yearly meeting of the Eureka Gold Mining Compuny will be held atthe New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Buildings, on the 30th instant, at 10.30 a.m. The half-yearly meeting of the Conquering Hero Gold MiniDg Company will be held at the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Buildings on the 30th iustant, at 10 a.m. The first half-yearly meeting of the Ophir Gold Mining Compauy will be held on the 30th instant, at 2 p.m. An extraordinary general meeting of the Jupiter Gold Mining Compaay will be held at the New Zealand Insurance Buildings, on the 14th proximo, at 2.30 p.m. An extraordinary general meeting of the Rising Sun Gold Mining Company will bo held at the Bank of New Zealand Buildings on the 15thproximo at 11.30 a.m. Half-yearly general meetings of the Mount Aurum and Napier Gold Mining Companies' will be held at Hobson Buildings on the 29th inst. at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. respectively. The half-yearly general meetings of the Prospect and Wynyardton Gold Mining Companies will be held on the 30>th inst at 11 u.m. in the latter case aud 2 p.m. in the former.

The time for receiving payment of allotted shares in theAlpiue Fluke Gold Mining Company is extended to the 26th insfc. It is notified undeV the Foreign Companies Aet, 1884, that the offices of the Waitekauri Extended and the Victor Waihou Gold Mining Companies arc situate at No. 206, Victoria Arcade, Auckland. . . Calls of Id per shire have been made in the Conquering Hero and Great Kapanga Gold Mining Companies.

AUCKLAND SHARBMARKET. H Yesterday was somewhat dull, as far as actual transactions in the Auckland Sharemarket, though there was an increased number of buyers. Investment stocks were still in demand, New Zealand Insurance changing hands at 70s, and South British at 49s 6d, with hardening tendency. Thames

stocks saw increased busineiis. Cardigans were done at la 6d and Is 7d; Comstocks at sd; May Queens, 7s 6d; Monowais, 5s 3d, and Victorias at 3s 6d. There were buyers of Waiotahis at 28s; and of New Alburnias at 5s 3d renuiniug steady. There were offers, not accepted, for Hazelbanks at 3s Bd. Kapai-VermoHts were exchanged'at 7s 6d with no further buyers. The Upper Thames list came in for little attention, with the exception of Sovereigns. Woodstocks, however, saw business at 203 6d aud closed fairly firm, Bunker's Hills receded. FREE EXCHANGE. The following sales were effected yesterday in the Free Exchange :— Cardigans, Is 6Jd; Sterlings. 9Jd; Waitekauri No. 2, 6id; British Empire, 6Jd; King of Waihi, sjd; Phcenix, 4d; Carnage, 5Jd; North, Progress-Castle Rock, 4Jd. Tliera were buyers as follows:—Albumin East, 4d; Broken Hill, 7d; Lone Hand, sd; May Queen, 7s 3d j Monowai, 5s 2d; New Wht.ii, 9tl; New Alburuia, 5s 3d; Norfolk, 3s 6d; Orlando, 8d; Royal, 10d; Victoria, 3* 54d; Cometock, 4Jd; May Queen Extended, sd; Cardigan, Is 5Jd"; Soaudinaviau, 9d; Alpha, 4s '2d; Grace Darling, Is 7d; Imperial, Is 6d ; Ivanhoe, 7d; New Zealander, 6Jd; Oceania, lid: Owharoa,2a lOdj Portsea, 6i ; Stanley, 5Jd; Sterling, 9Jd; Talisman, 9s 6d; Sovereign, Is Id; Waihi Consols, Is; Zion, oil; Mangakar* United, sid; Jewel, 6d (paid up to Is); Hercules, 7id; Maritaua, Waitekauri No. 2.6 d; Waitekmin South, 61d Waihi Extended, 9Jd ; Waver'ey, Is Id; Young New Zealand, Is 3d; Byron Bay, 8d; Golden Spur, 4d; Queen of Waihi, 2a 2d; British Empire, 5Jd; King of Waihi, sd; Waihi Dredging Company, 3sd; Waihi South, 4d; liivicta, 3d; Kapai-Vermont, 7s; Maori I Dream, Is; Maotiland, lid; Phojtiix, 3Jd; ! Balfour, 5Jd; Kuaotunu, Is 4Jd ; Carnage, 5Jd; Prospects, 3Jd; Juno, 6d; Monarch of All, 33d; Premier, sd; Mount Aurutn, 4d; Bunker's Hill, 6s 7d; Golden Hill, !M; lliuiruki No. 2, la 3d; Hauraki South, Is 3d; New Goloonda, IO.Jd; New Tokatea, 8&d; Pride of Tokatea, Is Id ; North, 64d; Pukewliau, 4d ; Zealandin, 6Jd ; Coromaudcl Freehold Proprietary, Is b'd; Progress-Castle Rock, 4sd; Conquering Hero, 6Jd; Napier, 3d; Hauraki North, Is 9d. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Cambria (Thames, April 20).—Work confined to putting down the dig. The country is of a good description, traversed with quartz veins and numerous mineral seams. The leader at No. 3 level has shown nice colours of gold, while a pound or two of picked stono has been eared, Still seeing a little gold in the quartz coming to hand from No. 5 leader. Cardigan (Thames, April 20).—Cutting through what appears to be the seaward fault. May Queen (Thames, April < 20).—The quartz iu the rise on Hayes' leader is all taken down, colours- of gold seen, but nothing to pick out. The battery started this morning, and will run day shift until the end of the month.

Talisman Extended (Karangahake, April 20).—The low level eastern crosscut has been advanced through a firm, close-grained, brown sandstone country.

Broken Hill (Thames, April IS).—The level is now in a distance of 44 feet. Comstock (Thames, April 18).—The reef now two feet in thickness and the ore still highly mineralised. Mataura 'Waihi, April 18).—The reef is showing from one end of the Mntaura ground to the other, and is a fine body of stone. Conquering Hero (Coromauded, April 20). —Have got good prospects aud seen gold iu the stoue. The reef is fully 3 feet from wall to wall. Telegraphing later: Reef looking well; breaking dowu to-morrow. Waihi Extended (Waihi, April 18).— There is every indication of making into a largo reef. King or Waihi (Waihi, April 18).—I have got the haugiujjwall of the reef, it is everything that could be desired. ' Sovereign (Waitekauri, April 19).—Am getting some very nice stone, showing larger blotches of erold,

Talisman (Karangahake, April 20).—The drive going north : The face is about two feet thick and improving iu value for the last breaking down. Stanley (Karangahake, April 20).—N0. 2 reef: Opened out to over three feet in thickness, but in the present fuce it has become somewhat smaller.

Maritana (Owharoa, April 18).—Tapped the wall of a reef; will make test on Monday. Grkat Kapanoa (Coromandel, April 20).— Extended the drive on the leader through a splendid class of sandstone country for cold. The reef maintains its size and in more compact and looks well, Byro,n Bay . (WaitekaurO. — Tho reef at present is passing through a hard bar of blue sandstone. Have been prospecting a nice looking body of atone 18 inches thick; it only carries «, trace of gold. Monarch (Waitekanri, April 18).— Reef is one foot, aud 700 or 800 feet in a westerly direction from the trench there is another body of stringers about two feot thick. Victoria (Thames, April 20).— western drive at No. 2 level: There is little improvement in the country, it still has the appearance of having been disturbed. Stopinp operations are proceeding above Mo. 1 level with encouraging results; on the eastern side of the winze suuk from the surface drive the lead in the stope looks very promising; gold has been freely seen in the main portion and also in small stringers. The second stope east of the crosscut: The quartz contains a. conoiderable amount of mineral amongst which gold has been frequently seen. Second stope west : The lead is small, but it is good crushing dirt, and occasionally a few pounds of picked stone comes to hand. Third atope on the western side of crosscut: About two feet of crushing dirt and picked stone. Crushing is proceeding; 153 ouuees of amalgam were obtained from the plates and berdaus up to Saturday morning. May Qukkn Extended (Thames, April 20).—The ground surrounding the reef and the reef itself continues of the same favourable appearance. Occidental (Thames, April 20).—Have broken down about 10 feet of leader in the rise, in which i;ood colours of gold were seen.

Waihi Consols (Waihi, April 18).— Three feet has been sunk this week, making the shaft 115 feet deep. Golden Lion (Waitekauri, April 18).— Couutry is keepiug about the same, but somewhat easier to work. i Central (Waitekauri, April 19).-Two l leaders have been cut in the trenches six and eight inches on the Central Extended, l \V EMiTH O¥ N /mem iKiw&ußahake, April 18).—The class of country 13 good, and small mineral veins are being cut. British Empire.—The leaders at present, arc small, bub they prospect fairly well. Ivanhoe (Karangalmke, April 20).—ShotOver section : The reef which is 10 inches thick encased iu very kindly looking sandstone.

Crkscest (Karangahake, April 18).—The country is of a better description for gold. In the Orient section I thiuk when the reef is at hand it will prove to be goldbearing. Adkmide (Thames, April 20). — Comir.cuceil sinking the main shaft below the adit level.

Teutonic (Waitekanri, April 18).—The country has improved very much, in fact has returned to its original formation. Waitekauri Sooth (Waitekauri, April 18). — Lnw level drive: We are still in excellent country. The leader has thickened to a foot. Another miueral leader has just come in.

Sooth British (Karangahake, April 18).— Prospecting drive; No change to report. The crosscut to intersect Mo. 1 reef and No. 2 loader: Class of country still continues favourable.

New Zealander (Waitekauri, April, 18). —A email vein of quartz was met with in the blue country; no gold was seen. Ho. 4 reef: The quartz looks well; a little gold was seen in some.

Karangahake (Karangahake, April 18). —No, 3 level: A noticeable change for the better hail taken place, and stringers of quartz and silica, veins are being met with. No. 4 level: The face is composed of iron veins and etringers of quartz, and by washing traces of gold cau be obtained iu the dish.

i Jumper (Materaiigi,nea.r Kuaotunu).—We have cut the reef, which is two toet wide, and we have opened out on the south end. The reef is in a good channel of country, very 'strongly mineralised. The hangingwull portion gives good prospects by crushing thu stone.

Ohinkmori Syndicate. — Elliot tunnel: Now in first-class country. On Friday passed through small leader two inches thick and a quantity of mineral veins. This it of great importance, us we are now in the solid country. The cutting the small leader and mineral veins goes to prove we are now in the channel of country the reefs are trarersing. Annie Creek crosscut: Nothing but small stringers have been cut as yet but we are still carry ins first-okas country. Old PuKEWHAij"(Tiki, Ooromandelj.—Mr. James McGregor, juii,, has furnished a report to the shareholders. He states that tho prospects are first class. A considerable amount of loose specimens were found on the property on the Little Pukewnau Creek, which terminates about thn centre of the property. Hβ had no hesitation in saying that with a little judgment the rich leader which threw those specimens iu the creek would be found on the property. On the southern side of the creek a small vein is exposed, which contains rich prospects of loose gold, and ho recommeuds that a drive be put in to iuterseoc it at a depth of 50 fret, bo as to ascertain its value.

STERLING GOLD MINING COMPANY, NO LIABILITY. TO THE KDITOR. Sir, — On seeing your correspondent's report on the above mine in Tuesday's Herald, I at once wired the mine manager for an explanation. He replies this morning as follows:—"My report of 20th fully explains ; correspondent's report incorrect and misleading." I enclose mine manager's report of 20th referred to, and will ask you to kindly publish same.—l am etc., Wμ. Gray, legal manager. Sterling mine, Karangalmke, 20th April, 1896. The directors Sterling Gold Mining Company. Gentlemen,—l have opened out the drive and extended the crosscut, with the object of ascertaining definitely the width and value of the reef. I have driven six feet since last report, and in the bottom of the level am still cutting a conglomerate reef formation, through which I hftve just ascertained a rich baud of quartz runs, which by mortar test gives excellent prospects, and which I intend to have assayud,as early as possible, when I will telegraph result. The hard portion of the reef, about two feet in width, in which I first discovered the gold, in developing in the back of the drive into a splendid compact body of quartz, which on testiug fully maintains its original value. Owing to the fact that I am still cutting quartz ribs carrying gold in the bottom of the level, I would suggest that the crosscut; be continued some distance ahead in order to prove the footwall of the lode, as, since cutting these rich veins in the bottom and face oi the drive, I urn as yet uncertain whether the true footwall hue been reached. The country in tho face is somewhat harder, and the progress consequently slower.—l am, etc., John S. Wwra.