THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10406, 2 April 1897, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY mEQIUPH.-OWN CORRESPONDENTSj Thames, Thursday. Sharkmarket.-Argosy, sellers 7d; Broken Hill, sellers 8d; Club, sellers 3d; Conservative, sellers sd; Kuranui-Caledonian, seller* 5i 3d; King Solomon, sellers 2d ; Kuranui, sellers Is sd; Mata Reefs, sellers 4d; Moanataiari, buyers 10a fid; Nonpariol, sales 10d; Occidental, sales lfd, buyers ljd ; Tararu Creek, sellers 4s 6d; Temple Bar, sellers 4d; Victoria, buyers 2s 9d; Royal, sellers Iβ 6J ; Kaiser (contributing), sellers sd; Koinata Reefs, seller* 13a; Komata Queen, sellers 2s 6d; Komata Triumph, tellers Is; Waihi Monument, sellers 2;; Waihi Welcome, sellers 4d; Albert, buyers It 6d. Darwin.—The new reef now being developed in this mine has been opened up for a length of about 40 feet, and appeart to be improving in quality as the drive advances upon it. New Whap.— The winze upon the Sons of Freedom reef, below the Middle Star level, has attained a depth of about 80 feet, which leaves about a similar depth yet to sink, before a connection is made with the Alfred low level. At the present time, the reef shows a thickness of about five feet, and carries some nice, bright-looking mineral, but no gold is seen in the quartz coming to hand. There is no change in tbe same reef, where being driven upon at the Middle Star level, towards its junction with the Hatter's reef.

Ojjahu District, -A considerable amount of exploring work is proceeding in several of the claims recently taken up in this district, but the capital available is nob sufficient to give the locality the thorough trial which its prospects would appear to warrant its receiving. Most of the work accomplished up to the present has been confined to prospecting the surface for reefs, and in several instances nice-looking ore bodies have been found. The King of Omahu Company have keen vigorously ab work, for some time pasb, and bare diecovered several promising reefs, which average from one to three feet in thickness, from some of which very fair prospects of free gold are obtainable by pounding. The country coneists of a favourable class of sandstone, and the ore looks good enough for the yielding of a fair percentage of bullion, there being the usual sulphide and silica components present. Cardigan.—Regarding the (linking of this coompany'a new main shaft, considerable difficulty has so far been experienced in making headway owing to the quantity of water soaking through from the surface ground, which hat been flowing in more rapidly than the steps taken for its disposal could deal with. To try and remedy this an injector was put down, bub this failed to accomplish what was required of it. An effort was next made to re-open what is known as the old Hogan shaft (which is separated only a few yards from the new shaft), with the objecb of endeavouring to open up an outleb for the flow of water through it, but this old shaft having been filled up with a lob of puggy or clay matter, which acted as a sorb of dam, the required outleb could nob be obtained. However, by a re-adjustment of the injector, which is now working satisfactorily, sinking operations have once more been resumed, and the manager is bopeful of shortly getting into aandstone country, when by puddling tbe sides of tbe shaft in the surface section with clay, he hopes to be free of all further difficulty as regards drainage. Paekoa, Thursday. Waihi Consolidated.— The machinery for this company is now being erected, the works being under the superintendence of Mr. Milner, an engineer sent out from Home for. the purpose, WAIHI-SILVERTON. 760 TONS HELD £1594. During the last month the Waihi-Silverton Gold Mining Company crushed and treated 760 tons of ore for 7620z bullion, valued at £1594, or slightly ovnr £2 per ton. Iu February 660 tons yielded £1561, and in January £1034 was obtained from 581 tons. The mine is looking very well. Preparations are being made for the construction of the new kiln, and all operations in connection with the sinking of the shaft are being pushed forward.

WOODSTOCK.

We understand that the new mill of the Woodstock is working very satisfactorily, and that the crushing is shaping favourably. A clean-up, it is understood,- will take place in about three weeks' time.

CRESCENT G.M. CO.

With reference to our Paeroa correspondent's report published in yesterday's issue, of the proceedings in the Warden's Court regarding the above company's application for protection, we are asked to state that the total amuuut expended on the property is £1058, not £100, and that this is made up entirely of miners' wages and mine requisites. Office charges, and even claim rents, are not included in the above sum, the whole of which has been actually spent in development work.

HINEMOAHAURAKI SPECIAL CLAIM (TOKATEA RANGE). Messrs. George Fraser and Sons report as follows on treatment of three tons of ore from this claim, an assay report of which they made in December last:—The whole of the ore, which had been crushed to pass through a qaarter sieve as stated in assay report, has been subjected to treatment by hot-pan amalgamation, tho result of which is as follows:—Return from three tons of ore, 3oze 9rlwts s»rs bullion; value of bullion, £2 Is 7*d per oz • total value of bullion, 3oz» 9dwts ogrs, £7 4s; rated at per ton, loz 3dwts 2grs at £2 Is 7d, U 8s ; equal 86 3-5 ef assay value saved.

MINE MANAGER'S REPORTS. Pord Junction (Puru, March 27),-No. 1 reef: Have cut the reef, which ia four feet in thickness, and have started to drive on it. The reef is looking well and the stone of a good class, and when pounded gives a fair prospect in tbe dish. There is also a leader of about two and α-half inches functioning with the reef in the hauginiwail, which 1 quite expect to carry gold. No. 1, Pakeha : The stone in thii reef is ot a high clua, and when pounded gives a very good prospect in the dish. Progress • Castle Rock (Coromandel, March 31).—1n breaking down the reef yesterday I selected about "O pounds of fairly good picked stone. I may also mention that the reef never looked better than at present. Talisman Extknoed (Rarangahake, March 29).-Crosßcut: The country is very tight, being interlaced with leaden of quartz. There is a big stream of water running out of the face.

Mata Beefs (Thames).-Drive to cut the lode: Good progress has been made through a good class ot country. The lode should now be near at baud. CLUB(Tapu, March 29).-The new low level is Dow well iu hand. No. 1: There ia no change to chronicle here, the crashing materials being from eight to nine inches in thickness. No gold has been seen for the week, but lam in hopes of an improvement taking place at any moment. Cheisea SYNDICATE.-Have left off driving on the Black reef aud have started trenching on the sidliug at the back of the old whare, and I struck loose atone; it cannot have come far as the ground ia comparatively flat. It ftives very good prospects by pounding. I also (truck three gold-bearing leaders, one three inches and the others about two and ahalf inches. I get good prospects from the three; they all run north-east and southwest. I believe if these leaders are followed they will lead to something remarkably good, as the stone is everything that could be desired.

Eaolehawk (£a»ru).— Still driviug to cut No. 3 reef, mid there are good indications that it is near at hand. The Kaiser reef has greatly improved, and is coming direct toward*. our bonndary. My opinion that this reef and our No. 3 will become one reef in the Eaglehtwk ground, has been more than ever confirmed during the put fortnight. I hart commenced to open out on No. 1 reef and am well pleased with its appearance. It has widened out to a nice compact reef of two feet, carrying the very beat class of minerals. A bulk assay made from this reef gave £3 Ha to the ton. I'have made a paddock to stow the ore, and if the reef continues improving as we advance we shall soon be able to have a payable crushing. * Rising Sun (Owharoa, March 31).-Sink-ing is carried on in the usual way. No change in the lode; looks well; enclosed in splendid, kindly-looking country. British Emmke (Waitekanri, March 29). —Ho. 1 tunnel: Have driven. 8 feet further through a mau of stringers. We are now through them and into a very good-looking country. In the prospecting drive we have driven a thort distance, in a southerly direction, on the line of reef, and it is looking much better.

Albert (Tairui, March 27). -No. 7 tunnel: A reef was unearthed in the Despised section of which little is known until it is

further opened up. Id the Winder section another reef was discovered. I intend to open up and ascertain its size. Omega (Waiteksuri, March 30). — Low level; No change to report. The drive going into the Alfred section is now in 44 feet. So far there is no change.

AUCKLAND SHAREMARKET. The market was very quiet yesterday and but few transactions were recorded, There were farm buyers of investment stocks. In the mining list Waihi Exteudeds were done at 6Jd and 7d, with further buyers. Bunker's Hills were transferred at 3s, closing slightly weaker. Sceptres changed hands at 7d and 7Jd.

NORTHERN STOCK EXCHANGE. The following business was done yesterday by the above:- Alburnia East, 8d; Conquering Hero, BJd; Stanley, lljd; Scandinavian, 6Jd; Waihi Extended, 6d, 7d.

GENERAL MINING ITEMS. The half-yearly meetings of the Hinton and Midas Gold Mining Companies lapsed. The cash balance of the former was £172 os 7d, and of the latter £104 4s 7d.