THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10416, 14 April 1897, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

AUCKLAND SHAREMARKET. There wae little or no change in the state of the market yesterday, a few lines occasionally changing hands. Hikurangi Coals were done at 9s 3d. There were buyers for New Zealand Insurance at 68s 6d; Auckland Gas (new), £863; New Plymouth Gaa, £6 7s 6d; Devonport Ferry, 325; and Taupiri Coals, 25a 6d. Mchaacs were done at 4fd and sd, Nonpareils at 9d, Victorias at 2s 6d, Waitekauri Kings at 2d, 2J<l, and 3d. Bunker's Hills were exchanged at 2s 9d and 2a 10d, sellers asking 3s 3d at last call. Hauraki Norths (paid up) hardened towards the close, Alburnia Easts dropped to BSd, buyers 7a. Grace Darlings and Occidentals showed a slight decline, ASSOCIATED STOCK AND MINING BROKERS. The following business was yesterday transacted by the above ;— Karnka Queen, 4dj Waihi Exteuded,7|d,7d,Bd; Waihi South, 7d; Waitekauri King, 2Jd; Waitekauri South, 3d; Hauraki North paid-up, 3s2d. VICTORIA G.M. CO. The Victoria Gold Mining Company, during the past month, crushed aud treated 75 loads of quartz, for a yield of 1640z lOdwt retorted gold. Last month, 140 loads yielded 182oz Bdwt Included in the crushing, says our Thames correspondent, were 10 or 12 loads of quartz won from the stopes above No. 1 level, the quality of which was rather low grade, but the remainder came to hand from the block now being worked between Nos. 2 and 3 levels, and which is without doubt of good Suality. The western drive at this iutermeiate level has just passed through the Prince Imperial break and the reef met with again, but as yet no quartz has been broken from it. MONUMENT EXTENDED G.M. CO. An extraordinary meeting of shareholders in the above was held yesterday, at the office of Mr. McDonald Scott. Mr. J. J. Dixon presided. Resolutions authorising the voluntary winding up of the company, uuder the Companies' Act of 1882, were confirmed, and R. McDonald Scott was appointed liquidator. CHAMBER OF MINES. A meeting of the council of the Chamber of Mines was held yesterday when there were present; Mr. James Russell (chairman), Colonel Burton, Messrs, A. lCidd, Clarke, Macfarlane, Chambers, and George. The statement of accounts showed a gross balance of £77017s 7d and a net balance of £67017s 7d; tho estimated expenditure to the 31st August was £270 4s Bd. The accounts were adopted. Twenty new companies were reported to have been registered since the last meeting, most of them being English comp&uies. Two photographs of the old Shotovcr mine were accepted as presents from Mr. Hunt, and ordered to be framed and hung in the Chamber. The secretary said an implication had been made that the official stamp of the Chamber be affixed to an enlarged plan of the Hauraki puniusulu ; this was a copy of the plan issued by the Chamber, but lie (the secretary) had declined the request until he had laid the matter before the Council. The action of the secretary was confirmed. Several matters relating to the amendment of the miuiug laws arose in the Legal and Finance Committee's report, and otherwise. These have already been outlined in the Herald, and it was stated they would be discussed with the under-secretory for the Mines Department. As to sales of forfeited shares, Mr. Mactarlane said a good many companies had adopted the suggestion of the chairman, viz.. that where forfeited shares (lid not realise the amount of call and expenses, they should be registered in the name of the company. GENERAL MINING ITEMS. • The meeting of the Al Gold Mining Company, called for yesterday, lapsed for want of a quorum. Yesterday the manager of the Hauraki No, 2 telegraphed :—Cut a 6-inch leader in west crosscut. A bottle of stone showing gold, and aparcel of general dirt from the Wynvardton was on view yesterday at Mr. J. H. Harriwn's. The following wire was received yesterday from the mine manarar of the Sceptre Gold Mining Company's property:— We are now through the body of stone which is about eight feet wide, giving splendid prospects right across. Mr. Harley, the newly appointed mauager of the Waitekauri Queen Gold Mining Company, has assumed charge of the mine, reports that he intends driving in order to pick up the Tarantiki reet in the northern part of our ground, and also the trench for the cross reef, which should run through this property. Last night the mine manager of the Karaka Queen Gold Mining Company telegraphed tbat the main lode was broken down yesterday, (iold was freely seen on the reef which is three feet wide. Mr. Ledingham, one of the directors ha 3 visited the mine, and is said to bo highly pleased with the prospects. The extraordinary meeting of the Aurora Gold Mining Company, convened for April 12 has been adjourned till April 21. A sale of forfeited shares in the Midas Gold Mining Company is advertised for April 27. The directors of the Harp of Tara Gold Mining Company being desirous of gettitg a correct idea of the value of the large reef which is over 50 feet wide, instructed the manager to forward a fair average of the reef to Messrs. G. Fraser and Sons for assay. This was done, the assay valno per ton being returned at Bdwt 23gr« gold, and9tlwtssilver, the value per ton being £116s BJd.

THAMES SHARE MARKET. [BX TELEORAriJ.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Tuesday. Conservative, sellers sd; Darwin (contribution), sellers 4J ; Grand Triple, sellers 3d; Kiiramii-C iledonian, sellers 5s 3d; Karaka Queon, sellers sd, buyers 3d; Kiiig Solomou, sellers 31: Kurauui, sellers Iβ od: Mata Reefs, sellers 4d; Mclsiiacs, sellers sid, buyers 4d; New VVhau, buyers sd; Nonpareil, sales 10d, sellers lid; Tararu Creek, sellers 4s: Temple Bar, sellers 3d ; Victoria, buyers 2s 6d; Royal, sellers Is 6d, buyers Is 3d; Kaiser (contributing), sellers 5d ; lona, buyers Is Id; Lone Hand, sellers lid; King of Omahu, sales lid; Welcome Find, sellers 2s 6d,

A NEW GOLD DISCOVERY. Thames, Tuesday. A new gold discovery, which may possibly turn out to be a valuable one, and oue which wilt no doubt open up a new field for prospectors, has been made near the head of the Hihi Creek, which is one of the branches of the Kauaeranga River. The locality itself lies on what is termed the " Billy Goat" fall side of the main dividing range of the peninsula, and is distant about two miles eastward of the Table Mountain, and about 14 miles south-east of the Thames township, At the point in question, a couple of prospecters have been working for the past two months, with the result that they have discovered 'i number of small peculiar-looking veins, which undoubtedly carry a good percentage of the precious metal. These veins, none of which appear to exceed tmlf-an-inch in thickness, traverse, strange to aay, a rhyolite formation clues of country, which is not supposed to be very favourable for the existence of gold; but in the present instance it appears to be quite the reverse, for excellent dish prospects are not only available from the veins themselves, but also from the surface soil as well. The veins, so far as tested, are not composed of hard quartz, such as is generally the case, but of what resembles hard-baked, greenish-tinted clay, intermixed with gritty quartz. As yet, however, very little work hag been accompjiihed to prove the extent and value of the discovery beyond surface trenching and shallow crosscuts; neither has there been found any defined reef, but the numerous veins of dark greenish-coloured rubble which traverse the subsoil undoubtedly give rich prospects of heavy and good-priced gold, which can be readily caught on the plates by ordinary battery treatmeut. In order to prove the value of the veins in question the prospectors recently forwarded a small trial parcel to the School of Mines, the treatment of which has just been completed for an actual bullion return at the rate of £23 3s 8d per ton, and Mr. F. B. Allen, the director, has reported as follows upon thesame:—" The ore was earthy, of a dark greenish colour, and contained a few strings of quartz. It was dried, dry crushed, sampled, and assayed, as follows:—Gold, 6oz Sdwt Igr per ton: silver, 3oz 6d*t lifer per tou: value, £25 6s per ton. It was then hot pan amalgamated, and 8?alb dry yielded 3oss 7dwt 22grs of melted bullion, worth £2 ]3e 6d per oz. This is equivalent to a saving per ton of £23 3a ltd, and represents a percentage saving of 91*6 per cent, of the gold, 89'3 per cent, of the silver, and 31 "6 per cent of the value of the ore. The gold is easily visible in the ore, and is of a heavy nature, readily saved by amalgamation. "The find ii one well worth following up." The discovery hat already resulted in several 100 acre leases having been taken up iu its vicinity.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. _ Ai.eet (Coromande), April 10).-Timber-ing the drive on Maori Boy. Bunker's Hill (Coromandel, April 10).— North-west drive from winze: This face is now well in hand. The country is most favourable, and gold should be found here. Ho quartz hasbeen taken down this week. South-east drive from winze: Splendid chumel of Mldittnc country.

New Mint (Kuaotonu, April 9).-Low level crosscut: Good blocky shooting ground. Electric (Whangamata).—Crosscut to intersect reef: Thirty feet more to drive to cat reef, King or Omahu (Omaha).—Drive on No. 1 reef: In the face there are about nine inches of rubble on the footwall that prospects very well. In the Harp section : I have driven 12 feet on the course of the ironstone veins, and have also started prospecting in the gullies from whence the rich assays were obtained. Orion (Para).—Located No. 1 reef further to the westward: where out colours of gold could be obtained in the diah. Also located No. 2 reef in the same direction, aud am starting to drive on it. Ben'DIGO (Purn).—Cut through No. 2 reef in the low level. It is of a rubbly nature, and about five feet wide, carrying bright mineral, and is easily worked.

PAEROA WARDEN'S COURT. [BIT TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] PAEROA, Tuesday. The usual sitting of the Warden's Court was held to-day, when the following applications were granted :— SPECIAL CLAIMS. H. Banner, Belvair special claim; 11. Fletcher, Waihi North No. 1 special claim; A. Long, Waihi Great United special claim; W. J. Smith, President of Waihi special claim; J. 11. H.urison, Anchor special claim ; 11. Gooch, Komati Treasure special i-laim; J. HcUnn-in, Earl of Waihi special claim ; S. H. Matthews, Juno special claim; Fiery Cro.-s Gold Mining Company, Fiery Cross special claim; Maika Kepa, Rotnrua Lake special claim ; 0. Crosby, Taurauga special claim. LICENSED HOLDING. The following application {or a licensed holding was granted :-W. L. Hunter, Goldflelds licensed holding. MISCELLANEOUS. The followine miscellaneous applications were granted :—J. ill. Lennox, water-race at Wlnrikirauponga; O. C. Morris, water-race at Wharikiraupoiiga; Robert Walker, residence site at Waitekauri; A. Shaw, residence site at Waitekami; J. Tetley, residence site ai Miickaytown ; A. McKinto;, residence site at Komata; Woodstock Main Beefs, Limited, machine site at K.irangarnke ; T. Scanlon, residence site at Karangahake; W. Lockyer, residence site it Waitekauri; 11. Thompson, residence site at VVaitekauri; N. Bray, residence site at Waitekauii; Waitekauri Consolidated Gold Mining Company, water-race at Wailokanri; J. Chirk, resilience site at Karangabake; J. Martin, residence site at Karangaliako; F. Wickam, resilience site at Karangaliake; J. Barrett, residence site at Komati; W. S. Burgh, residence site at Komata; Hussy, residence site at Waitekauri. PKOTECTIO.N. Protection w.i» granted as follows:—U. Kelly. Loyalty claim, for six months: Ksporanza Gold Mining Company, Waihi. New Find cWiin, for six months; Mangakara United Gold Mining Company, Wailukauri Consolidate.! claim, for six months; J. K. Bulks, Evangnline claim, for six months; J. R. Banks, s.incho Panza claim, for six months ; J. C. Latimer, Colestreara Extended claim, for tluve months; J. Foley, Auckland Queen claim, for six months; J. C. Gafbraith, Gibraltar claim, for six months; J. C. Galliraith, Jocelyn claim, for six months; E. J. Smith, Auckland Prince, Auckland Princess, and Auckland Chief claim,., for six months; G.CiiMhy, Prince claim, fur six months; J. S. White, Sylvia claim, for six mouths; Talisman Intended Gold Mining Compiny, machine site, for six months; J. Crosby, Harp of I'.rin claim, for six months; Queen A'inie Gold Milling Company, Queen Annls of Waitekanri claim, forsix months; J. H. Porter, Scotia claim, for six months; T. Adams, Peel's Creek claim, for six months; H. Moore, Wairiporipo claim, for six months; W. L. Hunter, Great Pacific claim, for six months. PARTIAL PROTECTION. Permission to work with a less number of men was granted as follows:—Waihi Consols Gold Mining Company, Waihi North claim, with one man for two months; Devon Gnld Mining Company, ltoyal Arms claim, with tlitve men for four months.: Waihi Monument Gold Mining Company, Sea View claim, with two men for four months; Ngahike Te Ton, Maiiukawa claim, with four men for four months; Irving Gold Mining Company.lrviiißclaim, with two men for four months; N. ihinlop, Lord Itoseberry claim, with two men for four months; Talisman Intended UnldMining Company, Talisman KxtenuV.l claim, Willi five men for four months; Wealth of Nations Gold Mining Company, Wealth of Nations claim, with three men for four months; .Stanley (fold Mining Compiny, Stanley claim, with rive men for four months; Waiiekauri Monarch Gold Mining Company, Monarch Intended and Waitilkauri Monarch claims, with two men each for four months; W. S. l.yell, Killaruey Extended claims, with two men for four months; N. Lu«k, Liverpool claim, with two mm for four months ; A. Cunningham, Mount Morgan claim, with two men (or four months; J. M. sharp, Koinau Reefs lixtendod claim, with six men for (our months. WAIHI "EACH CLAIMS. The applications for claims at the Waihi Beach were adjourned until May 6. KOMATA WEST EXTENDED CLAIM. C. Ashwin and Itolit. Walker and .Tamos O'llara applied for iho lorfeiture of tho Komata West Extended licensed holding for non-working. There was no appearance of the defendant. Decree for forfeiture, and complainant declared llrst applicant. Defendant was ordered to pay costs. DICKSOX'S LEAD CMIMS. G. Finch v. G. S. Budge and another: Plaint for forfeiture of the DHson's lead, No*, 1, 2, :i. 4, and 5 claiins. Mr. McVeagh appeared for the coinplain int, Mr. Clendon appeared for Mr. Rudgp, and Mr. Miller for Mr. Morrin (another dofemlant). Messrs. Miller and CUndon said I hat ihey we u agreeable for forfeiture to be decreed, as their clients were sick of the affair. A decree was made for forfeiture, and complainant declared first applicant. FORFEITURE CASES. Mining Registrar v. John Featon : For forfeiture of tho rice Imice claim for non-paymant of rent. Decree for forfeiture, and purchaser (Ueorge Henry Mason) declared first applicant. Mining Ki'gistrar v. A. li. Millar : For forfeiture of tho Waiatarua claim. Decree for forfeiture with costs. Mining Registrar v. H. H. Partridge : For forfeiture of the Capstan Extended claim. Decree for forfeiture with costs. QUEEN OF IIAROTOTO CLAIM. John Morrissy v. James Home: Claim for one quarter share in the Queen of Marototo claim, or in default £'2611. Mr. Moss appeared for the cmplainant, and Mr, Konrick for the defendant. Evidence was given by complainant to the effect that he was to receive a fourth share in tint cliiin for m.irking it (nil, which statement defendant denied, and stated that complainant had keen paid for pegging out the claim. The case was adjourned to April -a. __ - _«_^_