THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10417, 15 April 1897, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

AUCKLAND SHAREMARKET. There is little change to reporc in the market. Yesterday there were buyers for New Zealand Insurauce at a slightly higher figure than on the previous day, and tor National Insurance and Taupiri Coal at former quotations. Auckland Gas (new) had buyers at advanced figure. Uuion Oils showed a alight decline. Victorias were done at 2a 6d, Hit or Miss at U 4d and Is sd, Progress-Castle Rocks 7Jd. Waihi Extendeds were exchanged at 6Jd, sellers asking 8d at close. May Queens, Waitekauris, Four-in-Hande, and Alberts had a downward tendency. ASSOCIATED STOCK AND MINING BROKERS. The following business was yesterday transacted by the above:— Karaka Queen, 4Jd, 4d; Hit-or-Miss, Is sd; Waihi Dredging, ljd, 2d; Waihi South, 6d; Hauraki North, contributing, Is 10d; Hauraki North, paid-up, 3s 3d: Native Chief, 2d : ProgressCastle Rock, 7id i Albert, Is2d; Waitelauri King, 3d. WOODSTOCK. Crushing at the Woodstock is proceeding satisfactorily. K very week since the mill was started a bar of bullion has been lodged in the bank for safe custody. ROYAL STANDARD. No less than 179 men are now employed on the Royal Standard property at Wharekeraupunga. In the low level men are engaged on contract, and good progress has been made through a splendid class of country. In the intermediate level the drive is in about 100 feet on the course of the reef. The ore body is from eight to ten feet in width, and assays highly payable. The reef improves as it is driven upon, the bullion also containing a higher percentage in sold. This level is opening up a large block of ground ready for stoping. The two abovementioned levels are being connected by tramway with the battery kilns. During the past fortnight the level which baa been driven through(No. 1 spur for the'purpose of a waterrace has cut through the No. 1 reef, showing a large body of highly payable ore. Late assavsof stone from the No. 1 reef by the Bank of New Zealand give at the rate of £22 per ton, indicating that this large body ot stone is highly payable going hillwards. At the battery about 40 men are employed excavating for foundations, which are in an advanced state. The tramway to connect the battery site with highwater mark is more than half completed, and it is expected that it will be open for traffic at the end of May, The company will then be in a position to get up the machinery at any time of the year.

ALPHA AND RAINBOW, Arrangements of au important nature have been made in connection with the abovenamed propertiei. They have been held on option by Mr. D. E. Clerk, whose intention was to float them on the English market. From various caueee, principally on account of the present unsettled conditiou of the Home market, negotiation; fell through. Being satisfied, after a caret il inspection, that there was every promise of the mines proving of value, Mr. Clerk endeavoured to make arrangements with an Auckland eyndiaate to erect a crnshing plant in return for an interest in the property, and has succeeded, the conditions having been finally discussed yesterday, and pronounced satisfactory by the directors. It is reassuring to find that that there is local capital available to carry out the work abovementioued. The reef is said to be a splendid body of stone, and the tests so far made hare proved in every way satisfactory. MONARCH OF ALL G.M. CO. The shareholders of the above company met yesterday mid confirmed the arrangements made by the directors in amalgamating the Monarch of All, Superb, and Premier companies. The new company wilj be known aa the Bucklebury Gold Mining Company. At the special meeting of shareholders of the Superb and Premier companies held yesterday, similar resolutions were passed. Mr. W. H. Churton was appointed manager of the new company, and Mr. A. Derore was elected director, The next Board of Directors will meet shortly and attend to various matters left in their hands. CADMAN G.M. CO. A meeting of the directors of the above company was held yesterday afternoon to consider a proposal from London re purchase of the "property. After dismission it was decided to place the same under offer on the following terms, viz., one-fifth of the shares fully paid up ip any company formed, and £500 cash. It is stated that there is every prospect of a speedy settlement being arrived at. _ MINES CORPORATION OF NEW ZEALAND (LIMITED). The following relates to properties held by the above;—Hauraki Main Lodes (Limited). Coromandel: This minn is being pushed ahead—some 146 feet deptli having been reached—the country rock being everything that could be wished. Permanent poppet leg foundations of a massive character have been sunk, and the legs will be in position this week. The shaft is to be sunk 200 feet before croesoutring. Woodstock Maiu Reef, Karangahake: Thin mine is being developed extensively—the office* and necessary buildings being in courie of erection. Walker's, Marototo: Extensive development work has been going on on this property. The results are satisfactory. Mercury Bay, Colorado: Extensive developments are going on in the Colorado and Great Britain special claims.

WENTWORTH (WHANGAMATA) G.M. CO. At a meeting of the directors of this company held on the 12th instant, arrangements were made tor the flotation of the property in London under the direction of Mr. Fred H. Whalley. who proceeds to England at once. The terms are considered satisfactory and advantageus to the shareholders. It was' reported that on a recent visit of one of the director! to the property samples were taken by him from some of the reefs now being worked upon in the property. These samples have been assayed by Mr. Charles Ratten, and gave returns averaging^rom £2 (stone from small reefs) to £43 8s (stone from footwall of main reef). WHANGAREI GOLD MINING. Our Whangtrei Heads correspondent writes;—" Rumour" sayeth that the Pacific Cliffs mining venture is likely to tall through, owing to the stiffness of the concessions asked for by the lessor. What a pity if foreign capital should be driven away by our landholders hereabouts asking too high a sum for the right Co develope their property, in which there may be only little or unpayable quantities of mineral. GENERAL MINING ITEMS. An assay of ore from No. 1 reef of the Royal Standard was made, and gave a return at the rate of £22 per ton. The Diamond Special Claim (Karangabake) was yesterday sold at public auction. The claim, which consist! of 79 acres, was purchased on leasehold by Mr. E. Coleman for £50. The party of Auckland gentlemen, who are interesting themselves in some of the new fields which are being opened up in Otago, have instructed Mr. R. Hay, mining engineer, Dunedin, to inspect certain properties and report. It is probable that Mr. Hay will shortly pay a visit of inspection to Te Aroha and Great Barrier Island. Last week a uew reef was discovered on the New Munster Gold Mining Company's property. Stone from the reef, which is 6ft wide, was assayed by Mr, Kitchener Wilson, and eave a return of lMwts 7grs gold, and 7(Mwts Ugrs silver per ton, the value being £314 a 3d. Last night several directors of the Staff* (Great Barrier) Company left by the Ohinerauri for the island, with the object of paying a visit of inspection to the company g property, and deciding as to what work will be proceeded with. Mr. Jules Henry, the representative of an English syndicate, who have been paying a good deal of attention to mining matters in the colony, intends visiting the Auckland district at an early date. Mr. Henry, after inspecting the mining districts of New Zealand, returns to England next October. A sale of forfeited shares in the Golden Hill Gold Mining Company is advertised for April 27. Sales of forfeited shares in the Rothschild and Criterion Gold Mining Companies are announced for to-day. TARARU CREEK. [bt teleoraph.— own cobrkspondent.] Thames, Wednesday. The result of the cleaning up on behalf of this Company for the month ending April 10th is just to hand, and is as follows:—2so tous of ore were treated for a return of 175 ounces ldwt of bullion, the total value of which is £801 9s fid. During the latter part of the run, gome considerable deUy was caused by the breaking of the pinion wheel on the main shaft in the battery, and this, together with the break met with crossing the reef in the City of Dunedin section, which militated aninst as Urge a supply of ore being obtained as would otherwise have been the case, accounts for the smallnessof tho quantity of ore treated. It is confidently anticipated, however, that, barring mishaps, the forthcoming month's returns will show a considerable improvement, especially as the new 50-ton vat,-just added to the cyanide plant, will be available, for tht treatment of th» tailings ta tuwd, : : r |

MINING AT COROMANDEL. The following details are taken from the report I forwarded by Captain Hodge to the Mines Department of the mines under bis management :— Hauraki Mais LodesCosifanv. (Limited). —Tnis company has crushed four tons of quartz and 241b of concentrated black sand, which gave a result oi 4oz 9dwts of retorted gold. This was raised in excavating for the engine shaft on the bedrock or between the bedrock and the machine mud. The average number of persons employed is 30. Speaking of this property, its position and facilities for working with a permanent plant erected ought to prove, if indications goforanything, a very valuable property. Hauraki Gold Mining Company, Limited).—The company own a battery with 15 heads of stamps aud nine berdans driveu by steam po>»er, the bullion being extracted by amalgamation. The quartz crushed by this company for the year eadine 31st March has been 4437 tone, yielding 24,6560z7dwts of bullion, while the average number of persons employed during the year has been 180. There are 12 reefs or veins traversing the property. For the further development foundations are being excavated for new pumping engines, estimated to sink the mine 1500 feet with a 12iu diameter lift of pumps. The dividend! paid by the Company to the 27th September 1896, have been £112,000. Expenditure in colonv for year ending 31st December last was £22,987 17s 3d, while the total expenditure since the Company's registration to that date was £42,7U7s Hd. Golden Pah (Uaubaici), Limited.-Total expenditure since registration to the 31st December last has been £1037 locally. Two tons of quartz have been raised from the Jewellers' leader, which yielded 3ozs 19dwts bullion. The average number of men employed is 34. Machinery to arrive shortly consists of high-pressure pumping engine, winding engines, and two steel Cornish boilers. A temporary plant is being constructed to carry on sinking J maiu shaft, pending arrival of plant. Kathleen Gold Mine (LiMiTED).-The number of persona employed averages 42. Main shaft (Hartridge's) sunk 241) feet; puddling shafts, 9G feet: total, 336 feet. One hundred feet of levels have been driven on the line of reefs; crosscuts have been driven 264 feet. The cost of sawn and mining timber for the above developments to the company is very nearly £1000. The total expenditure of this company since registration to the 31st December last was £9125. As far as the future of this compauy is concerned any blast on the Hue of reefs and the crosscuts might discover a rich property. Scorn's Hauraki Gold Mining Company (Limited).—A permanent shaft has been sunk to a depth of 325 feet. The principal workings now being conducted are on the line of Breuer's reef, und the sinking of a winze. Nearly £500 worth of sold was broken out from the 355-feet level on the 26th January last by a few shifts working. The total expenditure of this company locally up to December 31 last has Dceu £12,506 Is Bd. The total quantity of quartz crushed by this company since its initiation up to date has been 122 tons, which gave 2560z 17dwt, realising £749 17s. Average number of persons employed i 3 36. Success Gold Mixes Limited.—The total expenditure since registration to the 31st December last is £10,809 14s 2d. The number of persons emnloyed by tho Compauy has averaged 43. The Company have done a considerable amount of development on the property, and have crushed 493 tons of quartz, which gave 2090z of melted bullion, realising £600 as 10(1. New Hauraki Gold Pkopbp.ties, Limited.—Average number of persons employed on this property is 32. Remarks: In the 14 J acre section of this property a prospecting level is being driven in virgin Ri-ouud. On reaching the true andesite rnek the company have good chances of cutting reefs practically never discovered on the property, all in virgin ground. The development of this is very important to test this section of the property. The company has expended since registration, to the 31st December last, £7727 14s sd. Royal Oak of Hauraki, Limited.— Number of persons employed by the company is 40. The total expenditure lince registration to the 31st December, has been £8221 03 Id. The company has crushed since registration 36 tons of quartz, yielding 330nz 19dwt of melted bullion, aud realising £884 19s 9d. It is the intention of this company to thoroughly develope the Oik section of the property. Tokatea of Hauraki (Limited).—The company has crushed 21 tons of quartz for a yield oi 770z 18dwt 2;r, which realised £222 143 Id, and employ 35 persons on the mine. It is contemplated very shortly to amalgamate this property with the Royal Oak. With this done, by the aid ot the Tokatea plant for pumping, winding, and stamping, the Royal Oak in conjunction with this company can work their shatt dry and give reef a thorough good development. THAMES DRAINGAE BOARD. The usual monthly meeting of the Thames Drainage Board, hold yesterrtay in Mr. D. G. McDonnell's office, was attended by Messrs. G, S. Kissling (chairman), Jas. McEnteer, R. Comer, T. Radford, Jas. Macfarlaue, H. A. Gordon, Jas. Dickey, and J. F. Clarke. Manager's Report.—The manager in his report stated that everything in connection with the pumps and machinery had been working smoothly, with the exception of a breakage of glands on the main rod at the 10U-feet level. New ones were procured and at once placed in poaitiou. The coal account showed that 338 tons hadbeenreceived, the consumption being 241 tons. The expenses for the month were £271. The report was adopted, Mr. Radford remarking that if the drawing lift were kept free fewer breakages would occur.

Financial Report.—The financial report showed the receipts to have beou £1015 18i 6d, made up as follows:—Balance forward, £636 2s 3d; received on account of contributions, £319 169 3d; ami deposit mi contract, £60. The expenditure amounted to £26911s Id; accounts paid amounting Co £169 129 Id ; and accounts to be paid, £99 19a. The credit balance was £746 7s sd. 'lhc liabilities were given as £376 Oa Bd, the principal item being £256 04 Bd. Tho assets, including cash balance as stated above, were £859 Os 9d. The report was adopted. The New Manager.— chairman intimated that the new manager, Mr. Joseph Brokenshire, had received the necessary certificates from the Government, and had been appoiuted by the Board as manager of the Big Pump. The Coal Contract.—Mr. Comer complained of the manner in which the coal contract was being carried out, iud stated that the extra consumption of coal was on account of its inferior quality. It was agreed by those present that an improvement was desirable in this connection, and, eventually the matter was left in the hands of the chairman, he being authorised, in the event of proper coal not comim; to hand, to purchase same in Auckland, and charge the contractor with cost and charges for conveyance. Carting Contracts. discussion it was decided to allow a rebate of 5d per ton to Ricket, the late contractor, since the increate in wharfage, the opinion being expressed that it would be very unjust for the Board to make him adhere to the original contract,under the circumstances. It was also decided that Maxwell, the present contractor, be paid 7d per ton in addition to wharfage. Testimonial.—lt was unanimously decided to grant a testimonial to Mr. Francis Henry, who is retiring from tho service of the Board.

Report os Pump.— waa moved by Mr. Radford, seconded by Mr. MoEateer, "That the manager be asked to specially report as to when the sump was cleaned out to the bottom, and whether it would not be advisable to remove the old clacks and replica them with proper clacks in the down piece." Mr. Radford said the matter was one of great necessity. They did not know bow that at any moment they would not be able to draw a pint of water. Mr. McEoteer agreed with Mr. Radford that the matter was an important one, and should be attended to. Mr. Comer expressed the opinion that it was cheaper for the Board to pay for extra leather than to pump the water out. It was decided to instruct the manager to report in accordance with the tertni of the motion. Motion Withdrawn.— proposal by Mr. Comer that an increase of 10s per week be made in the wages of one of the employees was adversely commented upon, and was subsequently withdrawn. PAEROA WARDEN'S COURT. [by tklugbapu.— CORRESPONDENT.] Paeboa, Weduesday. At the Warden's Court to-daw the following applications were granted a :—H. Giltillan, jun., permission to work Waitete claim with four men for four months ; Waihi Consolidated Gold Mining Company, Limited, permission to work Brilliant claim with one man for four months ; Waihi Consolidated Gold Milling Company, Limited, permission to work the Favona claim with six men for four months; Norman Proprietary Gold Mining Company, Limited, permission to work Edwin Norman claim with seven men for three months, THAMES SHAUEJIARKET. [BI TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESrONEENT.] Thames, Wedueslay. Albnrnta East, sellers 9.1 ; Club, sellers, 3d; Conservative, sellers sd; Darwin (contributing), sellers 4d; Kuranui-Ctledonian, sellers os 3d; Karaka Queen, buyers 3Jd; King Solomon, sellers 2d ; Mata Beefs, sellers 4d; New Whan, sellers Oil, buyers ad; Nonpareil, sellers lid; Occidental, sellers 4d; Tararu Creek, sellers 4s; . Temple Bur, sellers 3d; Royal, sellers Is ft.l; . Lone Hand, sellers lid, buyers 9ii; Kaiser (contributing), ! sellers 3d; lons, buyers Is ■ 3d; Welcome i Find, hUwi j Albert,' itUtn 8d..:; <

NEWS FROM THE MINES. [BY. TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Thames, Wednesday. KAISER O.M. CO. A crushing of 20 loads of ore broken from the new reef discovered a few weeks ago in this company's mine, has been completed at the Alburuia battery for a yield of ljjoz of retorted gold, the value of which is about £54. It is thought that owing to the presence of so much gaiena and other base minerals in tho ore, a large percentage of the gold has passed away into the tailings, all, however, has been saved, and will probably be subjected to treatment again. Paeroa, Wednesday. WAIHI-UNION. Under the management of Mr. Wearne and superintendence of Mr. H. P. Barry, the Waihi-Uuion Company's property is now in active course of development, aud, in addition to the erection of powerful pumping and winding machinery, underground explorations are being assiduously prosecuted. At No. 1 level the Amaranth lode is being proved, though at the preseut time driving is just being carried along on the footwall side. The ore body is, however, of large dimensions, and is capable of yielding a great quantity of stone. The same lode is also being crosscutted from the bottom of No. 2 shaft, which is down abont 50 feet below the No. 1 level. The reef here looks very promising, and is producing a. payable class of ore. Other exploratory works are in hand, whilst at the surface excellent headway has been nude with the erection of the machinery ; in fact, the pumping plant is complete with the exception of the sweep rod. The pump rods are also to be placed dowu the shaft, and when this has been completed pumping will be commenced with the permanent plant. WAITERAURI CROSS. Work on all parts of this property is being pushed ahead as fast as possible, though in the main crosscut progress has been •low, owing to the hard nature of the rock. The drive ou the Taranaki reef is now far enough ahead to strike the upper level with an up-rise which has now been started. When this is through there will be a good current of air available, and sufficient to supply a winze which it is intended to sink upon the lode for the purpose of prospecting it to a greater depth. In the shaft a considerable quantity of water has made its appearance, and as the stream was a little too powerful for the windlass a " whip " is now being fixed in position, and it is hoped that tho difficulty will be overcome aud sinking resumed by the end of the week. The construction of the water-race is progressing favourably. Coromandel, 'A ednosday. HADRAKI NORTH. The machinery is ready for resuming operations to-morrow. The full staff of men is expected to be again at work by next Tuesday. The Wynyardton reef runs into, and should junction with the main lode in tho Hauraki North; if uot previously exploited at that point rich ore should be met with.

WYNYARDTO.V. Here they continue to get a little gold in the stone at every breaking down. A winze will probably be put down on the reef, which continues to be about one foot wide ; about three tons of crushing dirt is already on haud. If a few more meu were put on a trial crushing could soon be procured, and tho reef given a fair trial. HAORAKI NO. 2. A leader about six inches wide has been cut in tho weat crosscut of the Uauraki No. 2. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. MoßiuN-PoRU (Thames, April 10).—Started driving along No. 2 reef again, aud am now 10 feet along reef; reef is very much broken up. Crosscut to intersect Rimii reef is in a distance of 70 feet; country promises to change into a nice class of sandstone. LoKNA Doos'E (Kennedy's Bay, April 10).— Crosscut from 100 feet tunnel extended 10 feet east and 8 feet west; splendid class of blocky sandstone, interlaced with bright mineral seams. If this description of ground continues up to big reef it should prove a payable ore body. Qoken Victoria.—Prospecting continued on the leader reported in my last; quartz carries fair amount of minerals. Stak of the North.—Prospecting and stripping No. 2 leader has been continued; quartz looks well, leader one foot thick. Southern Cross (Waltekauri, April 10).— Low level his been driven further distance of SO fee;. Nico looking leader, containing good mineral indications passed through. Wynyardton (Uoroinandel, April 12).— Leador in prospecting drive is lying very flat, aud liangiugwull has not been reached thereabouts with an eastern underlie. If it keeps course will pass through the entire width of the Wyuyardton property. Leader continues of the eamo size; a little gold has been seen when taken down. Kathleen lodp should strike through property, and if so there is every reason to expect a rich deposit of gold. My Sweetheart (Whangamata, April 10). —Prospecting advanced 10 feet. Still in the same class of country, with no sign of the reef. Uo not intend to continue drive much further unless change takes place. Sybil (Whangamata, April 10).—Main adit is now in 170 feet. Ground is much more settled looking, aud shows a great quantity of mineral.

Pukewhad (Coromandel, April jU)).— Have been driving straight ahead in No. 3 drive. I find reef is to the right, so wili start to crosscut to the right. Covier Light (Coromandel, April U).— Low level No, 1 leader has been extended 78 feet. Rise on No. 3: Reef has beeu discontinued for the present. Started to drive on the No. 3on northward course It is a fine body of stone. A.J.C. (Kennedy's Bay, April 9).—Leader iu face of drive is pinched up a little. Stone broken out is still of a very promising appearance, and good dish prospects can be obtained. Country is now full of iron veins and quartz stringers, Caspian (Thames, April 10). — Several quartz stringers are crossing the face of north drive, indicating the near proximity of reef. Lode may now be looked tor at any time.

Kwrandi (Thames, April 10).—Reef in north drive has been stripped 18 feet, and shows a width of 15 inches in face; country improving. Reef iu the south drive has been stripped 14 feet, aud is uow four inches thick. Esperanza (April 10).—Have been breaking down reef, aud it shows a large body of stune. I can obtain few colours by pounding. Have located a place higher up, and am driving for it. I think there are more reefs iu vicinity. Great Marototo (April 10),—Work confined to driving through the Jason reef, and hive reached hangingwall. Reef, six feet wide, being well defined. Have extended crosscut to intersect Mexico reef 17 feet. Should cut reef iu another five feet. Niw Zealander (April 10).-No 1 level: Crosscut ia put into hangingwall portion o( the reef to ascertain thickness at this point. Quartz of good description carrying excellent minerals. No. 4 reef keeps favourable appearance; country very good tor gold. Sunlight (April 10).—Still driving and trenching, but nothing fresh to report, WaitekadriNo. 2,(Waitekauri, April 10). —Drive on No. 2 reef has been exteuJed Iβ feet for week. No change to report. Golden Fleece (Karanghake, April 10).Main level has been extended 250 feet. Ground is good class of sandstone country intermixed with stringers. Silas (Thames, April 10).—Very favourable country being mot with in crosscut to inter-.-sect No. 1 reef, and it should not take long to get lode. Start made to drive in level to out No. 2 reef which is 3 feet and of promising appearance. Renown (Thames, April 12).—Contractors have completed contract for driving 100 feet. Country same class and character. Will let another 100 feet. TAMAHANA(Wli»ngamata, April 10).-Since last have trenched 150 feet in easterly direction. Have uncovered cap of reef three feet iu width. Albert (Tairua, April 10).-No. 5 tunnel: Extended 46 feet, Had two samples from reef assayed, giving return of £2 12s and £3 103. Mariner (rUrangahake, April 10).—Work confined to driving on mullocky leader. Distance driven 26 feet. Penetrating through soft browu sandstone aud leader still two feet wide. Waipdro (Thames, April 10).-Continuine driving along Rimu reef.and am now 108 feel. Reef is one foot in width, while quartz still maintains favourable appearance. Albdkni a East (Thames, April 10). —North drive: Ground has come in hard and lode in consequence is pinched to few inches of quartz. Considerable flow of water is coming from face and sides of drive. Lode shows colours and blotches of gold at each breaking dowu.

Express (Waitekauri, April 10).-Have extended drive fifty-eight feet. At 50 feet cut through a solid and compact leader a foot wide. Am getting a test of quartz from same.

Nobuak Proprietary (Waitekauri).— Drive has advanced 106 feet. Have just tapped body of quartz which I take to be the reef we are driving for. If it is will wire. Id Jewel they are getting fair prospects from a reef about three feet wide close to oar boundary./ , Golden Opportpnitv (Thames), - Low level in Mararoa No. 1 has been extended SO feet. Passing through best clans ot sandstone country, full of pyrites. Oα M»raroa Mo. 2 driven 34 feet, reef hu split up into small leaders, but uemi to be coming together again. ■ . '■",<■ '■■"■-;.•; Excelsior (Karanjahake, April 10.)— The level hu been extended 189 feet. Country ii very hard, but laudatoue i> of a very favour■bit deKciDtiim for gold. '•;•;", ■.-• ~