THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10423, 22 April 1897, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

AUCKLAND SHAREMARKET. Vest little business was transacted on 'Change yesterday. There were buyer* for New Zealand Insurance at 705., a shade higher than late quotations; Taupiri Coals, 25s 6d ; Westport Coals, 555; Karaka Queens were •old at 4d; Victoria* at 2s sd, there being buyers at 2s 4d at last call; _ Stanleys opened at Is Id sellers, business being subsequently done at lOd: Waihi Extended* brought 7Jd and Bunker's Hill 2s 6d, buyers offering 2d less at last call; Hauraki Norths (paid up) were sold at 3s 3d; Puru Consolidated* declined to 3s fid seller*; while New Zealand Crown* were offered at 28s. There Were buyers of Talismans at 15s. ASSOCIATED STOCK AND MINING BROKERS. The following business was yesterday transacted by the above Nonpareil, Ba, 8W; Byron Bay, Id; Waihi Extended, 7d, 7Jd, Bd, 7Jd; Waihi South, 6d; Sceptre, paid-up, 6Jd. NEWS FROM THE MINES. telegraph.— correspondents.] Thames, Wednesday. nonpareil. Crashing on behalf of this company was commenced to-day at the May Queen Extended battery, there being about 20 loads of quartz to put through from the Liverpool reef. The western drive upon this same ore body is still being pushed forward, and nice dabs of gold were seen at the last breaking, down. The manager purposes resuming the extension of the eastern drive on this reef in a day or two, and will also probably commence to open up on the Wade reef early next week. MASARA ROYAL*— The development of this mine is being vigorously conduoted, and a total length of 370 feet is now opened up on the Royal reef, in which gold has been seen for the entire distance. Towards the south the lode continues strong and defined, and has during the week shown an improvement in quality. Going north the lode has pinched down considerably, but this is looked upon as being only of a temporary character; The contractors are making excellent progress with the construction of the water-race and battery. Both works are now in a forward state. Paeroa, Wednesday. WOODSTOCK.

Work is proceeding as usual at this company's mine, and a good quantity of payable stone is being mined. A rise has been carried up on the hangingwall of the Maria lode, between the Nos. 2 and 3 levels, and now that this work is completed a commencement has been made to break down the ore intervening. When this has been accomplished driving will be resumed at Nos. 2 and 3 levels. The lode at No. 4 level is still producing high grade ore, and the reef, which is looking exceedingly well, is being broken out lor a width of five feet without any sign of the footwall, The characteristics and value of the ore body at this level are very much the same as at No. 3 level, though the lode is sttouger than it was at No. 3 level, a criterion that the ore body is maintaining its strength as a depth upon it is attained. The No. 5 level is still being pushed ahead, but the lode is smaller than usual, and there is a slight doubt as to whether the quartz formation being driven upon is the main body or merely a branch. About 150 feet back from the face the lode was heaved a little out of its ordinary course. What was then believed to be the main lode was followed, but as it has not improved as it should, the manager has now decided to determine which is the right lode by sinking a winze from No. 4 level to No. 5, and this will come down south of the break, thus setting at rest all doubts upon the matter. Driving on the Maria lode in the Ivanhoe section is still being continued, but the lode is much disturbed owing to its close proximity to the gorge. A commencement is to be made next week to drive on the Woodstock lode at the same level, so that when all the faces are ou stone, a vast supply of crushing material should be availSTANLEY. The lode at the low level has now been opened up for a length of about GOO feet, but no improvement in the quality of the ore has, so far, asserted itself. The ore body is composed of rub'oly stone, which contains a little gold, though not very much. A crosscut is also being driven at this level for the purpose of intersecting the Mammoth reef, which, according to survey, should be met with in another 100 feet of driving; but a further distance than that will have to be negotiated if the lode is dipping with the couutry to the westward. The Mammoth lode has also been prospected with encouraging results at a higher level, whilst a crosscut is now in progress to cut another small lode unearthed at the surface. Cokomandel, Wednesday. WELCOME FIND. The reef intersected in the second level drive in the Welcome Find is five feet wide: no gold has been seen in it. When operated upon in the 100-feet level gold was not found. The machinery so far is well able to cope with the extra flow of water. The reef which carried the rich shoot of gold and specimens in the higher levels is not expected to be reached for another 100 feet. FOUR-IN-HAND. The hangingwall leader in the Four-in-Hand shows gold in the stone where inter* sected in the lowest level. WYNYARDTON. Work at the Wynyardton with a limited staff is ndfcssarily slow. A little gold is seen at eaoh breaking down. KATHLEEN. The second column in the Kathleen hat proved successful in easing the strain upon the machinery, keeping, as it does, the water under without difficulty. GENERAL MINING ITEMS. Our Coromandei correspondent states that the licensed holding Londonderry, on the Tokatea, is to be sold by auction by order of the Warden to satisfy several liens for wages duly registered against the said licensed holding. The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Aurora Gold Minine Company, called for yesterday, lapsed. The balance-sheet showed receipts to have been £357 8: 2d, including calls and premium shares £272 15s 2d. The expenditure amounted to £327, the balance to credit being £30 8s 2d. The half-yearljr meeting of the Waitekauri Reefs Gold Mining Company, which was to have been held yesterday, lapsed. The balance-sheet showed receipts £700, and expenditure £611 4s 6d, the credit balance being £88'15s fid. The number of men employed at the Broken Hill Proprietary mine (Australia) is 6000; and the monthly extraction of ore 70,000 tons. The dividends paid to date amount to £9,000,000. The last issue of the New Zealand Goldfields Gazette, a monthly journal published in London, has an abstract of the Mining Act Ameudment Act of last session, preceded by the following remarks" One of the last acts done by the last Government was to pass the Mining Act Amendment Act, 1896. This Bill, when before the House, created ths greatest possible interest and excitement in mining circles in the colony. If the Bill had been passed u it was originally drafted, it would no doubt have done a good deal to stop the inrush of British capital into the colony. It would have created a feeling of disquiet and insecurity, which would have been greatly deplored by all who have the interests of the gold mining industry in the colony, and indeed of the colony itself, at'heart, However, all's will that ends well. Common sense came to the rescue, and the Aot, as finally passed; by the Government, is by no means a bad measure. Capitalists anxious to invest their capital in the colony need be under no alarm." . Notices of annual and half-yearly general meetings of various mining companies appear in our advertising columns. An extraordinary general meeting of the Staffa Gold and Silver Mining Company will be held on May 13.

THAMES SHARE MARKET. | [from our OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Wednesday. Adelaide, 'sellers 91; Albumin East, sellers 9<l; Club, sellers, 3d; Conservative, sellers 5i ; Darwin (contributing), sales 3Jd, sellers 3Jd; King Solomon, sellers Sid; Mate Reefs, sellers 4d; Occidental, sellers id; Tararu Creek, sellers 4s; Royal, sellers Is 6il; Kaiser (contributing), sellers sd. KAURI TIMBER COMPANY'S LEASES. . A PUBLIC INQUIRY. [IT IKLBGJUrH.—OWN OOBEB3PONEKNT.] . Thamh, Wednesday. A public inquiry into the claims of persons interested in mining claims situated on the Kauri Timber Company's properties ! at T&irua, aud in other parts of the Coromandel Peninsula, was opened it the Courthouse this | morning by Mr. R. S. Busb, Warden., : A ! number of mining men were present; and the bar was represented by Messrs. J, A. Miller and Wynyard. i> The warden stated that as it was proposed Mr. Burgess should conduct the inquiry, and as he had only arrived this moraine, it would be advisable to adjourn the pcMNdisii until two ofabcLAiked by lb.-

Miller as to the scope of the inquiry, the Warden said certain people claimed to have rights to this ground, and had put in applications for claims, and it was to ascertain how far these "right* were to be respected that the enquiry was held. The enquiry would only refer to old claims, but anybody who had an application was at liberty to make a statement, and the report, it was intended, would be forwarded to the proper authorities. Asked by Mr. Wynyard as to whether it was an enquiry relating to law or fact, Mr. Bush said that certain persons had alleged that they had certain rights to these lands, and the enquiry was to hear what they had to say. It was a difficult matter to know where to draw the line, and whom to include or exclude. He did not mean to say that anyone who said he had an application would be beard/' Anyone who had not applied for land would, of course, _be excluded; but anyone who bad applied for land, and thought he had a right to it, would be entitled to lie heard. • , Mr. Millar: Will this enquiry affect lands at the Thames only, or anywhere on the goldfields? ' ' Mr. Bush: Anywhere on the Coromandel Peninsula, The advertisement appeared in the Waihi, Paeroa, T« Aroha, Coromandel, Auckland, and local paper*. The inquiry was then adjourned until two o'clock. • On resumption Mr. Burgess stated that he would first take the application of Herbert Gordon. Mr. Clendon appeared for the applicant. ' Herbert Gordon, miner of the Thames, stated that he had been mining in this district for about 15 years.' In May, 1893, witness was prospecting and working certain ground at Tairua, and pursuant to that caused certain applications for two licensed holdings to be lodged, one in witness' own name for the Golden Point (15 acres). Also an application in the named Fred M. Brown was lodged for an additional 15 acres adjoining the Golden Point, to be called the Victoria Licensed Holding. Those applications a* far as witness was concerned, were still in force, and had never been withdrawn. The applications had been adjourned from time to time by Mr. Warden Northcroft, because the land was Kauri Timber Company's land, and the Government was to obtain it by exchanging other blocks for it. This intended exchange had never been effected. On December 9th, 1896, at 3.5 p.m. witness lodged an application at the Warden's office for a prospecting license. That application was objected to by the Kauri Timber Company. The objection was dismissed, and the application granted. Since the issue of the license, witness had prospected the area granted to him, and had found gold upon it. Robert Worth deposed that he was one of the persons who made an application for the Golaen Hill licensed holding, Tairua. Walter Davies and W.D.Tilsleyapplied with witness. Gold was discovered more than three months before the Golden Hill application was lodged. Gold was first discovered in the main Tairua River by Davie*. Shortly after the Golden Hill application a water-race was applied for on behalf of the same party; that application was still pending. Witness, on his own behalf, applied on September 22nd, 1893, for the Dawn of Hope licensed holding, 15 acres, adjoining the Golden Hill ground. The applications were all still pending. Herbert Gordon, recalled, stated that he applied on October 10th, 1893, for a waterrace on the No. 3 branch of the Tairua river. That application was still pending. W. D. Tilsley, miner, of Puriri, deposed that he was one of the applicants for the Golden Hill licensed holding, the application for which was lodged on May 27, 1893. Witness corroborated Worth'* statement at to Davies discovering gold in the Tairua river. William Armstrong stated that he was the applicant for the Hidden Treasure licensed holding. Tairua, 15 acres, lodged on August 7th, 1893. The ground was marked out on 3rd August, 1893. Witness was informed at the time that the Government were negotiating with the Kauri Timber Company to exchange certain land for the land in question. Pending this exchange the application was held in abeyance, and was Still pending. Evidence of a general character was given by Messrs. Wynyard, Welman, Smith, Cuff, Kelly, luglis, ana McLean, all of whom are largely interested in applications more or less recent in date for ground on the Kauri Timber Company's leases. Deponents stated that in most cues the Company were prepared to withdraw their objections, and in some cases the cround applied for as special claims was included in the prospecting area granted to Herbert Gordon. After Mr. Burgess had taken these statements the inquiry was adjourned, and will probably be continued to-morrow. The work of the inquiry is not to deal with questions of law, nor to adjudicate, but simply to obtain evidence of facts.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Hauaki No. 2 (Coromandei, April 20).— In face of west crosscut soft pug formation was met crossing the drive obliquely, and quartz was cut going off from it into northern side of drive. This is a leader about six inches thick. So far no gold is visible in the stone, though it looks well. Renown (Thames, April 17). —I have put in three i seta of timber in the crosscut. Country in the face is now a firm brown sandstone, intermixed with iron veins. Albert (Tairua, April 17).—N0. 5 tunnel has now been extended 52 feet. Tunnel to intersect the Albert reef is in 34 feet. Mariner (Karangahake, April 17).— on mullocky reef has been extended 10 feet for week. The reef is 18 inches wide, but it is becoming more solid and country is improving. Princess (Karangahake, April 19).—The low level has been driven five feet since last report. Express (April Leader continues to run with drive. Assay result proved this to be gold-bearing ore of low grade, bnt of high value without the association of any other minerals.

Progress Castle Rock (April 21).—Leading stope north from the rise has been extended 12 feet. Reef looks well, being a solid body of ore fully three feet thick. Have also Btarted a No. 5 stope going south from rise. Reef looks well. Esperanza (April 17).— level south of big reef has been driven 23 feet through nice sandstone. Prospecting operations are being carried out in that vicinity. Caspian (Thames, April 17).— progress has been made with crosscut being riven to intersect the Vale haugingwall reef. The lode cannot be far off.

Southern Cross (April 17).— level his now been driven 88 feet. Country passed through for the week is much the tame. Aoberk (Ruaotunu, April 17).—North end: The reef here has pinched clean out. A further distance of 7 feet has been driven for the week through a splendid class of blue oountry. Total distance driven, 103 feet. A further distance of 5 feet has been risen, making the total distance 29 feet. Reef here it 2 feet wide in one end, and 1 foot in the other, quartz of good quality showing gold. Talisman Extended (Karangahake, April Drive on reef tat tne 230 feet level .nas gone ahead 14 feet for week. One foot of brown quartz is being carried along, and reef is carrying good |han»ingwall. Dawn of Hope (Owharoa),— drive is now in a distance of 211 feet, in much the same class of country as last reported. Criterion (Coromandel).—No. 2 level is in 34 feet. The shaft ou No. 1 leader is down six feet. We broke down reef, and few colours of gold were seen. Leader varies in size from two to six inches. A start will be made to open out on No. 3 reef. Have done some trenching on the new reef, which is from one to four feet wide. Gmfress (April 19).—We are pushing on with the low level to get under the run of gold we had over head. Reef is greatly broken at present, and hangingwall interlaced with small veins of quartz. Waitekauri No, 2 (Waitekauri, April 17). —The drive on the No. 2 reef has been extended 15 feet for week. The country is getting firmer. The reef in face is smaller, but 1 expect it to open out at any time. Darwin (Thames).—The winze on No. 1 reef in Multum level is down. three feet. When breaking down reef strong blotches of gold were seen freely distributed, through quartz.. The leader itself is a fine compact body of ore from six to eight inches in thickness. Maritana (Owharoa, April 17).— Large reef is 60 feet wide, intermixed with sandstone; but gold is distributed through sandstone as well. as. quartz. Some of the prospects are very good. 1 Total length of drive. !387 feet. •?./«',. • v '-.V' ■; v.: Coronet jWaikoromiko, April 17).— extended drive ou No. 2 reef 19 feet further. Reef 10 inches wide, and is highly mineralised. Driving north on same reef have extended drive 52 feet in all. Excelsior ' (Karangahake, April 17),— Level and crosscut have been extended 197 feet up to date. -The country continues tight bat of a- favourable nature for (old. Leveiis advancing between two ribsof quarts; seems to be coming together, as there is more quarts showing in face. ■: Wheal Bassiti (Knaotnna,' April 18),Have now extended No. 3 crosscut ITS feet. Have located reef that gave floating stone. It is one foot in: width and gives ft fair prosSot of gold in the quartz by pounding ave selected site for crosscut to interseot the lode. "■ 'Dew Lead (Karangahalu,April 17) The work done . has been extension ot total from main tunnel 94} feet. No change in country to report. v 'Nobhan - PionißAH (Waitekauri). — Body of '. quarts; referred > to in . last: report proves to ne the reef we have been driving lor.' 1 The lode U well defined and larger than on the surface. The quart! orauog to baud looks well.

■ Moanatairi North (Thames).—Country at present is somewhat hard, but of a good description for gold. Have worked in southwest end, and started to rise on it directly over the point where we obtained the antimony in the level. Reef at present looks very well. Roaotosu (Kuaotunu),— has been sunk 12 feet further. Prospects are very much improved, and gold has been seen in the stone. '' Poriri (Thames).— extended crosscut 40 feet. Intersected a small leader of kindly looking quartz, and by testing stone fair prospect of gold can be obtained in the dish. . . . Premier (&.uaotunu).—The winze is down 11 feet 6 inches. Leader averages six inches in width in the bottom of winze, but no gold showing. Boss (Thames).— 2 drive has now advanced 120 feet. Country looking more auriferous, and a change for the better is noticeable both in reef and country. No. 3 also has been driven 53 feet. This reef is now the full width of drive, walls well defined, and quartz making mors solid. . Silas (Thames, April 17).-Good progress is being made with extension of crosscut to intersect No. 1 reef, which is now in 47 feet. Forty more ieet of driving should take to reef. There will be about 80 feet of backs from level when lode is intersected. New Monster (April 17).—Drive has been extended 63ft. There is quartz coming in the face of the drive. ■ Gladys (Kuaotunu).—Low level- is now in 130 ft. Country is splendid class of sandstone. Best we have yet met with. Coldstream (Wharekeraupunga).—Crosscut has been further extended 14ft. Country of a good class. Leading Wind (Manaia).—Drive has been further extended 26ft. Ground is still very hard; but better for shooting, Expect to cut reef in few days. Waikobomiko.—No. 1 level extended 10 feet, and No. 2 level nven feet further. Country still very bard. Lorna Doone (Kennedy's Bay, April 17).— Western crosscut: Leader passed through is of very promising appearance, nice blotches of bright mineral ahowiug in solid stone. Country in face of drive is full of quartz veins and silica heads. Star of the North (Cabbage Bay).— Surface prospecting has been continued, and in one of the creeks prospects of loose gold have been found.

Pandora (April Crosscut is passing I through same class of country. No. 4 level: Good country, still contiues a splendid class of sandstone, bat one or two good flintiea this week. Waitekauri- Kathleen (Waitekauri, April Drive has advanced 342 feet. We are in it grand sandstone country, carrying a lot of silica and mineral seams, which makes me believe we are Dear the reef. If present country continues to reef it must have a most beneficial effect upon it, as it ii splendid country to get at the depth we ire driving. We will nave 300 feet backs when we cut reef. Fabulous (Waikoromiko, April 17).— Have commenced to open out on large reef intersected while cross-cutting. It is a large body of ore, averaging five or six feet, running in good sandstone country. Have commenced drive to intersect another large reef near point, where small stringers were met with. Foub-in-Hand (Waikoromiko, April 17). —Low level crosscut lias been extended 230 feet. Hangingwall leader should come to hand at any time, as quartz was touched in lost bore-hole. Occidental (Thames, April 19).— progress is being made with extension of the North Star crosscut, it having been advanced 127 feet. Eight loads of quartz broken from No. 1 leader are now being treated at the May Queen Extended battery. Victoria (Thames, April 19).—Drive on the eastern continuation of the reel is still being extended with all possible speed. The leader ii improving in quality as the drive advances. In western drive considerable improvement has taken place in reef. Colours of gold have been freely observed through quartz. One or two pounds of st«ne secured. Kaiser (Thames, April 17).—Have cut winze chamber to give room for sinking, and have sunk five feet. Beef is nice body of stone, two feet wide, showing gold freely. Country is much firmer going down. Great Marototo (Marototo, April '17).— Work has been confined to operating on Marguerite and Mexico reefs. On the Marguerite reef we have cut through a distance of five feet. The quartz looks very favourable, Intersected Mexico reef after extending the crosscut 23 feet. The body of stone is two feet thick. Reef carries a deal of silica, and dish prospects have been obtained. Trojan (Thames, April 17).—Have extended crosscut a further distance of 10 feet. Country is very hard, but hope to soon get into a good class of sandstone again. Waitekaori Monarch (Waitekauri, April 12).— country is not so broken. We are coming into sandstone. Will break down reef on Friday. No. 1 south level has been advanced three feet, and reef should be to hand this week. Hauraki No. 2 (Coromandei, April 17).— West crosscut has been advanced 123 feet. A very promising looking 6-inch leader was out at the beginning of the week, and carried along in the drive for 12 feet, where it has gone off into crosscut. East crosscut has been advanced 10 feet, making total of 33 feet from shaft. The country is still an excellent firm sandstone, and should have a good effect on reefs intersected in it. The winding drum on engine I am having enlarged so as to increase the speed of winding in order to keep pace with quantity of mullock now being broken below. New Whau (Thames, April 17).—Contractors in the winze have again made good progress, the winze being down 104 feet, and by the survey made this is the required depth to connect with low level. Reef in bottom of winze is from four to five feet wide, well defined, and heavily charged with minerals. Waiporu (Thames, April 17).— continued driving along Rimu Reef and have now driven 110 feet. The reef is from one foot to one and a-half feet in width, while the quartz maintains its favourable appearance. City of Gisborne (Cabbage Bay, April 17). —Reef, which carries one well-defined wall is showing a slightly better class of quartz. Many mineral seams are striking into the ore body from the footwali. In trenching from supposed line of reef about two chains reef was discovered. It appears to be a largo body, and was intersected not far from surveyed line of specimen leader. Adelaide (Thames, April Driving on the Adelaide reef has been continued. Reef is one foot thick. Sloping has been carried on as usual. _ The three loads of quartz on hand since intersecting the cross reef have been treated, from which 18dwt melted gold was obtained, valued at 54s per ounce. Beef is showing signs of improvement. New Zealanuer (Waitekauri, April 19). —No. 1 level: No. 1 reef has been cut into the hangingwall for a distance of ten feet, and shows it to be 20 feet in thickness at this point.