THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10427, 27 April 1897, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

AUCK.LAND SHAREMARKET. A FAIR amount of business was transacted yesterday. New Zealand insurance were •old at 725, Thames Gas at 365, Union Oils at 15s Bd. For mining scrip there was inquiry, but in moil cues there wu a considerable margin between buyers and sellers, and little business wai done. Puru Consolidated! were done at 3s, and subsequently at 3s Id; Stanleys were exchanged at 10d and lOjrd; Bunker's Hills found purchasers at 2s 7d, 3s Bd, and 2» 9d. At last call the quotations were: Sellers 2s Bd, buyers 2s 6d. Kuranui-Caledoniana opened at seller* ss, but buyers declined to 4s Id. WaihiExtendedi hardened from 6d to 7d, but ■ellert wanted Bd. Hauraki North (paid-up) opened at sellers 4s, with buyers at 3s Id. Sellers came down to 3s 3d, but buyers wtuld not go higher than 3s 2a, consequently do business was transacted.

ASSOCIATED STOCK AND MINING BROKERS. The following business was yesterday transacted by the above i- Waihi South, 6d; Hauraki No. 2, lid; Tandem, 4d; Great Barrier Gold and Silver, 5e 3d.

PRINCE OF WAIHI G.M. CO. A special general meeting of the shareholders of th« above company was held at Mr. J. H. Harrison's office, Shortland-street, yesterday, to consider the position of the company. It was stated that the mine had beeu flooded out, and that the prospects were such that it was not desirable to keep the company going. It was decided Unanimously that the company be wound up forthwith.

NONPAREIL G.M. CO. Mr. H. Gilfillan, junr., legal manager of the Nonpareil mine at the Thames, yesterday received the following telegram from the mine manager: "Crushed 20 loads of quartz and 301b of picked stone for the return of lOsoz 18dwt retorted gold." Later in the day a second wire came to hand stating that the melted return was 103ozs 4dwt, the total value being £288 2«. The ore came from the drive ease and west of the crosscut on the Liverpool Boys' reef. The result of the trial crushing is considered very satisfactory and as gold has beenfrequentlyseen in the western portion of the reef, shareholders are very well satisfied at the prospects of this mine.

The ore for the crushing was taken from the drives east and west of the crosscut for a total length of about 85 feet, the reef averaging a foot iu thickness. The manager (Mr. Cartwright) now purposes manniug both of the drives, and proceeding with the opening up of the reef as speedily as possible. For some time past the eastern drive has been at a standstill, but the western face has been kept going steadily, and the last breaking down revealed gold showing freely in the quartz. It it also intended to start driving upon the Wade reef «t once on its westerly course.

WOODSTOCK Gil. CO. FIRST CRUSHING. HIGHLY SATISFACTORY RESULT. £4632 UROM 1350 TONS. The result ot the first crushing at the Woodstock Gold Jljuiug Company's new mill came to hand yesterday, aud uot only the shareholders in the company, but all interested in mining, hare cause for congratulation At the yield. No less than 1350 tons have been crushed und treated for bullion valued at £4652. During the latter four weeks of the run, from March 23rd and up to the 20th April. 986 tons were treated for a return of JE3399, or equal to over £3 9j per ton. The mill, of course, as the first figures given show, has been at work more than the four weeks mentioned; in fact, excluding Sundays it has been running 45 days. At the first start, however, 350 torn of ore, taken from the No. 1 level, of the lowest gra.de to be treated, and which would certainly assay less than £3 per ton, were put through in order to fill up crevices, etc., and, as this cornea into the total it makes the yield still more satisfactory. Further, besides the 1350 tout treated up to the 20th April, an additional 420 tons were •tamped, the yield from which, at the time of the clean up, remained in the vats and bins; so that practically the mill has ■tamped 39 tone per day. On all grounds, therefore, there is cause for fullest satisfaction, the Woodstock at the first crushing taking its place with some of our leading bullion producers.

OFFICIAL INSPECTION. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Wellington, Monday. Mr, J. H. Eliott, Under-Secretary, and Mr. Wilson, Engineer, leave for Auckland to-morrow on a visit of inspection to the Northern goldfield*.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SKETCH. [BT TMF.GUPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.; I'aeroa, Monday. Mr. McKay, geologist to the Mines Department, is at present engaged making a geological survey sketch of the Ohineniuri and Thames goldfields, and is now employed in the Hikutaia, or Marutoto goUfieids district. MR. J. PARK. I'aeroa, Monday, Mr. J. Park, representative of the AngloContinental Gold Syndicate, passed through Paeroa to-day en route from Thames to Waiorongotnai on business connected with tbe syndicate.

THAMES SUAKEMARKBT. Thames, Monday. Adelaide, sellers 9d; Alburnia East, sellers 8<1; Club, sellers, 3d; Conservative, sellers 4d; Darwin (contributing), sellers 3d; KuranuiCaledouian, sellers ss; Karaka Queen, sellers 4id: Mat* Reefs, sellers 4d; Mclsaacß, tellers 4d; Nonpareil, sales BJd ; Occidental, tellers 2Jd, Imyen 2d ; Tararu Creek, sellers 3s 9d, tuyeri 3s; Temple Bar, sellers 3d; Royal, buyers Is 4d.

GENERAL MINING ITEMB. In reference to the issue of the prospectus of a company to acquire Campbell's Freehold Mr. A. D.'Douglas whites that Mr. J. A, Wauchope, who has the whole business on hand, only arrived in London on the 6th inat., and no direct communication had been received from him. Mr. Douglas says he had a wire irom another party saymg they could sell, but all he could do was to refer them to Mr. Wanchope. A small baft of stone from the Prospect Gold Mining Company's property has been received by Mr. J. H. Harrison, legal manager. An extraordinary general meeting of the Harbour View Gold Mining Company will be held on May 21. It haviuK been found necessary that Mr. G. H. Bennett should devote all his time in supervising development of the Waitaia claim, he has resigned his position as manager of the New Mint mine.

NEWS PROM THE MINES. Thames, Monday. DOVER CASTLE. Nos. 1 and 2 reefs are now each opened up for a iength of 50 feet, and a good prospect of free gold has been obtainable from them throughout. No. 1 reef westward, however, has just been cut off by a fault crossing it, but its continuation is now being sought for. MINING ON THE KAURI TIMBER COMPANY'S LEASEHOLD Thames, Monday. lii« enquiry into the claims of those persona who have applied for mining leases upon the Kauri Timber Company's leaseholds at Tairua was continued this afternoon, but the evidence of Mr. C. J. Winder only was taken. The substance of his evidence was that in carrying on his business as a storekeeper be had been in the Tairua district off and on for the last sixteen years or more. He remembered meeting McDowell auil Davy's there, and they told him they were going prospecting in the Gold Creek. He did not know, however who was backing the other members of the party. Skene sent him a note to say he would go responsible for McDowell's )'?2?. k S r » wMchundertakinjt he had since fulfilled. He (Winder) always considered McDowell and Davy's the original discoverers of gold in the Tairua district, iud he understood at the time that Tilsley wns one of the party. Up to that time he had never seen or heard of Gordon heing in the district. MINE MANAGER*' REPORTS. Welcome Find (Coromaodel, April 24).— No. 2 level: The No. 3 lode has been intersected. Its dimensions are about 6 feet from wall to wall. No gold hae been seen in it, but some of the stone, whieh is of a better quality than was found in cutting through the same lode at No. 1 level, carries a good percentage of favourable mineral) for gold. The country in the present face is of a firm description, interlaced with quartz stringers. Stopes on southern lode: No gold has been seen the last two breakings down. The country and stone continue to be of a favourable character for gold. Nonpareil (Thames, April 24).-Drive west oo the Liverpool reef; The quartz coming from here is still of a payable character, colours of gold being ieen freely the last breaking don; while the reef maintains its usual average thjeknete. k '

Adelaide (Thames, April 24).—Drivini? north OD the Adelaide reef; work confined to (tripping, and in consequence no quartz baa been broken from here. Stoning has now been carried along upon the Adelaide reef at (he low level for a distance of 120 feet, from which a supply of crushing dirt is coming to hand. South of the crosscut the reef is at present split into a number of stringers. In taking the rise up it showed about six inches in thickness, aud was carrying colours of cold. New Whao (Thames, April 24).—Fair •tart made with the drive. The Middle Star drive : Beef is about two feet wide of very kindly description. Tamihana (The Wires, Hikutaia, April 23). —The trenches: The sandstone country uncovered is still of a favourable elate. No lodes have been met with during the week. Albdrnia East (Thames, April 24).—A little gold is seen at each breaking down, and the country upward is of a very favourable nature. The lode is at present two feet wide, but only a portion of this is being saved and selected for battery treatment. Haukaki No. 2 (Coromandel, Aprfl 24).West croescut: A promising looking 6-inch leader was cut, butting up against a soft break or head. The country around the leader (or I should say reef, for it is quite nine inches thick of solid quartz in places) is very much improved. Eastcrosscut: Agood class of country is still being penetrated, though a little tighter this week. Golden Anchor (Kuaotunu, April 24).The country still continues very good. The body of quartz referred to in last report has beeu driven through and proved to be one foot thick, though not very defined. Some of the quartz broken out looks well, and a lair prospect can be got from the stone. Maktha Extended (Waihi, April 17).— The country has changed very much, it has become more solid. Will forward a parcel of stone in a day or two. Caspian (Thames, April 24).-Ground interlaced with quartz veins. Aorebe (Kuaotunu, April 24).—The stope has been curried along nine feet. The reef here is 18 inches wide, and when breaking down yesterday some very nice dabs of gold were showing in the stone. Harp of Tara (Ohui, April 21).-Boun-dary tunnel: There is a slight improvement in the country. No. 2 drive on the western aide is still going through the same class of country. Tairua Proprietary (Tairua, April 24).— No change in the face of the drive; country still flat. Wheal Bassett (Kuaotunu, April 23).— The country in No. 3 crosscut itill looks very promising for carrying lodes. There are bunches of quartz making in the face. Fabulods (Wftikoromiko, April 24).— Crosscut to intersect No. 2 reef: It is driven through a nice clues of sandstone country. This reef along the surface shows a nice compact body heavily charged with black oxide of mangauese, and in one or two dishes of stuff panned off from the cup gavo small prospects of gold. PoorinHand (vViiikoroiniko, April 24). —A few colours of gold visible in the stone of hangingwttll leader, which is very similar to the stone in the top level. Juno (Kuaotunu, April 24).—Have not taken down the leader, but have been stripping. Midas (Kuaotunu, April 24).—Have not got the other wall. The Inst 4ft has been tirnier stone, but have seen no gold in it. Between this stoue and the quartz drove through last week a bund of mullock, about lft thick on one side of the drive uni} ISin on the other, divided the reef, and has the aopearance of forming two reefs going hillwards.

Kapai-Vermont (Kuaotunu, April 23).— Nil. 2 level: The lode has varied from three to ten feet in size, and at different times given very good prospects. No. 2 rise: Broken through to No. 1 level. The reef averages eight feet for the whole distance. Crosscut: There was a email vein met .vith, which we could get a little gold from by crushing. Stopes south, main pass : The reef averages five feet iu size, and of fair quality. Mill: A fair quantity of ore is being put through. Plunger (Coromandel, April 20). - The reef is not to hand yet. I expect to meet with it daily. HUANDI (Waitekauri, April 20).-There is every appearance that we are through the hard bar. The stone is getting more Kindly and better looking. Oceania (Waitekauri, April 20).—We have a great change in the class of stone to what we have been driving through. It is now something similar to what we had in the Huauui drive lately. It is very bard, but jointy and easier to work. Conquering Hero (Coromandel). — Have risen 25 feet on the Alpha lode with very encouraging results. Could ace gold in the stone at each breaking down. Lorna Doone (Kennedy's Bay).—Western crosscut: Several small leaders have been passed through, Cut a fine-looking reef two feet thick. It is heavily charged with oxide of iron and sonic nice mineral in seen. Dover Castle (Puriri).— Prospects have been very eucouiaging. Two new reefs have been met with, and where opened up on, outcrops measure from 18 inches to two feet in thickness. Very fair prospect of gold is obtained in the dish, while stone carries splendid mineral indications. Second reef measures two feet aud gives fair piospeot of gold by pounding. Have started to cut this reef lower down. We have now seven reefs carrying very fair gold, Premier (Kuaotunu).—Winze sunk from surface level on No. 3 leader is down 18 feet. Leader maintains its usiwl size, but no cold is showing. Winze should connect with low level within a fortnight. Puriri (Thamee).—Have been engaged in extending crosscut, which is now in 46 feet. Country is most congenial class of sandstone. New Mint (Kuaotunu, April 23.)— Low level crosscut is in 100 feet, having' been extended 11 feet during the week through tough shooting ground. King of Omahu (Omahu).-Drive on No. 1 reef has been extended 63 feet. The rubble on footwall portion gives fair prospects of loose gold. Boss (Thimes, April 24).—N0. 2 drive is now in 124 feet. A general improvement has taken place in the character of both country and reef, and prospect of fine richlooking coloura of gold has been obtained. No. 3drive is in 57 feet, and the reef is getting bigger. Bonker's Hill (Coromandel, April 24).— Crosscut: Good headway is being made with the extension of this face, No fresh developments. While taking down reef stone showing strong dabt of gold were selected from the general dirt. Reef is 12 inches wide.

Express (April 24).-The leader is opening out all the way. It is now over two feet in the face.

Wealth of Nations (Karangahake, April 23).—Wi1l start a trench iuside the southeastern boundary lines between the Wealth ot Natione anil the Ormond, to try and locate any reefs that may be traversing that portion of the ground. SOUTHERN MINING. Dunedin, Monday. The Upper Waipori Company's return from two dredges for the last week was 430z 2dwt: Jutland Flat Company, 12oz sdwt; Sew Hoy Big Beach Company, Itloz Bdwt 18gr from one dredge. Invkboargill, Monday. The steamer Invercargill brought a cake of GOioz of gold, obtained from 393 tons of stone in the Morning Star claim, at Preservation Inlet, for live weeks' work. This in the best yield yet obtained for twelve months. The company have obtained 40230z from 3617 tons of atone, valued at Melbourne mint at £16,462, giving a yield of £4 Us per ton of etone treated.