THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10968, 24 January 1899, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

AUCKLAND SHAREMARKET, The sharemarket was active yesterday, and shares changed hands freely. In investment shares Northern Steamships were sold at 7s Bd, and when the market closed more were on offer at the same figure, but buyers were offering only 7s 6d. Wellington Wollen changed hands at £5 Is, and more were in demand at £4 17s 6d, but there were no sellers at the latter figure. Other investment shares were in good demand at late rates. Among mining lines, Talismans were most active. In the lorenoon those changed hands at 13s 3d and 13s 6d, and in the afternoon further sales were reported at the latter figure. At closing time buyers were offering 13s 4d, but sellers had advanced their quotation from 13s 6d to 13s 9d. Waihis were in good demand. Sellers opened at £5, but at closing time the quotation was £5 ss, with buyers offering £4 18s 6d. Bunker's Hills changed hands at 2s Id and 2s 2d, and at closing time buyers were offering the former figure, with sellers holding for 2s 3d.

MONOWAI GOLD MINES (LIMITED). trfiOM OUU OWN COBUESPONDENT.] Thames, Monday The following is the substance of a cable just sent to tho Glasgow office of this company by Mr. Wm. Campbell, chairman of directors:—"Have struck a rich body of ore in the Gem mine, showing free gold In the Monowai the lode is opening up well ; altogether quite satisfactory."

THAMES DRAINAGE BOARD. Yesterday's meeting of the above was attended by Messrs, G. S. Kissling, C. C. McMillan, J. Park, J. McEnteer, J. F. Clarke, S. S. Sorensen. This was the first meeting of the Board since the last election of members.

Election of Chairman: The chair being vacant, Mr. H. Gordon proposed the re-elec-tion of Mr. Kissling as chairman. Seconded by Mr. McMillan, and carried unanimously. The Estimates for the Year: The Chairman intimated that the secretary (Mr. D. G. MacDonnell) hud made up the estimates for the year, and this had been completed on the sama lines as those of last year. Last year the estimated expenditure was £4500, while the actual amount received was £3400, while rebates amounting to £651 had been paid to contributing bodies. This brought the total amount paid to the Board to £4100. The Chairman expressed the opinion that, a reduction could be made. It was mentioned that the Borough Council had not paid any amount to the Board, so that the £200 set opposite their name in the estimate had to be deducted. Mr. McEnteer apologised for the absence of the Council representative, Mr. Greenslade, who had to attend to important business in Auckland. The Chairman moved the adoption of the estimates, which were that provision for the sum of £4590 for expenditure during the coming year would have to be made. After discussion, it was decided, on the motion of Mr. J. Park, seconded by Mr. McMillan, that the estimates be the same as last year, less the amount assessed lust year to the Thames Hauraki Company (£200). Tins made the total assessments to £4350, the details being as under : —Coal and cartage, £2050; wages and salaries, £1250; foundry work, £350; pumping requisites, £250; board fees and travelling expenses, £240; water supply and gas, £160; miscellaneous and incidental, £50: total, £4350.

Assessment of Contributions : The assessment of contributions from companies, as detailed below, was adopted. It was explained that the Thames Hauraki Company would bo assessed as usual, but that the amounts would be remitted, as that company was proceeding with pumping operations. The assessments were as under:—

Annual Monthly Company. Area. Contribution. Contribution. £ £ s. d. Cambria ... 45 250 20 16 8 Victoria ... 122 600 50 0 0 Kuranui-Cale- „ , „ donian ... 89 427 35 11 8 Kurnnui ... 44 90 710 0 MoanaUiari 102 554 2910 0 WoioUM ... 69 645 53 15 0 May Queen 211 1000 83 6 8 Thames llaurakl ... 141 240 20 0 0 Cardigan ... 193 300 25 0 0 Thames Borough and County Councils. voluntary contributions. The Borough Council's Contribution: A letter vat received from the Thames Borough Council in reply to an application from the Board for arrears of contributions (£3O), up to December, 1897, to the effect that the Board's financial position precluded the amount being paid. The opinion was expressed that the Council should pay something, and that though the members were in favour of a payment being nmdejthey could do nothing at present. Reflate : It was decided, on the motion of Messrs. Gordon and McMillan, that a rebate of 12J per cent, be paid on all accounts paid before the end of the month, which was the dale fixed for the payment of the first contribution on the amount of the year's assessment.

A NEW QUARTZ-CRUSHING MILL.

A SUCCESSFUL TRIAL.

Crushing by means of roller-mills is a process well-known throughout the colony, and occasionally has been used with considerable success. One of the particular faults in connection with this process, so far, has been that the ore crushed is not equally treated on the surface of the roller, and as a result the hollows and uneven places made in the rolls, thus prevent the reduction of the quartz to the proper fineness. Mr. J, L. Kirkbride, who has paid considerable attention to this matter, has patented a milling or rolling process, and yesterday a trial of his invention took place at the foundry of Messrs. (1. Fraser and Sons, Stanley-street. The rollers are carried with 2Jin tyres, and are linn across in the face, by 16in in diameter. Special widening appliances are also fitted, and these have the effect of keeping the ore regularly on the face of the rollers. Automatic feeders are attached, and a laminated spring is used to bring the surface of the roller into contact with the other, while a horizontal steel-finger assists the systematic and regulcr distribution of the quartz on the crushing surface. The trial was a very satisfactory one, a large quantity being put through in a short space of time. On the first occasion the quartz was reduced to the size of small pebbles, and on the second crushing was converted to a powder. The plant could be used with advantage in the Thames and Coromandel districts, where small and cheap-crushing plants would prove ot valuable assistance to mining companies.

NEWS FROM THE MINES, [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORIIKSI'ONDENT.] Thames, Monday. MAT QUEEN' HAURAKI.

A start was made tr-day to enlarge the chambers at No. 4 level in the May Queen section prior to commencing to sink the shaft for a new level.

DREDGING RETURNS. , [bi telegraph—mess association.] Dunkdin, Monday. The dredging returns are; Upper Waipori, 230z 17dwt; Jutland Flat, 20oz Bdwt; Naseby, 16oz lljdwt.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Welcome Find (Coromandel, January 21): No. 4 leader at No. 3 level—Sinking here, and stoping has been carried on directly under the break to a depth of about 12ft by 14ft, but as the leader, although kindly-look-ing, uid not produce sufficient gold to induce further development, another sink has boon started on the same leader, a short distance further northward, where a nice flinty makes into the stone. So fai the results arc not satisfactory here. At the same (No. 3) level the Just-in-Time No. 1 lode, which wo have been sloping during tho week, has shown only a few colours lately. Lode from Ift to oft in width. If an improvement does not soon take place at thic point, we purpose to sink on the cross-leader, where we obtained some nice gold-bearing stone whon driving through •the leader.

Nonpareil (Thames, January 21).—Rising and stoping has been continuously carried on. The reef is somewhat small, in consequence of which the amount of quartz coming to hand is limited. Good colours of gold continue to be seen in the genera! dirt, and about Sib or 61b of picked stone have been secured. No. 2 level—The work of forming the level along the top of tributes' workings, and connecting with pass, is nearly completed; 25ft of this drive formation required to be done bofore reaching the solid ground, 20ft of which has been completed. This drive it now in 26ft from point of intersection with reef, all of which w solid overhead, and available foi stoping. By Tuesday next the solid face should be reached, when driving eastward on the course of th( reef will be resumed. ' •'