THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11241, 9 December 1899, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

AUCKLAND SHAREMAEKET. Business was very active on the sharemarket yesterday. In investment lines, New Zealand and River Plates sold at £1 2s. Other quotations were unchanged. In mining lines. Crowns were firmer, selling at 17s 6d. with sellers ready for further business at the same figure. Talismans sold at 12s 6d, and at closing time there was further demand at the same rate, with the sellers puliation withdrawn. Barrier Reefs (issued at 18s 6d) sold at- 7s. In lower-priced lines, New Whaus sold at 5d at the forenoon call, but improved in the afternoon, a parcel being sold at 6jd, with more offers of 6d at closing time. Imperials were in strong demand in the forenoon, at improved rates, there being sales at 5W and 6d. but at closing time the buyers' quotation had dropped to 4Jd, with sellers at 6d. Ohinemuris improved slightly, there being sales, forenoon and afternoon, at 3jd. with more wanted at the same rate. In Waihi Extcndeds business was done at Is. Waihi Souths were slightly easier, and other shares were quoted at late'rates.

MOUNT LYELL M. AND R. CO. At the annual meeting of the Mount Lvell Mining and Railway Company, held in Melbourne recently, it was stated that during the past six months 143,686 tons of ore had been extracted from the mine. The Chairman (the Hon. W. Knox) said the particular feature of the mining operations had been the richer development in that portion of the mine below No. 5 level, and in connection with this matter, he quoted from the general manager's report as follows: — "From present indications it would appear that so far only the apex of this enrichment has been touched. Observations between Nos. 4 and 5 levels, and in the latter itself, tend to prove that the occurrence will probably increase in size as it lives down below No. 5 level. No. 1 winze, south drive: The disclosures in this prospecting winze are the most important recent development in the mine, and give positive assurance of the existence of high-class ore in the lower depths of the ore body. The winze has been sunk for the purpose of testing the downward extent of the enrichment, and has been continued oil the underlay of the ore body for a length of 125 ft, equivalent to a vertical depth of 100 ft below No. 5 level. It has passed continuously through good yellow copper pyrites, the average value for the entire depth, as ascertained from bulk borings, being— 13.2 per cent.; silver, lljoz; gold, O.loz." The Chairman, in further reviewing the position of the company, stated that the expenditure on the reduction works had come to an end. The results in the reduction works had been an output of 4592 ions of blister copper, which, compared with the previous half-year, viz., 2858 tons, show a remarkable increase. The net profit accumulated during the last halfyear had been £182,596 3s sd, equal to £1000 a day. The company had paid during the last half-year two dividends, one of 2s 6d and the other of 3s, and a dividend of 4s per share was paid on October last, and there was in hand £194,088 lis 10d, as against £132,354 19s 4d on the occasion of the previous half-yearly meeting. As reported by cable, it was agreed at the meeting to pay a further dividend of Is per share and a bonus of Is.

CHELMSFORD G.M. CO. Two tons of the ore from the Chelmsford mine are to be sent to the Thames School of Mines for treatment, with the view of ascertaining the best method of treating the ore.

WAITEKAURI G.M. CO. A dividend of Is per share on fully paidup shares, and 6d per share on partly paidup shares, in the Waitekauri Gold Mining Company, has been declared payable on the 20th inst.

DREDGING RETURNS. . [BY TELEGRAM. — ASSOCIATION.] Dunkihn, Friday. The return from the Inch Valley Gold Dredging Company is 21^oz; Golden Terrace, 16oz sdwt 7nr; Deep Stream Amalgamated Sluicing Company, for the month, 120oz.

DUNEDIN STOCK EXCHANGE. [ill telegraph.— association.] Dunedin. Friday. Sales Mere recorded at the following premiums: Alexander Bonanza, 4Jd; Alpine Consols, 13s; Central Electric, 44s and 435; Dunstan Lead. 15s 6d: Earnscleuch No. 3, Is 9d, 2s, 2s 3d, 2s 7d; Colder Gravel, Is 64; Great Central, Is 9d; Morning Star, 4s; Orwell Creek. 2s. Sales were also made at the following prices;— Golden Point, 38s 3d; Hartley and Riley, 1555, 157s 6d, 1575, 156s 6d, 1575; Smith's Creek and Bannockburn, Is discount.

GOLD PURCHASES. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Friday. During the November month the local banks purchased gold won from the undermentioned districts, as follows : — Bank of ew Zealand : Thames County, 14770z 3dwt; Thames Borough, 868oz 12dwt ; West Australia, 2oz 15dwt : total, 23480z lOdwt. Bank of New South Wales: Thames County, 2410z 3dwt ; Coromandel County, 1290k 15d\vt; Thames Borough, 91oz 6dwt 12gr ; total, 4620z 4dwt 12gr.

SCHOOL OF MINES. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Thames. Friday. At the monthly meeting of the Thames School of Mines Council, this evening (Mr. Jos. McGowan being in the chair), the report submitted by Mr. F. B. Allen, director of the school, stated that eight public assays had been made during November, and that since the middle of that month the experimental plant had been continuously at work, and would be engaged for another week or two yet. The report further stated that- the annual examinations were now being carried out, and recommended the Council to grant a diploma, as is done at most other mining schools, to students who shall have passed through a certain specified course of instruction. With reference to this latter matter a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. McGowan, Denbv, the secretary, and Mr. Allen, was appointed to consider the recommendation with instructions to report at the nest meeting. A resolution was passed regretting the retirement of the Hon. A. J. Cadman from the political arena, as in his capacity as Minister for Mines he had done much to bring about the success of the school. THAMES SHAREMARKET. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Thames, Friday. Kuranni, sellers 2d ; New Whau, sales sd, buyers 5d ; Victoria, sellers 6d ; Imperial, buyers 5Jd ; Bunker's Hill, sellers lid. COROMANDEL WARDEN'S COURT. [BY telegraph.— correspondent.] Coromandel, Friday. At the Warden's Court, before Mr. R. S. Bush, Warden, the following applications were granted Annie McNeil, residence site, one acre ; A. G. Harvey, Hauraki South Extended special claim); Edward Brownland, two kauri , trees ; A. R. H. Swindley, residence site ; Pukewihau Gold Mining Company, special site, two acres adjoining the Pukewhau special claim ; William Dick, Prince Extended quartz claim, five acres ; Henry Cope, surrender Martha special claim ; Kelly and Dwyer, surrender miners E.G.C.; New Four-in-Hand Gold Mining Company, Cuirassier special claim, and New Four-in-Hand special claim. Protections : H. C. Bell, Standard special claim, five months ; F. Swindley, Poneke No. 6 special claim, five months ; Hauraki South Gold Mining Company, Hauraki South licensed holding, four months ; Queen of the North Gold Mining Company, Queen of the North, two men for five months ; Zealandia Gold Mining Company, Zealandia, five months ; S. C. Macky, Fabulous, two men for three months; Hugh Simmons, Clarion, five months ; David Thorpe, Golden Lands, two men for six months ; C. 0. Phair, Ocean View, Matarangi, two men for four months ; J. D. I Regan, Favourite E.Q.C., Kuaotunu, six | months. Kuaotunu applications granted : J. D. and | D. Regan, surrender Forest Creek E.Q.C.; iJ. B. Ferguson, Flying Fox, E.Q.C.; G. W. | Bull, one kauri tree at Mahakirau ; G. H. j j Yeoland, surrender residence site, Kuao- j j t.unu ; Rose Ann McDavitt, surrender resi-1 i dence site No. 269, Kuaotunu. | Judgment was given in the following j cases: —

Inspector of Mines v. Theo. Van Laun, plaint for forfeiture of the Jupiter Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 special claims, for non-working. Forfeiture decreed, with costs lis. Mileage, 10s 6d. P. C. McCarthy v. Napier Gold Mining Company, claim £8 16s for wages. Judgment for plaintiff with costs lis; solicitor, £2 2s. Richard Marsden v.' Napier Gold Mining Company, £8 16s for wages. Judgment for plaintiff with costs lis; solicitors, £2 2s. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Barrier Reefs (Great Barrier, December 7): The winze is down 30ft in good ore. The reef there is sft wide. No. 2 level is in 311 ft: tho rise is up 78ft. Tho quartz in both places shows ruby silver. The weather for the past week has been favourable for outside work. The masons are at work on the masonry, retaining walls for the mill building.