THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11367, 9 May 1900, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

.AUCKLAND SHAREMARKET. The members of the Stock Exchange at yesterday morning's call decided to dispense with the usual meeting' during the day on account of the death of Mr. J. Friar Clarke. There was, consequently, no business transacted.

GOLD PURCHASES.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.]

Thames, Tuesday. During the month of April, gold purchases ■were made as follows by the local banks :— Bank of New Zealand : Thames County, 7130z sdwt ; Coromandel County, loz 2dwt ; Thames Borough, ' 5990z 16dwt: Total, 13140z 3dwt.

Bank of New South Wales: Thames County, 3050z 15dwt; Thames Borough, 71oz:'Total, 3760z15dwt.

WAIHI EXTENDED G.M. CO.

A SHAFT TO BE SUNK.

At a meoting of the directors of the Waihi Extended Gold Mining Company, held in the office of Mr. D. G. MacDonnell yesterday, tho mine manager, Mr. Johns, was present, and produced samples of the country recently obtained in the bores at the company's property at Waihi. The directors thought highly of the samples, and of the company's prospects generally. It was decided that, as the bore had penetrated through quartz for a distance of 47ft, sufficient of that work had been done to warrant them in sinking a shaft. Mr. Johns was accordingly instructed to make a start to prepare for the sinking of a shaft at a point, distant about 150 yds, from the present bore, along the line of reef. NEW GOLCONDA G.M. CO. Driving operations at the New Golconda Gold Mining Company's mine, at Coromanuel, are still progressing, in splendid conntry, to intersect the leader, which is expected to be at hand within the next two weeks. If the country maintains its present appearance, the manager is confident that gold will be got. The machinery is in good order and working well.

BUNKER'S HILL G.M. CO. (LIMITED).

The result of operations being prosecuted in the crosscut and rise on and above the 270 ft level, at the Bunker's Hill Gold Mining Company's mine, at Coromandel, being of a disappointing character, work in these sections was discontinued on Thursday last. Pour men were discharged, and the remaining staff will now be engaged in driving upon the leaders intersected in the main crosscut, and upon which no development work has yet been done. QUEEN OF THE NORTH. [UY TELEGRAPH. —OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] Coromandel, Tuesday. At the Queen of the North mine three parties of tributers are meeting with encouraging prospects. Messrs. Sghultzo and Lyes are sinking a winze on Sutherland's and Evans' leader. Knox and party are working on the Christmas Box leader, and are getting colours of gold. Howie and C'outts have one ton of general dirt, and a few pounds of picked stone on hand, from No. 2 section, which they intend to have crushed at an early date.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER FOR

MINES.

[n\ TELEGRAPH.—PHESS ASSOCIATION.] Duxkw.v, Tuesday. A deputation waited on the Minister for Mines to-night to ask that the mining law be modified to permit of dredging within five chains of a railway line. It was pointed out that consequent on objections lodged by the Railway Department it is impossible, as the law stands, to dredge the 'laieri River between Mount Allen and Mullncky. The Minister said he was not prepared to express an opinion, pending the decision of the Warden on an application recently before the Court, but would secure a report on the part of the river affected. His sympathies were with the mining industry,' but they were not going to blind him to the public interest.

Mr. McGownn leaves to-morrow for North Otago, and then goes to the West Coast.

DUNEDIN STOCK EXCHANGE. [by telegram.— association.]

Diixedin, Tuesday. Sales took place at the following 'premiums: Ahaura River, 9s; Broad Creek, 6d; Davis' Bend, lis 6d; Diggers' Pride, 2s; Electric Extended. 15s and 14s 6d; Fourteen-mile Beach, 395; Golden United, Is; Grey River, 8s 6d; Gunton's Beach, 2s 6d; Leviathan, 9s; Long Valley, Ms 6d ; Malonc's Beach, 2s 6d, 2s 3d. 2s; Marsden, No. 3, 4s; Nelson Creek, 20s; Oceanic Steam, 2s 9d; Prince of Wales, ss; Rise and Slime, 2s 6d, 2s 9d, 3s, 2s 6d, 2s 9d; River Molvneaux, 15s 6d; Sixteen-mile Beach, 8s 6(1 ; Woodstock. 3s; Bendigo, 17s 6d ; Cairnmuir. 17s; Gold King, 7s 6d; Golden River, 2s 3d; Great Central, 16s 9d; Grey River Consolidated, 4s; La Franchi Freehold, par 6d, par; Old Dimstan, 3s; Pactolus No 2, 2s; Royal Maori, 9s; Lower Enfield, 6d Sales also took place at the following prices • Bannockhuni Creek, 3s discount; Charlton Creek, 265; Clyde, £4 ss; Cornish Point, Is 6d and 3s discount; Cromwell, £3 15sDunedm, 12s6d; Dunstan Lead 46s • Electrie, £3 10s; First Chance (paid), £2 IsFrasers Flat, 6d discount; Golden Mile* 9d discount; Junction Electric, £2 2s 6d • Vincent, £3 3s; Hartley and Riley, £13 17s 6 : I; e R,c« Beach, 275; WaimumuE.

THAMES WARDEN'S COURT. A?" applications were dealt with by Mr. Warden Bush ■ to-day : -Special claims recommended: Chas. E. Button Eureka special quartz claim, Upper TainS\ Short "Bobs" special .part-, clam Karaka Creek, Thames.' '

Hm\2ii G ™ tOC: Tll ° »i™ Broken H Is Gold Mining Company, two water-races, '""; An application by tho same comH !' r «H Wiltor - n,co *" adjourned Sh tV th ,nat ' in . ordcr t0 ilsPft *»i» whether tho raco ,n question interfered will, *, ml ° road that it crosses. The Occiwort Gold Mining Company, permission to work the Occidental special claim, Thames! with two men foi four months, from April O, 8. 0. Macky permission to work the Thames special claim, Thames, with two men for ton,'months from April 23; The Iron Cap bold Mining Company, permission to work the Iron Cap special quartz claim, Tararu with two men for six months; the Great Barrier Gold and Silver Mining Company, six months protection for a special site and water-race, and permission to work the Great Barrier Extended and Fitzroy special claims n!o „• ° '","" Mch f "' " ix months; .las. II Sullivan absolute surrender of the Firmov special claim, Tain.a; Win. Wilson, five months protection for the New Mount Morgan special quartz claim, Neavesvillo; May Queen Ilauraki, Limited, permission to work the St. Hippo special quartz claim, Thames, with four men for six months; .las. O'Sullivan. Geo. Cundy, and Win. Gorrie, five months' protection for tho Gem No. ?, special quartz claim, Tairua; The Golden Falls Gold Mining Company, permission to work the Rapid special quartz claim, Whangamata with 10 men for six months; O. O. Browne permission to work the New Wcntworth special claim, Whangamata, with eight men for six months, and the Minnesota special quartz claim with two men for six months; W. D. Tilsloy, permission to work the Capstan special quartz claim, Puriri, with two men forj six months.

Plaints: R. S. Martin v. the Gloucester Gold Minim? Company, plaint for forfeitnro of the Gloucester Extended special claim, Thames, on the ground of non-working: forfeiture decreed with £2 18ss costs, C. Short v. tho Gloucester Gold Mining Company, plaint for the sum of £29 Mr, 6(1 for work done and mining requisites supplied; judgment given for the full amount claimed with £212s costs.

Certificate of Salo: An application made by tho Great Barrier Gold and Silver Mining Company praying for the issue of a certificate from the Warden certifying that a contract of sale entered into by the above-men-tioned company will not prejudicially affect tho claims of the creditors of the said company, was granted.

GENERAL MINING ITEMS.

As indicative of the celerity with which the pegging out of dredging claims on the West Coast is proceeding, it is stated that numerous claims have been pegged out in the vicinity of the Totara dredge's claim. The company which is working this dredge have wo claims, each of 100 acres, and in order "o protect themselves they have had to peg out a sluicing claim in the vicinity of the

claim they are at present working, .'A coast paper, referring to the Easter holidays, remarks that on Good Friday "numbers availed themselves of the excursion trains to go shooting and pegging out dredging claims." . : -

i The dredging industry in Waikaka, in spite of all obstacles, says a correspondent of the Southland Times, is going on by leaps and bounds. Dredges are being constructed in every corner. The Globe Company have got a dredge on the ground." They got it from the Upper Molyneaux and brought it overland by the aid of traction engines. It seems a strong and serviceable dredge, and should soon be giving a good account of itself. The Celtic Company have let a contract for the pontoons for their dredge, Mr. Marr, the contractor for the' Premier Company, being the successful man.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Imperial (Karangahake, May 5): Driving upon the south course of No. 2 reef at the intermediate level is being proceeded with, and the lode is now a well-defined body of stone, fidly 18in in thickness, and is composed of very kindly-looking ore, from which fair dish prospects can be obtained by pounding and washing. During the week preparations have been commenced in No. 2 level, to drive south on the No. 2 reef. Tho ore body is somewhat split up at present, but no doubt will improve as the level advances.