THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11544, 1 December 1900, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

* KAPOWAI G.M. CO. .IJhb half-yearly meeting of shareholders 4 in the Kapowai Gold Mining Company, called for yesterday in the office of the secretary, Mr. H. Gilflllan, Jan., lapsed for |£''.'."' want of a quorum. The directors' -report, which had been prepared for the meeting, stated that upon formation of the company active operations were begun upon what was known as the No. 2 reef. The drive on this had been extended for 100 ft, during which distance it had averaged a " thickness of 2ft, and had shown itself to be f formed of payable ore. At 60ft in from the face of this drive a crossreef 7ft in thickness was cut, which also gave satisfactory proof of its value. From a survey lately made it had been found that there was a distance of at least 640 ft from the face of the drive on No. 2 reef to the southern boundary of the claim, without taking into account any prolongation of its course in the opposite direction. In addition to the foregoing work a crosscut had been put in to intersect No. 1 reef (from which very satisfactory trial parcels were crushed), at a point 50ft from the surface workings. The directors were so satisfied with the prospects of the company that they had purchased a crushing plant of eight stampers, berdans, engine, etc., and in other ways were taking steps to have the same erected during the ensuing summer. They were of opinion that the result of the work done so far fully justified such action, and they trusted that the future operations ol the plant would Warrant its increase before Jong. Negotiations for the construction of a road from Gumtown to the mine by the county councils interested and the Government were in / progress, and it was hoped that at an early date this would be so far advanced as to allow of the necessary machinery being conveyed to the* ground. The balance-sheet showed a balance of receipts over expenditure amounting to £276 18s lOd. For the information of the shareholders present Mr. John Brown, chairman of directors, said that the Coromandel County Council had now called for tenders for a portion of the road, and that the Thames County Council were about to do the same. This work done, the directors expected to have the plant completed and running before the end of the summer. Mr. George Bull, of the Thames, had been put in charge of its erection. They anticipated crushing 50 tons per week, and the opening up of the mine would be vigorously prosecuted at the same time as the erection of the mill. They had only about 20 tons of ore grassed, but this was solely on account of their being no room to stack the ore at present. The chute of gold extended for 120 ft, at a good depth. He thought that three more one penny calls would see. the battery started. The plant would be large enough to thoroughly test the .mine, and even to give good returns if the ore maintained its present value. HAURAKI No. 2 G.M. CO. A trial parcel of ore crushed on behalf of the Hauraki No. 2 Gold Mining Company has yielded soz 15dwt of retorted gold. BARRIER REEFS G.M. CO. The Barrier Reefs Gold Mining Company's battery at the Great Barrier resumed crushing operations yesterday. During a week's stoppage all the machinery was overhauled and put in order. Additional classifiers have been put in place, and some minor alterations made. Over 50 tons of concentrates are now at the wharf, and the remainder will be down to-day, when the whole parcel will be shipped. In the mine the slopes above No. 2 level have been opened up for about 600 ft along the reef, arid the ore is good all the way, except for a few spots.

MAY QUEEN EXTENDED G.M. CO. There are on view in Mr. J. J. Macky's office samples of tie ore recently broken down in the ri?e in the May Queen Extended Gold Mining Company's mine, at the Thames. The quartz is of a kindly-look-ing -white and blue nature, and contains dabs and colours of gold. The manager reports that the reef in the rise improves with progress. In the drive the lode is disturbed, but appears to be forming again.

NEW WHAU. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN* CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Friday. Toe manager has decided not to have a breaking down of the new leader, discovered on Wednesday last, until the early part of next week, as with the small staff of men at his command (part of his staff is looking after the company's crushing at the May Queen Hauraki battery), he finds it impossible to get a sufficient portion stripped to warrant a breaking down taking place until then. The discovery of the leader is looked upon here as being of considerable importance, especially as it is in the locality of •where it has long been thought good gold ■would be found some day. KATHLEEN-HILDA G.M. CO. [BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. The Minister for Mines has received notice that arrangements are being made to resume work in the Kathleen Hilda mine, in Coromandel. This mine is the property of English investors. Their colonial representative is Captain Hodge, who went to London some time since to consult the directors as to the future operations of the company. COROMANDEL PUBLIC BATTERY. [bt TELEGRAPH. —OWN* CORRESPONDENT.] Coromandel, Friday. The erection of the Coromandel public battery is fully justified by its being kept continually in use. Everything is working splendidly, and the fact that test after test has proved that the tailings an valueless, is sufficient evidence of the thoroughness with which it does its work of saving the gold. In this regard great credit is reflected upon the architect and supervisor of the erection of the battery, Mr. H. F. Shepherd, who, as a member of the School of Mines Council, gave a great amount of time to the work gratuitously. The battery manager, Mr. P. J. MacLeod, reports crashing 21 days during the month. Thirtyfive tons of ore and 1501b of picked stone, from Bunker's Hill, Harboui View, and Glencoe claims, gave a return of loloz of retorted gold, valued at £.386 3s lid. A parcel of eight tons is now being treated from the Hauraki No. 2, and other parcels from other claim." are to follow. In fact, there i already enough ore on hand tc keep the battery going for some time after Christmas. OTAGO STOCK. EXCHANGE. [BY TKLEORAPH. PRESS association.] Dunedin," Friday. Otago Exchange sales at premiums : Aldinga, Bd.; Electric Extended, 29s 3d. Paid up : Alpine Consols, 43s 6d ; Alpine 11., 43s ; Charlton Creek, 40s • Great Central, 34s 6d ; Hartley and Riley, £6 18s ; Junction Electric, 29s ; Kelly and Casey, 29s 9d ; Merrimac, 43s ; Nugget, 9s ; Richards' Beach, 24s 6d ; Sailors' Bend, 395, 38s 6d ; Upper Magnetic, 43s 6d.