REVIEW OF THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11871, 24 January 1902, Page 5

REVIEW OF THE GOLDFIELDS.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. [by TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] " Wellington, Thursday. The Minister for Mines, speaking to an interviewer concerning his recent visit to the Auckland goldfields, said that some of the English companies were rather short of capital, especially "some of those operating in the Coromandel district. This had not been without its effect on the labour market. The exceedingly prosperous condition of the timber industry at the present time has, however, lessened the tension. There is a good demand for timber, and capable bushmen are earning high wages. The boring operations on the Thames foreshores have not so far been the success which Mr. McGowan would have liked to see them. An area of mining ground in the Waiomo district is mentioned by the Minister as likely to be heard of in a reasonable time. He visited the ground, and was struck with the extent of the reef. The manager was taking out the full width of the reef, 30ft, and getting a highly mineralised refractory ore. The ore was being concentrated, and the concentrates sold to a company at Dapto, in New;, South Wales. They contain gold, silver, copper, iron, etc. Outside of the Waihi district the reef is one of the most permanent Mr. MeGowan has seen. In. the meantime there is good drainage given by the natural fall to a creek. At the northern end of the peninsula, very , good granite is being worked by local capital. If the proposed jubilee exhibition at Coromandel, is held, an obelisk of the granite will probably bo one of the exhibits. .'•■