THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12546, 13 April 1904, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

MARATOTO G.M. CO.

The Maratoto mine, together with the battery, cyanide vats, buildings, and plant, has been sold to Mr. J. J. Craig.

NEW FOUR-IN-HAND G.M. CO

The low level in the New Four-in-Hand G.M. Co.'s mine is now in 435 ft. During the last fortnight a leader was cut, from 4in to Ift in width, and the manager is not quite sure whether it is not the Tainui leader. It is in an excellent class of country, and has the same dip and strike as the Tainui leader. Sinking in the winze on this leader lias been continued, the country being of good character and easy to work. The lead is looking well, though no gold has been seen at recent breakings .{own. Stoping has been in progress on the Four-in-Hand leader north of the old workings, and the Four-in-Haud reef has also been prospected north of tho old workings, and as this gives good prospects in tile dish, it is intended to stope some of it out, and give it a trial at the battery. WAIHI EXTENDED G.M. CO. The Waihi Extended G.M. Co.'s drive is now near where the reef may be met with. As the lode is believed to incline further towards the north, the manager considers it advisable to drive along the run of the boundary. This would enable the drive to be tapped, and give good ventilation for sinking a winze on the reef. OLD HAURAKI G.M. CO. In the Old Hauraki G.M. Co.'s mine the winze on the lona lode at the 160 ft level is down 35ft. but as the lead has become much flatter and the water more troublesome, progress in sinking is slow and more expensive, the work has therefore been suspended for the present, and the drive at- the 220 ft level will bo pushed on with, so as to drain the winze. Rising and sinking can then be car- j ried on more economically. The shaft is to j bo stripped this week, so that pumping j below the 220 ft. level may be started at an early date. On the No. 6 lode, in the Union Beach section, 31b of fairly good picked stone and 101b of stone showing strong dabs of gold were broken down recently. Gold is still showing in the winze, and the lead continues to look promising. A drive has been started on a promising-look-ing leader in this section of the mine. It is a cross lead in the footwall of No. 6 lead. OLD ALBURNIA G.M. CO. Samples of stone token from James' leader in the Old Albumin G.M. Co.'s crosscut from the Sons of Freedom level are on view at the office of Mr. J. B. Sheath. The stone was secured from a point beneath where the run of gold was lost by former English owners of the mine. BUNKER'S HILL G.M. CO. The manager of the Bunker's Hill G.M. Co. reports as follows: —" Gold continues to be seen in the quartz broken in the stopes in the lona reef, although not of sufficient richness to be bagged. A little picked stone has been secured from the stope oh the 4in leader, and better results may be expected. The leader intersected in the crosscut from the rise on the 4in leader has been broken down. It shows an average width of 2in, is of a vuggy nature, and in which leafy gold was frequently seen. The crosscut has been advanced a distance of 13ft beyond this leader, and in the seams and joints in the country colours of gold have been seen." NEW SAXON MINE. Samples of gold-bearing stone secured in the New Saxon mine at the Thames from the Old Tributers' reef are on view at the office of Mr. J. B. Sheath. The ore is thickly impregnated with gold. A company is now being formed to work this ground thoroughly. .. ————————————— i HAURAKI FREEHOLDS, LIMITED. The manager of the Hauraki Freeholds mine reports as follows: —"At No. 1 level from the Welcome Find shaft the Hauraki north reef is being worked from the main crosscut, and operations have been started at two points. The level is being extended on a footwall branch of the reef. Not much quartz has been broken here, but a. few colours of gold have been seen, and the ore is being saved for treatment. Back from the face stoping is being proceeded with. The reef in this face is about Din in thickness, carries arsenic and antimony in quantities, and gold is freely seen accompanied by tie above-mentioned base metals, and will require careful treatment to save. No quartz ha,3 yet been broken from the reef between Nos.' 1 and 2 levels, but preparations for doing so are in a forward state, and the reef is being stripped. lona reef: The No. 10 stope has been continued, but the lode here is pinched, and whilst occasionally showing gold, does not contribute much to our supply cf quartz. From No. 8 stope a rise is in progress for the purpose of starting a stope on the footwall portion of the reef. The quartz is making again here, and colours of gold are seen in it. The lode is about Tin in width." WAIHI G.M. CO. In a circular dated February 29. addressed to shareholders, the Waihi G.M. Co.'s directors state that, pending the completion of the new pump, sinking operations had been suspended, and the work at the mine had been chiefly confined to driving from the ends of the large ore bodies already laid open above the 6th level, and opening up some of the smaller reefs. The whole of the batteries had been supplied with ore from the upper levels. ■ The results had been < f a satisfactory nature. The estimated value of the returns for the year 1903 was £649,400, from 231,323 tons, "but the amount actually I realised in London would be in excess of that I sum. The yield for the preceding year (1902) was £521.574, from 179,485 tons. It was hoped that the New Zealand mail due in the middle of March would bring the final fig'ires for the year 1903, and the utmost speed would be used in the preparation of trie accounts, in order to issue the report and hold the general meeting as soon as possible. NEW ZEALAND CROWN MINES, LTD. The directors of the New Zealand Crown Mines, Limited, in a circular to siiareinlLrs under date of March 7 give a report fiom the mine manager, which stated ' hat the tie being milled at that date was slightly better. The upper workings south from the shaft had improved, and those from the- north were about the same. There was no imp rote in the lower workings. In the lower levels the drive on the No. 3 level '."d been driven 2077 f t; the reef was 3ft 6in wide, and assayeel 15s per ton at the south end. No. 4 level had been driven 383 ft, the average width of the vein being 15in for the entire length, and assaying £2 per ton. The vein was very irregular, and the prospects did not seem tc improve. No. 5 level had been driven 244 ft from the winze. The manager considered the prospects most favourable. He thought returns were likely to improve dur- ' ing the month of March. Since the circular 1 was drafted the following supplementary I cablegram was received by the directors from Mi. —"No. 4 level: We have struck what has the appearance of a good body of ore. Further particulars next week." ; THAMES WARDEN'S COURT. [from our own* correspondent.] Thames, Tuesday. The following applications were dealt with by Mr. Warden Bush to-day: — Consented To: The application of John Rickard and Geo. Tilsley, for the Waimangu special quartz claim, Whangamata, having received the consent of the Minister for Mines, was finally dealt with and granted. Recommended: The following applications were recommended to the Minister for Mines for granting:— G. Webb, Enterprise special quartz claim, Tairua; W. D. Tilsley and John Newdick, v six months' protection for the Sheet Anchor and Enterprise special quartz clSTms, Otnahu; the New Eclipse Gold Mining Company, six months' protection for a water-race, aerial tramway, 'and machine site, Upper Tararu, Thames. . Granted: The following applications were granted:—Jameu Hayes, New Occidental special quartz claim, Una Hill, r lhames; Arthur Blucher, forfeiture of a residence site, Waiomo; John McCombie t six

mouths' protection for the Taparahi special quartz claim, Neavesville; the New Eclipse Gold Mining Company, permission to work the Vulcan and Eclipse special quartz claims, Upper Tararu, Thames, with three men each for six months ; Henry Roche, residence site, WaibtaM Creek, Thames. This latter application was objected to by the Waiotahi Gold Mining Company, on whose area the site in question is situated. The grounds of objection were that the site might in time !£? required in connection [ with the company's mining operations, and I that the granting of the application would | interfere- with the company's operations. 1 Mr. E. Clendon appeared for the applicant, and Mr. J. A. Mnler for the objecting company. Evidence in support of the application was Beard several weeks ago, and judgment was then deferred, pending the Warden paying a persifiiul 'visit of inspection to the site. In giving judgment today, the Warden said that after visiting the site he could not see how tho granting of it to Mr. Roche could possibly a fleet the Waiotahi Company's mining operations, as it was only a very small area, and. was situated, on the extreme end or a corner of the company's boundary. If the company wished to cany on mining operations in its vicinity at any future time it could easily do so without interfering with the site. He therefore proposed granting the application. Mr. Miller requested that the Warden should lessen the term of lease from 42 to 10 years, and that a clause he' inserted in the license to the effect that the ' company should not at any time be liable for any damage caused to property by its past 01 future mining operations. Mr. Clendon strongly opposed the suggested shortening of the term of lease. He submitted that if the Warden had power to grant it at all, it should bo for the full term allowable by the Mining Act. Eventually the application was granted, but subject to a clause in the conditions that the company is not to be held liable for any subsidence which may take place in the site through its mining operations, and that the applicant must lodge in the Warden's office a surveyed plan of the site. Otanui Mascotte Special Claim: Win. Geo. White applied for permission to work the Otanui Mascotte special quartz claim, Otanui, Thames, with two men for six months. An objection to the application was prepsfted by Alexander Bruce, who alleged that the area in question was situated on a hillside, and therefore could be worked from several places at the same time, that the ground was held for speculative purposes only, and that an application for a tribute iH the ground had never been replied to. Mr. J. A. Miller appeared on behalf of the applicant, and the objector appeared in person. Mr. Miller detailed what had been done on the ground in question since 1901, and showed that the syndicate at present holding it bad only come

into existence in April, 1902; that since February, 1903, a limited number of men had been employed on the ground with the sanction of the Court. He called Mr. Vincent Allen in support of the application, who deposed he was both a member of , the Otanui Mascotte Syndicate and also its secretary. Since acquiring the property the syndicate had expended over £600 in prosecuting its development, and were at present carrying out certain prospecting works with the view of testing the reef operated upon at a lower level. The only return so far obtained was gold of the "value of £84. He had received an application from Mr. Bruce (the objector) for a tribute in the ground, but had not replied to it because he objected to having Bruce on the ground at any price. Mr. Bruce said his reason for objecting to the granting of the application was because tie considered the syndicate had held it long enough to be compelled to put more men on. Numerous drives could be put in from the hillside above where the syndicate were at present working, and he did not consider the works at present in progress were as advantageous as they might be. He considered someone else should now have an opportunity of holding and developing the ground. After further argument on both sides had been heard, the Warden said he would grant the application to work with two wages men for six months, but he should impose a condition that tributes must be let in the ground if applied for by sober and reputable persons. Plaint: The Receiver of Gold Revenue v. Geo. E. Wyatt, plaint for £6, alleged arrears of rent for an agricultural lease. Evidence in this case was heard last Court day, when Mr. Clendon, who appeared for the defendant;, argued that his client was not liable for the rent, inasmuch as the title to the ground, which originally had been granted to another person, had never been taken up. Judgment was to-day entered up for defendant. GOLD PURCHASES. fI)Y telegraph.—own correspondent.] Thames, Tuesday. The local banks during March purchased gold won from the undermentioned districts as follows: — BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. oz. dwt. gr. Thames County ... 178 16 0 Thames Borough ... 208 14 0 Total 387 10 0 BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES. oz. dwt. gr. Thames County .. 1240 10 0 Thames Borough ... 1420 012 Total 2660 10 12 HARBOUR VIEW G.M CO. [BY telegraph.—OWN CORIiKSFON DENT.] ConoMANDF.L, Monday. Fair progress continues to be made with the new crosscut in the Harbour View Gold Mining Company's mine. Althouf the country is very hard a distance of S4ffc has been accomplished. GOLDEN SPARK G.M. CO. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Coromakokl, Mot ii.iV, The lode in the Gold, 11 Spark P ->id Mi .nig Company's mine is beiai *dr»6i on south from the low level. The ore is of a kindly description, and there is a big show of mineral.

NEW ZEALAND MINES IN LONDON. London*, March 4. Among company registrations announced is that of the Talisman Consolidated (1904) Company, which has a capital of £300,000 in £1 shares. The objects of the company are stated to be to acquire the business of the Talisman Consolidated Company (incorporated in 1899), to adopt an agreement with the old company and its liquidator, and to carry on the business of miners, prospectors, explorers, metallurgists, smelters, financiers, merchants, etc., in New Zealand or elsewhere. There will be no initial public issue. The number of directors is to be not less than two nor more than five and the signatories are to appoint the first. Tho qualification is £100. The remuneration is put- down at £200 each per annum, with £100 extra for the chairman, and three per cent, of the distributed profits, divisible (such percentage not to exceed £3000 in any year without the sanction of a general meeting). London, March 12. Another company registration announced this week is that of the Day Dawn and orfolk Mines Company, which lias a capital of £100,000 in £1 shares. The object is stated to be to acquire, explore, open and work claims or mines ; to raise, dig, quarry for gold, silver, minerals, ore, coals, earth, and other valuable stances in New Zealand or elsewhere, either absolutely or conditionally, and either solely or jointly with others; in particular, to take over certain mineral lands in the Thames mining district, Auckland, New Zealand, and to carry on the business of miners, mine owners, mining engineers, smelters, metallurgists, refiners, mechanical engineers, builders, contractors, financiers, reducers and preparers for market of ores, metals, minerals and metallic substances, constructors and owners of roads, tramways, railways, bridges, furnaces, and other public or private works and conveniences. There will be no initial public issue. It is stated that the number of directors is to be not less than two nor more than five; the signatories are to appoint the first. The qualification is £200 ; the remuneration as fixed by the company. The registered office is at 3-1, Clemen Lane, London. DREDGING RETURNS. [BY 'fF-IiEGK.U'H. —I'RKSS ASSOCIATION.] Grkymoutit, Monday.

The following dredging returns are to hand : Nelson Creek (one week), 1960z; Pactolus No. 1 (121 hours), 59<>z; Not oven, 50oz ; Black water River (115 hours), 41oz; Rockland's Reach (118 hours). 320z ; Rignell's Notown (117 hours). 290z 15dwt; Sullivan's Lead (115 hours), 28ox; Callaghan's Creek (130 hours). 250z 15dwt: Stony Mosquito (one week), 250z lOdwt: Pa-ctolus No. 2 (137 hours), 240z 2dwt: tiller Junction (164 hours), 220z: North Beach (one week), 19oz 17dwt; Greenstone Three-mile, 16oz lOdwt; Premier (60 hours), 15oz lldwt; Aldinga, 1207, 15dwt; Totara Flat (one week), lloz 6dwt; Greenstone Creek (56 hours), lOoz 6dwt; Welcome (170 hours), 9oz lodwt.