THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13397, 28 January 1907, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

NEW SAXON.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Thames, Saturday. The north crosscut into the hanging wall of the Cardigan No. 1 lode at the No. 4 level of the New Saxon mine, is being continued with one shift, and a total distance of 4211 has been driven from the course of the lode, but nothing of importance has yet been discovered. The country in the face is still a good description of sandstone. Sloping operations on the block northward from No. 1 winze below the level are also in progress, and the quartz broken looks fairly well, a few pounds of picked stone having been selected during the past week.

ALBURNIA.

[itr TELEGRAPH. —own CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Saturday. Good progress is still being made with the extension of the main tunnel into the Albumin spur on the north side of the Moanutaiari Creek, and the country is still of a favourable character. No further quartz formations have yet been met with, although the face of the tunnel is now getting well into where the Sons of Freedom reef should be met at this level, and the lode may be intersected at any time now.

THAMES.

[lIY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]

Thames', Saturday.

The only work in progress in the Thames mine is the continuation of the main crosscut for the Nonpareil, which is being pushed on with all possible speed, and is now passing through a very favourable class of b'ocky sandstone, which enables good progress to In mad... A distance of 221t has been driven during the past week. The face of this crosscut has now passed under the course of the Waiotahi Creek, and is entering the formation of the spur on the south-east side, where the old Nonpareil mine is situated. If the present favourable country continues, a few weeks' more driving should reach the strike of the Shamrock and other reefs worked in the surface portions of the mine, and from which gold was obtained down to the lowest levels worked.

NEW MAY QUEEN.

[iiy ti:lki;uaimi. —own < oiuiksponkknt.]

Thames, Saturday.

Work in the New May Queen mine is now in full swing again, after the delay in cleaning up tin- levels and putting the stopes in order. Stoning operations from No. 6 level on the No. 4 lode and fool wail blanch leader have been resumed, and the stopes are again producing a steady supply of good crushing dirt, showing gold freely. In the crosscut to intersect the St. Hippo reel' at Xo. 5 level tight country has again been met with, which may, however, be only a boulder. Preparations are in progress to cut out a chandler at No. 6 level for the purpose of sinking a winze on the X'). 4 lode below the level, and when this is completed the work of sinking the winze to definitely ascertain the value of the lower block will be proceeded with at once. Crushing at the buttery is proceeding as usual with 22 heads of stampers.

NEW MOANATAIARI

[by tki.k(;r.U'H. — OWN (JORBKSI'ON'JJBNT.]

Thames, Saturday. The western drive on the hangingwall of the Cambria reel at Xo. 3 level of the Moanataiari mine has been extended a total distance of 33ft since tic reef was cut through, and there is a further distance of about Tott to drive to reach (he junction of the Red Queen Cross lode. An improvement has taken place in the country through which the drive is passing, there being now a section of good sandstone in the face, which may have a beneficial effect on the reef as the drive advances.

NEW DART.

[BY i Ki.ia.Rveu. — own COIir.KSI'OSriKNT J Thames. Satuiday. Work in the New Dart mine is confined to the continuation of the main tunnel, and good progress is still being made. This tunnel is heading direct for the Dart shaft, and is now within 125 ft of the point where the shaft will he cut. and as the average distance driven |>«"! week is 25ft another live weeks should see the shall to hand. This drive will intersect the shaft at a depth of 165 ft below the collar, and will drain the shaft to that depth, thus, great-iy reducing the cost of pumping. The water from the bottom will only require to be lifted alKiut. 135 ft to the floor of the level, from which it will have a. clear run out to the surface. This will enable work to be carried on from the bottom of the shaft more economically.

BONANZA

IMY TKI.KGB VI"H. —OWN •CO Kill's IK ST. ] Tiiamks, Saturdiy. In the Bonanza mine all the preliminary work has been completed, and a fair start has been made to drive the level to intersect the reef that was prospected on the surface, with such encouraging results. The level has been driven a. distance of about 50ft, and another 160 ft to 170 ft should intersect the reef, and prove its value at this depth, which will give a considerable amount of backs to the surface, and thus open up an extensive block of ground.

DREDGING RETURNS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRKSS ASSOCIATION.] Dt:.\i-:i)iN", Sunday. The following dredging returns are to hand:— River, 128 hours, 550z ldwt; Waikaka United No. 1 (Waikaka), 132 hours. 4Ros>: I4dwt; Sandy Point (Alexandra), 130 hours, 450z 13d wt; New Perseverance No. 2 (Alexandra). 106 hours, 320z ldwt; Waikaka United No. 2 (Waikaka). 112 hours. 270z 18dwt; Rise and Shine No. 1 (('tilth i River) 113 hours, 260z 17dwt; Alexandra Eureka (Alexandra), one week, l6oz 14dwt. West Coast: Pactolus No. 2. 126 hours. 150oz 4dwt; New Trafalgar. 130 hours, 31oz 6dwt: Pactolus No. 1, 138 hours, 20oz 16-1 wt ; Blaekwater River, 1.20 hours, lOoz 6dwt.

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS.

Kurunui (January 24): There is considerable improvement in the .size of the Shotover leader at the intermediate level, it being now about 15in wide, and some of the "quartz has a more kindly appearance for gold. The crosscut to the west of this leader has been extended 16ft west of the shaft, and has just intersected the stopes on Hunt's reef. Just before cutting the stopes, we met with a leader from 6in to lOin wide, which appears to be going north, and seems to be a branch split off the main reef. It has been too far off the main body to take it in the stope, bid a. start has been made to drive north on it to see if it will improve. The surface dirt has- jo far given litt'e off M" plate*, and only w! en the box is cleaned out will it be ascertained whether or not it is payable. May Queen Extended (January 26): "I have to report an improvement in the quality of the quartz coming from the winze' on the Adelaide reef in the north end of the low level. The lode is fully 18in in width, and shows strong dabs and colours of gold in the solid quartz."

PUBLIC OPINION.

The opinion of the loading skin authorities of the world, viz., the late Professor S,r Erasmus Wilson, F.R.S., Dr. Redwood, Ph. D PCS, F.1.C., Mr. John L. Milton, Senior Surgeon St. John's Hospital for the Skin London, etc., unanimously agree that Pears' Soaf is the best soap for the skin and complexion.