Terawhiti Goldfields.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 606, 15 September 1883, Page 15

Terawhiti Goldfields.

(from our own correspondent). September 5. Mr Wardell, Director of the Golden Crown Company ; Mr McLean, Mr Bull, of the Success Company; and Mr Seagar, the contractor, visited here to-day, for the purpose of selecting a site for the new crushing plant, which tnese companies are about to erect conjointly. The-site chosen is at the foot of Crown Creek, near the beach. Mr Dowsett’s store aud bakery, the first business place at Terawhiti, was opened last night with a free supper. All' were invited. A good number attended, justice being done to the good things for the support of the physical. Success to the enterprising proprietor, mining " interest, and other toasts were duly honored. Then followed songs, stump speech, stepdancing, and such other recreation as the young delight iD. Separation at midnight closed the social gathering. [We have to correct a mistake, or printer’s error, in the last report of our correspondent. In his remarks upon the Albion, his report is made to say that the anticipated yield of the Albion crushing was ljoz to the ton. It should have read, say oz to the ton.] September 13.

Golden Crown. —Considerable changes have taken place in this mine during the past week. All the hands, excepting two, have been discharged. The Mine Manager has resigned, and I understand no one will be appointed until the erection of the machinery is advanced. Mr Mace’s extensive knowledge of quartz mining, accompanied with the energy and civility for which he is so well known, will secure him another appointment when he is inclined to accept it. In company with the Mine Manager and others I explored the underground workings of this mine during the past week. First the low level tunnel driven through the spur was visited, but there is very little insight of the workings or lead to be got from these yet, the only connections being by two passes for the conducting of quartz only. Had there been a man-hole pass made from this level to the workings above,it would have been very convenient; failing this, we had next to go up the spur outside, and then down the shaft.

To attempt to give a detailed report of the workings I candidly confess is beyond my power, and I think beyond that of any man, unless he li is considerably more data to go upon than can be got in a short visit. I have explored many mines, and have generally been able to mentally take a pretty correct idea of the cardinal points of the compass with me. But in this instance I freely admit I was completely mystified. I found myself in a subterranean maze ; crosscuts to the right ; crosscuts to the left ; levels in front; levels behind ; rises overhead ; winzes underfoot. Many of the gallant Six Hundred would have hesitated more in their movements here than they did at the celebrated charge. However, by a little patience, perseverance, and climbing we got through all, and I think some of the visitors, to whom such an adventure was new, felt considerable relief when they emerged once more to a. view of Cook Strait and a bold outline of the sister island. Any information I can give regarding the workings and the prospects of the mine must be summarised. The reef, or a reef, is to be seen in almost every drive, crosscut, and winze, some places overhead, other places underfoot, on the right-hand side of the drive, then suddenly on the left. No regular walls, underlay, or course to be seen ; but the lode, or, I rather think, lodes, are there, distorted and disjointed, showing that great surface agitation and shifting has taken place. The mining phrases “slide ” and “ heaves ” cannot be applied to the ruptures in the formation here ; as these occur in mineral lodes at the lowest depths, and in the most settled country, running as a true rent for thousands of feet, generally at right angles to the lode, which it fractures, and heaves to the right or left, —in some instances hundreds of feet. In order that the Directors, shareholders, and all interested in the mine, may better understand the position of affairs, I would recommend them to get a proper survey of the underground works made, and the result plotted in a plan and sections. It is a very simple and easy piece of work, if it is only gone about in the right way, such as any intelligent miner, having the necessary instruments, should be able to do. Somehow, I have found but few professional surveyors do this kind of work well. Their plans are generally artistic productions incomprehensible to non-professionals. If this is done right, and accompanied by an intelligent report, a correct idea can then he formed of the bearing and distance of the different parts of the works, and their relation to each other. At present it is impossible to say what course, underlay, or dip, this load or loads will take down in the solid country. If this mine was properly opened up on a low level, it would be a great guide to the other companies above. An idea could then be formed in which direction prospecting should be carried on to pick up the continuation. No doubt many of the Crown shareholders are disappointed in the price of the scrip receding so much lately, particularly those who paid the high figure during the excitement. To them I would say, take heart. The most expert can’t see through the ground. Judging by the result of 'the last crushing and the stone in sight, the mine has a most promising appearance, prospects as good as led to the opening of some of the best mines in the colonies, and quite equal to that got on the surface which opened up the Hopeful and Welcome mines in the Reefton district.

Enterprise. —Mr Wright has resigned, and Mr McGrath has been appointed to the management of this mine. The next work to be proceeded with is the extension of the main tunnel, the course of which is to be turned more to the south. There is also to be a shaft sunk on some favorable surface indication got near the Golden Spur boundary. The ground here, so far as ®pened in the trenches, is very loose, but the Directors think that by sinking a short distance the firm ground will be reached. At the present time the Manager is getting timber cn to the ground, which is slow and expensive work. It has to be got and packed on horse from Albion Valley. Caledonian. —A contract has been let in this Company’s tunnel, to extend it 200ffc, at 12s 6d per foot. Phienix, —The short extension let to the last contractors is finished ; quartz leaders are just being met with in the face, but, so far, no gold has been seen in them. Eureka.— The manager has driven the tunnel past the point where he expected to cut No. 3 leader, but he has not found it at this level. It is now thought it must have functioned overhead with one of those through which the tunnel passed. He is now driving on the leader I mentioned in my report of the 28th ult. Lord Nelson. This Company has started operations by driving a tunnel in Reef Creek, a short distance above the Eureka tunnel, to be driven about south, with the intention of catting the big leader through which the Eureka tunnel passed. Golden Spur. —Gold has been found in some of the stone discovered on. this Company’s lease. At the present time the Manager is engaged getting timber and making other preparations for starting a tunnel. Albion. —l see that nearly all the quartz paddocked at the mouth of the tunnel has been sent to the battery. The Mine Manager informs me that it has not turned out the estimated quantity. The stone was padclocked previous to him taking charge of the mine. He had only the configuration of the cutting used for a paddock as a guide, which, on being cleaned out,

proved deceptive. He finds that there is about ninety tons. The battery will now be entirely dependant on the quartz beingbroken out in the mine; butsix experienced quartz-miners have been engaged in Reefton for this Company, and are daily expected at tlio mine. On their arrival, no doubt the supply from the mine will be sufficient to keep the battery <voin<*. The Battery JVXanager lias found ft absolutely necessary to take up the water running into the shaft used as a paddock, of which I made mention in my last report. Wealth of Nations. —Mr Smith, the late contractor, has been placed in charge t () overhaul the surface of this lease to the east of the tunnel, where a considerable quantity of surface quartz is visible. The letter from the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce re the Californian improved quartz-tailing concentrator and treatment of pyrites lias been read with interest hy me, and I propose to make some remarks on the subject in my next.