MONTHLY SUMMARY.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2019, 14 April 1875, Page 4

MONTHLY SUMMARY.

OtJE GOLDFIELDS. Eadiating from tbe Thames Goldfield proper, that is, ihejHauraki Gold Mining District, the goldfield, during the last two months, has been extended with great rapidity in a southerly and easterly direction. • The opening of the Ohinemuri block has been unexpectedly followed by that of Tairua, and, of courso, a considerable proportion of the mining population of the I hames is drawn off to these new rushes, to which we shall make more particular reference presently. The unsettled state of feeling which exists has perhaps militated against the more rapid development and steady progression of works here, but at the' same time it cannot be denied that thoro is a great improvement in the tone of feeling regarding tbe position and future of this field. This confidence has mado itself felt in the sharemarket as well as in the mining affairs generally, and the 'important results obtained from the City of London and Queen of Beauty, the discovery of rich ore in the Cure and Caledonian .mines, the somewhat satisfactory result from a test crushing of quartz from the bottom of the Pumping Association shaft, and more_ recently still, the discovery of rich rock in Dixon's No. 1 mine at a level 300 feet deeper than any ever before opened in that claim, have served to generate and strengthen this confident feeling in the minds of those whose interests are at stake. Attentiou, which, for a long time, was directed outside the district, is now drawn back to it again; for after all, the new Eldorados which have been opened cannot, for some time at least, become remunerative; machinery will have_ to be erected, and capital expended _ in opening these reefs and developing their resources before returns can be expected, and although in time each of the new fields may become oi great importance, it will not be before a large amount of capital has been expended. On the Thames, there is ample machinery, tramways, and roads, the mines are developed, and the runs of gold known, of which those prospecting or working in the neighbourhood can avail themselves, and it must be confessed that there is ample room for vigorous prospecting in the Thames district. Puhhs<j .Association and Adjoining Mines.—During the month'very fair progress has been made with the sinking of the Pumping Association shaft, and on the 23rd ult. it had reached'a depth of 505 feet from the surface, or 105 feet below the former main level. At this depth, in consequence of the quantity of quartz making in the bottom, the sinking became bard and difficult, but the quartz itself appeared of a much better class than any which had previously been seen in the shaft. It was charged with minerals, and altogether looked more like auriferous rock than any formerly raised, and the manager therefore determined to test a small quantity of it by the usual battery process. Accordingly, on the 29th ult., parcel of 16cwt of the stone was crushed, and it'yielded 4dwts gold, or an average of \oz to the ton. This result is by no means an unsatisfactory one. During the time that the richest rock was being taken outof the Caledonian mine there were portions of the reef which would not yield as largo a percentage, and it may be tli'at when this reef in the Association shaft is opened up it will be found to contain rich runs of gold. However, there is no immediate intention of opening out a new level, and, the sinking of the shaft will continue, Hitherto tho sinking has been carried on with 25-inch pumps. On the 6th the last seclion of this pump was attached, and the contractors are now excavating a cistern.chamber to receive the bottom, of this column, and as floop.; ,as.. this is .finished the new 18-inoh pumps, which have been procured,

will be put in use, and the sinking carried on with them.—The Caledon ; au main shaft has been sunk lo a depth of 100 feet below the former main level, but at this depth the water became too strong to be drained off by the only method available—hauling in buckets. The drainage to the Association shaft at this level is not so effective, but in all probability in further sinking this shaft some vein or channel of country will be met which will drain off the water to its own level, and then the sinking of the Caledonian shaft will be continued until it reaches the depth required for opening a new level. In the meantime the prospecting operations carried on at the intermediate level have developed « magnificent leader lying between the old main reef and the specimen reef. This leader is of considerable size, and contains very rich rock. It has now been opened to some extent. Auriferous specimens have been of daily occurrence, and a crushiug of about 40 tons of the stuff taken out of it which is now going on will yield about 200ozs of gold.-At the 400-feet level of the Tookey mine a large amount of work has been performed, .not exactly at the solo expense of the Tookey Company, but at the joint expense of the Imperial Crown, Golden Crown, Tookey, and other companies. Prom the 400-feet level of the Association shaft the drive now extends in a southerly direction 445 feet, thus overlapping the north corner peg of the Golden Crown mine by 55 feet. The distance driven from the Tookey shaft is altogether 259 feet. At 40 feet from the Tookey shaft a small quartz vein, standing vertically, was intersected. 'It was about three inches thick. Six feet further on another leader of equal size, but underlying ten degrees to the westward, was intersected. At a distance of 55 feet from the shaft a flat slide sprung "out of the bottom of the drive, and at 95 feet of driving this slide came oa a reef eight feet thick, which rises at an angle of eight degrees. When the drive had reached 130 feet from the Tookey shaft, a second slide was met with, which cut the reef cleau off.' This slide coincides with the main slide, which, from the surface of the hill, 145 feet above the sea-level, has now been traced to the 400-feet level. It is vertical, or nearly so, for its underlie in 400 feet is scarcely 10 feet. The same slide has also been found in the 300-feet level of the Albion mine. Abutting against this slide, 147 feet from the shaft, a quartz leader, running 60 degrees west of north; and dipping in a southerly direction, was met with, and subsequently, when the drive was continued to 160 feet, this came in contact with a large reef 19 feet thick, which dips at the same angle as the No. 1 reef of the Caledonian. On the foot-wall side of this reef another leader, which also runs N. 60 degrees W., and dipping north, was intersected, and.beyond that the drive has been extended 30 feet through regular country. Trial crushings have been token out of the cross-leader nearest the face, and the Jarge reef. The latter yielded at the rate of 4dwts 14grs to the ton, and the former' just showed a trace of gold. It will be seen that the Tookey mine has not been idle; in lact, the works carried on from i it are of vast importance, inasmuch as j this drive has already cut into a large' section' of the reef system of the country. | The opinion of the manager is. that the i large reef is composed of the junction of the Manukau and Waiotahi reef. Work in the Golden Crown is temporarily suspended. The Manukau Company are still working their mine through the Crown shaft, and keep a regular stamper force usefully and profitably employed. The class of rock recently available has not been quite so rich as some wiiich was formerly obtained. The general quanz is yielding an excellent payable average. —In the Cure an important new reef has been opened from the main level. In the latter part of March good rich quartz was found in it, and since then it has been largely developed, and now it is turning out very rich specimens. A crushing from this lode will be commenced next week.—From the Waiotahi, or Imperial City, there has nothing new transpired, but operations are going on as usual. Waio-Kabaka Djstbict.—The. most important and noticeable feature in the development of the Waio-Earaka reefs during the month is the splendid results which are accruing to the City of London Company. When the mine was opened from this new level from the shaft there was a considerable balance against the company's credit, but a few week's crushing was sufficient to wipeoff the debfcand leave a balance, which paid the shareholders a dividend of bVper share. There were then only 20 head of stampers working; now a battery of 40 head has been engaged, and there will he no difficulty in keeping this force working now that the'mine is opened up. An. important change has occurred in the drive on No 3 reef towards the City of York boundary. This lode has been rather pinched, but a change in the class of country having occurred it has now widened out t to three feet, and is apparently composed of good auriferous rock.—ln the Queen of Beauty results have been as usual, and two dividends, amounting respectively to £210 and £200 per share, have been paid to the shareholders out of the month's profits. Latterly, owing to want of water and the want of repairs to the engine shaft, there has not been so much quartz raised and crushed as usual, but the shaft is now repaired, and the batteries are working as usual.~The Queen of the May does not present aay important change since our last summary. Crushing is steadily progressing, and the returns are payable.—Operations have not been resumed in the Bird-in-Hand, and the company is about being re-formed.— In the Exchange a few hands are prospecting, and in the Crown Princess the main shaft has been sunk a further depth of 70 feet, and a new level is being opened up.—The Bright Smile Company have not yet completed their new battery; and the operations of the mine are being carried out on a limited scale, but the mine is efficiently opened, aud there will be ample stuff available as soon as the mill is ready to start. Moanataiabi Distbiot.—ln that portion of the goldfield usually known as the Mdanataiari creek district, some of the most important mines on the goldfield are located, and still there are in it a large number of payable claims. It is not necessary to refer to each in detail, and we shall only notice those in which some important changes haverecently occurred. Amongst those aro the Golden Calf and Dixon's No. 1. The former is in the neighbourhood of the Caledonian, and has for a long time held a permanent position as a promising property. Present operations are being carried on at the 350-feot level, where the main reef has been intersected,* and in the latter part of March a good ; ,rich show of gold was found in it. Two "crushings for the company were since completed, but neither fully met expectations, although the results were payable. Preparations are now boing mado for I

another crushing, whioh it is hoped will prove more profitable. The company has been at a heavy expense opening up the mine, and the shareholders deserve good returns. Dixon's No. 1 mine is one of the few claims which, in the early days of the Thames goldfield, produced magnificent and steady results. It was one of the first which afforded constant employment to a, battery. For some time past the manager has been opening it at a level 300 feet deeper than any which was previously opened, and hero during the last few days the reef was struck, and good rich gold was found in it. This find is a most important one, not only for Dixon's Company, but for the Albumin, Blaok Angel, and all tho claims in the locality, inasmuch as it proves that gold can be obtained at far deeper levels than any which they have yet opened. In the Whau and Alburnia there is no particular change, and crushing is, in both cases, suspended for want of water for the batteries.—Tho Moanataiari mine is yielding as usual, the returns recently being payable, but not very rich. MiscELUNßons.—Amongstthosemine* which were supposed to be oxhausted, but which are still yielding hand-1 somely, the most prominent is the Long Drive, from which recently a large quantity of rich crushing stuff has been obtained. Tho Kuranui Company shut down their own works, but let the mine on tribute, and the tributers are doing well, having already had some good rich On the Hape Creek the most important operations are in the South Stafford mine, whioh has been well opened up, and permanent crushing from it is now going on.—The Una Compauy have not yet reached their reef in the low level, but expect it to hand daily.—ln the Nonpareil, and a few other mines, operations are suspended temporarily, protection having been granted, but on the whole there. is throughout the field a larger quantity of work progressing than is usually supposed, even by those who are residents here. CoBoiUNDEL.—The principal feature of the Coromandel district during the month has been the rich yield from the Boyal Oak crushing, which paid a dividend of 5s per share, and the number of specimen crushings which have taken place from various localities. The Kapanga Company have resumed sinking, and operations are progressing in the Plutus, but without any marked success up to the present. On the whole, however, the northern portion of the Hauraki gold mining district is very encouraging,'notwithstanding the fact that a considerable number have left it for the new districts which have been opened recently. The Gold Field.—We append a list of the crushings which have been completed since our last summary was published:—