THE OHINEMURI GOLDFIELD.

Thames Advertiser, Volume X, Issue 2624, 16 May 1877, Page 3

THE OHINEMURI GOLDFIELD.

(fhoji a cobbespondent).

Waitekaubi, May 14,1877.

. Waitekauhi G. M. 'C. —Nearly all the crushing stuff is coming from tho stopes at the 160 feet levol, and is of fair quality. Tho drive at low levol is being pushed, ahead towards tho Homeward Bound boundary, and carrys a payable body of stono. When 30 or 40 feet more is driven, it is the intention of the manager to start a leading stope and come back on tho reef as far as the No. 2 winze. At the mill there is a good show of amalgam on tho plates oyory day, and as the country has got a thorough _ soaking there should bo no stoppage this month for want of water.

Queen G.M.C.—Gordon and parly, contractors for tho low level through this company's ground, started this morning to build a smithy and make other preparations towards starting operations in tho luunol, and as tho ground is all blue sandstone good progress will bo made in tho courso of a week or two.

: Leahy No. 2.—A contract for 350 feet of driving iu this company's ground was let about a fortnight ago, but the successful tenderer, . thinking m 1) 6 ffas iii for a good thing, did not come forward to take, it up, so it was re-let privately last week, and work is to be commenced to-morrow; and, from the well-known character of the present contractor, there is no doubt but that work will be vigorously carried on, j Bank of England;.G.M. Co.—Wow [hat the contractors have made a start, and got under ground, thoy should make fair progress, as at present the drive is iu lino brown sandstone country, Very similar in appearance to the channel of country which carries the reef in the Waitekauri Company's ground. ' Welcome G. M. Co.—The manager is still pushing ahead with the drive on No. 4 lode, which is a nice body of stone, about 18 inches in thickness, and looks well for being a good gold producer. The drive to connect with the winze sunk upon No. 2 cross-lode is also being pushed ahead, and the connection should be made in the course of a week or so. Shannon and FebgpsG.M. Co.—Work has been discontinued on the N.o. 1 lode for the present, but work is being vigorously pushed ahead on No. 2, with favourable results, some nice golden stone being broken out this morning, and if the country only gets, a little softer there is no doubt the lode, will open out consideraly and increase in quality. ' Young: New main cross-cut is. being pushed ahead through splendid country, and from the indications in the face a body of stone is not far away, No work has been done beyond cutting through the small leader intersected the week before last, and which carries'splendid gold. When crushing is started on stuff from this leader I fancy the returns will cause a flutter in this company's scrip. Pebsevebance G.M. Co.—Slow propress is being mado with the low level, but as there is an appearance of a change coming in on one corner of the face better progress will be made next week, and the manager is confident of picking up the reef shortly after getting through the hard bar. Trending operations have also been started close to the boundary of the Bepublic Company's ground for the purpose of picking up the corner of a reef which has been discovered in that company's ground, and which must run through the whole' length of the Perseverance ground. < Contracts have been let in the Herald and ''Imperial:; G.M. Co.'s ground,;and work is to be .started immediately, and great things are expected from both. The first-named is situated on the same spur as, the!'Leahy, and from the loose.prospects obtainable on the surface, better things are looked for at a depth. The Imperial is situated on the western side of the Whitekauri Company's ground, and there is a well-defined reef in the ground, from which good prospects are obtainable. • There is some work being done on the tramway extension, but from present appearances I think Christmas will be here before it is finished, instead of being dona in three months. ; Some of the men at the Waitekauri mine appear to think the present a good time to strike for a higher rate of wages.' After a little • talk, : it, was determined to do so, but' I am sorry to say all hands could not agree to the rise askod for. Some reckoned 6d a day was sufficient to ask, while .others thought Is per day was little onough, so between them nothing was done iu the matter: but I hear that steps are to be taken with a view of getting the wages increased from 8s 6d to 9s. If all_ hands work together in the matter there is very little doubt but what they will get'the extra 6d per day, and considering the price of provisions here and the winter coming on, I think 9s per day 'is little enough. " If you have a missionary to spare down your way, you might send him up here, as I am sorry to say we are greatly in want of a little amusement on Sundays.