OUR GOLDFIELDS.

Thames Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 8221, 9 December 1895, Page 4

OUR GOLDFIELDS.

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(By Our Sj\eciaj, Reporter.)

MIDDLE STAR,

Excellent progress is being made with repairing works to the main tunnel, and up to the present fully 1168 feet have been put in a thorough state of repair, and a tram road laid in the whole distance, A reef shows along the back of {he drive, which has been identified as either the Brunswick or the Halters reef, and is 2 feet in thickness. Upon a strict examination of the ore yesterday colors of gold were plainly discernible. Seeing gold along here argues well for the development of the lode in this direction. 40 feet of further repairing will advance this work to the solid face. Here everything in connection with the extension of the level upon the course of the lode will then be in readiness. When this work is well under way the manager, Mr Radford, is very sanguine that the prospects awaiting the company on this lode and its junction with the Sons of Freedom' re^f should quite repay all the dead work performed.

VICTOEIA

The sinking of the main winze upon the new reef from the adit to the No. 1 level, Prince Imperial section,is being vigorously proceeded with. The reef, wbiah was divided by a hor.«e of sandstone, has now a tendency to come together, as the wirze attains a greater depfh upon it. Here the country ia much the same in character, and is all that could be desired for the existence of gel-'. The stopes over the level on the same reef continue to turn out a 'fair supply of milling material, the quality of which was fully manifested by the recent return of 44ozs from 35 loads of quartz, making the total return fir the month of 72ozs from G3 loads of fjcueral ore. The drive eastward of the fault upon the course of the lode remains unchanged. Mr Grundyand his staff are making ex- ■ csilenfc progress with the erection of the ' winding engine and plant, and Christmas should gee everything in readiness for a for a permanent start in the Prince Imjerial shaft.

NEW WI-lAU

The manager reports: "The drive on the Sons of Freedom reef has been extended during the past weds. The reef is much the same as last reported, but the directions we are driving in ought tq bring us on to something much better than we have at present, and I hope tint an improvement will soon take place. The crosscut is s!iil being extended, and there ia a:l the appearance of a chance of ground a^rain to-day for tho ' s'ier, but t;;e <>round is very c'.tanjjealjle. There am still veins of q:i3rts cropping up in tfe f ice, and the water is corning'more freely than before— Tnoc. Badf. hd."

MIDDLE STAR SYNDICATE.

The manager report-: "The cleaning out and repairing the tunnel has been continued during the past. week. We ha"c now completed 1196 feet with a new iron tram road laid down for the whole distance. We are now repairing the diive, whi h has been driven on the reef, and sboat 40 feet more will bring us to 'he face. If the drive is correctly shown on the plan, all the work we are now doing is well into our own ground, and I am pleased to say that to-day we found colors of nold in tho quortz, which has fallen down in the drive out of the reef: so now I hoje a few days more will bring us to the solid fcuPj^and that we will then be driving en the reef. —Tho". BaDfobd."

FREEDOM,

The rmnajier reports:—"During the past week I have driveu a further distance of 6ft on the footwall leader at No. 1 level, the country Btiil maintaining its pood iipp.'-mance, carrying ?orae very nice mineral vein? and quartz slrinears. I have also taken trie stope alone; 6ft upon the 23,rc] of Juno reef over No. 1 level; the country lie-re is the same us m the footwall leader being of a splendid description for gold. I have also driven the into; mediate level Bft ami find the came channel of coun'ry there, envying nice mineral veins and quartz stringers. In one of these strii gars about half an inch thick dabs of gold sre seen daily and should thej strike into -he main body, the- 23rd o? June reef, which v;e are stripping herr, somethie.g good may be expected, whereas if they continue in their present course they will strike the Star of South reef about one foot from the junction. 1 have not broken down the quartz in nny of these places and do not intend to nntil tho end of the preser t week, as I have only oue pass besides the travelling way from each of these plac f, and breaking down often delays the progress.-—H. Gardiner."