AUCKLAND GOLDFIELDS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 564, 11 March 1870, Page 2

AUCKLAND GOLDFIELDS

The following items are taken from the Auckland and Thames papers, from Feb. 26 to March 4 inclusive : — Thames. This morning 12 lbs. of very rich stone was taken out of the Deep Lead. Nolan's Candlelight put through 15 tons at Weston's yesterday, aud it gave 55_ ounces retorted gold. At the meeting of the directors of the Vale of Avoca, a dividend of Is per share was declared. Ten days' crushing for the Success has given about 160 ounces of retorted gold, and both stamper-boxes remain to be cleaned out. The retorting for the Prido of the West took place at Weston's battery, this morning, quantity put through being 92 tons, and the yield is 116 ozs, or an average of loz 5 dwts s^grs to the ton. The manager of the Eureka has just crushed fifty pounds of specimens in the berdan which is on the ground. It gave 51 ozs. 13 dwts. of melted gold, which realised £2 12s 9d per ounce. The Mariners' Reef, whilst driving on their low level, struck what is supposed to be the Beach Reef, and splendid specimens have been taken from it; along the face gold is distinctly seen. The Inverness retorting was closed this afternoon, and the amount, exclusive of blanketings, which remained to be treated, is 322 ozs. 3 dwts., which, when melted, has j given 310 ozs. The crushing for the President Lincoln was finished a few days ago. The quantity put through was thirty tons. The plates have only been cleaned off, and they have yielded half an ounce to the ton. Some very rich specimens have been taken out of the Sunbeam Claim this morning; and another claim at Tararu, which I intend to visit to-morrow, has also struck rich gold. A crushing of 15 tons for the United Service Gold Mining Company, Moanatairi Creek, was finished up on Saturday at Souter's battery, and yielded 6 czs. 15 dwts of gold, or a | little under half an ounce to the ton. ! The Young American stuff, which at present engages five head of stampers at Goodall's machine, continues to shape well for a good return. A partial cleaning up took place on Saturday, after a week's run, and nearly 300 oz<*. of amalgam was the result. The 37 tons crushed at the Prince Alfred, for the Povert - and Charleston, promises better returns than the last one or two. The retorts are just going on the fire, and the amount of hard amalgam is 160 ozs. exclusive of blanketings, &c. The 85 tons which the Dauntless have had crushed at Partington's, is now cleaned up, and the retorting will be put in hand at once, and finish early to-morrow morning. The amount of hard amalgam is 730 ozs., which speaks well for a richer return than last. The fortnightly general crushing for the Long Drive is just finished at the Kuranui battery, and the retorting is now taking place, but the return will be too late for despatch to-night. The amount of hard amalgam is about 1640 ozs., which promises a very good yield. The whole lot of stuff put through for the Young American with the 50 or 60 lbs. of specimens, has been retorted this afternoon, and the yield was 134 oza, of gold. The blanketings are yet to be treated, which will give six or seven ozs. more. This return, we understand, gives the average of 2\ ozs. per ton. The Success still retains possession of the Pioneer battery, and the ten heads are constantly kept going night and day. The amount of amalgam taken from the plates since Monday is 259 ozs., and it is expected by to night there will be upwards of 300 ozs., which, without doubt, will be found to be payable. The Multum in Parvo ground is situated close to Nolan's Candlelight, only the point of the V shaped Jamaica claim separating them. Within the last few days some good specimens have been got, and about 55 lbs of them were crushed at Weston's yesterday, with the handsome yield of 23 ozs 2 dwts retorted gold. About eighty tons of Btuff has been put through the machine this week for the Golden Crown, and amongst this was a few speci mens, the whole of which gave 1014 ozs of retorted gold. The amount sent down from the Tararu battery is 316 ozs, making a total of 1 330 ozs retorted gold, which when melted only lost 26 ozs 11 dwts. The Golden Age, which has been working vigorously for some months, has at last struck something very good. To-day a large quantity of specimens, exceedingly rich, have been brought up, which have been taken from a very rich leader opened up this morning. Nearly the whole of this mine is the property of the Thames Investment Company. Rather over 150 tons of quartz has been crushed at tbe Una Company's battery during the past fortnight, besides tbat of the Pride of Karaka, and the amount of gold it yielded is 275 ozs retorted fine gold. This yield is far in excess of what we have had to report of late, and the manager expects that tbe next returns will be even better than this. Yesterday there was another exceedingly rich lot of specimens taken out of the Manakau mine from the same level as that from which the " big ones" of the previous evening had been oLtained. There is now a very large puree! of those on hand, aud when the crushing takes place the return will doubtless be a heavy one. Very little care is taken in picking out these stones, aud only those that are at onco observed are sepirated from the rest. The rumour which was current in town after the despatch of my parcel about .John O'Groats, is greatly exaggerated, inspecting I the rich find of specimens by this company.! I have visited the ground and bxw some S or j 10 lbs of good stone, which was takea out'

yesterday, and am informed that stone more or less of a Bimilar character has been got for a few days back, but it is nothing to make such a blow about.

The monthly retorting for the Shotover took place at an early hour this morning, and the yield when melted gave 570 ozs 18 dwts. The number of days the machine has worked is small in comparison with the usual monthly returns. The number being twenty-one days. The amount of gold extracted exceeds that of last month, which surely should put an end to those everlasting croakers respecting this mine.

Another crushing for the Alburnia claim is about to take place at Weston's battery, when the remainder of the stone in the paddock will be put through. There is a portion of tbis stuff that is expected to yield about 2 ozs. to the ton, and latterly a lot of stons from the surface has been taken out, and amongst it were a few patches of rich specimens. The stone from the upper levels on the lode haa always given good returns, and we have no doubt but a good payable crushing will be the result.

The Moanatairi have been raising some very good stone for the last few days from the various leaders, and another parcel is to grass this afternoon, which looks very well. The single stamper is engaged upon such stuff! from the specimen leader, and the returns will be good. The eight days' crushing of the general stuff has given from off the plates alone 970 ounces of amalgam. This promises well for a very handsome return at the next retorting. We have to report a very excellent find of specimens in the Manakau claim which took place yesterday morning. The find took place in a part of the workings where the men are engaged sloping on the 100 feet level in the winze. There were nearly 100 lbs of specimens taken out from one patch, and the stones, most of which were of a large size, contain a rich vein of gold, about half au inch thick, in which it was scarcely possible to see quartz, besides which the preoious metal was well distributed through the rest of the stone.

Another rich find has taken place in the Mount Pleasant ground on Saturday and to-day. About 60 lbs of very rich stone has been taken out up to this time, and is still being knocked down. Scarcely a truck comes out but very rich stone is picked from it. In proceeding to examine the face of the leader — which varies from nine inches to one foot, and dips very rapidly to the E. into the Tweedside ground— we find gold in very large patches on the face, and when broken it is thoroughly impregnated. The crushing for the Succesß is turning out as well as the most sanguine of the shareholders can expect. Upwards of 800 ozs of amalgam for the ten days' working is to hand. From one box 92 ozs have been got this afternoon, and the other will give more. The retorting will take place to-morrow, and it is anticipated that the yield will be from loztol oz 5 dwts. A contract for draining on a low level has been let, at 6a 6d per foot, and when this is accomplished a large quantity of stuff will be ready to Btope out to the 70 feet level.

About 100 tons have gone through at the Hauraki battery for the Mariner's Reef, and the retorting is now taking place. Close upon 300 ozs of hard amalgam is in band from off the plates and boxes. The blanketing will be treated to-morrow. Exclusive of the above amalgam, the ripples were not squeezed, but the silver from them is being retorted separately, and two pans have come off the fire, and given 18 ozs 17 dwts. The third will give about 12 ozs. These weights added to the amalgam will give a good show for near 2 ozs to the ton.

A very excellent yield of gold has resulted from a crushing for the Vale of Avooa, which was finished up at Weston's batteiy on Monday night and retorted yesterday. There was a parcel of 89 tons crushed, and the result obtained was 445 ozs 12dwts of retorted gold. This was melted down at the Bank of New Zealand yesterday, and exclusive of three clips, each weighing about a dwt., the result was 441 ozs 7dwts of melted gold, showing a loss of only 4ozs sdwts in melting, or iess than one per cent., a fact that is highly creditable to the manager of the battery, as showing the skill and care devoted to clean- \ ing the amalgam. The yield gives an average of within a fraction of sozs to the ton, and is the largest that has ever been obtained from the mine at one crushing. The Manakau has brought up one large block of stone, weighing three hundredweight, which is perforated with gold. In the centre is a belt, running round the stone, two inches in width, and tbis appears to be solid. Turn the stone which way you will, aud there is the belt ; besides, in other parts it is of tbe same rich quality. Hitherto I haye seen the Long Drive, Mount Pleasant, Point Russell, and Cure get stone which up to tbat time I bad certainly not seen better, but this surpasses all for size. I think the Government would do well in purchasing this large block for the Museum. Exclusive of the specimem, close upon 12 owt has been got within the last few days. The Sunbeam are now engaged busy stoping out from their lowest present level to the surface. The reef here is fully four feet thick, well defined, and comes from the wall very clear of any casing, the stone being of a white crystalized appearance; in other parts of the field tbis is not found to be of much value, but here it is the contrary. A large quantity of stcne is to grass, and this will be put through at the Tararu battery next week. The last crushing of 334 tons gave at the rate of 1£ ozs, and the manager thinks this will be equally as rich, if not richer. This is anxiously looked forward to by the Sunburst and other surrounding claims. Gold is not often visible in tbe stone, but prospects can be got by pulverising, and if it should turn out anything like the last, it will impart into many claims au influence which must be felt on this part of the field.

The, final cleaning for the Waitemata, at

the Criterion battery, has not yet taken place, although the crushing is fiuished. The blanket tailings are being treated in the amalgamating barrels, and it is expected that the retorting will take place to-day. There are at present upwards of 280 ozs. of amalgam on hand, and the result of the crushing will doubtless be payable. There were 100 tons crushed at the Criterion battery The usual fortnightly crushing for the company at the Waiotahi battery was commenced last evening, and judging by the yields that have lately been obtained from the stone crushed at thia battery, as well as the rich appearance of the stone from the reef, it is easy to anticipate a large return from present lot. We bave been informed that the new reef is becoming better daily as it is more developed, and that gold is very frequently visible in the Btone. The large quantities of stone that are taken out for crushing, and the fine average of the general yields, makes the Waitemata Company one of the most promising in the district.

The Whau have been crushing during the past three weeks with the whole force of their small battery, and the returns yielded are considered very satisfactory. The number of trucks sent into the mill is 98, each truck averages one and a half ton, and the quality is of two different classes — blue and brown. The brown is of a mullocky character, and has averaged 15 dwts to the truck, whereas the blue has gone loz sdwts. liftyone trucks have alao been sent to the Thames Crushing Company, from which 56ozs 2dwts have been obtained, or an average of loz 2dwt_ to the truck. The stuff now going through their own machine is looking very well; it is taken from the rises in the lower level, and it appears to be undergoing a great change both in colour and quality. The amount of hard-squeezed amalgam for the five days amounts to something like 120ozs. The flrst indication of gold in the Central Italy was seen yesterday, when a number of small pieces of stone were taken out, showing the preoiouß metal. Small as the show is it is at least encouraging, and the shareholders feel somewhat elated at the event. The claim haa been worked uninterruptedly for eighteen months, during which time a lot of money has been expended in the work done. The work at present in progress is the sinking of a shaft to get the Golden Crown reef, ■ which from caref ul survey there seems to be little doubt runs through the ground. The mining surveyor gave the depth at which it would be cut as 180 feet; the Bhaft is now 175 feet down, at which depth several small stringy veins have been cut, and from these veins the pieces of quartz which contain gold have been taken. This, with other indications of the presence of a reef at no great distance, has raised the hopes of the shareholders, and the result of the next few days' work will be looked for anxiously. A large body of stone was cut in the shaft at a depth of 90 feet- but no gold was' seen in it, and it was pretty well known that such reef could not be the one sought for. The striking of the Golden Crown reef by the Central Italy would still further improve the value of all the claims in the vicinity, as it would inspire confidqpce, and give a more definite direction to mining operations. Instead of mere prospecting, the. claimholders will be encouraged to undertake operations for finding a welldefined reef. Coromandel. There has been no great amount of excitement here this wet-k, and but few new finds to report The miners are working steadily wherever they have struck gold, and hopefully in the claims adjoining. A great many claims . where the protection has expired bave gone to work, and more will return next week. The . miners, at all events, bave confidence in the district, however little the capitalists and bank managers of Auckland may have, one of whom remarked a few weeks ago, in my hearing, that the principal produce of Coro- "* mandel was sandflies and mosquitos. Of the latter we have but very few, but we can boast of one or two good claims wbich, as soon as machinery can be got to crush, will add a little to the exports of Auckland. If anyone is still sceptical of the fact tbat Coromandel does possess a small quantity of gold, be can have his doubts removed by a visit to Woollam's Hotel, where he will see a sight which would have made £ir Giles Overreach die of envy. Thereis in one of the windows a large jar full of specimens from the Royal Oak, the Beehive, and two from the Golden Belt, at the Tiki, taken from the different leaders. Mr Ring would be able to show some unequalled specimens from tbe Puketutu, while Mr Lacon would do equal honour for. the Harbour View. On ascending the ranges our sceptical friend could examine and knock out for himself specimens from the leaders of the Brian Boru, Erin's Hope, Little aud Good, Excelsior, and Golden Eagle, which seem to remind one of the fabulous regions | visited by Aladdin in search of the wonderful lamp. Tbe Candlelight, a claim situated above the prospectors, at the Tiki, struck gold last week, and are following tbe leader to see what it will turn out. The machinery of the New Zealand Company iB being rapidly landed and stored in a large shed just erected. Two sites have been selected and applied for - on which to erect the machinery, and the sooner it is up the better. Mr Tookey has been down here for the last few days, making arrangements, to bave bis battery erected as soon as possible. Tbe site is on the Whakar a Creek, and a large platform has been levelled and a road cleared to get the machinery down to the site. The timber for the bed-plates has been cut, and is now ready for fitting. As soon as tl c road is finished the machinery will be taken up the bill. The battery will consist of eight head of stampers, ■with room to erect four additional head, and an amalgamating barrel to crush specimen?.

What Next ? — The ingenuity of our great agricultural implement makers ia extraordinary. One of them has lately invented a machine for sowing wild oats, which iB expected to have an immense sale.