THE GOLDFIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Evening Star, Issue 2965, 20 August 1872, Page 4

THE GOLDFIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND.

No. 11. Notwithstanding the reports of the vast richness of the goldfields iu the North Island, comparatively little reli able information has reached the Middle Island. Telegraphic reports of the fluctuations in the share market reach us nearly daily ; but beyond those little is known of the mines which form the subjects of speculation. The appendix to Mr Haughtou’s report contains an account of the Thames Goldfield, by Mr Warden Fraser. The most interesting portion, which we reprint below, relates to the Caledonian Claim and several adjoining. The report is dated 10th June, 1872 : “ 1 may here mention the principal facts in reference to the wonderful shot of gold which has yielded such large results iu the Caledonian mine during the last year. This rich run skirts diagonally through the reef, which lies at an angle of about 45 ° from the horizon. It was first met with in the Manakau cla m, about 200 feet above the level of the sea, and was worked by the shareholders of that claim as far as the point where it dipped in to the Golden Crown Company’s mine. Its general average yield on this section may be estimated at about * four ounces per ton. “ The Golden Crown Company met this rich shot at a depth of about 100 feet from the top of the hill, or about 100 feet above high-water mark. The first crushings taken out yielded an average of fifty-four ounces per ton. The run of gold in this mine assumed a more definite appearance, and the richest portion of the reef lay in a block of seventy feet in depth by about forty feet in width. The average yield of this portion would be about fifty ounces to the ton if it

•—J - had been worked separately. At about fifty feet below bigb-water mark this shot of gold broke, and all traces of it were lost for a time. Further development, however, discovered that the gold had not run out, "but, from some cause it had jumped forty feet to the northward. From this level it was followed on the underlie a further depth of forty-five feet to the boundary of the Caledonian Company, and carried gold throughout—the average at this point being Irom eleven to twelve ounces to the ton. “ In the end of 1869, it was discovered in

the Caledonian mine at a distance of about fifteen feet from the Golden Crown boundary, and at a greater depth of about thirty feet, or at a levd of about eighty feet under high water maik. The firsh crushinga were not so good as those which followed, although they were very rich, and the golden belt was only about fifteen feet in width. At about ninety feet below high w r ater the shot widened out, and covered a face thirty feet in width, and it was here the richest golden ore ever known was found. At about 170 feet below the sea, the quartz again became poor, and all traces of the rich deposit which had been so long followed, were lost. The greatest depth of the Caledonian Company’s snaft at present is 300 from the surface, or about 210 feet below the level [of the sea. It is not considered probable that the gold run will bo again found in this level, but men of the greatest experience are satisfied that in the next level it will be met with, and past experience favors the idea that it will prove as rich as ever. The breaks in the ran of gold have hitherto had the effect of increasing the richness of the shot when again discovered. Allots breaks, hitherto, have thrown it in a northerly direction. The machinery of the Caledonian mine, consisting of a forty-five horse power pumping engine and a fourteen horse power winding engine, is ineffectual in keeping the water reduced so far as to permit of the shaft being sunk to a greater depth at present, even with the assistance rendered by the pumping engine of the Tookey Gold Mining Company. Effectual measures have, however, been adopted to drain this reef by the formation of a Pumping Association. The association consists of the Caledonian, Tookey, Imperial Crown, and Golden Croivn Companies. The design was to sink the shaft of the Imperial Crown mine, as this would cut the reef at the gi eatest depth, and so draw off the water from the other mines. To pump off the water a large and powerful steam engine in course of erection, capable of being worked up to 300 horse power. It is a direct acting one, with a cylinder eighty-one and a half inches in diameter, and the pumps will be twenty, five inches in diameter. Massive stone foundations have been laid for this engine. The stope has been procured in large blocks from a valuable quarry discovered on the Hape Creek, within the gold field. The comparatively light machinery which had previously been erected and worked on this claim, has been found sufficient to sink the shaft to its present .depth, 300 feet, or 292 feet below- high water mark. The reef has not yet been cut, but there has been a great increase in the quantity of water, and the company are now proceeding to get the large pumps and pumping engine into working order as soon as possible. The Albion Company, whose ground is immediately joining to the N. W., are sinking a shaft which will require to reach even a greater depth than that of the Imperial Crow’ii before the reef is met with, 'J his shaft is mm down 194 feet, and the Company have erected in connection therewith a windin 3 enigne of forty horse power. It has been estimated that t > work out the w’hole of tie main reef which underlies into this Company’s ground, the shaft must be sunk 800 feet below the level of the sea.”