THE KUAOTUNU GOLDFIELD.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 465, 23 April 1890, Page 5

THE KUAOTUNU GOLDFIELD.

Kuaotunu, April 19. Rain has been falling here in mild quantities for the last eight days, and matters generally look very gloomy, especially with the winter creeping on us. A great number of miners and others who have been hanging on to iheir claims for some time past, will suffer very much during the coming winter. Up to the present there is no sign of another battery being erected, therefore, although people will nob admit it, the outlook is very gloomy indeed. The mischief which is being caused to our mines is incalculable, and simply for the want of crushing power. Most of the mines here are held by poor men, and the ore is nob rich enough to send to the Thames. In my opinion the average yield of ore will nob exceed loz to the ton. The reefs here are numerous, both large and small carrying a little gold, but not rich enough to send to the Thames, As a consequence, the poor miner will not be able to hang out without assistance. For the past fortnight there is nothing new to report from the different mines.

The Try Fluke battery is fast approaching completion, and will probably be opened on or about the 24th of May. The mine is looking somewhat about the same. The reef in the winze maintains -the usual size, viz., 8 to 9 feet in width. The progress in sinking is slow, only one shift being engaged thereon. A correspondent in the “ Weekly News ” describes the stone coming to baud aa some of the richest be

has seen on the field, but this is scarcely so. However, the stone shows nice blotches and colours of gold, which is very encouraging. The Carbine are selecting their parcel for treatment from a winze which is now down a depth of 10 feet. The stone coming to hand shows gold freely, and should yield handsomely. The Mariposa have twe men engaged driving a low level. The progress is slow, the country driven through being very tight. The other levels driven on the reef have opened up extensive blocks ready for stoping. The John Bull people are driving on their veiy large body of stone with excellent prospects. The Red Mercury is about to be energetically developed. They have a number of reefs opened up which all carry payable gold. Great Mercury. —There are a great number of reefs in this mine, and the most of them carry gold in payable quantities. In fact, the reefs are too numerous to describe minutely. Golden Gate. —Mr G. Coomer, who haß been appointed to the management of this property, is energetically engaged opening up the different reefs. The reefs are all sizes and carry gold more or less. Jost in Time. —This mine is being worked systematically. A low level is being driven on the reef going south. The country driven through is of a bluish character, with a mixture of bright mineral shed through the sandstone. Gold is seen when breaking down. The Otama have about 50 tons at grass, and are busy rising on the reef, preparatory to opening up a very extensive block. The stone coming to hand prospects as usual. The Goldstreak G.M. Company have started to drive 500 feet. This is a step in the right direction, and will open up the mine systematically. It is a great pity there are not a few more companies like the above one. It is the intention of the Company to thoroughly develop the whole of their nicely-situated property without delay.

Thames, April 21. May Queen. —Another lode six inches in thickness has been cut in the crosscut from the shaft. The quartz looks well and shows nice mineral. Cambria.— The contractors for driving a crosscut at No 2 level towards the Nightingale leader have now made a fair start. The country is rather tight, bub it is of a good description. No. 7 leader at No 4 level has improved very much in appearance of late, and, although no gold has been seen for some time, it carries some nice-looking mineral. It is about six inches thick. No change has taken place in the other leaders above and below No. 3 level during the week. They continue to yield a fair supply of excellent grade crushing dirt, and a few pounds of picked stone are generally obtained at every breaking down.