KUAOTUNU GOLDFIELDS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 471, 14 May 1890, Page 5

KUAOTUNU GOLDFIELDS.

Rain has been falling steadily here for the last seven days, and our roads are simply cut to pieces. Dray traffic will eventually cease, and all ore intended for treatment at the 1 hames will, I fear, have to remain till the fine weather sets in, which, according to present appearances, will be some months. Messrs Cook and Co. will commence operations without delay, and intend erecting their battery at the foot of the Bald Spur. This site should suit all the surrounding claims. Mining matters in general are a shade quieter. The try Fluke winze has now attained a depth of 70 feet. The reef appears to widen out as it is sunk on, and is now fully 10 feet in width. During the last few feet of sinking the reef has not shown as much gold as usual; still we must not look on this as a bad feature. The reef is Known to prospect in and out the whole depth sunk on, and to-day the prospects are again improving. Twenty-five feet more driving should see the reef in hand in the low level, and 15 feet more sinking should connect the winze with the low level. The country in the low level is of first-class quality for gold—a little tight, but heaves freely. Fair progress is being made with the outside works, and the late rains will still be the means of delaying the completion of the battery. The Carbine has ceased operations in the winze, the water being the cause, and a start bas been made to extend the intermediate level crosscut north. About 30 feet of driving on the reef should catch the shoot of gold that the winze is sunk on. This piece of work should have been effected in the first offset. However, this 30 or 40 feet of driving will open up a very extensive block, and from present appearances should yield remuneratively. The reef here is fully 4 to 5 feet in thickness. The Otama Gold Mining Company are almost at a standstill. They have ceased bagging on account of the weather, and the manager is now beginning to realise that he will not be able to get 100 tons away this winter ; in fact, I think they will experience considerable difficulty in carting what they have bagged, viz., about 50 tons. The manager is busy timbering. The recent rains caused the ground to slip away. The reef in the intermediate level going north is split into sections, and appears to be about 2ft in width, and prospects as usual Lady Carrington. This ground adjoins the Otama. A level has been driven a distance of 80 feet through a splendid ciiannel of country. Two reefs have been cut through and give fair prospects. The reefs average in size from eighteen inches to two ieet in thickness, and in appearance very much resembles Thames rock The Orient Goldmining Company is a narrow wedge piece of ground situated between the Otama and Lady Carrington. Driving for the Otama reef is being continued through a good class of country. Irene : Operations here are being vigorously carried on under the supervision of Mr C. McDonald. A larue reef supposed to be identical with the celebrated Try Fluke reef has been driven on for fully 130 feet ; the reef varies in size from 2 to 4 feet in width, and prospects fairly well throughout. The Red Mercury.— Sinking the winze from the upper level is being continued with very slow progress. The reet prospects well, and apparently prospects as usual. The low level is going on slowly; the light nature of the ground driven through makes progress tardy. The Great Mercury.— This property is looking remarkably well; thedifierent reefs operated on show gold freely and appear to improve every foot driven.

Golden Streak. —The contractors have extended the tunnel a distance of 120 ft. A reef lfb in width has been cut through, and I am sorry to say prospects only for a trace of gold. However, the country now being penetrated is of an excellent character for gold, and something of a payable nature should be met with at any loot driven.