OUR GOLDFIELDS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 483, 25 June 1890, Page 4

OUR GOLDFIELDS.

Thames, June 21. May Queen. Rather slow progress has been made during the past week with the crosscut to connect with No. 4 drive, for the purpose of providing ventilation. The country being traversed, however, is an excellent description of sandstone. Colours of gold are frequently seen, and quartz coming to hand from No. 1 leader, and it should yield well when treated at the battery—in fact, I think it will surprise most people. Lone Hand. —For the present operations are confined to driving eastward, or hillward, on the Manchester reef, for the purpose of getting underneath where rich gold was obtained in the level above in the Lone Hand section of the mine. The reef on the face is 3ft thick, and although no gold has been seen during the last few days, the quartz is of a very favourable description, and carries excellent minerals. The crushing of 93 loads of quartz was finished yesterday afternoon, for a return of 58oz 6dwt melted gold. Saxon. —The various works are proceeding as usual in this minß, and quartz of payable grade continues to come to hand. The excavation of the chamber for the new No. 6 level is proceeding. The two safety cages constructed by Messrs Price Bros, to the order of this company have been completed, and a start has been made to pub them in position. They are on the same pattern as the one that was some time ago imported by the School of Mines Committee.

Magnolia.—A contract is to be at once let for driving 200 feet at the low level. Caledonian. -The mine manager reports: “There is little or no change in the drive on the No. 1 leader since my last. Stoping is still being proceeded with on this leader. In breaking some of it down in the fourth stope west on Saturday, colours of gold were seen freely through the quartz. I have started two men to carry a stope along on the leader that I pointed out in my .letter of Saturday. In this stope I find several small stringers and mineral veins running through the country, which is kindly-looking for gold. I intend bo have a few tons of this put through the battery to see what it is worth.” Otama (Kuaobunu). —A crushing of 61 tons quartz produced 1390 z 9dwt melted gold. The return will be materially augmented by the tailings, which are now being treated at the Onslow works. Red Mercury. —The manager telegraphs that 101 b to 151 b of fairly good picked stone were obtained to-day. Norfolk (Tararu).—The reef is four feet wide, with well-defined walks. A little goldis obtained at every breaking down, and the manager is in great hopes of getting a good run of gold, judging by present indications, Stoping has been discontinued, as it is not advisable to break out much stuff considering the present state of the road to the battery. Rawlings’ No. I reef has been cut through. It is four feet wide, but it does nob show gold. Blanche. —Colours of gold were seen re- s cently when breaking down. The class of ore coming to hand should shape well at the battery. Cambria. The quartz from the sixth stope on the main reef is heavily mineralised, and dui'ing the past week has shown gold freely when breaking down. The small leader also shows gold freely at breaking down. A body of quartz has been met with on the left side of the drive. At present this has nob been prospected. The two leaders should junction five or six feet ahead. Men are engaged stripping the new leader in the second stope. At No. 7 leader gold is seen freely and a few pounds of picked stone are obtained occasionally. The third stope over the western drive is still turning out good crushing dirt. Crushing will finish to-day. The returns from the crushing to-day were as follows : —B2 loads of quartz and 50 pounds of picked stone returned 171 oz of retorted gold. New Alburnia.— The specimen leader is now 18 feet from the crosscut. The drive is at present in a splendid class of country and the reef should prove gold-bearing. Everything is now ready for stoping on the specimen leader at the Whau level. Yesterday stone was obtained showing a little gold and first-class mineral. As the main stopes have not improved some men have been taken off to work on the specimen leader stopes. Saxon. —A start has been made to open up No. 6 level at a depth of 81 feet below No. 5. The amalgam on hand for the week amounts to 3530 z, and 401 b of picked stone has been obtained. During the past week the stopes above No. 4 and No. 5 level have all been fully manned, and the usual supply of quartz is coming to hand. The reef at No. 3 level is three feet thick and heavily mineralised. Orlando. —Some fine specimens were brought to town this morning by one of the directors who has just returned from a visit to this mine.

Trenton. —Colours of gold have been seen in the drive east of the crosscut. The leader in the hanging wall drive east of the foobwall lode, has opened out eight or ten inches in thickness. Magnolia. About 42 feet were driven last week and timbered, making a total of 140 feet. There was a lot of water last week, but it has now gone down considerably. Tenders will mosu probably be called this week.

City of Dunedin.—The reef is making larger in the floor, and looks promising for the next level. About 60 tons will be crushed shortly from No. 1 level.