OUR GOLDFIELDS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 487, 9 July 1890, Page 5

OUR GOLDFIELDS.

Kuaotunu, Saturday, July 4th. Rain has been falling hero in mild quantities for the past eight days, and onr roads are simply a sea of mud with the steady bullock traffic on them every day. Try Fluke Goldmining Company. —This mine cleaned up and retorted last Saturday at their own newly-erected reduction plant near the mine, with the result that 1520 z retorted gold were obtained from 91 tons of quartz. The ore passed through the mill was only of fair average quality. The return is considered to be a very satisfactory one, and there is still a large tonnage of the same grade ore in view. The crushing for the week which closed to-day resulted in a handsome return of 267 ounces of gold from fifty tons of stone. This was from the plates and boxes only ; the tailings are left for future treatment. The reef from which this stone is taken is between five and six feet, and runs south from the main winze. The stone treated had been pub through just as it was broken out without any kind of selection. Operations in the mine at present are only of a limited nature. All the available quartz paddocks are full of ore broken ready for treatment, and the manager is desirous of reducing the tonnage on hand before taking any further steps to increase the supply. It must be remembered that the whole reef will not maintain the average of five ounces obtained from the stone crushed this week. This section of the mine is considered to be the richest so fatopened up, and will assist the other poor portions of the reef when crushed. The present system of work, I am of opinion, wit! nob be of any advantage to the Company. With the largo block now available, I think it would be far better to start stoping overhead, instead of underhand. However, I suppose the Company is doing the bo.-t for those most concerned. The battery has only been working two shifts. The bad weather compelled the carter to cease sleighing,. As a consequence the battery will have to discontinue crushing for a few days to enable the carter to get a start again. The sleigh road is becoming very broken and greasy, therefore the horses are compelled to do more work than otherwise. Fresh tenders are called for sleighing 300 tons from the mine to the battery, returnable by Saturday.

MINE MANAGERS’ REPORTS,

Thames, July 7. New Prince Imperial. —Colours of gold wore se6n in the second scope when breaking down. There are a good many quartz veins running through the ground, which ia still very tight. Saxon. —No. 2 reef at No. 6 level showed colours of gold at last breaking, though the stone and quartz is rather white. The stuff from the stopes is not shaping up to expectations. Silveuton (Waihi). —Within tho past few days several pounds of good picked stone have been obtained by the tribubers. They have also obtained about 30 tons of first-class general ore, and a large tonnage of interior quality. The No. 1 ore is considered equal, if nob superior to, the 90 ton lob which averaged about £l2 per ton. Alrurnia. —Seven men ate at present driving in tho break to pick up the specimen leader at the battery level. A foiv men started to-day to stope on the specimen leader at the Whau level.

Norfolk (Tararu). —The eastern drive on the Californian reef is in rather tight country, and takes the air quickly. Tho reef is nob looking as well, but there is every indication of a change. The new leader looks well, but so far does not show gold. The cross reef .is still giving fair prospects.

Woodstock United (Tribute).—At No. 7 winze the lode is eight inches thick, and carries a very high percentage of the precious metals. Some of tho ground ore, when assayed at Cassell’s a few days ago, returned at the rate of £2O per ton. Dives. —The manager wires:—“Ten pounds of picked stone from No. 4 level stope.to the west.”