Ohinemuri Goldfield.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4496, 2 June 1883, Page 2

Ohinemuri Goldfield.

(l?EOM OUE OWN COKHESPONDISNT). Paeroa., Friday. Mama Licensed Holding.—ln this claim, which is bounded on the south by the Hauraki, and on the north by the Waitauheke River, there are two well defined reefs outcropping throughout the whole length of the claim. Of these one is known as the " Silver lode," on account of the hrgppercentageof silver coutained therein. This \r>do is bplievod to be the northern continuation of the Hauraki No. 2 lode. It v;irips from .4 to 8 feet in thickness, and has bepn driven upon for a distance of 70 feet. Test crushings broken out therefrom have assayed as high as 400ozsof gold and silver per ton—silver predominating. Noble G-.M.Co.—In this ■ company's ground, which is situate south of and adjoining the Hauraki mine, a large amount of prospecting as well as permanent work has already been accomplished,. and the results so far augur well for the future of those who are interested in it. Work in this mine was started soon after the granting of the lease, and a lode about 2 feet in thickness was exposed to view by trenching on the surface. A tunnel, 250 feet in length, was then driven along the footwallof the lode which yields handsome prospects wherever it has been broken into and stone showing gold freely has been obtained from various places along its_ line. Of late a second level was started 50 feet lower down the spur. It is now in about 200 feet and 50 feet more remains to be driven in order to reach lander the point where the best gold was obtained in the upper workings. From this lode I broke out and tested several pieces of stone which yielded handsome prospects of coarse goldi South of and adjoining the Noble i a the Diana G-.M. Cos. ground in which a large amount of prospecting has been done. SereralJ gold-bearing reefs and leaders

have been unearthed, but none of them sufficiently cut into wkn% view: to testing i heir intrinsic value. Further south still is the Dubbo Licensed Holding.—This claim is located on the eastern side of the Karangah ke range, where the country is much softer than that upon the western slope. It was marked off by Shaw and party, who dis« covered a reef 8 feet in thickness in which fie precious metal is plainly discernable. This lode has been driven upon for a dis lance of 50 feet. It was broken info in several places along the line of the tunnel, and has proved itself to be exceedingly rich in gold at every point of intersection. The quarts! is of a soft, kindly nature, and were crushing power available, it would undoubtedly give handsome returns. From this point to the Martha Claim the spur descends very abruptly. In fact it was often so steep " That the foot was fain Assistance from the hand to gain." Consequently I deem it advisable to retrace my steps, and make a fresh start from the Hauraki camp, where I found Jim Liddell and several other notabilities examining a piece of stone about a pound in weight, which Liddell had broken out from a reef three feet thick in the Ivanboe claim. Although there was not a color of gold visible in the stones when crushed up in a mortar and panned off in a dish all hands gazed speechless at the result which could not have been less than a dwt of free fine gold. -. ■ . After partaking of the hospitality of Messrs Liddell and Tapley I started for the Golden Cbown claim, where I found two of the shareholders, who were busily | engaged in driving a crosscut from the low level, which is 110 feet in length. This tunnelwas driven along the footwall of the lode, which averages four feet in thickness, and the quartz broken out— about 20 tons—is paddocked at the mouth of the tunnel. In examining the quartz in this paddock I picked up innumerable pieces of stone varying in size, in which large blotches of coarse gold was plainly visible. It was from this paddock that the trial crushing of one ton was taken. It was treated at the Alburnia Battery, Thames, and yielded 14 ounces of melted gold, which speaks more eloquently for the value of the mine than anything I can say. The crosscut, above alluded to, is being drirea with a view to intersecting the underlie of another reef which was cut in a trench on the surface. In character and general appearance it is somewhat akin to No. 1 lode, and although there is not so much gold shewing in the stone, the prospect which 1 obtained therefrom give ample promise of remunerative returns. Southern Cboss Extended: This claim is located south of the Golden Crown, and upon the line of some of the best reefs in the district. Two of the shareholders are at present engaged in prospecting the ground, and they have already opened up no less than 4 different reefs and leaders, every one of which carries payable gold. Hidden Tbeasube G.M.Co.—This Company's ground embraces the original Hidden Treasure and Martha claims. The Hidden Treasure reef, which is generally believed to be identical with that in the Martha, measures from wall to wall about 18 inches in thickness, and is looked upon as being the premier reef of the district, and it certainly is exceedingly rich in the precious metal. From two different places, which could not have been less than 15 chains apart, I broke out from this reef large blocks showing gold freely, and when broken up selected some pieces therefrom that might safely be termed specimens. This lode has been cut in various places throughout the whole length of the company's ground, and gold showing freely in the stone may be seen at every one of them. There is also another reef about 4 feet thick which prospects for over an ounce to the ton, but up to the present little or no work has been done upon it. The manager (Mr M. Marinan) and five men are at present engaged in building a whare, blacksmith's shop, &c, preparatory to starting a tunnel on the Hidden Treasure lode immediately above the County track which runs along the northern boundary of the company's ground. The Keep it Dabk claim is located north of the Golden Crown and upon the same line of reef. Up to the present very little work has been done upon it, but a meeting of shareholders is to be held at Karangahake on Wednesday next, for the purpose of making a call with a view to active operations being started at once. There are several other claims in which good gold-bearing reefs have been unearthed, but the weather would not admit of a visit being paid to them. These claims are notably: The Eetreat, Little Sissie, Albion, Phoenix, Excelsior, Virginia City, Kenilworth, and Eoyal Standard. The County pack track, which is now in course of construction, commences at a point near to Noble's old store, and terminates at a point near to the Martha claim. Though it will not by any means meet the requirements of the district, still it will, when constructed, be a great boon to those camped in its immediate neighborhood. In concluding my brief and necessarily hurried notice of the mines at Karangahake, I must say that, although the development of the mines is mere bagatelle to what it should be and will be, still there is sufficient development upon them to convince those who are not rusted with prejudice that they are all the most sanguine believers in their work conld have hoped for.