LATEST FROM THE GOLDFIELDS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2153, 27 April 1886, Page 2

LATEST FROM THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH— OWN CORRKBFONDXNT.] Karangahake, Fakroa, Monday. Thb new battery and Mackay pan plant is now fairly started. Mr Chimber.- 1 , of T. and S. Morrin & Co., has cent carpenters and other workmen from town, and the machinery, which in not already here, will follow almost immediately. The Karangahake furnace, •scording to Col. Fraser, will, whether Mr La Monte consents or not, be in full blast in a week's time. The manager, Mr W. Littlejnhn. informs me, however, that if La Monte does not put his own experts on, that the Woodstock Smelting Company will have to send to California for them. At present both mine and furnace are at a total standstill, the hoppers and furnace platform being choked up with ore. It seems a great pity that such should be the case, especially as the ore is of such grand quality. Mr Montgomery, M.A., who is at present in charge of the dWtrictr branch of the school of mines, assayed on Saturday last a piece of quartz from the Woodstock, from which a mortar prospect could not be obtained, not even a colour being visible in the di*h. The fire assay, however, returned a value in bullion at the rate of £940 14s per ton. Mr D. H. Uayldon, mining surveyor, made a survey on Monday of tho mine, which showed that the level south h id been driven over the Kenil worth boundary. Sir Walter Scott.— Eleven tons dirt crushed at Ivanhoe battery for lloz. melted gold. Tregoweth and party have taken a tribute in this mine for two year*. Rosk.— This little claim is going ahead. Tho manager reports that he lihs started t<» sink on tho reef, and really first-class ore is visible in which gold occurs freely.

Waihi. Silyerton.— Much disappointment is expressed ftt the return from the dcwt. pickrd stone just put through the battery for a return of only 35ozs. of gold. Continually I has it been shown by tests and assays on the fire and water principles that the furnace extracts at least 33 per cent, more of the piecious metal than the battery of the class of diit wm in the Silverton mine. The management, however, persist in lining the wet process, with the result that the gold being extremely fine frnm 30 to 40 per cent, is washed into the creek and irretrievably lost. Even if the ci ushing was by dry stamping, the tailings mi™ht be subjected to the fire, and the balance <>f gold not served by the quick-silver thus saved, but this ha* not even been done. The consequence iseen in the sharemarket, wheie Silvertnns have to use a broker's phrase, " got the bottom knocked out of them." The mine, however, in itself is »s staple as ever, really good ore being still won at every shift on the cross lode in both the low level and winze. Yellow Jacket.— Mr Lockwood is working h»rd in the low level in not too amenable country. Reef expected to-morrow. RossMONr.— Low level slowly progressing,' owing"to the nature of the country, compelling the management # to < timber it up. At present the drive is in 75 feet. Als-o driving to cut the Amaranth reef, which is regarded as a good thing. Winner.— Mr E. K. Cooper has cut hi*reef and believes it to be well worth working. Government is being petitioned through the Minister of Minos, Mr Larnach, for a grant of rails in order to connect the various Waihi mine*, numbering about fifteen, with the Martha battery. It is undoubtedly a great desideiatum and if ac j C'imnlished would be of incalculable benefit to the mine owners, who as they pay a deal of money in goldfield revenue, deserve consideration in the matter. i

General News. It wopld «ceti) as though the difficulties; between the Thames and Ohinemuri Co'nntj wmld, instead «f being cleared up, shortly bf wxaggerated. TheTbnmos County whew p<>licy haH boeu undoubtedly obstructive all along, has now communicated with the Hon. the Treasurer demanding that Oliinemuri supplies be cut off, until such time as that county settle s matters in regard to the assets and liabilities as between the two counties. The Ohinemuri council hearing of this have alto written to the treasurer, showing the policy of the parent county and requesting that they give the Ohinemuri county full access to the book*, which has been refused find without which no lettlemeut ii likely to ensue. Stoppage of supplies, the new county submit, means stoppage of much public work and private enterprise, and they ask the Hon the Treasurer to demand further evidence before doing what is obviously a gross injustice. It is not unlikely that a Volunteer Corps, probably cavalry, will be formed in the district shortly. Mr L. M. Grace, M. H.R., will be here on Saturday.