REEFING NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1761, 6 April 1874, Page 2

REEFING NEWS.

[INANGAHUA HERALD, APRIL 4.] In the Rainy Creek Company's mine they are at present engaged putting in a main tunnel to cut the reef at the lower level, about 120 ft below the crown of the reef. The tunnel is in 150 ft and the lode has been struck at that point and shows rather harrow. The bottom of the shaft is about 25ft above the tunnel, and an upriseis now being put from the latter to connect the two. The shaft is sunk off the reef, and is carried to a depth of 75ft. At that point a cross-cut has been put in 50ft, intersecting the reef, which shows at that level a thickness of from 6ft to Bft.- The uprise referred to will be completed in about eight days. Anderson's. — Since the adjoining company dispensed with the battery, a number of very necessary repairs have been executed at the iuclinetramway, and at the lower end about 300 ft of iron rails are being fixed in place of the wooden ones. There are about 300 tons of stone in the various passes and paddocks, and the manager contemplates starting the mill early in the coming week. The driving in the Anderson-Invincible tunnel has greatly improved during tho last few days, and the contractors are making very good progress. " Wealth of Nations.— There is nothing new to record concerning that part of the mine where stone is at present being obtained. A few trifling repairs have been made to ,tbe incline tram, but causing no delay in the supply to the battery. .The driving in the low level tannel continues excessively hard, and although three shifts are kept constantly employed at the face, yet no great headway is being made.' The distance from this level to the present workiugs is 180 ft, and the manager has decided upon constructing another tunnel at a level of 80ft from the upper workings, between the lower and upper levels. The object of this latter work is that in the event of the stone being worked out at. the upper part of the claim before the required distance could be reached in the lower level — this middle tunnel being so much nearer the surface —the driving . easier, and the distance required to be driven to intersect the reef shorter, would enable the supply of stone to be kept up by the time it is needed. As opinion had been expressed that the blanketings should be mere effective treated, a small berdan has recently been erected at this company's machinehouse for the purpose of ascertaining their cowect value. The one at present used is of very small dimensions, (bnt will answer the ' desired object. It ia confidently expected that the result will prove very favorable, and should such be the case, two other berdans of larger size will be erected, and easily worked with the present motive power. Energetic. — During the early part of the week the surveyor has been engaged taking the levels and surveying the line for the coal tramway, and as the tenders closed on Tuesday last for its construction, the work will be commenced in. a few days. During the idle time of the battery, the men at the machine-house have commenced preparations for forming the foundation for the new machinery, and are well occupied at this work for the present. Upon this interior of the mine there is nothing of import to mention this week. Ajax. — The prospects of this mine have greatly improved for several weeks, and the quantity and quality of the Btone recently coming from the mine give every promise of improvement in the affairs of this company. The battery has been kept going during the last four weeks, and the men at the machine-house were busily, employed this afternoon cleaning up.. I am informed that the result will not be less than 26dwt to the ton. The reef still maintains an average thickness of 6ft, and as soon as cleaning up is concluded the engine will be tired and the battery again put in motion. Some new works within the mine are in course of construction, the particulars of which will be given in my next report;