MINING NEWS.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 268, 10 April 1886, Page 2

MINING NEWS.

(FROM OUR MININ'O RI'.PORTKU.I Friday, March 9. United Alpine.—There is no chang< in the reef or any of the stones during tin past WK i k. The stone taken from the mine during the month is a fair average, being from stope No. 1 south to stop< No. 10 north. No. 17 stope has beei started, but very little work has beei> done so far, the reef looking well. No. 11 stope, now being worked, shows a width of 50 feet. No. 6 level has been driven r. total distance of 142 feet towards tin north block, leaving 48 feet to be driven to complete the distance, according to survey, where the stone should be struck. There has been some time lost with No. G level during the month, owing to logging-up the main pass and filling-in operations, thereby causing a scarcity of good air in the level. The contractors for the water-race tunnel have holed through, and expect to complete their contract in a few days. At the battery cleaning-up operations took place on Wednesday, after which the retorting gave the result of 89lozs of gold from 955 tons of stone treated.

Manuka Flat. —During past twelvemonths operations have been carried on in the face of many difficulties by this Company, notwithstanding' the broken promise of the Government in respect to subsidy. The tunnel has been picked up a distance of 200 feet, and driven on a further distance of 180 feet, m iking 380 feet from the mouth of the tunnel. The first 50 feet of this tunnel is driven through a solid bed rock, and then enters on 60 feet of gravel, which is known to be of an auriferous nature. Leaving the gravel they again came into hard rock, of which 280 feet have been driven. The gravel, which was then overhead, was of a granity nature, mixed with black sand. The manager considers that another GO feet should bring him into the flat, aud he proposes to keep driving through the rock, which shows indications of dipping in. The gravel, which has disappeared for some time, is now coming in overhead, at about six inches to the set. As long as the air continues good driving will be continued, and when the air gives out it is intended to return and ripe and cross-cit, with the expectation of finding the gold on the false bottom.