OUR MINES. MINES.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 5, 7 July 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

MINES.

Till the completion of the tramway, its progress must be to mining circles a subject of the greatest interest. We suppose all our readers, or nearly all, are awsre that for the past two months a forty stamper battery (perhaps more complete than any other in the Colony with self-feeders, stone-breakers, and alt the latest improvements in crushing and gold-saving appliances) stands idle, through the fault, not of our mines, vhich are now acknowledged by experienced miners cipable of turning ont not only rich Quartz but also, what will be of more permanent advantage to the district, payable stone in quantities almost unlimited But while kindly placing our reef outcropping on top of high and precipitous ranges, so that we might work for ages without the aid of the expensive pump uutl binding gear, Nature ordains that we ourselves m-i-^t contribute something towards our own mioccrs. For the very feature of the country which gives us sujh anWent of backs, and facilities for working the reefs, renders the connections of the mines with the batteries a work both expensive and difficult. This will be easily understood from the fact that Mr Stewart, the Engineer of the Tramway, tooK five months in preparing plans >md surveys. " ; The trim way is now on the road to completion under the energetic superintendonce of Mr Adam. The battery self-acting grade and the engine line to " Butler's Spur " are complete, except the widening of about 60ft, of thetutfnel " Butler's Spur " self-acting grade is all but complete. The timber is delivered for the brake* gear, which is in course of erection. All the formation of the tram is finished. Work on tbe bridge on the Piemierlino is being pushed oh by the contractors. , Cutting the timber tor the brake gear for the top of Queen of the May selfacting grade is coinntenced". ;',. • *; '

The principal mines are steadily wopking at hopper shoots and connections, fsp, as to be rewdy'fbr the completion of the main tramway line. Premier. —The timber- for hoppers U out, nnd the contract for its eroctiim »vdll be iet immediately. The rise from No; 1 level to surface is up 20 feet from tho, roof of the lev.ol, and in 20 feet more 'it is expected to brouk through to the sur- : face. The quartz broken from the rise shows gold freely, The No. 2 reef is being cross cut in a surface level, and gold shows freejy in almost every stone. 'CoiioNisr. —The quartz broken out contin lies to .show gold freely. > > \ > A contract for cutting timber for the hopper has been let. New Find.—Contrac,tha,s beep let for erection of the hopper and'shoot connecting the tram to Mr D. Courtney for £200. Th» other tenderers being —James West, £345 ; S. Sniardon; >295; Gr. Beestm, £250. a A.B.O.—The m'ahager,; Mr v 'J. i Gj-plds-worthy is working on two new leaders; gol I is seen in the stone, and thi quartz and country 1b of a very promising nature. Inverness. —We understaud that a parcel of stone, about 6 tons, is 1 being bagged

from this mine for a trial crushing/ A^ V that a very good return ;is expected:;'. '1 ." Waitoki & 'WKRAHiKo.~The Sf ol;k of! making hoppers and shoots* for.these',mines will be completed immediately, and we expect to hear something *ood from ! Mr Cameron when he commences breaking i down. , , /' and the whole reef wJiiclLis .ajjou't 6ft. thick, proepeit^ wellr.JNiceiybi of gold are seen through.about 18linches, of "the . commenced to.r<conffect with thB winze which was sunk from the surface.—- — We-shall ; not tbersuspri£ed t bersu$pri£ed ahould this lode turn out one oil .the best 'in the dis-" trict, as in the; |>r&ent le 4 ye^ 200i!t below the surface 1 ,- fit is as.-niceHand 1 ! well-de-fined a body of, quartz, as ta.miner would wish for? and' the mineral' indications and class or country are most favorable. 1 r,.