MINING NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 29, 22 December 1883, Page 2

MINING NEW S .

Tiierb has been very little moving of interest at our mines during the past week. Tin's is a good deal owing to the coining 1 holidays, which, as usual, the inincrs are looking forward Jo witn interest, and considering the continual monotonous life they load from month's end to month's end, is not to be wondered at. la many cases our miners, like other men, ,ire married and have families, or, at any rate, there are friends and relations whom they have not seen fora long while, and a good time is always expected at Christmas. All this is of course taken I into consideration by the directors of the various companies, and any important move is (I of erred until the 'New Year when, like lions refreshed, the men return to their work. This however applies I more particularly to the mines that arc not crushing, and with whom it is not so necessary that the regular quantity of work should be done. The four mines tli.it have the use of the battery are still continuing the even tenor of their ways. ; Last night all work from the mines w,,s cleaned up, and to-d iy retorting will take place, and from all appearances the return will, at the ica^t, equ.il those previously obtained. During the holidays all neressaiy repairs will be made at the battery and on the tramway, and we hope the opportunity will be seized to improve the i accommodation of the latter by extra looplines, or ,iuv other means that may be deemed feasible, so that a greater amount J of work may lv put through. This is more particularly needed to meet the requitemeufcs of any new batteries that may be erected, and 'vhich will of coui->p have tin; same rii^ht to be looked alter n , the mill already at work While upon the subj, ct it nny not be malapropos t > wr, ,i few words upon the matter of new mills ; the sooner there are three or four oi.' r i ,m at work the butter. With t\\d quantity of good payable stone already in the p-iddoeks, with which nothing can be done until more crushing power is available, and with the immense amount of gold-b 'arin!* quartz which may fairly be assumed consujenng the appeal anee of the present wordings and the prospects obtained ~ siili to be extracted from our rich ati'if-rous hills, this work cannot !><• push 'd on too qnieidv, and it i* the duty or! all who .ire inter -sled in this distiii t to pn-h them.ttei on to th > best of their ability. W this uu- moss is looked after as 11 should bo an! moro mai bin 'ry obtain >d, there ivs litlle, \ erv liltle, doubt t i.it th- LV Aroln q >'dti.'ld\vill bo proved imi' i>t t'K' Iv-a ;nhi m M "••liable i? >'dfield-, that has ever been diM'ov'-rcd in Nd\ Zealand. I>ATriißY.— During lli » past uuok the mil' lias b mi q «i:i» on steadily, with tlu e\(vption of tbo Misp "lM.in of 10 h'-ad ol tlie N" >w F.nd an-i 10 he idol iho (Joloni^t foi 50 horn.s — tbi> him t be taken into consid r.ttiun in the total of" the ami! gam returned for these mines. This rest was caused by an accident to the niiohinery, which was put to rights is soon as possible. Considering this mishap the return of amalgam is highly satisfactory. Operations at the battery were suspended on Friday night, too late for the result to a; pear in this issue. Retorting will take place on to-day, and the gold will be sent on to the Thames at once to be melted on Monday. The return of amalgam (hot water squeezed) up to Wednesday la->t was :~-

All battery hands will be employed in assisting in repairs of tramway during tb.* holidays. New Find.— The consistency of this mine in steadily yield n^ good p,i\ab!e stone is a matter of congratulation to its .shareholders. Operations during- tie past week have been carried on with tlie nsiiil result, good display of gold at each breaking down. Premier. — The hands have boon for the last few days employed in breaking down quartz from an open face, and from its appearance it should givo a result up to the general average. Welcome. — Still working on the upper level and getting stone out showing fair proportions. A stope has been .started whore tho good stuff was previously obtained, and Mr Quitin, the manager, expects to have another parcel read}' for the mill early in the New Year. Vulcan. — Here the nnnager and his me^ are pushing matters as quickly as possible. They arc at present bu.sy underhand stopcing from the surface, for the purpose of opening a 60ft. level. Tho breadth of the reef is from four to five foot thick, and shows gold from wall ti wall very Crecly. The company ha-. 1 already some 20 tons or so of iiice-lookin^ stuff ready for crushing. Altogether tho prospects of this claim appear encouraging. I'jkenix. — Drive still being continued. All tho leads appear to join, and are showing good gold. Diamond (tcjlly.- At work driving and risin»2to break through to surface. Good looking stone is being taken out. Ther* is to b>) a crosscut made to try and inteisoct the No. 2 New Find reef, dii\xt!v after holidays. It is a pity the rlirecro: of this company do not see their way clear to get a trial crushing to det'rminj what the true value of this qiuutx is. Colonist. — There is nothing fresh to report of this mine. The usual work is being done, find no apparent difference in the quality of stone obtained. Ait my. — In this claim they are busy driving a crosscut to intersect No. 3 imci, which may be expected every day. Another important piece of work is bcin •; dono, and that is tho formation of a tmcic

to get quartz down to Butler's Spur, «nd thus eonnecths: with tr/iuiwnv.

WATToKr. — Prospecting in tlii<? mine is steadily jroing- on, \Vitli results that poihts \o something belter.

Waitokl Extbndrd.-— The drive is now in a length of over 116 feet and reef expected to bo struck every day.

Wiibratitko. — Wnrkintr from No. 2 o^ intonnttdiate level, up to No. 1 level, and '<npplyin<? battery with stuff taken from each side of the winze.

Inveknrss. — The manager, Mr Mackenzie, has discovered >i fresh reef close to thp surface betwixt No. 2 and No. 3 reef in Ihi.s ground. showing vory nice ■j;old. The low level continue to l>o in very i^ood conntry, highly mineralised. The reef in this level is not nxp'jcWl to be intci'soctcd before the holidays.

Star. — Tn this mino prospecting has beon fit 'adily con U mud. During tho past week a new lcadnr, with vcrv good appearance was struck, and will be followed up after the holidays.

Vermont. — Tito country Iving driven through i^ all that can be desired fo cany golden rijcf.

VvNiiLrNGi'ON. — Nice golden stone Ins been s^'ot in n ioiirl' i r below the tr.umvay on this ground during tlio weok.

Arizona. — A nice change of country i coining with the JVc oi: the low Jove!, giving every indietion that the reef is close at lianil.

Sfuw Find Pic/nier Jolonisl Woniliiko 15 head 10 „ 10 „ 5 » 4360z5. 11!) „ 106 „ 48 „ Udwts. 10 „ 5 , 15 „ — Total 711 4