MINING NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 40, 8 March 1884, Page 2

M IN IN G NEWS.

The B.vttkuy.— -The monthly retorting' took place on Thursday, and the following arc the returns for tho different churns :—

The Premier return represents 9 days' crushing wit.li 5 head. The Werahiko gold is from blanketings, &c, Icl't from the previous month. In the foregoing statement the trucks sent down to the battery have been reduced into tons. It is but fair to mention that the average yield per ton of the New Fin 1 stuff was considerably reduced by the crushing during the second week of the month of a lot of poor stuff that had boon slacked for a length of time at the mine, and which it was thought might pay a little over crushing costs. On the whole the result? may be considered as very satisfactory. 'Hip returns of amalgam for the week ending Saturday, March Ist, were as follow :—: — New Find G22 ozs. Colonist 511 odwts. Premier ... ... 49 The following 1 tire the weights of the retorted gold after malting, as received last night :—: — New Find ... 724 02s. 5 dwts. Colonist ... 29-4 2 Premier ... (53 1 The crushing of the stuff from the Hero j Claim was expected to be finished laso last night. The Vulcan \ti\\ start to-day or Monday with 5 head, on 11 parcel of 50 tons. 20 head is now going on Colonist stuff ; 10 for the New Find, and ."> for the Premier. Nkw Find. — Matters cont ; nue to wear the same healthy aspect as heretofore. In the Arizona level loth faces *lill produce excellent crushing stuff. The north end is now in about 25 feet from the ero&o-cui, and shows a line reef l 'rom 4to 5 feet in thickness The opposite end is in about the same distance and also shows a good-looking body of stone of similar size. It is of a more rubUy natme than tho quanz in the northern face, but is quite equal to it m quality. At the end of t:ie cross-cut a rise It. is been started to connect wit u t.ie workings above and is now 11 p about (J feet, but as the contractor in the ends have possession of the level lor two shifts work cm at present only be carried on during eig.it hours out of the twentyfour, consequentl) the progiv-s- made is not very rtpid. As far as it has been lisen upon the reef looks us well as in any pint of the mine. On the No. 2 reef stopiny is going on as usual with satisfactory results In the north end of this level the lode does not look quite so well as it <lid 15 or 20 feet bacic from the f ice. Though still carrying gold it is considerably split up. and this is probably owing to the proximity of the large reef. The sinking of the winze in this level has been resumed. The timbering of the ground overhead was completed parly in the week, when the men again got below. As far as it has been sunk on the reef looks juot as well as ever. Much interest is manifested in the progress of this work, as every additional foot t!ie gold is traced downwards adds more and more to the permanence of the field. When the rise in the Arizona drive is put up and this winze carried through to the new .l.n\ level, an unlimited supply of crushing stuff will be obtainable and with no more crushing power than that at present available work for years will b • opened up. T.ie upper stopes look a.s well as usual. Work in the low level ibeing steadily carried on by the- new contractors, but the country is at present very tight. Ths result of the month's crushing for the mine will be found in our battery r l | or,. Colonist. — The various workings still piesent a satisfactory appearance. In the low level the reef in the south end continues to yield excellent crushing stuff and keeps up its size. The specified width of the drive to be taken in by the contractors is 5 feet. The whole of this is qunrfz, and a strong body is still left on the hanging wall. In the northern end the men are engaged in taking down portions of the reef that had 'been left on the hanging wall. Nothing has been done during tho week to further test the cross-vein recently cut in this part of the mine. Tne south end of the upper level has been extended to the, boundary, and attention is now being uiven to the sinking of a winze to connect with the level below. This, when completed, will open up n very lnrge block of groml, and from the excellent show both above .iml below it cannot be doubted fchnt the battery returns of the last few weeks will be maintained for a long time to come. A new low level is also in contemplation In our battery report the returns for the month's crushing will be found. Though perhaps less than was expected it must be regarded as highly satisfactory, considering the quantity of poor stuff that was treated in the early part of the month. Eureka.. — since the arrangement was entered into with the Victoria Company for the joint extension of the low leveloperations have there been re.-unied, and are now being vigourously carrie I on. Work in both the inter.mediate

'drives is also bring proceeded with, the reef in each looking as well as hitherto. Wvcry advantage* is being taken of the fine weather to hasten trie completion of the wire tramway, and it is expected that in a month or little more all will be in working order. Wbrahiko. — ft toping is going on in the block over the intermediate level, and some very fair crushing dirt, has been got du ring the week. There is o considerable quantity of stuff at the mine and crushing will be commenced as soon as five or ten head of stampers can be had at the battery. Waitoki. — Work is at present confined to prospecting. A nice looking vein near the boundary of (h) Waitoki Extended is now being tried. It is small at present (about G inches) but gives very good prospect**, and may lead on to something better. Phoenix. — The good show reported last week still continues. Since then some very nice stuff has been obtained approaching more nearly to what may fairly be termed picked stone than anything yet found on the field. The expected junction of the vein in hand with the lode that traverses the Company's ground is daily looked for, and hopes are entertained that better stuil than any yet found may then be dropped upon. When fairly opened up this mine gives promise- of becoming a valuable property. Chance. — Driving 1 in the low level is steadily going on and in good wo'kinocountry. As only one shif'. is employed the progress made is necessarily slow, but the manager expects to reach the reef in about 30 feet. Camadi vs. — Operations, which were stopped for a time pending the completion of a thorough survey of the woi Icings, has been resumed under the new manager, Mr John Binney. The face in the south end of the Colonist surface level h.iving been carried in to the boundary operations have tuere been commenced, and tlu drive is being extended into the Canadian ground. A trial parcel of 10 or 12 tons will bo at once forwarded to the battery, and from the quality of llio obtained close at hund in the Colonist, there can 'be liuli 1 doubt that the return will be ssitisi factory. Oilier works arc in contemplation, and will be started without delay. Vermont. — The low level i=s now in about 90 feet and has intersected a iine- •■ looking reef, which has been cur through some five or six feet and is supposed to i be a continuation of the one that runs i alonu the lower part of the W.iioronuomai Company's claim. A good show of i gold was n: >t on the surfac nearly over 1 the level, so there is a fair probability 1 ' that, paying stone will be nvt. u'itli a> i t.ie reef now in hand i* driven upon. Wklcomk — h is hard to uii.ior&tand why tnib cLum, which nab pro luced »ome ■ o\ the very U«st stone yet found on tsie < field, siuuud be left uncorked even for a i short period. The excellence of the res turns during tne waili^r sUgo of the . Company's operations leaves little room i to doubt that, a further development of I the mine will bring a icnewal of pros- ? perity, and it is to be hoped that work i will be renewed without much further i delay, and that the property will again - oc upy that position on the field wiiiou i it formerly held. Waiouongomai. — Prospecting is still i going on on the Three Fools reef ami 5 with encouraging results. Apart from ? the loose gold found about the honey- * combed quartz an occasional faint colour I discernible in some stone broken out i the week from the nniu body of t!ielode - which no doubt will receive a, thorougn - trial. The sinking of the winze on tho - Waiorongomai reef is progressing as i usual.

Tons. Amal. Retorte'l sola, few Finl 4 weeks 620 22280/ i 7Mor, l.'klwbs. lolonisi. 4 weeks 377 1179 15 297 10 •remier 80 20110 G4 0 Verahiko 0 0 4 10 Total 1100 13(hvts.