M I N I N G- NEWS WAIORONGOMAI.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 155, 22 May 1886, Page 2

M I N I N G- NEWS WAIORONGOMAI.

Battery (Firth and Clarkes). No retorting has taken place this wek. New Find. — The contractors for driving the now low level aro now in a distance or about 85 feet ; and the ground still continues favourable for driving. Stoping is in operation much as usual on No 1 reef. In the stopes north from wingg in low level, the reef is looking well, sH&wing fair gold. The stopes south in this block continue to yield good crushing dirt. Driving has been started on the footwall portion of No 1 reef from low level. Work has also been resumed on the surface. Young Caledonian. — A trial parcel of several trucks has this week been put I through at Firth and Clarkes battery for ] Munro and party, but cleaning up has not yet taken place. Nkw Era .Battehy.— All hands at the Now Era Battery have for the past few days been busily engaged in completing the platforms, shoots, hoppers, in conne2tion with the roasting furnace, and in shifting the large stonebreaker which was fixed inside the building to its new position above the furnnce, [ etc. All treatment of quartz has been of necessity -suspended, owing to the alterations being carried out interfering with the working of the machinery. Fire was first placed in the furnace on Monday last, for the purpose of tempering the brick-work, and has been lighted afresh every alternate day during the week ; the strength of the fire being gradually increased. It is anticipated that within a m mth faom thia time the whole of the new plant will be ready to start work, and will, it is believed by the proprietors, be found capable of treating from thirty to forty tons per day.

TE AROHA.— TUI. In connection with the various mines in the £m creek district, work is being steadily carried on. Champion Lodbs. — A drive on the No 2. reef is now in about 40 ' feet in No 8 claim, and the junction of Nos. 1 and 2 reefs has been mot ; the face now showing is about 7 feet, although

the foot wall has not yet been found. Excellent stone 13 being broken out ; and the country is goo I sandstone, water at present prevents the winze being .progressed with, in No 1 claim A drive Ims been commenced in No 3 to I cut the Galena lode. I May Bell, Keep-it-dark, N0."4 Champion Loile. — Prospecting is in progress in each of there claims. Holdfast. — The work so far accomplished on this ground has been confined to stripping the reef for several chains, 1 in the southern portion of the ground. The reef is supposed to be identical with that of Cornea's, but in appearance more resembles Wai hi, being full of i blue veins, and is generally of a promising character. The country is nice soft sandstone, very favourable both as rej garda working and as indicating the i presence of the precious metals. L Mark Moon- — A tunnel has been started to try and intersect the lode, from which the very rich boulders on the surface are supposed to come. It was thought the reef could have been cut by trenching, but owing the great depth of surface this idea had to be abandoned and a tunnel commenced.

STONEY CKEEK. Grand Junction. — This claim is beginning to attract considerable notice of late, owing 1 to the excellent prospects being obtained. Sauudnrs and party who commenced work on the ground about Christmas 1884:, have exhibited an amount of perseveranco and faith seldom met with, having stuck to the ground steadily ever since, and that to, in 'he face of difficulties that would have disheartened many men long since. The claim is situated at the head of Stonpy Creek, about 1£ miles from the flat, and is distant about three-quarters of a mile from the " waterfall" in a very difficult country to prospect, being entirely unopened up, and devoid of prospecting or other tracks. Two trial parcels of about one ton each, carried out throngli the bush on the backs of the prospectors, have been treated at Firth and Clarkes liattory within the past year, and gave the excellent return of 2oh to the ton, which sold at £2 163 6d per o*nee. Since Christmas last close on £100 has been expende I by the indomitable owners in opening up the ground ; and it will be remembered a petition, largely signed, was presented fo the Piako County Council a couple of months back, requesting that a track re formed to tho claim, estimated cost being about £00 or £70. The council recognising the case as a most deserving one, granfel the request, subject to Government permitting tho diversion of an unexpende 1 balance, granted for sledge tracks at YVaiorongoma,i being diverted for the purpose. Through some unexplained reason great delay has been experienced in obtaining a reply from Wellington. A water race and machine site have recently been applied for in connection with the ground. There are two Foefs, which, we belive to be quite distinct from any yyt worked upon. Mr Hornibrook visited the ground this week, and informs us he obtained excellent loose prospects from any part of the reef he inspected. Several additional claims have been pegged off in the vicinity within the past few dnys.

Premier. — An extraordinary mooting of shareholders of the Premier G.M. Co. was held at the office of the legal manager, Mr D. G. McDonnell, Monday last, for the purpose confirming the resolution that the company be voluntarily wound up, and that (ho property, including the mine, hoppers, tramway, etc., bo disposed oF. The resolution was agreed to. Mr A. Porter occupied tho chair.