MINING NEWS. Thames, Nov. 13.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 317, 17 November 1888, Page 6

MINING NEWS. Thames, Nov. 13.

Pakoquht (Waiomo). — Contracts for driving 100 feefc northward at Nos. 1 and 2 levels have been lefc, and the work will be commenced forthwith.

Saxox. — The winze on tho reef from No. 4 level has holed through to the drive at3STo. 5 level, and the men are now squaring up the face. The lode has been stripped for a distance of 90 feet, and the manager will commence breaking it down on Wednesday, by which time the work of squaring up will be finished. As soon as the reef has been broken down for this length, the drive will be continued and pushed ahead as quickly as possible, as it has to be extended a further 150 feet ere the No. 1 break is reached.

Sylvia (Tararu). — A nice-looking reef has been intersected in the drive, but it has nob yet) been penetrated. The quartz carries some favourable minerals, conspicuous amongst which are silica and copper pyrites, although no gold has yet been seen.

Golden Gem.— A little gold has been seen in the drive every breaking do\yn. The leader looks very promising. There are about 12 tons general ditt broken out and in the hoppers, and the mine manager expects to have a parcel of about 27 or 30 tons by the end of the week. Makototo G. and S, M. Co. — The manager report? that very good ore is being obtained from the stopes over the B drive. There are 4 tons of picked ore on hand and 50 tons of general dirt paddocked. It is probable that 2 tons will be treated at the School of Mines at an early date.

Thames', Nov. 14. Saxoa. —The breaking down of the 90ft rect stripped in the drive v at No. 5 level will be commenced to-day. The stock of powder has now almost run out, and, unless a supply is received in the course of a iew days, it is probable that several works will have to be temporarily stopped until a shipment arrives in Auckland. I .Marotoxo G. and S.M. Company. — With reference to the telegram in your last issue re this mine, it should perhaps be explained that the rich ore now being broken out is from the stopes over the " B" drive. The block of good ground available here is about 80 feet in length by 40 feet in height, but unfortunately the rich stuff does not appear to exist ahead or downwards, as in both the face of the drive and also the winzes sunk from the floor of the "B" drive hard blue rock made its appearance and cut out the good seam of ore. Although the block is limited, however, the stuff coming to hand is rich in gold and silver. Koiiea Beach SiiUiciNa Claims. — Some days ago I mentioned that the shareholders of this claim had tent 3001b of the black sand deposit on the Korea Beach, near Tairua, to the Thames, for treatment by Mr Harcourt's amalgamator. The treatment, of the parcel was finished to-day for the return of 24 grains of gold, or equal to 7dwt ] lgi to the ton of 2,24olbfe,assay value given per ounce £2 18 a ; value per ton £1 Is 7d. There axe also 30 lbs of concentrations for further treatment. Harcourt'a amalgamator and concentrator is of simple construction, being a cylindri-cal-bottomed tank, with circular discs set angle- wise on a shaft which .leads through the centre of the tank. The angles are set at a degree calculated to represent the same motion as by anyone panmngaff a dish of dirt, the ordinary motion being gone through on each foot of shafting longitudinal, and set up by paddles. When set ip motion, the cjntre of gravity is in the middle of the disc, and according to the number of revolutions the specific gravity is raised or lowered at the outlet. A supply of water washes off the debris to any specific gravity that it •is set to, and the residuum is drawn off from the bottom pug of the tank with the mercury, from which the amalgam is separated and rotorted. This is the first time an opportunity has occurred for treating black sand by this ingenious little machine, and the result appears to be highly satisfactory.

Trenton. —The country in the shaffc continues hard, and consequently progress is still slow.

• Cambria. — Dabs and colours of gold are being 1 seen freely through the quai'tzAyhen breaking down the hangingwall leader over the intermediate level. 81bs picked stone came to hand from here during the week. The quarts broken oub from No. 1 leader is kindly looking for gold. >

Saxon. — Cleaning tip and retorting for? the past, fortnight took place on the lOtti inst., for a yield of 5240z. retorted gold as follows :— -General quartz; crushed, 3590z. from 315 loads ; pibked stone, 165bz. from 1801b. This was afterwards melted into a bar of 516f oz. gold/ l

, CoBOMANDEL, ISfoV. 13. RovAii Oak,— Crushed one ton of stuff, aiirl 150H> picked stone, for 99ozs of'golds-' ■