MIMING NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 323, 8 December 1888, Page 4

MIMING NEWS.

~* Thames, Dec. 4. Saxon.— The reef in the drive, ab No. 5 level, was again broken down to-day for a length of about 20 feet. No picked stone was obtained, bub a few colours of gold were observed in the quartz.

New Prince Imperial.— The winze on the leader at No. 1 level is down a depth of 6 feet,and colours of gold are seeu when breaking down the quartz. The drive to meet this winze is in 75 feet, and i_s passing through an excellent class of sandstone. The reef should now be to hand any shift.

Saxox. —The drive at No. 3 level to pick up the reef which was cut off by the clay head is still in disturbed country. Adistance of 10 feet has been driven paot the head, but there is no sign of the reef.

Marototo Gold and Silver Company.— A start was made yesterday to pub one ton of rich ore through the School of Mines experimental plant. The ore is being put through under the personal supervision of Mr Moore, and the greatest care is being exercised in its treatment, as it is verv rich in gold and silver, and ib is as well to ascertain whether the plant at the School of Mines will prove suitable in saving the precious metals. The stuff, which is of a friable nature, is first of all passed through a sieve, from whence it falls into a wooden trough, in -which are placed three small glass bottles, which catch samples of the ore. These are placed in a separate bag by themselves for assay purposes, in order that a correct assay value of the ore being treated by the grinding pans can be obtained, when by comparison ib can readily be ascertained the exact pei-centage of bullion saved by means of the experimental plant. The larger sized pieces are to be put through the stampers at the School of Mines, and ib is unlikely that the treatment ot the whole parcel will be finished and the result known until the end of the week. Should Mr Moore be ; satisfied with the result of the present test, it is his intention to put through a further parcel, as several tons have been landed at Hikutaia awaiting treatment. A handsome return is expected from the ton now being treated.

Thames, Dee. 5. Gentle Annie (Te Mata).— The battery has now been completed, and will be in readiness to commence reducing quartz as soon as one or two unimportant alterations have been made, which will probably occupy another week or two. It is intended to break out a parcel of 100 tons of general dirt from this mine to put through the battery before ore from any of the other mines is reduced, so that in all probability crushing will not be in full swing until after the New Year holidays.

TeMata G.M. Co.— Very little work is proceeding in this mine, pending the starting of the battery. There are some 50 or 60 tons of quartz to grass, and about 501b of picked stone, which will be treated after the Gentle Annie parcel of 100 tons has been put through, and should give a good return. A second &bope is being carried along over the low level, in which the leader averages from 4 to 6 inches in thickness, and strong colours of gold are seen distributed through the quartz when breaking down.

Saxon. —The whole of the reef has been broken down at No. 5 level. The quartz is of a kindly description, and a few colours of gold were observed, although no picked stone was obtained. Payable quartz is still coming: to hand from the stopos, in which the \*eef looks about the same, and presents no change to report. The hangingwall reef in ( the drive at No. 3 level has not yet been picked up. The country continues to be disturbed.

Cambria.— Good colours of gold are seen when breaking down the No. 6 level in the leading sfcope over the intermediate between Nos. 3 and 4 levels.

Deep Level Cross. —Operations have been discontinued on behalf of the Company.

Torea Beach Sluicing Claim.—Thirtytons of black sand have arrived here from Tairua and are now being subjected fco berdan treatment.

COROMANDEL, Dec. 4. Royal Oak. — 15 lbs of specimens were obtained on Monday. Gold is still showing, and the reef continues large.