MINING NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 361, 20 April 1889, Page 5

MINING NEWS.

Thames, April 17. The improved feeling in mining generally throughout the district continues, and judging by fche excellenc prospects of some of our mines, it certainly looks as though the depression which has for so long prevailed is at length to be numbered with fche things of fche past, and give place fco better times. Njew Alburnia, — The contractors are making capital headway with the crosscut at the battery level, and the manager is sanguine that something good will be found when fche Success reef is to hand, and it should not now be far distant. There will be a considerable block available upon ie, while by continuing the drive ahead several other leaders, which should prove payable, and also the Sons of Freedom lode, will be intersected. It is doubtless the excellent prospects in this direction that have given rise fco the increasing value in the price of shares. Ni;\v Alburnia. — This Company's mine promises to shortly again come to the front. The crosscut at the battery level is passing through a splendid channel of sandstone, and the Success reef should now be close to hand. If the present excellent country continues, which seems almost certain, the probability is that the reef will turn out well when it is intersected. In addition to this, the Sons of Freedom reef and other leaders will be met with ahead, so that this prospecting work is one of some impoi tance, and likely to lead to something good being unearthed. Saxon. — An important factor in the improvement previously alluded to in the mining industry generally,ia this Company's mine, which occupies the position ol.being our premier gold producer. Good colours of gold continue to be seen in the main reef at No. 5 level, and also the various stopes over No. 2 level, but there is no noteworthy change in any of the workings since m\ lust report. Saxon. — The usual fortnightly cleaning up and retorting for tbis Company took place yesterday afternoon for the really good return of 5400z gold from 352 loads general dirt, and 701b of picked stone. The yield was reduced on molting to 5340z. Saxon. — Diiving 1 is proceeding both hillwaid and seaward upon the main lecf at No. 5 level, and colours of gold are seen in the quartz. There is about 12 feet mere ol the reef to be broken down co reach the point where the winze came down. 'I he stopes are looking much the same as usual. Cleaning up and retorting took place on Monday for a yield of 5330z lOdu t moltod gold. 4500z w ere obtained from 352 loads general dirt, and the remainder from 701b picked stone. Cambria. — The leader on the western drive on No. 4 level is about six inches in thickness. Dabs and colours of gold were seen freely fchiough this leader when breaking clown, and also on the No. 3 level leader. Lone liA>fD. — The country now being driven through is everything that could be desired for gold, there being a number of black mineral veins throughout. Dabs and colours of gold were seen in a stringer on the lootwa.ll side of fche reef, and also in the leader in fche second stope east, Manchester section. Colours have likewise been seen when breaking down the reef in the 3rd stope east. Lone Hand. — The work of stripping the Adelaide reef in the drive and rise is still proceeding, and no breaking down has yet laken place. There is nothing new to report from the stopes, which are yielding quartz jof payable grade. It is understood that the matter of starting a low level tunnel, so as to develop the reef and leaders worked so successfully above, will be decided in a day or two at a meeting of directors to be held in Auckland. jVlay Queen.— About the end of fche week tenders will be called for fcho excavation of embankment for engine site. New Alburnia. — In the batbory level crosscut a leader has been cut through which is believed to be the Success. The stone has a kindly appearance, and shows some favourable mineral for gold, but so far none has been seen. Silvekton. — Driving is being carried on north from bottom ot winze to cut a run of gold that has been worked on the upper level. Gem. — There are indication? of more favourable prospects showing up. There is on hand about 15 tons quartz from winze. Caledonian. — The prospects of this Company are also improving. Some days ago I mentioned that an intermediate drive had been started hillward of No. 3 winze, below No. 2 level, upon No. 2 reef, the object being to intersect the junction with No. 1 reef. Some nice colours of gold have been seen in the quartz at almost every breaking down, the reef being about three feet in thickness. When taking down another portion to-day the manager secured an encouraging haul ot 31 b of picked stone, which had the effect of causing a slight advance in the shares. Thames, April 18. New Alburnia. — After driving a .few inches ahead of where fcho leader mentioned as having been met with yesterday was intersected, the Success reef, of which fche leader referred to proves to be a portion, was struck. It has beon cut into 3 feet, but there is no sign yet of the opposite wall. The quartz is of a promising nature, but no gold has been seen. Saxon. — This morning the mine manager wired :—": — " 151b picked stone from main reef on No. 5 level."

A correspondent writes to us saying: Very encouraging reports are to hand" from tho Lonrios Bros.' Nymph mine ab the head of the Tararu Creek", Thames. They have now several rich reefs in hand and in the adjoining ground— the Trident — a large reef has been found carrying gold. There is every reason to believe that this new find is a continuation of the old Thames rim of gold picked up in the back country.