MINING NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 368, 15 May 1889, Page 5

MINING NEWS.

Thames, May 10. Saxon. — The drive on the No. 1 main reef seaward of the crosscut ab fche No. 5 level is proceeding as usual, and is now about 15 feet past the winze. The lode, however, continue* somewhat split up. The same reef is being driven on hill ward, and in this direction looks much better, as colours of gold are frequently seen, and it was from here that the few pounds of picked stone roported two or thre« days ago werB obtained. Colours of gold were seen pretty freely distributed through the No. 2 reef in the drive at this lerel when the quartz was last broken down. Operations at No. 3 level are somewhat limited, being confined at present to a leading stope on No. 1 footwall leader, which is from seven to nine inches in thickness, and shows gold freely, besides occasionally producing a few picked stones. There is no change to mention in the drive at No. 2 level, or in the various stopes. Cleaning up and retorting will probably take place on Monday next.

Lonk Hand. — Colours of gold are seen in the quartz coming to hand from the several works in both sections of this mine, but there is really no change co report.

Thames, May 13. Saxon. —As briefly mentioned in a tele- j gram in Saturday's issue, the manager of j thia mine has made arrangements with the | Cambria Company for the uae of ten head of stampers on behalf of the Saxon Company which will commence operations to- I morrow. This will make a total of 32 stampers then engaged reducing quartz for this Company, as 22 head are kept going continuously at their own battery. Mr Dunlop has also been obtaining an escimate of the cost of erecting ten more stampers at the Company's battery, and it is probable that this work will be carried out at an early date. In the mine, the three drives at No. 5 level are being . pushed ahead — two on No. 1 or the main reef, and the other on No. 2 lode, from which quartz of fair grade is being broken out, but there is no material change to report since my lost. The stopes over No. 2 level are looking much the same as usual. The manager has within the last day or two ascertained that an old surface drive was put into the hill some years ago in tho vicinity of where the Hematite Company's paint works are situated, and finds that it was put in a distance of about 550 or 600 feet. In the first 300 feet very little repairs are necessary, but here a slight fall of mullock has taken place, which it will be necessary to clear away. From this point forward to where the Saxon reef has been cut, comparatively little " picking up " will be required. It is Mr Dunlop'g intention to first of all hare rails laid down, and then at once start sinking a winze, which, afttr attaining a depth of about 70 feet, will go through to the stopes over No. 2 level. This will provide excellent ventilation, besides a travelling way down which " cribbing " may be passed.

New Fearnought.— There is a great improvemen b in the appearance of the quartz in the hanffingwall reef since the reef haa become smaller, and it shows a better class of mimr*l. The winze is now down 29ft. The drive on the-leader on the lower level is passing through an excellent class of country. The leader continues about 4 inches in width ; the quartz looks very promising and carries nice-looking mineral. Tributers Ross and party have crushed three loads quartz for the return of loz lldwts.

Trenton. — The weefcerD drive at the 350 level has been extended 16 feet during the week.

New Prikcb Imperial. — Gold was seen freely in the first, stope on Dunns level when breaking down, and a few pieces of stone were picked out on Friday. Tri butera Brown and party have finished their block above No. 1 level. They start crushing soon.

Saxon. — In breaking down the No. 2 reef ab No. 5 level on Saturday « little gold still continued to be eeen, and three to four lbe. picked stone were saved. The leef is still about a foot in thickness. There is no change to report in the other portions of the mine. Cleaning up and retorting will take place to morrow morning.

Nkw Moanataiari. — The vain crosscut, No 4 level, Darwin section, to intersect t he winze sunk from No. 3 level is now in 20 feet. The whole of the drire is in eand*tone, and it is expected that next week will ace the drive well forward under the winze. The sandstone is still tight for working, but of a very jrood description for gold. The surface dirt still continues to shape about the same.

Camrria. — The new block in the hanpingwall lode at No. 3 level promises to be extensive. The drive on the lode will now be continuously extended. In the rise put up on it, it is a foot in thickness, and gold is visible in the mineral.