MINING NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 373, 1 June 1889, Page 4

MINING NEWS.

TiiAMfes, May 27. Mining matters have been somewhat quieter during the paßt week, and no hauls of flicked stone have been reported from any of the mines.

Lonk Hand. — There are fully 30 loads of quartz on hand, and crushing operations were to-day (Monday) commenced at Bull's ' battery with 13 head of stampers. The Adelaide low level has now been cloaned out and rails laid down, and a Btarb has been made with its extension by wages men. The General Chute i*eef will be driven upon, and as suon r.s possible a trial crushing of 5 loads of quarts will bo broken out from here and its value ascertained. The quartz coming to hand from thestopes in the Lone Hand and Manchester sections of the mine continues to show dabs and colours of gold

pvei ty f reoly. Trkntun.— The crosscut from the Cambria No. 4 level is penetrating an excellent dePCiiption of sandstone, and la^t week a distance of 20 feet was driven. For the same poiiod the drive from the Company's own shaft lias been extended a further 6 feet, but the country is still hard. May Qukkn. — The tender of this company, at the nominal rental of £1 per annum, was on Saturday accepted by the County Council for the reserve upon which tie Company desire to erect their windingplant. It is probable that now this matter has been satisfactorily arranged, tenders will be called for erecting the engine-house and machinery.

Cambria. — A new prospecting work is to bo commenced. Ifc has been decided fco put up a rise on the main reef ab No. 3 level, at a point where some nice minejal is showing, and in the vicinity of where some picked stone was obtained at the time the level was being driven. Another breaking down ot the hangingwall leader on the drive at No. 3 level has taken place. Colours of gold were seen pretty well distributed through the quartz.

Royal Oak. — Since list report there has been a decided change for the better in the mine. In driving towards the junction the reef has become more defined, showing gold from which a few pounds of picked stone were obtained to-day, leaving gold showing in the face. At present the ground in appearance is all that can be desired for gold. I am in hopes that this is No. 3 run For the week there has been nothing new to report from the tribute.

New Alburni a.— Colours of gold have been seeu and a few pounds of picked stone obtained from the Sons of Freedom leader. Inthediive the contractors have finished their allotted distance and the wages men were to-day put on to continue the drive. Adelaide. — The proprietors have banked 84oz K°ld from 34 loads quartz.

Saxox. —In tins Company's mine, operations are proceeding much fchesame asusual. Afc No. 5 level the No. 1 or main reef is some what smaller in the eastern drive than formerly, being now only 18 inches in width, but when breaking down the quartz colours of gold are freely Feen. The leading stopo on the same reef over the western drive has been extended from the winze to the main crosscut, and as soon as the work of timbering up the drive, \rhich is now proceeding 1 , is completed, driving and stoping will bo energetically carried on. Quartz of the usual grade is coming to hand from the stopes over No. 2 level. The surface diive has been cleaned out up to the face, and the laying down of rails almost completed. As soon as this work is finished, the sinking of a winze to connect with the stopes over No. 2 level will be commenced by contract.

Onslow Company's Rkpuction Works. — The five amalgamating pans, which were charged with about 1501bs of quicksilver at the beginning of the week, are running night and day, and wording very smoothly. The tailings in course of treatment are being obtained from the Company's allotment on the foreshore, and it is intended to put through a considerable tonnage before cleaning up and retorting.

Nkwbery-Vautin Company. — The new plant to bo introduced at this company's works on the foreshore f r the treatment of argentiferous ores, is expected by the next direct steamer from Home.

Warden's Court. —Ab the Warden's Courl on Friday, applications were dealt with as follows: — G. J. Fanter, Centennial, Tapu, adjourned till Bth August. R. McDonald Scott, May Queen, adjourned till 27th June. T. H. Russell, several tail and water-races at Wai hi were granted, and an application for a dam in the Waitete Creek was adjourned until next Court day. S. Earl and others, amalgamation of Bee and Wasp claims, Waihi, granted. J. H. Smith, four months' protection for a waterrace and machine site in connection with Sylvia special claim, Upper Tararu, granted. Deep Level Cross G.M.C., application for protection to work with four men for four months, granted. The other applications were only of local interest.

Nymph and Mermatd Claims. — Having yesterday visited these claims, which are situated in the Upper Tararu district, between the old Scandinavian and Vulcan mines, well known in the early days, I am now in a position to place your readers in possession of a few facts concerning fch em. The claims, which consist of 25 acres each, are owned by Messrs Lowrie Bros. , Buckley and Roberts, and were recently amalgamated, so that they now comprise a total area of 50 acres, and are known as the Nymph and Mermaid holding. The mine is situated 6or 7 miles from Tararu, and is reached after somewhat difficult travelling through pretty densely-wooded and hilly country. The owners are at present engaged sinking a winze upon a leader 1 or 2 inches thick, which has attained a depth of about 20ft and is still in surface country. Colours of gold are seen in the quartz. About 200 ft frcm there a good deal of trenching and surface cutting has been done upon a reef varying from 1 to 4ft in thickness, and composed for the most part of small leaders and stringers. In two of these suifaco trenches a few cnloui % 3 of gold were visible at tho time of my visit, and the proprietors informed me that it was from heie that the picked stone recently exhibited in town was obtained. A lower level, which will give about 20 feet of " backs," is now being pub in, and should get underneath the point where this stone was obtained after another 15 or 20 feet of driving. Taken altogether, the prospects may be said to be fair, and the grounds well worth prospecting, but there is nothing whatever at; present to justify a *' rush "to the locality. Four other claims have been taken up surrounding the Nymph and Mermaid, some of which are stated to have met with encouraging prospects, but veiy little work has been done. The expense of getting quariz to the batteries in Grahamstown for treatment would be considerable, as these is merely a beaten bush track to the mines, and all quartz would, at any rate for the present, require to be packed.

New Alburnia. — Another breaking down of the* Sons of Freedom reef has taken place, bub no gold was observed in the quartz.

Saxon. — The usual fortnightly cleaning up and retorting for this Company is taking place to-day. Paroquet. — The remainder of the new wire which arrived lately was got in posj-

tion during the early parti of last week. The tramway was at once started, and ha 3 worked pretty smoothly. As soon as a sufficient quantity of ore had been brought from the mine, the battery was started, and has been kept going since. Now that everything is in good order, the Paroquet ought to come to the front as a gold producer. In all probability the working rtaffatthe mine will be increased within, the next few days, as twenty head of stamps will not take trery long to get through with what ore is now on hand. "

Golden Okm.— The men at work on the winze have holed through to the No. 2 level. The reef maintains its size — four feet bhick and shows good colours of gold when broken down.

Thames Mining a:* d Prospecting Co. — The shaft has attained a depth of 35ft. New Moanatai mi. — The leader upon which ifc will be remembered the winze was sunk from No. 3 level has now b^en reached in the mail) crosscut in the Cambria section. In the back of the drive where it has been broken down, it proves to be five or six inches in width, and although no gold ha 9 been seen, still the quartz is of a kindly description. The men are now engaged rising to meet the winze, which waa notpufficiently deep by about 4 feet, and communication should be effected either to-day or tomorrow. The manager informs me that he then intends to drive both ways on the couive of the reef, and he is sanguine of opening up a payable block of ground here. About 3ft of the hangingwall of t.he big reef at the intermediate level, Cambria s-ection, is being saved for treatment, bub it is not likely to be of much value. The laddenvay is being repa'red in the Point Russell section, and when the works now on hand here are completed the manager will be able to begin operations on any of the reefs from the Point Russell level, and pass the quartz right thiough the main tunnel. It is also proposed to open up the Reuben Parr tributers' reef, which runs through the Moanataiari Union section of the Company's mine. Thames, May 28. May Queen. — The Company having- pu r ' chased the surplus Trenton plant, consist" ing of engine shod, portable winding engine, flat rope spiders, poppet legs, and gear complete, instructions have been senb to invite tenders for their removal and reerection on the claim. The tenders are to include everything completed for beginning to wind.

Blanche. — The Company s tributers, Trembabh and party, have "completed a crushing of 14 pound 3 picked stone, for the yield ot 230z 2clwt of melted gold. Saxon. — The fortnightly cleaning up and retorting took place this afternoon for a return of 4420zs retorted gold from 473 loads of quartz and 501bs picked stone. Thames, May 29.

Lo>\E Hakd. — Crushing 1 was commenced at Bull's battery yesteiday morning. In the mine the low level lias now been commenced upon the course of the General Chute reef. The country encasing it is a splendid description of sandstone both for gold and speedy progie&s, while the reef appears lo be from 18 inches to 2 feet in thickness. No breaking down, however, has yet taken place. Good colours of gold are still seen in bhe quartz coming to hand from the various stopes in both the Lone Hand and Manchester sections of the mino.

May Queen. — The preliminary works in connection with this mine are being pushed ahead with all possible expedition by the manager. Tenders are now invited for removing the engine, winding-gear, enginehouse, and poppet legs from the Waiotahi Cieek, and re-erecbing the same over one May Queen Company's shaffc.

Saxon. — The mine manager speaks very hopefully of the work being done in this mine. Work is being pu shed on in all the levels, and picked stme being regularly saved. The last clearing up gave a reaulb of 4420z. retorted gold, reduced to 4360z. lldwb in the melting for 473 loads goneral quartz and 501 bpicked stove.

MINE MANAGER'S REPORTS. New Albuknia. — The mine manager reports that the mineral indications in the breaking down of the reef are very encouraging, the quartz being 18 inches in thickness. Gallop and party have abandoned their tribute.

Cambria. — The mine manager reports :—: — 11 The drive on the hanging wall leader, No. 3 level, is in a distance of 24ft. When breaking down the leader through the break, colours of gold were eeen. The leader is about lfb in thickness carrying good mineral. I will now start the leading stope westward over this drive. The 2nd stope from the Darwin rise is along 13ft. The leader is about lft in thickness carrying splendid mineral. When breaking down a few pounds of picked stone were obtained. The intermediate drive below No. 3 level i 3 in a distance of 29ft. The leader is about 3in in thickness and at each breaking down good colours of gold are seen. I would recommend that driving be started on the leader westward of the winze intermediate level. I also recommend chat two men be put to rise on a band of mineral in the main reef above No. 3 level Darwin section. The prospects are most encouraging and there is every reason to believe that gold will be found. I will start crushing about Friday next." The manager has been authorised to carry out his recommendation.

Lonb Hand. — The mine manager reports very encouragingly of this mine. The workings are all progressing well, and gold is showing in all the etopes. The rails have been laid up to the face of the reef in the General Chute drive at the low level. Stripping the reef was commenced yesterday, also crushing with 13 head of stampers.

The agricultural statistics for Tasmania are complete, for all but two districts. The results show a -large increase in the total and average' yields, as compared with last year. The following are the results :—: — Wheat, total production, 782,691 bushels ; average, 18-89 bushels to the acre. Barley, 905,551 bushels; average, 13*87. Oats, 888,844 bushels; average, 27*28. Hay, 5,622 tons; average, l'o7. Potatoes, 65,358 tons ; average, 5 54. Hops, 759,5001b; average, 134060. Apples, 368,540 bushels, an increase of 78,500 bushels. The total area of land under cultivation i 5481 ,313 acres, an increase of 33,883 acres. The average yield of wheat for the previous year was 16*42 ; oats, 18*87 ; potatoes, 2 59 tons. The inquiry into the burning of the Bijou Theatre at Melbourne was concluded last Tuesday. The jury returned a unanimous verdict that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. They recommended the appointment of a responsible officer to inspect and approve of all electric lighting apparatus. The jury found thab the Bijou Theatre was insufficiently provided with means of escape in case of fire, ' and that the Central Board of Health had not exercised proper inspection and control of places of amusement so as to ensure public safety. Also, that the present organisation of the fire brigades is prejudicial to the welfare and safety of the community, and they recommend the im mediate formation of a metropolitan system under one head and under the con^e* properly-appointed Heard.