MINING NEWS. Thames, September 27.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 407, 2 October 1889, Page 5

MINING NEWS. Thames, September 27.

Norfolk. — Having a day or two ago visited this Company's mine, which ia situated about two miles up the Tararu Creek, I am now in a position to forward you a report on the workings. The mine is under the management ot Mr Bice, and the prospects are fair. The No. 3, or low level, ia in a distance of £o<Ut, but no lodes have been intersected in it, though it is estimated that were the drive extended a further 150 ft the Norfolk reef would be met with. From the present face a riso has been put up 140 ft, which connects with No. 2 level, and is utilised as a pass for bending down quartz fiom the latter to the low level, from whence it can be trucked out and emptied into a long wooden shoot, thus running into the paddock beneath formed for its reception. The No. 2 level drive is in 350 ft, and here the Norfolk reef has just been cut, but very little quartz has yet been broken down. The reef, which is 18 inches in thickness, is composed of quartz of a very brownish colour. It is calculated thafc were this drive extended another 100 feefc the Yankee Boodle reef would be met with, while the Californian and Rollinson reefs are also believed by Mr Bice to be still further ahead. A rise has been put up a height of 60 feet from this level and connected with an intermediate level some 30 feet below No. 1 level, so that it will be readily seen that Mr Bice has thus communication effected between the whole of the levels, and quartz can be sent from No. 1 to the low level and emptied down tho shoot into the paddock at very little cost. The reef in this drive is about 5 feet wide, and there is still quartz in the hangingwall. Gold has been seen here. It is the manager's intention to connect No. 2 level with Cook's old workings on the Fiery Creek aide of the epur, which can be done in about 150 ft of driving. In rising from the intermediate level to No. 1 level tho footwall portion of the lode was broken down, and gold was seen in the quartz, which is free milling ore, containing little or no mineral, while the gold itself ia very fine. Mr Bice seems to have done his part very well in opening up the mine and connecting the several level?, and were the battery situated on the spot, there can be no question that it would be of far greater benefit to the Company than where it is at the present time— at the foot of the creek. The contractors are making good progress with the work of constructing the waterrace, and it should be completed in si.: or se\en weeks' time. Trenton. — The drive from No. 4 level of the Cambria has holed through to the Saxon stopes. Thames Mining and Prospecting Co. — The trial crushing of 4 loads of quartz produced 2ozs 13dwts melted gold, worth £2 15s per ounce. Lone Hand. — As briefly mentioned in a telegram yesterday, the reef in the General Chuto drive ab the low level has been broken down for the first time since it was intersected. It is rather pinched at present, being only from 4 to 5 inches in thickness, which is doubtless owing to tho fact thafc the country in which it is encased is still tight. The atopes are producing quartz of the usual remunerate c grade. Sylvia (Tararu ). —Captain Colbeck, Dr. Scheidel, and Messrs Thomas Macfarlane, Seymour George, and E. McDonnell, directors, visited this mine yesterday, but were unable to gain admittance to the low level tunnel in consequence of the prevalence of gas in the workings. Trenton. — An error occurred in my report on this mine in last evening's issue, as I then stated that the crosscut from No. 4 level of the Cambria had holed through to the Saxon stopes. This is slightly incorrect, as although it is daily expected that communication will be effected, the crosscut has not yet holed through to the Saxon rise or stopes. Saxon.— There is no change to report at No. 5 level. The thirty-two head of stampers are engaged reducing quartz at the battery as usual, and the stuff is shaping about the same as last week. Cleaning up and retorting for the fortnight will probably take place on Tuesday next. Royal Oak (Coromandel).— For the past week there is nothing new to report from the mine. Driving east on the reef has been discontinued tor the present, as the reef does not improve in that direction owing bo the walls being separate. I have opened out from the pass to follow the underlay of the cross lead where a few stones were got in passing over. The tributers are not getting on very well on No. 2 reef, owing to the quantity of water to contend \\ ibh. In No. 2 level they are ri.-ing on a branch of No. 1 reef, which carries a little gold going up; last breaking down about 61bs of i picked stone were obtained. ! Trenton. — This morning the mine man- ' ageru'red: — Moled through to rise Trenton upper level 24ft above Saxon No. 2 level. Will commence stripping lode. ' Saxox.— There is a slight improvement in the crushing of the general quartz, both on the plates and berdane. The latter gave 21ozs for the day's run. Colours of gold are seen in the drive on No. 1 reef at No. 5 level, hillward ot No. 2 break. Norfolk. —On No. 2 level driving on the reef can now be proceeded with. The hangingwall portion of the reef shows very good gold. The run of gold !»een in rising isthoughtto have an easterly dip, and the eastern drive will have to be advanced 20 feet to catch the angle of the run that is evidently coming down. The reef on No. 1 level is large and shows some very good gold. There are favourable indications elsewhere. New Moanatatari.— Gold is being seen more freely in the stopes on the hangingwall load above No. 4 level, but no picked stone is to hand yet. The Golden Age reef has now opened out to a strong body of quartz fully three feet in thickness. Some of theBtonelooks very kindly.and a few good colours of gold were seen in a vein lying on the hanging- wall ot the lode. Tho whole of the Reuben Parr reef which was stripped has now been broken down. The quartz on the wholo looks better than it has yet done, but no gold has been seen. Trenton. — Communication has been effected between the crosscut at No. 4 level of the Cambria and Saxon stopes. May Queen.— Capital progress is being made by the contractors with the work of cleaning out and timbering the Company's shaft, and it should be down the required depth within a fortnight.

The boom in flax lately lias caused considerable inquiry after land on which flax is growing. Every unoccupied spot on which the green blade is growing is the subject of eager inspection, while the Crown Lands Board has numerous applications for vacant parcels of land. Some discussion took place at yesterday's meoting of the Crown Lands Board about the advertising of certain flax lands at Tuakau and the Great Barrier : but the Commissioner stated that there was little flax of any value on the land,' and there .had been applications to have it subdivided and sold. The Tuakau swamp wanted draining before good flax could grow on it, and it was decided to have the swainp 1 cut up and. offered for sale iv 3 or 4 labs.