MINING NEWS. THE ROYAL OAK. FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS OF SPECIMENS ON HAND.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 427, 11 December 1889, Page 5

M INING NEWS. THE ROYAL OAK. FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS OF SPECIMENS ON HAND.

COROMANDEL, Dec. 7. The Royal Oak manager reports :—: — " The quantity of specimens and picked stone on hand is about 3501 bsj and also one ton of general stuff, which I intend to crush as soon as possible. At present the mine is looking promising. During the week the tributers have been doing well. About 701b of good stone was obtained, making in all about 4001b of specimens and picked stone, and also two tons of general stuff ready for the mill." Otama Claim (Kuaotunu). — I have let a contract for driving about 200 feet at a depth of 100 feet below the prospecting drive where I obtained the rich stone I brought to Auckland. This tunnel should intersect three reefs, all of which have prospected fairly well where cut on the surface. I have kept two men on the prospecting level during the present week. I have obtained a few good stones ; tho reef is getting stronger and more compact as driven on into the hill. — Henry T. Rowe.

Thames, December 7. New Alhurnia. — Operations in this Company's mine hare been resumed. The manager is now inviting tenders for driving. Lone Hand. — The air in the General Chute drive at low level is rather light at present, and the manager has taken steps to procure air pipes and have them laid in to the fuce, so as to improve the ventilation. The country being penetrated ie all that could be desired. Crushing will be commenced next week. Royal Oak. — The mine manager reports under date December 4th : Since last report the reef has been looking well. About 2101b of specimens have been got, of which I informed you, and to-day 151b more were brought to light, still leaving sold showing going down. The quantity of specimem and picked stone on hand is about 3501b and one ton of general stuff, which I intend to crush as soon as possible. At the present time the mine is looking promising. During tho week the tributers have been doing well. About 701b of good stone were obtained, making in all about 4001b specimens and picked stone ; also two tons of general stuff, which is bagged ready for the mill.

Thames, Dec. 9. Thames Mining and Prospecting Company's Claim. —The crushing of 39 loads of quartz from this mine was completed on Saturday for the nAfcisfnefcory return of 420z 16dwt melted gold. In addition to this Mr Crawford has forwarded 201b of the picked stone recently obtained, which is worth about lOdwt per pound to the directors in Sydney. The quaitz just crushed was broken out from the reef in the drive and leading stope at the Nana level, the lode being from three to four feet in thickness. Tkknton. — The Saxon hanging- wall reef is expected to be intersected in about a further 20 foeb of driving, after which the footwall lode should be met with 40 feet ahead of that body. Tho country in the face is still rather tight, but it is an improved class of sandstone. Dives. — Now that all the unproductive works in the mine are completed tho mine manager considers that from the prospects already met with the future operations will most assuredly be profitable. Three stopes going west have just been started. The quartz broken shows gold freely. At present the stopes going west on the hangingwall leader will yield a large tonnage of payable quartz ; the country is all that can be desired for gold. Otama Claim (Knaotunu). — During the past week tho upper level has been continued on a distance of thirteen feet. The leader has been somewhat split, but today ehe is making together again, and there ia every indication of another patch of gold being got. I have seen gold occasionally the whole distance. The contractors for driving the low level have arrived and will commence operations on Monday. In accordance with instructions, I have forwarded per cutter Tokerau two tons quartz for treatment at the Cambria Battery, Thames, — Henry Rowe, Manager,