MINING NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 481, 18 June 1890, Page 4

MINING NEWS.

Thames, June 13. City of Dunedin.— The reef should be met with in 30 feet of crosscutting. A drive will then be put in to connect with No. 1 level, which will give a very large block of ground to be worked. The reef at No. 1 level is from one to four feet in width.

Orlando. —The reef that was thought to be the Bendigo reef has now proved to be Carpenters, and the one considered as that reef is thought to be the old City of Dublin reef.

Saxon. —The return from the fortnightly crushing was 321cz 17dwt of melted gold from 442 loads of quartz and 251 b of picked stone.

Red Mercury.— A pleasing telegram for shareholders was received this morning from the manager. It was as follows : “ Broke down reef. Two or three feet wide. Splendid show. Blotches and dabs of gold could bo seen freely.” Norfolk. A crushing of 60 tons of quartz produced 490 z 14dwt of gold.

Thames, June 14. Lone Hand. —The whole of the men are now engaged in stoping out the western block on the Manchester reef and in extend ing the eastern and western drives. Three stopers are in progress on the reef, and the whole of the quartz broken out both from here and the drives is being sent to the battery, where 19 head of stampers are kept going continuously. New Albuunia. —The work of cleaning out and repairing the specimen leader drive will be completed early next week, when stoping will be commenced. Saxon. The water has now nearly drained away to the bottom of the shaft. Quartz of the usual payable grade is coming to hand from the stopss, but owing to the number of miners laid up with la grippe, some difficulty is experienced in keeping the battery fully employed. Freedom. —The eastern drive is in hard country at present, and progress has therefore been slow. A body of quartz two feet thick has been intersected. The quartz contains good mineral, but so far no gold has been seen.

Trenton. —At the hanging-wall lode four men are engaged in stoping. At this place the lode is eight inches wide, and looks well, plenty of mineral being visible.

Blanche. —The crosscut has been driven 62ft to intersect the lode at a point just inside worked ground. The reef is from Bto 10 inches wide, and looks as though it would return good crushing dirt, though no gold has been seen so far. The rock is good for gold, being impregnated with black seams of mineral. Cambria. —At No. 2 level the leader is being stripped for breaking down. The small leader shows gold, and is bearing towards the main reef. The new leader also shows gold. The footwall branch of No. 7 leader is about 7 inches thick, and gold was seen freely at last breaking down. Good crushing dirt is still being obtained from the third stope over the western drive. Crushing is now proceeding. New Alburnia. —The manager hopes to be in a position to commence stoping on the specimen leader next week. So iong as they have solid, hard ground, the manager is in hopes of cutting something good, as almost every run of gold in this mine has been encased with hard rock. The sbopes on the main reef still show a little gold, but no picked stone has come to hand. The manager is in hopes that this reef will recover, as there is still a large block left to be worked out. Lone Hand. —All the stopes in the Manchester reef, eastward of the winze at the low level, have been suspended. The men have been set to work on the western side, with the object of picking up the run of gold worked at the upper level. Both the eastern and western drives will be continued. Caledonian. —The drive on No. 1 leader has been extended five feet during the week. There is a slight improvement on the leader, but I have not seen any gold in it yet. Stoping is being carried on as usual on this leader, and it appears to be improving as it is being opened up. In breaking some of it down on Thursday last ten pounds of specimens were obtained, and we have now a portion of it stripped, which looks very promising indeed for gold. Should we be successful in getting some specimens when we break down on Thursday, I purpose putting on two extra men, as I have nob got as much work done this week as I would like on account of some of the men having been off work through sickness, and have been unable bo ! keep the intermediate level on the No. 2 reef going. There is also a place I would like to try where I have seen gold in a leader on the hack of No. 1 level, just above the place where we are driving at the intermediate. This leader is a continuation of one of Stafford's, which is striking into No. 2 reef. I think by carrying a stope along on it westward we may discover payable gold where it strikes into the reef. The leader at this place contains copper and other mineral favourable for gold. Otama (Kuaotunu). —The crushing of the ore from this mine at the Thames is progressing bub slowly. Owing to a breakdown of the machinery, two days were lost last week, but ten head of. stampers are now in full swing. Twenty-five tons of ore have been pub through, and from that quantity 261 b of amalgam has been secured from the plates. The tailings are being treated by the Onslow Company. A small parcel from the Orient mine is now being treated. The following telegram from the Thames was received this morningFprby-nine pounds amalgam off the plates squeezed down to 266 ounces. About half the stuff crushed.-- (Signed) Jas. Mays. Lady Carrington. —A start has been made on Campbell’s reef. This commences in the Diamond, and passes through a corner of the Otama mine. As it is easier to work through these mines the manager has obtained permission to do so. He is in hopes of reaching the point underneath, where the gold was obtained upon the surface. Thames, June 16. May Queen. —The crosscut is still passing through a splendid class of country for gold. The lode in the leading stope is five inches thick, and shows gold freely when broken down. In the second stope the J2 de also shows gold.

Lone Hand. —Gold was seen when breaking down the Manchester reef, in the drive east. Colours of gold were also seen on the reef in the second stope west, when breaking down ; also, in the reef in the third stope. Cleaning and retorting took place on Saturday, when 158 loads returned 87oz sdwt of melted gold. Owing to the smallness of bh© reef in the western drives and stope?, the number of stampers going at the battery has been reduced to 10. There was a slight improvement in the quartz last week.

Prince Imperial.— The reef has nob been broken down because the mullock could not be gob out. When this is done another stope will be commenced. The country is ”ery tight.

Freedom.— The reef in the eastern drive carries gold. A large lode twenty inches wide has been intersected by the crosscut, also two small ones each averaging six inches. The latter looks promising, being mineralised with copper pyrites and ruby silver. Driving has now re-commenced upon the hanging wall at the eastern drive.

Orlando. —Colours of gold have been seen in one reef for about 50 feet. The manager considers it an important discovery that what was supposed to be the Bendigo reef should have been proved to be Carpenter’s, as this yielded so well in the upper levels. A new level has been started on the same level as the low level. The reef when pounderl gives good prospects, and the manager is very hopeful of success in this direction. New Moanataiari. —The cross reef of the Cambria shaft at No. 3 level looks promising, as a little gold is now seen daily. So far, no gold has been seen at the Golden Age reef. During the past week 201 bof picked stone were obtained from the Reuben Parr reef. This reef is now three feet wide, and carries gold at both walls. The rise from the main tunnel bo the Reuben Parr is now up 82 feet. Caledonian. The manager reports: I intend to carry along a stope in the intermediate level and Stafford’s leader, to where it junctions with the reef. It will be seen that a portion of No. 2 reef is stoped out at this place, but it is only the footwall portion ; it is intact to the westward for a considerable distance. As we have seen gold in the leader here, I think we cannot do better than try it. Ten pounds of specimens were obtained on Thursday. The leader in the back still looks promising for gold. Crushing will be commenced about Wednesday next: we should have about 30 tons to crush. New Coliban. —The low level has been extended 35 feet making a total distance of 235 feet, 25 feet past the point at which the surveyor concluded the reef ought to be cub. Should it remain as flat as it was on the surface further driving will be required. A fine looking leader has been cub. It is six inches wide, ene foot thick, and looks well. At the top level the reef has been cut, but not yet bested. Orlando. —The manager telegraphed this afternoon : —Broke down reef in the new drive. Gold showing freely through the quartz. Otama. —The manager reports : of squeezed amalgam in hand. Five berdans still grinding heading. Retort to-morrow. Two pans treating bailings.”