MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 14, 23 October 1871, Page 3

MINING.

Felix. This company’s ground is situated in Tinker’s Gully, Tararu, above present tramway, and near the end of where the extension is to go to. It comprises the once well-known Never-Sav-Die claim, which was worked for a short time, but from which no large test ever took place. The shareholders are at present pushing in a low level drive, to cut the reef which is in hand, in the middle and upper levels. From this reef, which is a very large one, three different trials have taken place with the following results :—One lot of 5 tons Bcwt., taken from only part of the reef, yielded Bozs. 4d\vts.; a second lot of 8 tons yielded llozs. lOdwts.; and a third lot of 20 tons, taking the whole of the reef as it came, yielded 20ozs. Bd\vts., or just over an ounce to the ton. As soon as their low level is in, a winze will be sunk from the middle level, from which the above crushing took place, towards the lower one, and a rise will be put up to meet it. This will give backs of 100 feet to work on, and rising towards the upper level will also go on, so that all the stuff can be passed down to the lowest level, from which a shoot will be laid on to the tramway. A level 140 feet still below any of the present workings can be obtained from the bed of the creek, the total height from the creek to the reef on the surface being about 450 feet. By the time the tramway is completed the mine will be in good working order, and stuff enough to keep at least 20 head of stampers can be sent down after a short time, and from the trials already made, good returns are confidently looked forward to.

Highland Chief. —Work is at present at a standstill, owing, we believe, to some misunderstanding with the contractors. At a short distance from the face of the drive the reef has split in two, one branch bearing away to the right from the hanging wall. This has not been followed at present, the other having been followed a short distance. This reef ought to pay well if properly worked on, a crushing of 20 tons which took place from this drive having yielded 21ozs. of gold. Tararu Batteries.— A crushing is still going on for the City of Edinburgh claim at the Flora Macdonald battery, with ten head, and the returns seem to look as well as usual. The Californian tribute commence to crush to-day with 20 head, and will keep them constantly at work, so that this mill will be fully employed for many months to come. At Bussell’s battery 20 head are engaged for the City of Dunedin, and as soon as ever the tramway extension is completed, there will be stone enough to keep the whole battery at work. According to preseut appearances, the batteries will all be in full work during the summer, as such large quantities of stone can be turned out of the reefs in this district, and very small returns are remunerative.

Dividend Company. —A company has been formed under this name to work a lease of 20 men’s ground, situated between the Waiotahi and Collarbone Creeks. On the Waiotahi side it is peg and peg with the Shamrock claim, on its eastern boundary. The reefs which traverse the upper part of the Shamrock, formerly known as the Liverpool Boys, underlie

into the ground. The leader which yielded such good specimens in the Never-too-late-to-Mend claim is also comprised in the company’s ground. If necessary, a very low level adit can be obtained from the Collarbone side of the spur for working the ground; and if arrangements could be made with the Shamrock for the continuation and use of the drive through their ground, a much lower level could be worked from. A lease of the ground has been obtained, and everything will soon be in order for starting to work in earnest. The Gigantic Bubble.— This is the name of a lease of ground taken up near Waiomo, some miles below Tararu, on the sea beach. The reef to be worked on is about 25 or 30 feet wide, and stands exposed for a height of some 20 feet or more. A large quantity of stone is now being quarried down, which is coming up to Grahamston to be crushed, and should it give any encouragement, work on a large scale will at once be commenced. Close at hand there is a fine site for machinery, and any quantity of water-power, so that if the reef only contains gold it can be very easily turned to advantage. This same reef some two years ago was taken up, and a trial mado at Partington's, which gave a very good return ; but it was never tried any further. Pukeiiinau. The crushing for this company at Partington’s machine of some trial lots, in all about 39 tons, yielded 31 oz. of gold. There is another small parcel of stone to be put through, about five tons. The crushing for the Long Tunnel going on at this machine is looking well for a payable return. Brighton Company. The crushing going on at this company’s machine of a lot of stone from the Duchess of Kent reef is, we are glad to say, looking very well. A start was made on Friday, and on Saturday there was a good show on the plates. A small return from this would pay well, as there is such a large quantity to be easily got at. The manager is pushing ahead his main drive on the battery level, from which the principal portion of the stuff can be brought out. Central Italy. —Good progress is being made with the tunnel for the Golden Calf and Central Italy claims, 34 feet of it being now finished, through good country. On the claim the manager is getting everything in order for the machinery, and the excavations for the boiler, &c., will be started immediately, so that on itsarrival no delay will be made, but it can be put into position immediately. It seems that, after all, all the gold has not • run away towards the Waitemata, as good specimens are still found in the Nonpareil in the direction of this company’s ground. Twenty-third of June G.M. Co. —A meeting of directors of this company was held at the office of the company on Saturday last, when the report of the mine manager was submitted for their consideration, and the conclusion arrived at was that the mine was in such a condition as to warrant the high anticipations formed of it. It was resolved that before proceeding to crush any more stone, that a tramway should be coustructed # to connect the workings with the Government tramway, which would effect a considerable saving to the company in the cost of transit, the present road or track involving a needless amount of labor and expense. When the work _is completed, the stone in hand, amounting to about 30 tons, will be crushed, together with that which may accumulate in the interim, and should the yield be similar to the lot now finished, it will be in the power of the directors to declare a handsome dividend. The actual yield from the last 37 tons was lGloz sdwt melted gold. It was also resolved that a mining survey of the claim should be made, and that the services of Mr Wright should be secured for that purpose, and on its completion to continue the drive, for the purpose of cutting the main lode, which yielded such good returns in the upper levels before the rush of water became too heavy to admit of working it in the ordinary manner. The present drive wasput in with that intention, for the purpose of draining it, but the accidental discovery of the present leader caused a not unsatisfactory delay. It was decided that to flume the creek would be beneficial to the company, and that the arrangements made to carry on the work in conjunction with the Sons of Freedom and Middle Star Companies, which involved the construction of 100 feet by the company, were of a very satisfactory character.