MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 40, 22 November 1871, Page 3

MINING.

Moanataiari. —ln addition to their other workings, which are already on a large scale, wo notice that this company are starting from the level of the Moanataiari Creek to open up an old drive formerly put in by the Kyber Pass claim towards the Waiotahi Creek. This tunnel is already some 200 feet into the hill, and from it more than one lode can be conveniently worked. The Castle and Galatea reef which, when worked on formerly, was about three feet wide on an average, can be worked from this level which will give them some splendid backs to break down. Now that they are starting to work on both sides of where theyhave hitherto been working, their crushing power will not be nearly enough to reduce all their stone. These operations, with the opening up of the Kuranui tunnel into their ground, a matter of a few weeks more, will make this company’s property one of the very best on the whole field, the prospects as they have gone down on the lodes improving every clay. We hope, ere long, to have to add the Moanataiari to the list of dividend-paying companies on the field.

Shooting Star. —Yesterday morning the men working in the gronnd brought down some 80 or 90 lbs of rich specimens, which were broken out during the night shift. One shot brought down about 14 cwt of stone, in all of which good gold was visible, and those on view at Mr. Wardell’s office were picked out as the best. They arc evidently getting on to the run of gold formerly worked on in the claim on the upper or surface level. They have sunk a winze from the main adit level, at a short distance from their shaft, and nearly in the centre of their ground to a depth of 70 feet. For some distance down this winze, the reef was all split up and broken, but it came in together again and gold was carried down to the bottom. They commenced to open out on the reef at a depth of about GO feet towards tlio Little Angel ground, and the present specimens were met, with on beginning to scope out. The reef averages 4 feet in width, but where this gold was got it is fully 5 feet wide and shows gold freely. They will soon have backs of some GO feet to break down at once which ought to turn out some good gold from the present prospects. There arc about 45 or or 50 tons of quartz in the paddock, which will he added to before crushing commences. This jwill take place very soon now, and ought to give a good return as besides the general stuff there arc altogether on hand, about 1301bs. of good specimens, and they expect to take out more directly. Dixon’s No. I —The manager lias not yet commenced to send clown the mullocky stuff from the old workings to the battery, but lie has sent down 5 truck loads (about 74 tons) of stone, taken from the large winze which he is sinking on the reef to meet the Rose arid Shamrock tunnel. This will prove the reef at a rather lower depth than they have worked on it, but as the reef where sunk on is very much broken up, we cannot say we expect to see a rich return from this lot.

Red Queen. —The leader lias been followed in towards the Mary Ann for a distance of some 50 feet. At a few feet back it split in two, and is now running in two narrow veins about a foot apart. In one of these, the gold was found which was taken out on Saturday, but it is so small that it must be very rich to be of value. The leader however, may coinc together again if followed a little further, the country looking very well in the neighborhood. The OtagcTshaft has been broken into and a tine current of air obtained through the workings. The end of the drive next the shaft has been securely timbered and the place made quite safe all round. Work has not yet been commenced on the large reef, which, where cut through and a little of it broken down in the drive, is a fine strong body of stone, and looks well in places. The manager intends to start on it almost immediately. , Golden Crown Tribute. A partial return from Troy’s tribute was lodged in the Bank of New Zealand yesterday, and when melted weighed IGozs. Gdwts. l'2grs. Waitemata. —The winze which is being sunk on the Nonpareil reef is about 15 feet in the company’s ground, and is now down some eight or nine feet. At the top of the winze the lode is Yery small indeed, but it is increasing slightly as it goes down, though very little. It is larger on the Nonpareil side of the winze than towards the company’s ground, and seems to be makinglargcronlyinthatdirection. They have now come on to the hanging wall of the reef, which has not been at all defined hitherto, but is now very clear, and looks well. The specimens taken out were small ones from the white rubbly quartz, which abounds in the lode, a few more having been found yesterday. At present there is nothing of sufficient importance to warrant any excitement whatsoever, as gold is of frequent occurrence, though in small | patches, in this reef. Working is also being carried on in the Sedan claim ■■ with a view to prospecting the ground I thoroughly.

lland-and-Band —The reef (for reef it may now be called) cut in the shaft turns out to be a far larger one than was at all expected. They have come on the footwall at about 3 feet from the hanging wall, but have only just got through. Underneath a vein is shooting off from the main body, but nothing of course is known as to what it is. Though in very small quantities, gold lias been seen in the stone, which must be very satisfactory to the shareholders, who intend to give it a thorough test. This find is quite unexpected, and it is not yet determined what it is or where it comes from.