MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 43, 25 November 1871, Page 3

MINING.

George Stephenson.— ln the winze being sunk from the surface on the reef, in order to open up good ventilation, some very nice specimens were-found the other day. The stone was being thrown away until the manager," happening to look over the tip, found some nice golden stone. The reef is three feet wide where it is now being worked on, much larger than it is down below, and is brown, being near the surface. This find proves that gold exists in the lode for at least a depth of 100 feet, as some good specimens were taken out at that depth some time ago by the shareholders of the Black Eagle claim. If the leader in the Black Forest claim should prove to be as' valuable as it is in this claim, an amalgamation would be certainly advantageous to both parties, from the quantity of ground which would be at their disposal, as well as the greater facilities they would have for working the whole-more economically. Ruby. —Work will not now be delayed for any length of time, the manager having purchased several hundred feet of pipes to send air into the face of the drive and so enable the men to get on with their work. He intends to work the airfan in a very economical, and hitherto, novel manner on the field. He has purchased a small water wheel, some 3 or 4 feet in diameter, and this he intends to erect near the mouth of the drive, where there is quite a sufficient supply of water to work it constantly. The fan will be connected with this wheel, and thus a constant and unfailing supply of air can be sent in, besides which a man’s labour will be saved. The reef is fully expected to be cut in a few feet further driving. Nonpareil —The manager lodged yes terday morning, 2730z5. Gdwts. of gold, the result of the final clean up from general stuff and a quantity of picked stone, which was not very rich, taking it all through. This, with 2140z5. lldwts lodged before, makes the total yield for the four weeks 4870z5. 17dwts. Although this shows a great falling off from last month’s yield, it is still a good one. This month very few specimens were taken out, and the quantity of stuff put through the battery was much less than last time. No very large returns can be looked for until the shaft has been sunk to the required depth, and the lower block opened out for working on, but there will still be a large quantity to be put through from the present levels. Crushing will be started again directly, and kept up pretty constantly. Manukau. —The workings on the large or No 2 reef in this claim are necessarily of a very extensive nature, the width of the lode being as much as 15 feet in many places. A very few men can knock down stone enough to keep 20 head of stampers going ; and, if crushing power sufficient was at hand, 40 head could be kept going as easily. The drive has been entered along the reef to within some 30 or 40 feet of the Cure boundary, and a portion stoped out to the height of about 20 feet. At the other end of the workings, the reef has slewed round, and its present course shapes for running right through the widest portion of the company’s ground. Where first worked on, this reef gave some magnificent returns, and it is quite probable that, if systematically worked on, another run may be found, and, as there is an immense quantity of stone to work out, there will be work for years to come.

Golden Crown. —The No. 2 reef intersected at the 170 foot level in a cross cut put in for the purpose, has not yet been gone through. The width up to the present is over four feet, and no sign of the foot wall. No gold has been seen as yet, though there is metal in the stone. When got through a drive will be put in along the reef, to meet the winze already sunk from the main level to the required depth, which will be opened into in about 12 feet driving. This will open up a large block for working on immediately. Driving along the foot wall of No. 1 reef is being continued to the boundary, and good progress is being] ade. None of it lias been broken down, except where the cross-cut intersected it, nor wiW it be touched till everything is in readiness for getting fully to work. Albion. —Preparations are being made for getting the timber and everything in order for the second contract, which will soon be commenced now. The present contractors have yet to sink some feet, and timber up the divisions in the shaft, all of which will be done in a few days. The new contractors will have to enlarge the shaft, and take it gradually out from its present size (12 feet) till it reaches 19 feet in length. This is done for the purpose of receiving the bearers, cistern plunger, &c.; from thence down it will be the same size as at present, until a | further distance of 200 feet shall have j been reached, when the same alterations | will be made, so that one set of plans ■ will answer for each section. The total depth of the shaft when the second contract is finished will be 203 feet. The bed for the engine is being prepared, but as the boiler will not arrive for about two months or more, it will be some little time before it is fixed. Poverty and Charleston Tribute.— A crushing of about 90 tons of stone for this tribute, at the Mauukau battery, yielded 34ozs lQdwts. of gold.

thedast crashiDgJook worUT has’“been steadily carried On on the leader from which the specimens were taken, and several men have also been working onrflie Portuguese leader, which has improved both in size and appearance. A" good quantity of stone has accumulated in the paddocks, and gold has been sefin . frequently in breaking down, but no specimens have been picked out, as the manager lias forbidden the hands to fossick for them on account of the waste of time. Yesterday several tons were sent down the wire tramway, as the first lot of a parcel to be crushed at Greenway’s machine, where two batteries have been employed to comrilence crushing on Monday morning. Shotover Tribute. —About 401bs of stone crushed forthesetributersat Spencer and Hall’s, yielded 12ozs. This will be melted with the return for the general crushing at the battery, which will be sent in to-day. Providence. —A crushing for the new shareholders is taking place at Partington’s battery, and together with the yield from the specimens which were crushed at Spencer and Hall’s is expected to give a very good return. Highland Chief. —The tramway and paddocks are being fixed, in readiness to commence to send down quartz as soon as ever the Government line is completed. There are now about 50 tons to grass to begin with, and breaking down can be commenced at any moment, so that there will be a large supply constantly on hand. A good prospect has been obtained from some stone tried from the reef at the lower end of their ground, at a depth of 60 feet from where gold was formerly found in the surface workings. If this should prove payable, they can go down to the creek level, 150 feet below their present workings, which will give them a very large block of ground to work at. Crushing from this reef will be commenced first, as the tramway will be finished to it before it is to the upper one. 23rd June.— The mining survey of this ground having been completed by Mr Wright, men have been set to work to drive on the main lode, which is in hand in level, and which, from present appearances, promises to be very valuable. About 70 tons of quartz are ready in the paddock to send to the battery, as soon as the branch tramway to the main line is completed.