MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 44, 27 November 1871, Page 3

MINING.

Caledonian. —The amount of gold lodged on Saturday for the week’s out-turn was 30940z5, which added to the 32960zs banked last week, gives a total of 63900zs fortnight. Compared with last month’s yield this is a vast improvement, being half as much again for the fortnight as the total yield for the past month. There were no very large quantity of specimens included in this crushing. In the mine the opening out of the reef at the lower level is being rapidly and systematically proceeded with. The drive along the reef has reached the boundary ofTookcy’s ground, 22 feet away from the No. 3 winze. Breaking through the lode at tlie end of tlie cross cut from the chamber is being proceeded with, and though no gold lias been as yet seen, the stone looks well and is full of minerals. The manager intends to drive also along the reef in an opposite direction from Tookey’s. The lower drive now having readied the boundary of the claim, leaves a very large block of reef available for breaking down at once, containing according to present appearances, a very large quantity of gold. Besides this block of ground there is a very large section of the reef still untouched between the No. 3 winze and the shaft which can he worked on now at any moment, in fact, from the present prospects, tlie Caledonian promises to yield large returns for some time to come, from what is at present known to exist, and as there is still a large section of tlie mine quite untouched, there is a possibility of something further being come across, of which at present nothing is known.

Tookky. —The question as to the value of the reef in this company’s ground is about to be tested now in a very short time, and holders are confident, as they may well be, of seeing something tangible from their mine. That a portion, however large or small, of the run of gold does go into this ground is now placed almost beyond a doubt. As soon as the drive is far enough in to admit of the reef being worked without interfering with its continuation, the lode will be broken into, and in a short time we expect to see gold coming up. This drive will be continued to meet the one corning in from the 200 feet level in the company’s own shaft, so that they will then be able to work through their own ground, which will relieve the Caledonian machinery greatly, and enable them (the Caledonian) to work their own ground to better advantage. Inverness. — Communication between the winze going down on the boundary of the All Nations’ ground and the Kuranui tunnel level is now effected, and thus the mine is in readiness for being worked in a proper manner. Upon going through this mine, the first thought that strikes one is what a small amount of work has been clone in it for the length of time it lias been in existence, some four years now. With a well-known rich reef such as the All Nations has been proved to be, running right through the ground, for about 300 feet, it up to the present has never been really tested at any depth from the surface. The present manager has for some time past been doing a lot of dead work getting the ground into good order for working, and lie is now in readiness to commence breaking down the reef. The reef, as already stated, runs for a length of 300 feet through the ground, with backs of 280 feet from the lowest level to the surface. At the All Nations end of the mine, there arc four levels ready to work cm the wliolg of the stuff, from which will be passed down shoots and delivered in the Kuranui tunnel, and sent to the battery. At the Don Pedro end of the mine, a drive is being carried along the reef into the company’s ground. A winze is also being sunk down to the lowest or tunnel level, a distance of 110 feet, and in this winze the reef is 3 feet wide and looking splendid. Stoping is also going on at this level, and good gold is being brought out. From these stopes it was that a trial took place, which gave over three ounces to the ton, and the quality of the stone now coining out is quite as good as ever. From all this it will he seen, that with the exception of the small surface block, which the tributers are working on (about 100 feet long by 90 feet of hacks), little stone has been broken out of the reef in the company’s ground below the mere surface workings, except where the connecting winzes have been sunk, and the level drives put in, and the quartz from these winzes and levels lias not been crushed, lying now ready to he sent down the shoots as soon as complete. The reef, I where broken through in the cross-cut from | the Kuranui tunnel, shows three feet wide | and from the small quantity taken out, a lot of some 20 lbs of specimens were picked. The manager, Mr Ilennelly, is about making a tramway from the mouth of the tunnel to the Prince Alfred battery, where he intends to keep up continuous crushing when lie once starts, which will be very soon now. Moanataiaiu. —4ooozs. the result of the fortnight’s work, was lodged on Saturday, making the total for the month of 7720z5. lOdwts., a slight increase over the previous month. For a great part of the fortnight only the Company’s own battery has been working, so that the same quantity of stone has not been reduced as last time, thus showing an improvement in the quality. No. 9 lode lias furnished the best portion of the stone crushed, and is still showing up well. Windsor Castle. —The manager showed us some small stones from the leader, cut the other day near the upper boundary of tlie claim, showing gold distinctly. This will bo prospected to prove its value, it now being four inches thick. Gold has also been got in the winze on the main reef which is being carried down to the low level tunnel. To-day tlie men are going to work in the low level adit again, the inflow of water in the face having decreased sufficiently to allow of their doing so, though it is still very heavy. They expect to get the reef in about three feet of driving. Bank of New Zealand. —The contractors have driven about 30 feet to the west of the main adit, and the country has much improved, having become much ! softer—it is now picking stuff, whereas j up to the present they have had to shoot, i Water is now coming iu freely all over the face, and is increasing in quantity j every shift. From all these signs they j expect to cut the reef in a very few feet further driving. Shotoveu Tribute. —The last week’s crushing for these tributers gave a return of 39ozs. lOdwts. 12grs., from 56 tons of general stuff, and a small lot of picked stone. This is rather below the average yield, tlie stuff being poorer than usual. American Eagle. Tlie manager brought down Bibs, weight of specimens on Saturday, making about 271bs. on hand at present." He reports that the country has slightly improved, having become a little softer, more stringers running into the reef, nearly all of which carry nice specimens near the main body of stone. The inflow of water is rather heavy

necessitating the i}§e of pitch for shooting With, \ •, -T--T • - -v t iIhED of 60 ions of stone 'Tor this company was completed on Saturday night, at the Manukau battery, and yielded over 130ozs. of retorted gold, besides which there will be a small parcel to come in from the berdans, etc. This is a very great improvement on the last crushing, which did not yield of an ounce to the ton, the present yield being nearly 2£ozs. to the ton. Grove’s Bank. —l3ozs. 7dwts. of gold were obtained for the week’s crushing, with only four head of stampers, from this claim, —a very good average return from such easily obtained and crushed stone. Tlie other stampers have been engaged crushing for the St. Ivilda clitim. Golden Crown Tribute. —55 ozs. 15dwts. of gold were lodged as the result of the fortnight’s crushing for these tributers, making the total for the month 158ozs. lldwts. from about 140 tons of stone.

Imperial Crown Tribute. —This company’s tributers, who arc working in the Golden Hill ground, have finished a crushing of about 30 tons at the Tramway battery, for a yield of 20ozs. Odwts. of gold. This is not quite equal to their last crushing, which went very nearly an ounce to the ton.

Alburnia.— Tin's company's machine is now in full swing, crushing stone from the main workings, the tramway and shoot being all finished, and plenty of stone being ready to send clown. No delay need now take place, as a sufficient quantity cfstuff can he sent down to keep the mill constantly employed.