MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 52, 6 December 1871, Page 3

MINING.

Golden Bale. —Since Saturday last, when they found the first sign of gold, they have sunk the shaft eight feet further down, making a now total depth of 318 feet. The stone tonclicd was not any reef, hut simply a large vein or stringer, and now the whole country being worked through, is one mass of veins of quartz, in many of which small quantities of gold can he seen. The manager has picked out a number of small stones, and one decent sized one containing good gold pretty closely distributed. No increased iuflow of water has taken place yet, in fact, they seem to have rather less than they have had. There is little doubt that they are near some reef or the other, and when they cut it arc sure to have a quantity of water, as the Central Italy shaft is standing with 40 feet of water in it quite close to. The prospects, are, however, vere cheering for the shareholders, .though there is nothing at the present time to warrant any excitement at all. The country is very soft, and sinking very rapid in consequence, so that we shall not have long to wait before we know sometiling certain from this claim. North Pacific. —They have started in this mine from the low level drive on the boundary of the Vale of Avoca. Driving along the reef is now being pushed ahead, and shortly the manager will commence to stope out as soon as the drive is far enough in to admit of liis doing so. Things are remarkably quiet in this district just now, and something is badly wanting to make it go a little ahead. Nevada. —This claim, situated next to the City of Dunedin, has been taken on tribute by Mr J. A. Chapman, who has it for three years. The reef is 3 feet wide, and the present tributer is confident from the prospects that he will make it pay well. The low level tunnel is in 190 feet, and there is a good road down to the Flora Macdonald battery, so that there is every chance of the mine proving a valuable property. New Caledonia. —The show of gold from this mine is really very good, the stone being of first class quality, and the gold very thickly distributed through it. The crushing at the Criterion is shaping well, and the specimens, of which there arc a few lbs. on hand, ought to yield very well indeed. If the reef goes on improving as it is now doing, as it runs into the hill, this mine will soon become well known. Ballarat and Rising Sun. — The winze having broken through into the low level, they are now commencing to open out both ways on the reef, and will begin to break down stone for the mill directly.. Gold was carried all the way down the winze for the 100 feet, and is still visible as they go on, the reef being over two feet wide.

Inverness. —The manager lias commenced to open out and drive on the reef from the Kuranui tunnel level into their own ground, away from the All Nations, and the show is first rate, gold being very freely seen through the lode. Very soon now everything will be in first-rate order for breaking down very large quantities of stone.

Waitemata. —Yesterday a parcel of some 8 or 10 lbs. of fine specimens were on view at the office of the Thames Gold Mining Company, taken out of the winze going from the Nonpareil main adit level, at a depth of 33 feet. Yesterday, we reported that the reef had enlarged and improved in appearance, and shortly afterwards this gold was come across. It is impossible to say at present what this reef is likely to be, as it is further worked on, but it will now be thoroughly tested. Emily (Coromandel.) —A trial crushing of about 00 lbs of stone from the Emily lease was made yesterday at Spencer and Hall’s test battery, and gave a return of 15 dwts. to the ton, which is not very rieli, We have been unable to find out what size te reef is, or whether it is easily worked, but it would want to be both large and easy to work in order to pay in a district where crushing plant is scarce. City of London.— A meeting of the directors was held yesterday afternoon, at the company's office, and two of them, Messrs Hicks and Amadco were appointed to ascertain the cost of a 10-liorse power engine and winding gear, with a view to the purchase of it. They arc going to sink the shaft a further depth of 20 feet, making a total of 189, which will bring them down to a level with the Queen of Beauty and Bright Smile workings. A call of 2s per scrip share (15,000 th) was made, payable at once, giving a total amount of £SOO.

The Standard. —The crushwig going on for the Standard is shaping better than it did last week, and from the show on the plates, a far better yield may be looked for. Nonpareil. —The stone which was met with in the shaft shows gold through it ; but no defined lode lias been met with. It is supposed by the manager to be the same that was .cut and worked on in ihe branch drive from the main adit level. They have gone through it, and t'o not purpose testing it any further at (resent, but will continue the sinking of the shaft.