MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 65, 21 December 1871, Page 3

MINING.

ShotovEß. —The inflow of water in this company’s shaft has decreased very much, in fact so small is the quantity now coming in that most of it has to be sent back into the pipes, in order to make the plunger act well, good progress is being made down below with the driving, the country being much softer than it was.

Italian. —From present appearances, the lode must be close at hand in the crosscut entered from the chamber. A leader about 6 inches wide lias been met with, running with the drive, and the ground has become much softer in the last few feet.

Multum-in-Parvo. —Work has deeti resumed in this mine since the law-suit was decided and the prospects are now betler than they have been before. An entire change is about to be made in the method of working, which has hitherto been anything but advantageous to the company. The manager intends to open up communication with the surface over the winze at present down from the main drive, and by this means he will be able to haul all the stone up from their present working level with horse power instead of by hand, thereby saving a considerable amount of labour! A low level drive is to be entered through the No Phis Ultra ground, to cut the reef at a depth of 180 feet below the present tunnel. This will give them 220 feet of backs on the reef to work on, and also will be a great saving ir: the expense of bringing the stone out. Whilst this level is going in, the present winze will be continued down and another block on the reef will be available for working out from which good returns may be looked for. The No. 1, or main lode has wonderfully improved in appearance during the last few feet of driving on, and has widened out from a few inches to over a foot and a-half. Good gold was knocked out yesterday from the face, and there is every probability of more being near at hand. In the stopes, the blank patch oil the line of reef lias been passed through, and good stone has again come in. The No. 2 lode continues to look very well. A winze is being put down on it and some first-rate specimens were brought out yesterday and the day before. No crushing will take place for some little time to come, as the manager intends to make different and moro economical ariangements for sending the stone to the mill. Wc have forgotten to mention that Mr McCade has been appointed mine manager, and under his direction it is that the new system of working is to be introduced. It seems likely that this district will soon come into more prominent notice than it has done for some time, as there is every probability of good returns being got from the reefs there.

Ne Plus Ultra. —Tlio leader .it present worked on in the lower level in this mine, is running through first-rate looking country, soft and kindly. It is at present broken up, but seems to he coming together again in the bottom of the drive. There is very little doubt that the leader is the same as that in hand in the upper •drive, the bearing being exactly similar and there being very little difference in the dip. The No. 2 lode of the Multum-in-Parvo strikes right through this company’s ground, and the bearing as taken by our reporter, is exactly similar to that of the lode they are at present working on, as is also the dip. From this it can be seen that they may possibly be one and the same, though this cannot be reckoned on as a certainty. However, there is no doubt whatsoever, that this company’s ground carrys the strike of the No. 2 Multum lode right through it, and if it should only continue as rich as it now is, a very valuable piece of property is in possession of the company. Some nice looking specimen stone has been taken from the lode above mentioned as being worked on, showing that the precious metal docs exist in it. Golden Age.—A crushing of some 30 tons of stone from this company’s tribute party was completed yesterday, at the Criterion Battery, and gave the very good return of 40ozs. 12dwts. 12grs. of melted gold. Bendigo Independent.— The return of the specimen crushing is now to hand, and is even better than was looked for by anyone, amounting to 130ozs. This makes a total yield of 3200z5. of gold from 149 tons of stuff crushed, or at the rate of nearly two ounces and three quarters to the ton. This will in all probability enable the directors to declare a dividend to the shareholders, a result not attained in many of the mines worked on tribute on the field. Shamrock. —A crushingof about 30 tons will take place for this company as soon as there is a sufficient supply of water on hand. Gold has been seen all through the stone, and a good return is looked for. Red Queen. —Yesterday a parcel of about Gslbs. of first-class specimens were taken from the leader in the winze at a depth of 13 feet, and good gold is still visible all through the lode. A further quantity is expected to-day. The reef

has come in more compactly and the show at present is A.l. New Caledonia. —The manager has commenced to break down stone for another crushing, and the reef, which is two feet wide, s 1 ows gold freely throughout, and the country being much softer, work is progressing favourably. Golden Lion. —Tire first half-yearly meeting of the company was held yesterday afternoon, at the Governor Bowen Hotel. The directors’ and mine manager’s reports were read and passed, proving most satisfactory to the shareholders. The balance sheet also was brought forward and passed unanimously. It shows the company to be solvent and in a good sound condition. £490 19s Gd liaTC been expended in permanent works on the mine, and £252 6s 5d laid out in other expenses, such as horses, carting, &c., &c. The sum of £7B Is is due as unpaid calls, and the balance in bank to the credit of the company is £7B Is ; Liabilities, £B2 2s. There is every prospect of the company being in a flourishing condition, as the reef is expected to be reached in a few feet of driving. Bright Smile and Queen of Beauty.— On the application of Mr Bees, of counsel for Bright Smile Company, tho Chief Justice yesterday granted a rule nisi , calling upon tho Warden to shew cause why he should not be prohibited from adjudicating upon this case by reason of the land in dispute being private land and without the goldfield.