MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 91, 24 January 1872, Page 3

MINING.

New Caledonia. —A meeting of directors was held yesterday, at the company’s office, Grahamstown. After the usual routine of business had been gone through, such as passing accounts, etc., it was determined to let a part of the mine on tribute, and the legal manager was instructed to call for tenders to that effect. Christchurch. —The reef, when cut into, was found to he split up into five different veins, but since it lias been opened out on, three of these have now run into one solid body of quartz, and the others are, to all appearance, running in also, so that in a few feet the manager expects to have the whole in one. The face of the reef shows good gold, and the shareholders have now a good prospect before them of getting some return for their outlay. City of Dunedin. —The reef where the manager lias been driving on it, has much improved in appearance, and it is now 'perfectly black all over, the stuff bearing much the same appearance as that from which such good returns were formerly obtained. The size of the reef is not exactly known, the footwall being in hand at the bottom of the drivo on one side, but the hanging wall has not been seen yet on the other side. This gives at least six feet of stone, and the manager is of opinion that it is about eight feet at least. A crushing will take place next week or so of the stuff broken out whilst driving, and as soon as this is finished a clean up will take place, as he cannot yet take out stuff enough to keep up continuous crushing. American Eagle.— A crushing of 34 lons of stone was finished at Vickery’s machine yesterday from this company’s claim, hut the result was not very good, being only 10oz., or Gdwt. to the ton. From the appearance of the stone, we expected a far better return. Vale of Avoca.-- On Monday night a fine haul of about sGlb. of specimen stone was made from the stopes in the lower level of the mine, and good gold is still visible as the stuff is broken down. The manager informs us that lie will be ready to commence crushing as soon as AVcston’s battery can start, but this cannot be until get a good downpour of ram, as there actually is no water for the machine to use. By the time the battery can get a start, we fully expect to sec a largo quantity of stone ready, as several other claims in the neighbourhood are breaking out stuff, which they must crush up there. Yankee Doodle. The manager is actively engaged in continuing the prospecting of ibis ground. A crushing of about 3 tons from the lode near the surface, mentioned as having been found in our last report, gave a yield of loz. lOdwt. but as the gold is rather dirty it will probably he reduced in the melting. The manager, however, is confident that the reef will, when opened on, yield half an ounce to the ton, which will he payable, as the battery is close at hand, and it is very easily got out. Californian— Crushing is again going on at the Flora Macdonald battery for the tributers of this ground, and with satisfactory results so far. The reef where opened on from the winze 50 feet above the low level is looking very well and turning out some good stone, worth at least an ounce to the ton, hut the stuff being brought out fmm"above is not nearly so good, and will consequently rather reduce the, average yield. However, another good lodgment of gold may he looked for shortly by the shareholders. North Star (late AVamleriiig Star, Te Papa Gully).—This ground which is now the property of Mr F. J. A\ ardcll,he having purchased it at auction, has Been let on tribute by the owner to a parly of miners, who knew the ground very well when it was originally worked. The lowlevel tunnel is in for a distance of 147 feet, and requires to be carried in for a further distance of 42 feet to reach the lode. The present tributers have got the mine down to this level to work out, as there is between 600 or 700 feel on the line of reef, with good hacks, there is a fine block of ground to work out. . the first shaicliolders took some iOOoz. ol: gold out whilst they held it, and the prospects were good when work was knocked off. There are some 15 tons of quartz to. grass in the paddock, and as soon as this is supplemented, the first crushing will take place. All Nations. —The crushing going on at the Kuranui battery is still shaping well, and next Saturday the usual fourweekly clean-up will take place, when a good return may lie looked for. A v,.ry large block still remains to be worked out above the 280-feet level, and, at the present rate of work, it will take at least a year to do it, probably a longer time, so that good returns are likely to come to hand for some time. The shaft is to be sunk to the 280-fcet level, and u chamber opened out and connected with the large tunnel through which the lower levels will be worked. AVlicn this is done the shaft will he sunk to the required depth for opening out another level, say some 70 or SO feet lower down than they now arc, so that there is every prospect of a continuance of good yields for some long time to come, as the prospects along the bottom of the drive were good. Sons of Freedom.— The reef in the drive through the Lincoln Castle ground has now made to a width of three feet, and shows gold freely in the stone as it is knocked down. It is vcrywcll defined and solid, and ought to crush well. The manager is putting up a rise where the gold was first come on, and will stopc along from that. There are from 16 to 20 tons to grass, and as stone will be now brought out in large quantities, a crushing can soon take place. Bright Smile. —The crushing is still looking well, and the reef shows gold whenever broken down towards the beach. Working from the winze end of the block lias been commenced, and with good prospects.