MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 112, 17 February 1872, Page 3

MINING.

Black Angel. —Crushing with ten head has been commenced at the Alanukaii Battery, and the directors purpose keeping this up constantly. A contract has been let for breaking down the reef, and the contractors arc bound to deliver GO tons per week into the hopper. This they can now do with the greatest case, as the reef is on an average four feet wide, and good working ground. They are breaking down on the north-east side of the winze towards the AVhau claim, and are in some 30 feet at present. The manager intends to carry the drive light on to the boundary of the Whau claim, and carry on stopes overhead as he goes, so that in a short time a far larger quantity even than the 60 tons can be brought out with ease. The bottom of the drive lias been well timbered, so that now none of the mullock will bo sent to the surface at all, hut will be used to fill in, and at the same time the working of the next level will not be interfered with. The reef where now in hand has become quite brown in the centre for about two and a-half or three feet, whilst on either wall is a body of ordinary blue quartz. It seems unusual at this depth to find stone so thoroughly like surface stuff, and so curiously placed between two blue lodes, as it were. AVc saw on Tuesday a very good prospect washed from the face of the drive, and from the appearance of the plates at the battery we have no doubt but that the stuff will prove good crushing dirt. The block at this level to be worked out is 250 feet long, 75 feet of backs, and will average nearly, if not quite, four feet in thickness, so that if it is at all payable, there is a large quantity of quartz easily obtained, and regular returns may be looked for. The mine, which formerly was very dirty, has been cleaned out and properly drained, so that ingress and egress are more comfortably performed than heretofore.

Brunswick. —The tributers of this company are sending down about G tons of stone from a small lode, some 6 inches wide, to be crushed at the Alanukaii. It is not possible to estimate the yield, as llio leader lias not been worked on before. Twenty-third of June. —AVe perceive that this company’s paddock is getting nearly full, and in a short time they will be sending down a large parcel for crushing. The lode still looks well, and an average return is looked for. Sons of Freedom. —Alore stone is beingbroken out for another crushing. The manager is bringing in a flume from the Aloanataiari Creek, for the purpose of bringing water to the mouth of the low level drive in order to work the fan for sending in air to the face. This will of course, economise labour, and will also be incessantly at work. El Dorado. —The tributers have now some 80 tons of stone to grass, and more is being broken out daily. In all probability crushing will not take place for some little time yet, as the supply of watcr for the machine is small, and the manager has a lot of work to do in the mine. He intends to commence deepening the shaft, which lie will sink about 40 feet, when be will be on a level with the low level tunnel which is in for a great part of the distance towards the shaft. He is now opening out on the reef towards the N.E., in which direction no work has ever been done on it up to the present, lie finds the lode here to be just the same in appearances as where worked on, and though a little broken, there arc about two feet of quartz between the walls. In this claim the only part of the reef worked on is about 100 feet, next to the Bendigo Independent boundary, thus leaving sonic 300 feet as yet unprospected. Great Surprise. —The reel' is being stripped on the surface, and stone is grassed in large quantities. Gold is seen every now and then as the stone conics down. The shoots are finished, and arrangements are being made to have a crushing of 50 tons as soon as possible. Another claim lias been pegged out alongside Ibis one, and the reef is in band. The shareholders are going to test its value at once, and have had a survey of their own and the surrounding claims made. Yankee Doodle. —The good report we gave a short time back of the favourable prospect of the reef in this mine lias been fully justified. It will be remembered that wo stated that as soon as the bard boulders and quartz was got through, the lode would yield well, from the prospects obtained by washing. A crushing of .52 tons, the greater portion of which, but not all, was taken from the black part cf the lode, lias given the very satisfactory return of 320 z. 14dwt. of melted gold, of superior quality. This from a reef of the sort, and looking at the great facilities for cheap working, may he considered eminently satisfactory, and the owners are very sanguine as to the value of their property. AVc hope it will not be long ere wo bare to chronicle some more good returns from this mine.

Lowe’s Tribute (Tookey Comfanv).— A crushing of 20 tons of stone from this tribute was completed yesterday, and tho result, 540 z. 15ciwt., was lodged in the Bank of Australasia. This is an excellent return, being nearly 3oz. to the ton. Smiling Beauty. —A meeting of the shareholders in the above company was held yesterday afternoon, at the company’s office, Grahamstown. The balance-sheet and the directors’ report were read and adopted. Through pressure on our space, owing to the arrival of the Australian mail, we are obliged to hold them over till our next publication. The following gentlemen were elected directors:—Alcssrs Bready, APlntyre, A Daley, J. Alaroncy, and Robert Graham. Air Hume was appointed auditor. AA ork will shortly he resumed oh the company’s ground. Bright Smile. —Cleaning up was commenced yesterday afternoon, and tho amalgam from the plates alone retorted 1950 z. lOdwt. of gold. The boxes have yet to be cleaned up, and they look very well indeed. The quantity of stone through was 110 tons.