THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1872. SUMMARY.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 114, 20 February 1872, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1872. SUMMARY.

OUR GOLDFIELDS. Oru mining nows for the past iiionlli, though it may lie considered an improvement on the previous one, is not of a very important character. Jloit of (lie companies on the liehl have settled down steadily to their work, and the consequence is an increase in onr returns of gold, which can lie seen on comparing last month’s yield of 7,14(>0z. with the present one. The drought which had lasted so many months has also broken up, thus enabling the up-creek machines to resume, crushing; and, as there is more or less stuff waiting at all of them, we may safely look for a still further increase during the ensuing month. Operations in the Caledonian for the month have h"en »j far satisfactory. The manager has started to sink the main shaft with a view to opening up another level of the mine at some 70 or 89 loot below the present workings. Great fears were entertained that the pumps would have such a large quantity of water to contend with, when the lode was tapped,that the work could not he carried on with the present appliances. However, the reef has been cut into some 4 or fi feet, and that without any increase in the inflow of water, and now the manager—Captain Richards—entertains great hopes tin-1 lie will he able to get down with the present machinery. The yield from the mine shows an increase for the four weeks of 8,1590 z.,

being 4,2740 z. as against 1,11 onx. for Jan iary, and ties general crushing dirt is si ill looking very well indeed. As will be seen in another column, there has been a serious accident in the mine caused by an explosion of powder, by which a man, named Jennctt, nearly lost his life. The Tookey company arc working away driving on the reef, hut have not succeeded yet in picking up any run of gold. The United Pumping Assoeiation have made great progress, and the foundations are now nearly entirely huilt in, that are to carry the heavy machinery. They are deepening the Imperial Crown shaft at the same time, they arc erecting the machinery above ground. It is now down about 245 feet, and at that depth a lode has been cut, which contains copper, pyrites, Are., but no gold lias been seen in it. When the shaft is down some 70 feet further, they will be able to open out and cut (he Caledonian reef, and so enable that company and Tookey to open their ground at a much lower level than they can now do. The Albion company are .also making good progress with their large shaft on the Hat. They have a small engine at work for hoisting, and (lie foundations for their permanent engine and boiler arc now nearly completed, and it is expected that as soon as the first 200 foot section is finished the machinery will he in readiness to start. The All Nations mine has again come to the front. During the month, seme splendid stone having been taken out within the last three weeks, for which period they have hankt d 1,4410 z. of gold. Their montldy clean-up will take place orf Saturday next, when a good dividend may he looked for. This mine lias been one of the steadiest and best gold producers on the field from the commencement, and it bids fair to continue so for some time to come. By the time the present level is worked out, the manager will have another to commence on, for which purpose ho is now sinking the main shaft to the required depth. The Inverness, next to the All Nations, has been crushing regularly during the month for payable returns. The Jloanataiari Company have hanked for the month 840 oz. of gold, and this without being able to work on the richest part of their main led", owing to the lower level being flooded. The Kuramii tunnel will, however, he down into their ground, wdien they will he drained and an immediate increase in their returns may lie looked for. The Albumin have not been able to crush any quantity of stone owing to there being no water to work the machine, however, they have now started, and the returns will he more regular for the coming months. The Bright Smile Company has been crushing for the past fori night, with excellent results, and the Chiecn or Beauty next to them have had a - very good month’s work, having realised 3670 z. of gold. The Californian people have had two good returns during the month, and have declared a dividend of 2s Gd per share, making the fourth declared within last three months. The Yankee Doodle, close to this mine, has been looking up. After a great deal of prospecting work another good run of stone has been found in the old reef, from which most excellent prospects have been taken, and a trial crushing from which has given over an ounce to the ton, which for this district and the size of the lode together with the great facilities for cheap crushing must he considered a first-class prospect. Thu City of Dunedin have not been crushing much during flic month, hut they have let a contract for breaking down 500 tons of dirt, so that crushing will he started in a“ short tim." now. Favourable reports are to hand from the. .Sunbeam claim, lower Tararu, in which a great deal of dead work has been done during the last six months, and they soon expect to bn on good crushing stone. The news from the Nonpareil is very encouraging, and leads us to expect that crushing can he started and kept up continuously in a short time now. The lode has been cut in the bottom level, and though a little broken towards the North, yet shows average crushing stuff. In the other direction it is more solid and looks richer. The best and richest run of gold has to he driven for some 20 feet more before it can he reached in this level, and when this block is fairly opened up there will he a very large quantity of stone ready lo break out. '/'he Central Italy have been working away at their machinery during the month, and everything is now ready for a start, which will take place to-day. The engines, a new Ui-incli cylinder of dO-hor.se power,is well and substantially erected, and the winding gear also. The latter consists of two drums so governed by clutches that

each can be made to work independently of the other. The, boiler is a Cornish boiler, 33 feet long and 0 feel diameter, litted with patent galloway tubes, which greatly economise the fuel, and is capable of supplying a far larger quantity of steam than will be required at present. The pumping gear has not been fitted, as the shaft lias been drained by the Golden Calf workings, but it is all ready to hand when required. The manager will at once proceed to open out about 10 feet from the bottom of the shaft, and go in for the gold-bearing reef which was touched when the mine became Hooded, lie will open it. both ways, and no time will be lost in getting out stone. From the show obtained in the reef, and from the prospects now being taken from the Golden Calf, there is every probability that a rich block of country exists in this company’s ground, and its prospects must be looked on as very satisfactory indeed. The Golden Calf have made great progress during the month. They have commenced work on two lodes, both of which contain gold, the No. 1 having yielded some very handsome specimens. Where cut in the shaft, it. was very small, but carried excellent gold. As opened out on to the N.E. arid S.W., it lias increased in size, especially in the latter direction, whore there are about three feet of excellent looking crushing dirt, the reef being about 44 feet wide between the walls, but split in two by a sandstone horse. From this drive, some of the best specimens were taken. From the remarkable similarity of this lode and those worked on in the Nonpareil mine, as also the general appearance of the surrounding country, there is no doubt but that the Golden Calf people arc in the same run of country as that worked in the Nonpareil, and which runs through the Central Italy into their ground, and from the extent of their property, the mine must he looked on as a most valuable properly. In (lie Shotover, sinking the main shaft has been carried on, and everything has worked well. The ma-agrr informs us that he will have reached tho intended depth in about live feet more of sinking, when the total depth will be 380 feet from the surface. At 382 feet, a leader was cut, dipping into the shaft, from the Long !>rive direction, about six inches wide, and very good-looking stone. It is being tested to prove its value. Several alterations have been made in the machinery, which have greatly improved ils working, and when the shaft is completed a chamber will be cut, and driving will be commenced in different directions to prospect the ground at this depth. The Kurnmii return for the month is a fair average one, consisting of 7200 z. from about O'JO tons of quartz reduced. The Manukau claim has nowall been let on tribute to three different parties, all of whom have commenced work, and one party have begun to crush. The Sons of Freedom are getting on slowly with their low level tunnel, the country being pretty hard just now. They have crushed from the upper levels 48 tons of stone, which gave a return of 07oz. 7dwt, ami more stone is being broken out ami sent to the mill from the same block. The Una Company have not crushed much for the past six weeks, as they arc waiting until some dead work is completed before they can obtain a larg supply of stone. It will not be long before they can start their whole battery to work again, and when this happens there will he no more stoppages for some time, as their low level tunnel will soon lie in to tbe reef at the low level, and very large blocks of stone will be available for working on. 'flic claims on Ibn Hope Creek have been going on very quietly for sonic time, only two or three criisbiugs having taken place from the district, since our last, and none of them are very rich. The Windsor Castle have crushed two lots of stone from their upper workings for payable returns, but they have not yet. succeeded in getting hold of the reef at the low level, which has evidently been carried in too far, and the reef has most probably been cut through where very much pinched, and was not noticed. On the I’uiiga Flat there has been very little work done of consequence, as owing to the want of water the machines have not been able to work until about 10 days since. The ISendigo Independent have nearly finished a crushing of about 120 tons, which will give a payable return. The MuHum-in-l’arvo arc now crushing about (in or 70 tons at Weston’s, which will give a good payable return. ’The Vale of Avocn are awaiting their turn at the battery with two parcels of stuff—one of about 50 tons from their small lode, which is expected to yield richly, and another of about the same quantity which will give about 1 ounce to (lie ton. 'This is taken from the large reef, and that yield will pay well. The El Dorado have also got out a fine paddock of stone ready to send down as soon as their turn comes j at the battery. The stuff will also yield well. The Ruby low level funnel is now in over 370 fort, and they have got into a better and softer channel of country. A small lode lias been cut through, which looks very well although no gold , was visible to the naked eye. 'The tunnel will he carried on until the reef is struck, which is expected to lie done in a few feet more driving. From Upper Tararn the news of the monlli is meagre, as the claims for the most part are doing little or no work. The roa I six feet wide, has been completed for a distance of H miles above the tramway, and the remainder is being worked at now. This road will he far too small to enable nnv large machinery to lie carried up, being simply a pack-horse track, and nothing more. Until some better mode of communication with the fiat is established wc cannot expect to have anv good news to give of the mines in this district, ( >Oll though tlmv are so very good, as it will ho impossible for them to crush any stone they may get out. We must except the Vulcan, wiio, at a very heavy expense, have erected a nine-stamper battery, which they will keep employed on their own stone. They have had one small return of 20oz. from a small parcel of 1(1 tons of second-class stone, crushed from their main reef, and the battery is now at ; work. From Tapu our mining news is iniini- 1 portant, there being only some three or , four claims in the district producing gold. We arc not enabled to give all returns of gold from Coromandel district, as our correspondent has tailed to tiirnish us with them, hut the produce has not been very large for the past month, as their principal golden mine, the 1 okaten, hate not been crushing so much stone as usual, being engaged in carrying out a lot (if dead" week. However, judging from present appearances, the coming month will he better, ns there seems to be a great number of new claims being taken up and leases applied for. 'I lie Emily Baltoit has started to work, and is crushing for the company. 'The battery going up on the beach is also progressing ton aids completion very quickly, and will soon he ready to start, and as there are. large quantities of stone ready tor crushing, it will he kept fully employed. .Many claims in the district arc on good gold, but the scarcity of crushing power, and

the had roads, do not enable them to get their stone to the mills cheaply enough. Annexed is our usual monthly list of gold returns :

CItUSIIIXGS AND RETURNS OF GOLD FROM JAN. 21 no. TO FKIS. lflrti, 1872, INCLUSIVE.

Company. I i /■ 77 i H 6 o a C Albumin . 115 0 0 *81 it; 12 All Nations . -100 0 0 85( 0 0 “ “ . 1 DO 0 0 857 0 0 “ 44 0 ■1 0 *577 0 0 American Engle .It ( 0 *! h: 0 Aslilcy Tribute .. 7) 0 0 *5 4 0 beehive Tribute .. 20 0 0 *18 15 15 black An'el 50 0 0 *50 1!) 0 black Forest 1 0 22 *7 5 20 briedit Smile 15 0 0 *7 8 0 III) 0 0 *175 8 0 ririinswiek . 10 0 0 *8 15 2 Caledonian 500 0 0 2011 0 0 *• 2,SO 0 0 (710 0 0 500 0 0 807 0 0 500 0 0 71(i 0 0 Californian 2:*|() 0 0 * 1 58 7 0 44 520 0 0 10 0 Coromandel spcoi irums 0 0 55 it 0 0 City of Dunedin .. Dauntless and Sink 50 0 0 28 0 0 to 11 iso Tribute... ;i 0 0 *s 17 0 Flying Cloud 1 15 0 0 * 1 75 12 0 ” ** 28 0 0 27 2 0 Flagship Golden Anchor 25 0 0 *17 i 12 George Stephenson Golden Anchor No 1. '27) 0 0 *17 1(7 t; Tape c.o 0 0 21 0 0 Golden Crown 70 0 0 t; 12 44 U tail in e s *:> 12 12 “ * 4 Jot) 0 0 *7)7) 10 0 Golden Crown tribllto 7 0 0 r, 12 44 44 150 *77 17 h; Golden Spur No 1 Tribute t 0 0 *■> H 0 44 “ •i 0 0 J 5 15 11 No 5... 2!) 0 0 1!) 10 0 Golden Age tribute .‘5.7 0 0 *5!) ■t 0 Grove's Hank GO 0 0 *52 0 0 Great Surprise (lolcon d a (Coro0 0 1 s 0 m.andel 8(5 0 0 lit IS 0 Imperial Crown Tritrnle 50 0 0 *78 11 ('. Inverness 100 0 0 *117 12 4 * 4 * 50 0 0 !) 12 Kcllv's tribute ... :»<> 0 0 *7! 1 0 Kuranni ... 520 0 0 1 1 0 ‘ 4 4 * 570 0 0 *5!) I 8 0 Manuknu ... 150 0 0 *51 0 0 Marv Ann... 10 0 0 *2 8 0 Jloanataiari Union so *5 I H 0 Munnataiari 551 0 0 *108 15 0 500 0 0 •ton 10 2 Missouri ... Nil Despcrandum ISO 0 0 *28 <; 0 (Coromandel) ... 1’overtv Ciiarles27 0 0 *81 15 0 ton tribute 21 0 0 22 0 0 Prince Imperial ... 21 0 0 20 17 0 Queen of beauty... ISO 0 0 * 180 7) 0 175 0 0 187 0 0 Queensland 22 0 0 *12 7 2 lied. White, .and blue GO 0 0 *171 2 Shotovcr Company ■10 0 0 2 i 0 0 Sliotover Tribute... 15 0 0 1 0 Sons of Freedom ... •IS 0 0 *r»7 7 0 Star of the Thames 57 0 0 *k; S 2 44 0 l 20 ••5=8 5 0 Standard ... 0 0 0 *7 0 2 Sundries (from tailings. specimens, and unknown quarters"), at least 1.00!) 0 0 Tookev Co. Works Tribute ■in 0 0 *51 2 <; No 2 Tribute 15 0 0 * 1 1 5 0 la ore's Tribute... 20 () 0 *80 7 17 Two (icnrges. Coromnndel :j 0 0 21* 0 0 Una IT) 0 0 *r,s 0 0 '• tailings ... 0 0 0 7)2 0 0 77) 0 0 *72 5 lfi Vulcan in 0 0 *20 2 it; Waintahi Tribute .. is:; 0 0 *81 •i 0 11 0 0 * 1 1 7 0 Windsor Cast le ... C.O 0 0 50 0 0 0 0 *28 (•> 0 Wlinu 120 0 0 *88 0 0 Waitemnta. ‘IS 0 0 *5 1 7, il Yankee Doodle ... 0 0 *1 10 t) 7)2 0 0 *52 U 0 7. in; G S 5 1 2,7 51 2 17