MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 188, 16 May 1872, Page 3

MINING.

West Coast. — The manager informs us that yesterday morning, when a portion of the lode was broken down, a nice little parcel of specimens was taken out, making the quantity on hand at present about one hundred pounds altogether. There js a fair quantity of stone in paddock, and crushing will probably be commenced some time next week. Dauntless Tribute.—A crushing of about thirty tons of stone for tho tributers who are working this ground was com pleted yesterday, at Snuter’s Machine, and the return amounted to twenty ounces and six pennyweights of melted gold. The thirty tons of: stone was partly from the small lode. Hitherto, they have been mixing them, but this time the stuff was tried separately -at least a great deal of it was—and it was proved that the big reef was very poor indeed, and that the small leader gave a return of between two and three ounces to the ton, by far the larger portion of the parcel crushed, fully th iee fourths, being from the large lode, so that the return is really a good one. Twentv-tiiird of June. —A crushing of about twelve tons of stone, and a parcel of specimens, was completed last night for this company at SouLer’s Battery, but too Jate for retorting, which will take place to-day. A good return is expected. Italian. —A survey of the Nonpareil workings has been made with a view to giving the directors of this company an idea of where to set to work to drive for the lode. The plan proves what we have already reported, that the whole country seems io he steering towards the Waiotahi Creek, and it may turn out yet that the slide ca’ries the lode with it in that direction, ov that the reef makes again on the far side of it. Be that as it may, the directors of the Italian Company consider that they have sufficient grounds for believing that the lode lies between their shaft and the Waiotahi Creek, and they now propose opening out in that direction and driving for it. This work will he started without delay, and we trust that they will succeed in getting something for their trouble and money spent. WhaU. —The purchasers of this company, who are, wo understand, four in number, have determined to proceed to work without delay. Mr Borthwick, who was formerly manager of this mine, is naturally well acquainted with the ground. They intend to push in the low level tunnel from the Black Angel main adit level, in order to cut the Sons of Freedom lode, which they expect to do in about two hundred feet of driving. In the meantime tho upper level workings will not bo touched, but will be left until communication is established between them and the low level. Otago. —A great improvement has taken place in the appearance of tho country, in the face of the main cross-cut going in towards the Moanataiari Creek. Several quartz-foeders have come in, and these, together with an increased flow of water from tho face, indicate the near presence of a lode of some kind or other. Driving on the No. 2 lode is going ahead, and it still continues well-defined, carrying a good quantity of minerals of different sorts. Junction, No, 1 Tribute. —A crushing of about seventeen tons of stone for these tributers was cleaned up and retorted yesterday morning, and gave a ver} r satisfactory return of twenty-three ounces six pennyweights of gold. The crushing took place at tho Herald Battery. Nonpareil. Last night, after the usual market hours, a great run on tin's company’s scrip took place, and they rapidly increased in price from £3 15s to £4 2s Gd, anrl we think to more than that. We were quite unable to find out the cause ’of this '* flutter,” lmt various rumours were afloat as to a rich find having taken place. Few sales were effected, as there were very few shares in the market, and the uncertainty as to the real facts of the matter made many holders wary of selling. Cure. — The crushing at tho Tararu Battery is shaping well for a good return, the show beidg quite equal to the last. We fully expected this, as, although no specimen stone has been taken out, and gold cannot be seen in the reef below, by searching the stone in the paddock or at the battery, a nice show can be seen in a great portion of the quartz. There is a large quantity of mineral contained in the stone. Caledonian. —The manager reports that everything in the mine is going on satisfactorily, and the workings arc all fully manned. He can commence crushing now at any moment, and will probably start the machine to-morrow.

Sons of Freedom.-— I Quartz is again being sent down from this Sout h’s battery, and in a day or so there will be a sufficient supply on baud to start on, when a large parcel will be put through. City of London. —Crushing has been suspended for a day or two, hut will be started again as soon as there is a sufficient quantity on hand to insure tho possibility of keeping the mill going for some lime. It will most likely he Saturday morning before this can be done. A clean up took place, but no retorting will be done until a much laiger parcel has gone through. Oriental. —Work has been resumed by the contractors in this mine, and they are now hard at. work again. They have to drive through the reef and break down a lot of stuff for a trial crushing, which will not take very long to be dono* Crown Prince. —The manager reports most favourably of the lender being worked in this mine. It lias now been followed for ten feet since gold was found, and lias proved highly auriferous throughout. The country has very much improved in appearance, and is now much softer than it inis been at all. There are several feeders turning into the lode, and there seems to be a good prospect of astijl farther improvement in it.