MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 217, 19 June 1872, Page 3

MINING.

Bird in Hand. —The crushing for this company going on at the Manukau Battery shows that the stone is more or less auriferous. Judging by the show up to the present, a little over half-an-ounce may be expected. About twenty or twenty-five tons will be put through before any clean up takes place. Sons of Freedom. Yesterday the manager was crushing picked stuff at the battery, of which there was a good parcel on hand, and to-day a general clean up will take place after a little over three weeks’ crushing with ten head of stampers, when a good return may be looked for. Crushing will be suspended for a week or so, until the quartz accumulates a little, as the block being worked is not very layge. Dare’s (Tookey) Tribute. These tributers commenced carting a parcel of stone to the Manukau Battery yesterday, where they are going to crush. The stone is taken from the old Belfast reef, which was worked by Work and party on tribute a short time since, above where Dare is now breaking down stone. Here it will be remembered that some nice gold was found a few days since, and the reef looks very well indeed, being a good size, and not hard to work. This lode will very likely yield well to the company at a greater depth, if it continues downward as it has done above. The level at present being worked on .is known as the one hundred and forty feet level, Work having taken it out down to the one hundred feet level. The present crushing is expected to turn out very well. Cure. —The crushing continues to show up well, and there is a large quantity of stone in the paddock, as well as underground, already broken down. The reef certainly looks well, and continues to carry every indication of gold with it as far as worked on at present. It is now fully eight or nine feet thick, quartz all through, the whole of which is being crushed, so that there seems every probability of crushing being kept up for some time to come.

Work’s (Tookey) Tribute.— A crushing of about twenty-two tons of stone for Work’s tribute was completed yesterday at the Manukau Battery, a return of about one and a-half ounces to the ton is expected. The stone comes from the lode formerly worked on by Tookey when first the claim was taken up, the old workings of which can now be seen alongside of the Moanataiari tramway. The tributers have got a good sized block of this ground, commencing some sixty feet or so below the surface, and the vein still keeps up its character as a gold producer. When first worked on, it will be remembered that very good returns were obtained from this lode, which was one of the first opened up on the field. Central Italy. —Yesterday the manager started to rise on the lode cut in the chamber at the two hundred and sixty feet level, for the purpose of communicating with the level now going in at two hundred feet down the shaft. The lode is from eighteen inches to two feet thick, and gold was seen in the breaking down yesterday.

COROMANDEL MINING NEWS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Scotty’s Hill. Great excitement was caused here on Friday evening in consequence of some very rich specimens being taken from the leader at the face of the old drive. Upon visiting the mine yesterday we saw some that had just been taken out, and they were of a very rich character—nearly half gold. We understand that another lot was also taken out during the day. The manager intends opening out on both sides, and anticipates cutting into the rich leader shortly from whence Scotty obtained 250 z. to the dish before he was flooded out. The present leader is about a foot wide, and very easily worked. The Bismarck continues to take out specimens hourly from the stopes. On Saturday a good haul was made, equal to anything that ever came from the claim. Pride of Tokatea will complete their crushing on Friday. It is expected the general stuff will give 3oz. to the ton. The specimens have been crushed, and promise a splendid yield. Judging from appearances only they will have from IUOO to 2000 oz. of amalgam on hand. Little Angel have widened their old tunnel, and crossed a leader in doing so, from which some very nice gold was obtained to-day. A trial ciushing will be taken from it shortly, and should it prove satisfactory a winze will at once be sunk i upon the leader.

Royal Oak. —The upper level of this claim has been taken in 100 feet where the leader was cut in the face, and a cross-cut put in both ways on it 14 feet. A winze also was sunk on the leader to a depth of 140 feet to connect the lower level which is in 300 feet. About half way down the winze a drive was opened out, and carried in about 70 feet, from which they commenced to stope upwards, and on Friday evening very rich stone was met with. The leader is very regular, and about 0 inches wide. Great hopes are entertained of it. In the middle level they are in 30 feet, and following the Little Wonder leader from which specimens are obtained, and a good show of gold as they break it out. Golden Point.— ln the lower drive of tin's claim started at Scotty’s Hill, a few small veins—apparently auriferous—have been cut at a distance of 60 feet in. In a few days they hope to get Scotty’s Hill reef—also the Kapanga lode in the upper level, which is now in 120 feet. The country is very hard just now, and blasting is the order of the day. Nil Desperandum. —The contract for completing this tunnel through to the battery has been let, and work will be commenced at once. The manager expects it to be finished under a month. A tramway is being laid down on the eastern side. It is expected before they are through, the Working Miners and another lode will be crossed. The country is easily worked, but water is rather troublesome at the sides of the tunnel, though none in the face. Working Miners. —This mine looks exceedingly well. The lode is 2ft thick with good smooth walls; gold is seen occasionally. Stoping out this week will he commenced, so as to be ready for the battery when the Nil Desperandum tunnel is finished. The Golden Pah continue to take out nice specimens from their leader. The shaft from lower level is now down ten feet ; sinking at present very good. Green Harp. —This company will start crushing this evening or to-morrow morning. Their well has been deepened, and a cistern made, which it is calculated will effectually supply them with water. Stoping from the upper level is being carried on vigorously, and a large supply of quartz being got to keep the battery going. The Black Hill are still following the leader in the winze, which is now down 7 or 8 feet. A little gold is obtained by washing in every dish.

Paul’s Creek Company.— The. tunnel from the tributary to the main creek is now in between 50 and GO feet. The leader still continues with them, and is slightly enlarged. A few feet further on they expect will give them the lode from whence the good specimens are supposed to have come, which were obtained some time ago on the surface. The Pauline Company are still extending their lower level to cut the lode traversing the spur from which they obtained such good prospects. The manager hopes to cross it soon. The Turn of the Tide have their lower level in about 55 feet through very hard country. They expect to intersect a reef called the Black Reef in a short distance further.

Peep o’ Day. —There is hardly anything new to report upon this claim. They are still following the leader in upper and lower levels with favourable prospects. The Golconda. —The prospects of this company are looking well, the leaders being stoped from the various winzes are improving every day, and the show of gold on the plates in the battery indicates a marked increase.

Green Flag. —This company’s shaft is now down between 70 and 80 feet. The sinking is becoming much harder. Several veins of white quartz have been gone through. At 100 feet they will open out. Much'delay has been caused by the weather, they being unable to bring timber up from the town. The Lucky Diggers are continuing their main tunnel through the Green Flag ground, and taking quartz out for crushing from a leader where good prospects were washed out.

Ixion. —This company propose sinking a shaft on the bill above the Green Flag, where they have been cross-trenching lately for the No. 1 Golconda. A small stringer was got some time ago in the main trench.

The Royal Charlie have been trying for the strike of the No. 1 Golconda in their ground,by sinking several temporary shafts. They got it to-day and intend to sink a main shaft on it, about 100 feet from their old shaft towards Lynch’s Flat. We understand that the Lynch’s Flat Company join them in putting down the shaft. The leader is striking nearly east and west were it was opened out and underlying to the south, and is about 18 inches wide. The Pacific’s main tunnel is in about 300 feet. They are trying for some good leaders found on the surface. A winze is also being sunk on a leader which shows a good colour, and from which some specimens have been taken. A new manager has been appointed, and the work stopped to-day to provide timber, &c. Rumours were rife here ou Saturday that a very rich find had been made at the Tiki by a man naim d Smith, and that fabulous amounts had been offered for a share. A gentleman who visited the claim yesterday assures us he saw nothing in the leader, which is about 18 inches wide, to induce such exaggerated ideas. We believe there was a little gold—and that was all. In reference to this find we may state that on visiting the Tiki on Thursday last we heard that a reef 4 feet wide with a little gold in it had been opened by Smith. Upon making inquiries from Smith we found that he had got a reef, but he wholly denied the presence of gold in the stone, and requested us not to notice the matter at all in the press, as they had not secured their lease, which request we, of course, complied with.