MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 225, 28 June 1872, Page 3

MINING.

Waitemata.-- Yesterday morning the crosscut. from the main adit level cut through the reel which was sought for, and where met with it has proved rich beyond expectation. The lode on the portli-east side of the drive is fully a foot thick, and excellent stone was taken from it. On the other side of the face there seems to be another leader joining it, and here there is a far greater quantity of stone. During the day several pounds weight of firstrate specimens were taken out, and gold could be seen very generally through the quartz if looked for. In appearance the country round the lode is by far better than anything we have before seen in the mine, not being at all broken or disturbed, tiie reef being well-defined with fine clean walls. We consider that they have now got a first-rate show in hand, far better than any obtained of late mouths, as on this reef they have below the main level large blocks to woik out, and overhead there must be an immense section of quite virgin ground, through which the lode may naturally be supposed to run. Yesterday afternoon they were sinking on the lode iu older to meet the rise and break through for air, which is much needed. This is most probably effected by this morning, as they seemed to be quite close last evening. We congratulate the Waitemata Company on this addition to the value of their property, which we consider to bo a most valuable one, and it will not take long to prove it, as a crushing can soon be made on trial. The manager has now a few tons of stone in the paddock from the other workings, and this he intends to send to the mill, so as net to mix the two lots, but to crush from the new lode sepa-ateiv, and so prove ito value. Una. —The upper levels of this mine are evidently no. by any means yet done up, as a ve.y great improvement has taken place lately in the direction of the New May Moon lode. This, which had been followed down to within one hundred feet of the No. 2 or old Loyalty level, and was but indifferent, has now been met with in a cross-cut entered from the No. 2 level, and shows a body of stone some eighteen inches thick, in which good gold can be frequently seen. Owing to the reef having split, the manager has been woiking for some time in great uncci tainty as to which was the proper lode, but the cross-cut has settled that point and now lie will be enabled to go-ahead, and with certainty get out good stone too. There are some fine blocks of ground in these upper levels to work out, tho whole of which wi'l pay to work out, and part of those may turn out even ricldy. Regarding tho low level on the lode, which we reported as having become much improved a short tii e since, little work lias been done on it since then, as the manager has been altering the course of the drive in order to get on to the hanging wall of the reef which is the softest for driving in. However, when he starts to work again, the improvement will doubtless continue, as every foot ho drives will bring him nearer to the old Pride of Karaka shot of gold which yielded so richly. The crushing at the battery is showing up for an improvement on the last fortnight’s yield, and it is estimated that the return will be fully one hunched and fifty ounces. Moa. —This mine, it will be remembered, was held on tribute some months back, and ever since then it has been well and systematically worked. The tribute party worked for a time on the surface, hut this not turning out very well, they gave it up and came down vo tho creek, where the company had started a low level in clays of yore. This was in for sixty feet, and they have continued it one hundred and forty feet further, at which distance the underlie of the Moa lode was met with. Where cut it was but poor looking, but they determined to follow it up. They have driven oil it for sixty feet without much show, until Wednesday, when they came on to a change of country, and obtained some veiy good golden stone, which seems likely to continue. They have laid down a tramway from the wo; icings out to and across the Karaka Creek, to connect with the main or Government line, and everything is in readiness to send down stone to the mill as soon as they shall have sufficient to start on. Gow’s Machine. —This little battery, which consists of six head of stampers (four and two) has been put into first-rate order by the proprietor, Mr Gow, and can, we are informed, be kept fully employed as long as there is sufficient water in the creek to work it. It is now at work on two parcels—one from the Easter Monday, and one from the Little and Good Claims. Easter Monday (late Lone Star) Claim. —This ground is named from the day on which it was taken up by the present shareholders, and since that they have had several crushings, which have been payable, the last bavin;: yielded an ounce to the ton, and that which is now sroing on looks as if it would do likewise. The shareholders are stoping away, and getting the stone crushed at Gow’s Battery as it is brokeu down,

Little and Good. —This ground has been ere this worked by several different parties, all of whom have obtained more or less gold from it. The last party who occupied it are those now working the Easter-Monday ground, but it was not long unoccupied, and the present shareholders are working some old blocks left standing, and crushing at Gow’s battery with very fair results. Birnie and Co. (late Commercial). — Since this ground was sold when the company was wound up, the purchasers, who also" have got the battery (the old Onehunga plant), have been working, and from the returns, so far, with much more satisfactory results than the old company ever managed to obtain. A crushing of tivc tons of stone a short time since gave the splendid return of thirty-two ounces seven pennyweights of melted gold, and a crushing now going on looks up well for about one and a-half ounces. The Ivaraka district seems to be very quiet just now, but nearly all who are working in it are doing pretty well.