MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 251, 29 July 1872, Page 3

MINING.

Caledonian. —On Saturday a clean up and retorting took place at the company’s battery. During the week the battery was not at work for quite four days, so that the quantity of stone reduced was not very great, perhaps about two hundred aud forty tons or so. Besides this there were some seven or eight hundredweight of specimens reduced, and the total yield of gold amounts to seven hundred ounces. This, though not as much as was expected, or in fact not nearly so, is yet a good return from the quantity of stone crushed, and proves the general stuff to be of good quality. We rather fancy, however, that the public generally will be disappointed, as tlu-y had formed a far higher estimate as the value of the week’s crushing. The pumps were stopped on Saturday evening, in order to enable them to clean the boiler out, which was found necessary. They started again, however, last night, and t,lie delay will not cause any inconvenience to the working of the mine. Una.— The usual fortnightly return from this company is to hand, and is smaller than usual, though a much less quantity of stone was put thn ugh than usual, not much over one hundred and fifty tons altogether, from which a yield of one hundred and fifteen ounces five pennyweights of melted gold was obtained. It was thought that there would have been a better average, as some of the upper level blocks looked uncommonly well in the first part of the fortnight, hut the good show did not keep up. Poverty and Charleston. —A crushing of a parcel of specimens took place at Spencer and Hall’s test battery for these tributers on Saturday. There were altogether less than one hundred pounds of stone, which gave the handsome return of eighty ounces two pennyweights of melted gold. The crushing of general stuff at the Kuranui Battery was finished on Saturday, but the result will not be to hand until this morning. Nonpareil. —The manager lodged on Saturday one hundred and forty-seven ounces of gold, as the result of the crushing during the week. This, together with the previous lodgment, was melted, and turned out three hundred and seventyfive ounces two penny weights of gold, which is the result of nine days’ crushing with twenty head, so that the stuff lias averaged over two ounces to the ton. Crushing is again going ahead with the full power, and the manager will be able to keep it up for some time. We congratulate the shareholders on the great improvement in the prospects of the mine, as evidenced by the amount of gold obtained since Mr Goldsworthy has commenced to break down the stone, the returns having come in sooner than could have iieen anticipated, taking into consideration the amount of dead work he iiad to do. We are informed also that the number of men employed in the mine at present is far les3 now than there were formerly, and yet they are able to break out stone sufficient to keep twenty liead of stampers going, the battery not having gained on the mine since they started up to the present. The manager reports that the general appearance of the mine keeps up as usual, and that he bags some good golden stone every shift. Belfast (Albion) Tribute.— A crushing of fifteen tons of stone for this tribute at Goodall’s Battery has yielded six ounces eleven pennyweights of melted gold. Red Queen. —Twenty-two tons of stone from the small or No. 2 lode in this mine have been crushed at Souter’s Battery, and the clean up took place on Saturday. The return amounted to thirty-four ounces six pennyweights of gold, or over one and a-half ounces to the ton. A small lot of five tons or so is now going through from the No. 1 or large reef as a trial from a cross-cut into the lode.

All Nations. —A clean up took place on Saturday for this company at the Herald Battery after four week’s crushing. During the first three weeks of that period the stone from the mine was hut poor, but for the last week or so a great improvement has taken place, aud has picked up the return a little. No retorting has yet takeu place, but this wiil be done this morning, and a fair yield may be expected. The manager lodged in the bank, on Saturday night, seven hundred and seventy-four ounces of amalgam, part of the whole to be treated this morning. Better stone is coming from the mine, and we look forward to a heavier return for the next mouth.

Inverness. —The crushing for this company at Goodall’s is shaping very well for a good return. On Saturday morning fifty ounces of amalgam were taken for twenty-eight hours’ run, and had the berdans not been stopped for want of water, there would have been a good deal more as a large per centage of the amalgam comes from the blanketings after treatment in the berdans. The manager reports very satisfactory of the appearance of the lode in the workings. There are now some forty pounds of specimens on hand. Bendigo Independent. —The crushing for the tributers of this company has again been set going at Goodall’s, the tramway having been repaired. Ten head are going on the stone, which is shaping for an excellent return of gold. Moanataiari. —Themauagerhas started to open out and drive ou the lode, which is in hand iu the No. 9 cross-cut. He is going in towards the slide, and intends to take out a ten-ton parcel aud crush it on trial at ouce. Gold has been seen in the vein on the hanging wall of the lode from which the specimens were taken when it was first cut, aud a ton from which gave the splendid return of twentyfour ounces of gold. The main tunnel is now well through the slide, and is in good working country.

Waitemata. —The crushing for this company at the Criterion Battery is looking very well for a good return. Golden Calf. —On Saturday, some nice specimens, which were taken from the lod'*, were exhibited in town, and the manager reports that there was a first-rate show in the lode in the face of the drive. As we reported before, he had turned, and is now driving “along the reef on the hanging wall side, and here gold can now he seen freely, no specimens of any account being found, but the precious inetal being thickly distributed through the stone, rendering the prospect the best that has been seen in the mine since Captain Ninnis has been in charge. A considerable rise took place in the price of shares on Saturday, they springing from 41s, at which they sold on Frida}’, to 52s Gd on Saturday. The reef is a fine large one, and, if it only prove payably auriferous, will add a great value to the mine.

Cure. —Crushing for this company, which had been suspended for two or three days, on account of the manager not being able to get stone raised from the mine, owing to bis being blocked up by the workings >f the Manukau, and there beingascarcity of paddock accommodation for the large quantity of stone now coining from the No. 2 lode, was resumed this morning, at the Tnrarn Battery, where twenty head are at work. The manager informs us that a large quantity of stone' having accumulated below ground, lie will be able to keep the whole lot going during the week. Next week lie will clean up after a months crushing.

North Star.— After a long spell of hard work the tributers oHthis mine cut into the reef at a distance of two hundred and fifteen feet from the mouth of the tunnel. Ibis distrnce was within one foot of that marked down on the plan of Messrs Lcssong and Buscke, as the spot the reef would be cut. When intersected it proved to bo three feet thick, being split by a horse of sandstone, but as tliey drive on it, towards the winze, it is coming together again. They have driven on the lode now some fourteen feet, and are not very far from the winze. The wire tramway is to be put into repair at once, and as soon as they get any stone out, it Will he in working order to send the stuff to the mill