MINING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 274, 24 August 1872, Page 3

MINING.

Cure.— During the past week a very decided change has been taking place in the reef in this mine, and the golden vein which, when first found, was on the footwall of the lode, seems to be gradually rising towards the hanging wall as the lode is opened on upwards. The good vein can be very plainly traced for a distance of over 20 feet now along the face, and though gold is not actually visible all the way -along, yet the stone is unmistakeabiy highly auriferous. The best' show is to be seen near the upper or right hand side of the face, and here the gold is very plentiful. The quantity of specimens is being added to day by day, and there is every probability of there being an excellent return of gold for the current month, as the general dirt is now proving very rich. Things in the mine now point to a continuance of the golden run upwards towards the surface, and as there is a very large block of unworked ground, some 200 feet or so, good returns may be expected, and no doubt many rich patches in the run will be met with as they breakdown stone. The company’s stock has been pretty steady in the market lately, and but few parcels have changed hands. Black Angel. —Yesterday tho directors visited the mine for the purpose of witnessing the formal start of the engine just erected for working the lower levels of the mine. Everything worked splendidly. The gear ran smoothly, and tho arrangements made for sending the smoke out up a rise to the surface, and also for getting water down from the old workings, were as perfect as possible, and reflect the greatest possible credit on Mr Dakin, the present manager, who has carried out all the work. After going for a short time, the engine was stopped, and work will be started on Monday morning to get the winze cleared out, and proceed with the breaking down of stone. Poverty and Charleston (Albion) Tribute. —A crushing of about 60 tons of stone for these tributers was completed at the Herald Battery, on Thursday night, and retorting took place yesterday. The result was 188 oz of gold. This is the poorest crushing the tributers have had as yet, but the leader has been greatly broken up lately, and where this is the case, it is not at all rich. The return, however, is well payable, and at any moment a change for the better may take place, and stone as rich as ever be obtained.

Inverness. —The lode in the upper stopes is still being worked with a firstrate show. The average thickness of the stone is 15 inches, aud as they rise higher •on it, it contains a less proportion of sulphides than it has done lately, which will, of courie, enable them to crush it better, and save the gold with greater ease. It may now be said that the run of gold is proved to run upwards right through the solid block of ground left untouched up to the surface, and when the blue quartz is left and the brown stone reached they expect to get even still better stone than heretofore. The manager is at present driving along a small leader in order to communicate with the Don Pedro upper workings to obtain a supply of air for the stopes, and this drive will enable him to open upon some blocks still left alone. The total height from the Kuranui Tunnel to the surface on the leader is calculated to be 150 feet, the highest point yet reached being about 60 feet. The berdans may finish in time to

retort to-day, but it' is not certain yet if they will do so. Yesterday there was 300 oz of amalgam on hand, which quantity will be considerably increased before retorting takes place. Windsob Castle. — On Monday tho manager intends to start the whole of the battery to work on stone from tho Windsor Castle, and so much has the quartz improved in quality that an excellent return may be expected. Both in the north-east end of the drive on the reef, and also in the south-west direction, a considerable improvement has taken place, and gold can be seen in good quantities. The plate-show of amalgam for the last few days has been excellent, no less than 30oz having been taken off for about 6 hours’ run, with the four head yesterday. The Coliban having finished their crushing, the whole of the battery is now available for the Windsor Castle.

Coliban. —Crushing for this company was finished yesterday morning, at Clarkson’s Battery, and a return of 31oz lOdwt of gold was obtained as the result. We have not heard the quantity of stone put through for this yield. Caledonian. —The manager is about to start and put up a rise from the mid-level on the vein of auriferous stone found lying on the No. 2 lode a short time since. This rise will go up towards the corner peg of the Cure and Caledonian mines, so that it will be the means of proving whether this gold and that in the Cure are one and the same run. We shall anxiously watch the result of this work. Captain Richards has received instructions from the directors that in future copies of all telegrams sent to Auckland by the mine manager shall be posted on the claim as soon as they are sent away. The small battery has unfortunately been idle for some little time, owing to the tail-race having become choked, and by this 48 hours’ crushing with 22 head has been lost. The return for the week will, never theless, be a good one, in spite of the difference which will be caused by this mishap. Bright Smile. —The crushing for this company, going on at the Manukau, is turning out well. Yesterday 1430 zof amalgam were taken off the plates, and the day before 1930 z were lifted. The stone, as broken down, shows little or no gold, which proves that the precious metal must be very equally distributed throughout. Tho reef is from 4to 5 feet thick, and so large is tho quantity of stone turned out that next week tho manager is going to keep 25 head of stampers going on the stuff. The new shaft is now down 25 feet in good sinking ground, and is getting on well. Shares have advanced to L2 os in the market.