MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1885, 3 November 1874, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Cure.-—The result of the retorting for the Cure Company, which took place yesterday at the Imperial Crown battery, cannot fail to afford satisfaction to the company. The yield amounted to lG9ozs 16dwts retorted gold, which has been lodged in the Union Bank for melting. This was the result- from 15 tons of stone, broken out of the winze sunk on the black lode. It, of course, included the specimens taken out of the same spaoe; but if the crushing is a just criterion of the block of ground which is beine opened up by this winze between the main level of the Cure and the 170-feet level of the Golden Crown, affording, as it does, backs for sloping nearly 100 feet in depth, it will prove the richest and most valuable lode hitherto opened in this mine. '1 he treatment of the blanket washings is not quite finished, nor is the silver retorted, and it is probable that when this is done another sozs will be added to the yield. The manager is about to take out another crushing immediately by carrying down the winze at its enlarged size. Exchange,—Crushing for tho Exchange Company was started yesterday at tho Tramway battery, with a force of 6 head of stampers, and although the run has not yet been of sufficient duration to enable us to judge accurately as to the probable result to be obtained, there is already sufficient amalgam showing to prove that the stuff is worlh at least lodwts to the ton; perhaps more. At all eventß, the show is a perfectly satisfactory one, for with the facilities for working and the easy character of the ground, such an average as 15dwts will soon yield a return which would place the company in a prosperous condition. Tho stuff' which has btcn sent to the mill is principally that stoped out of the No. 1 reef close to the cross-cut in which the lode was first intersected.

Impkbiai, City.—This company also commenced crushing yesterday morning with 10 head of stampers at the Waiotalii battery, and wo are glad to say that although, the crushing has only been a short time running, the stuff is Rhowing on the plates for a very good payable yield, although all the stone in which go:d at all showed has been carefully selected from it. In roHard to the mitie itself there is little to add to former reports, Xherc is a large

quantity of-crushing stuff on hand, and a very considerable section of tho reef proved auriferous aud open for stoping, so that there will be no difficulty experienced in keeping up a supply sufficient to keep the force now operating on the company's stuff in permanent employment to'its full capacity.

Waiotahi. — Although tho crushing force employed on tho stuff from the Waiotahi mine has been reduced to 5 head of stampers, there has been no cleaning up or retorting. From both lodes the stuff appears to be showing for an average of about 10 dwts to the ton.

Bright ?mii,e. Jt'etorting for the Bright Smile Company took place yesterday at the Imperial Crown battery, and the result of the fortnight's run with ten head of stampers was 1590zs gold. This in addition to the 180ozs lodged on Saturday from the company's own mill, makes the total return for the fortnight 3390z5. The result, we believe, gives full satisfaction, having met expectations; and being the result of a trial from the new block which is now being opened, is more thoroughly satisfactory than it would have been if it merely was taken out of the old main level.

• Bird-in-Hand—There was news last evening of more than ordinary importance from this mine. The manager yesterday started a couple of men to drive on the course of the cross reef to which we have referred more than once, and last evening he had tho satisfaction of finding that gold showed through somo of. the stone taken out of the drive at the foot-wall side of the main reef. The lode is four feet thick. It is being driven on both ways. There was not a large quantity of gold visible, but this being the first attempt that has ever been made to open up this reef, and tho fact that gold 'has • been found in it on the first day's work gives great encouragement for the future, for should this reef be found to contain payable quartz, it will add immensely to the value of the company's mine, and being entirely intact to the surface there will be an immense supply of crushing stuff available from it.

Loed Nelson.-While the proprietor of the Coulabah battery has been waiting the construction of the wire tramway to connect the Just-in-Time claim with the mil), he has started a crushing for the shareholders of the Lord Nelson claim adjoining. There are about tons sent to the mill, and it is, we learn, showing up on the plates for a good payable average yield. It will be finished upon Wednesday. In regard to the wire tramway, we may state that everything in connection with it was completed, and an old wire rope was stretched over it for temporary use, but it was too weak to bear the strain and broke. A new rope is being procured, and will be erected as soon as possible. When this is finished and in working order the proprietor anticipates that there will be ample stuff available from the Just-in-Time mine, which he is working in connection with the battery, to keep the mill permanently employed to its full capacity upon good payable crushing stuff. When the present crushing for the Lord Nelson is completed a parcel will be put through for the Little Lizzie, from which a good return is anticipated.

South BaiTisH.-The drive from the 250-feet level of the Bouih British shaft towards the hill, has passed into a different class of country to that through which the shaft was sunk, and which prevailed for some time in the cross-cut. It was a brown soft sandstone, through, which several small quartz stringers ran, but in the face at present there is a fine blue formation, still soft and easy to work, but which looks much more likely to sustain gold-bearing reefs than that which has been left behind. Of course every foot that is driveu in the present direction increases the depth from the surface, as the drive is.extending under the face of the Karnku Mill. We may add that the hoisting machinery which has been erected on this claim is working very satisfactorily. Alwmi a.—Crushing for the Alburnia Company was commenced yesterday afternoon at the Herald battery, but the run has been too short to enable the manager to form any estimate of the quality of the stuff.