Our Mining Reporter.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1861, 19 December 1874, Page 2

Our Mining Reporter.

THE WEEK.

Mining has been like the weather — very dull. There is scarcely a fact of interest to relate: in which circumstances, it is a sacrifice of labor to gather up trifles which will prove dry to your readers. --Towards Christmas-time everything is slack in mining, a number of the companies having already suspended crushing until after the New Year. The Big; Pump has been got into working i order—that is to say, the gas has been partially removed, though it still proves troublesome. The water is also a hindrance, being almost too powerful for the present-lift, and the big one is in consequence being got in readiness. In the face of these difficulties, the work of sinking, it will be understood, is not rapid, but greater obstacles than these are daily broken down, jumped over or otherwise disposed of. A new reef ha,s been struck, but nothing definitely ascertained as to its quality or even size, though it is estimated to be a large one. As notified during the week, gas obtained slightly the upper hand of' Mr Beach of the Crown Prince mine; and this drawback has not yet removed in the slightest. In the specimen winze now being sunk in the prospecting cross-cut (which is being taken from the bottom chamber of the shaft) the gas is yet up, it having extinguished a candle ihis morning when only a foot down. Gas also prevails just now in a winze in the new prospecting drive. The cross-cut is now in a considerable distance, and is being pushed ahead with energy and good workmanship. The workings in this mine are, and have been on the most extensive scale: an inspection was enly necessary to make this perfectly apparent. The manager has constructed a very admirable contrivance for rendering the mine more comfortable, in the shape of a pipe to carry the water from a drain along the old drive into the low levels. By this means an unconscionable amount of splashing and discomfort are saved to the men. : The Exchange Company are now in 25 feet in their drive from the Crown Prince, and ■ the stuff, which is being wound through the latter, looks well. The Old Whau, has been showing, up for a good return, and should the stuff prove to be permanent, the Company will be a very valuable one. The Taokey Company have made two or three trial crushings lately, but neither has proved pajable. Mr Dewar is pushing ahead the work pretty rapidly< The 400 feet level is being extended, and in the last 25 feet indications are not wanting that the reef which I reported to have been cut off by a slide will be struck again—veins of quartz, or stringers making their appearance, and carrying with them water: which is a good sign of the vicinity of a reef. The following are the returns to hand from the Bank of 3N"ew Zealand for the week: — ozs. dwts. Bright Smile - - - 315 5 Imperial Crown - - 5 5 Thames Scottish - - 50 0 Messenger's tribute -■■•■- 5 0 Point Russell - - - 58 0 i Otago - - - - 30 0 West Coast tribute - ■ 52 15 Poverty and Charleston 24 0 Sundries - - ■■ - - 200 0 Total - - - 740 5 i There are parcels to come in from the Queen of Beauty and Moanatairi, estimated at about 1200 altogether. The Queen of Beauty Company will have a partial cleaning up to-day, but the complete cleaning up will take place on Wednesday next.