Our Mining Reporter.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2494, 3 January 1877, Page 2

Our Mining Reporter.

CALEDONIAN,

Work has been resumed after the Christmas holidays in this mine. Mr j James, the manager, has a prospecting ! drive in the No. 1 level on the No. 6 reef in course of construction. It is an extension of the No. 1 level and is being driven towards the Otago shaft, which the manager expects to break into at the end of this week or the beginning of next. The prospects are not of a very encouraging nature, but it is hoped that something good will be obtained. Most of the tribute parties have also recommenced work, and are, upon the whole, doing pretty well. ' Balshaw's section (which is worked from a small windlass shaft alongside the tramway) has had several good crushings of late. The tributers continue driving on the leader they intersected some time back. Mclnnes and party are cross-cutting the country from the No, 3 shaft, and are meeting with fair prospects,, and Lowe and party are still working on the TCookey's flat leader „._., Browulie and party, whose I section com^ri»^_i{jbua!^£Q f 3 : Q r _blQc3r l . are workms^cverSl^mi^S^nr^^li^M'tav-e lately taken out a fair crushing. PIAKO. The manager is now about to open the chamber which is to form the base of operations for the construction of the No. 7or new level. From the depth the shaft has reached, this level will have 72 feet of backs. A winzo will shortly be sunk from the No. 6 to where the No. 7 level will be when extended, and as soon as the chamber is finished driving will be immediately commenced. In about a month, if nothing goes wrong with the pump, the manager expects to have the level so far extended as to be able to crush from it. The remainder of the quartz on the No. 6 level will also be stoped out. At present the force of hands working is 24, but of course when crushing is started this will be inadequate, and a considerable number more will need to be employed. WAIOTAHI. A retorting for this mine took place today, and 26ozs lldwts melted gold was lodged in the Bank of New Zealand as the result. PUMPING ASSOCIATION. Mr Severn) assayer of the Bank of New Zealand, has completed his treatment of the amalgam accruing from the l&tp crushing of five tons of stuff from jthe reef 1 in ttjte driye from the north crosscut, and the result was—nil; The m'etals in the amalgam were chiefly iron' pyrites, antimooy and sulphur.