MOANATAIRI.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2594, 1 May 1877, Page 3

MOANATAIRI.

In company with Mr Blcazard and Mr Comer, the manager, I paid - a visit to the low level workings of this mine this morning. I found that since my previous visit no quartz of any consequence had been broken do,vh in the winze being sunk from the low level on the No. 9 reef, and that sinking was proceeding steadily, the lode being stripped without being broken fora distance of about 4 feet. The la9t place where the reef was broken, viz., on the westeia side of the winze, the stone appears to be of \ very good quality, there being plenty of mineral, and that of the right, sort, while a very close inspection might disclose a speck of gold here and there through the stone. The ground is .pretty fair sinking country, but blasting is of course required. The sinkers are able to put down about one foot, or perhaps a little more, per day. The drive west on the No. 9 has been temporarily discontinued because the stoppage during last week has filled the battery with quartz,-and the manager intends to keep the supply down for a day or so in order to diminish the large amount .at the battery. The reef is looking well, and evidently contains a large quantity of mineral, and, in fact, the indications are so good that the manager hopes to:get something >4l£od in it as driving proceeds. This drive is the most westerly drive on the No. 9 inthe low level. The stopes on this reef deserve a word of mention. They are now over 100 feet in length, and good crushing dirt is being broken down for nearly all along this range ©f workings. So -much quartz of a payable quality is. being taken from these workings alone, that at a push the full power of thebattery might be kept going on it. The only drawback to the easy working, of the stopes is the want of proper ventilation, and the pertinacity with which the smoke hangs in some places makes the place hardly workable. However, the new winze being-put down from the tunnel level will do away with tins annoyance, and will ensure good ventilation through, all the stopes and drives on the reef. The operations on Keldt's leader and the cross lode are being continued, and good crushing dirt is broken out. There is a peculiarity about ihese two reefs,_ and that is, that viewing them at one point in the drive where both have been cvt —the one on the one side and the other on the other—they look at first sight to be^tie lode, as the underlie is the same, and if it were not that they are of an entirely opposite character the appearance might deceive even an-experienced miner. About 30 feet to'the westward of this point, a drive is being put in on the cross lode to follow it up towards Heldt's reef. The engine shaft is being sunk rapidly, and it is now down the depth of 60 feet, thus leaving only about 20 feet yet to sink before driving will be commenced to cut the No. 9 reef in the bottom level. At the battery the crushing continues to look well.