MOANATAIRI

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2596, 3 May 1877, Page 2

MOANATAIRI

In company with Mr Comer and M* - Bleazard I visited the mine this morning. Descending the winze I found that rery little of the reef had been broken yesterday;, and that though the .face was somewhat darkened with powder smoke there is'*a-good show, several nice-looking splats being discernible " where the specimens were broken from. In the reef on the east side of the winze, or that nearest the specimen run, a close inspection will disclose- a few faint colors. It is' rather strange that gold was not 'first seen in this side of the winze, as it is nearest tha large patch. It appears to show that the specimens taken out yesterday" are not part of the large Tun at all, but just a' small palch lying near it. The reef is maintaining, the same course as when the sinking was commenced, but it appears to have slightly increased in size. "The lode also, appears to be as'compact as ever, and, in fact, that quality seems to have increased going down. In the stopes on. the Nb.9 goodcrusbingdirtis being broken down along the whole course, but there is nothing in particular to report concerning them with the exception that the winze from the tunnel level could be sounded through from the rise in the western stopa at the time of my visit, and Mr Comer judged from the sound that the distance yetto sink is 'i feet: He expected that it would ".hole through" this afternoon or this evening. When it is completed it will not only afford facilities for ventilation, but also for filling in disused workings", etc." .Railsr.are now being laid in the southern cross-cut, and trucks will shortly be running up to the face.' In v the ; All Nations leader the drive is continuing in its altered course, there having been no further variations in its course, and consequently in the '■ course of the leader. The manager expects that the junction of this lede with the No, 9 will be reached shortly, and there,very probably will then be something worth taking but. There is some gold showing in the leader to-day which seems to hare improved, and is improving, as driving on it proceeds. The depth of the engine shaft is now 61 feet and -it is timbered- to the bottom. 'A "nice looking little leader has recently been cut in. the bottom which shows a considerable quantity of likely looking mineral. The engine is now winding from the bottom, to facilitate sinking, two shifts, and quartz is only being wound one shift. Several of the tribute parties are ready to crush, and will be doing so at the end of this or early neit week. The crushing for Gavin and party, tbe result of which was published yesterday, was obtained from 180!bs of specimens obtained while over-hauling some old stopes on the No. 9 reef in the upper level.