QUEEN OF BEAUTY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2600, 8 May 1877, Page 2

QUEEN OF BEAUTY.

In company with the manager, Mr McDonald, I paid a visit to the workings in the low level of this mine today. The engine ihaft is considerably over 400 feet in depth, being only about 30 feet of less depth than the Piako shaft. As soon as the Piako shaft-is deepened a little, the manager informed me that it is his intention to commenco sinking for a new level and he will thus be able to be on quartz in the new level when the present one is exhaujted. The improvement in the Piako towards the boundary in the mine insures the finding of payable gold in the new level. Towards the Piako the reef is a fine body of stone and a close inspection might disclose a few colors, though it is seldom or never looked for. In the drive on the opposite side of the shaft the reef is also looking well, some good stone having lately been seen in the face. Stoping is now in full swing over both drives, and payable quartz is being broken down along the whole long range of stopes. At the junction of the main (or No. 1) reef with the cross-lode some splendid crushing dirt is- being broken out, and further improvement may be looked for. The cross-lode is a fine body of stone, between 2 and 3 feet thick, and the manager has already started a drive going east on its course. He intends also to extend a drive in a westerly direction, and will thus be able to get a large quota of payable dirt from it to swell the already large supply. The sinking of the winze from the level above to the lower level is fully under weigh, and the sinkers are making fair

progress. Writing of a visit I paid anoufc six weeks ago, I stated that the low livel was very wet. lam now glad to stite that this drawback to the comfortable working of the mine is very much reduced, there only bein# a little water lying in some of the lower parts of the dtires< The grade of the stuff now sent to the battery ia about the same as during ksfc fortnight, and the crushing continues to look well. A return somewhat similar to that of Saturday's retorting may be expected. The machinery is all in first-rie order, and the engine and boiler-have su». cessfully passed the scrutiny of the !faspector of Machinery.