PIAKO.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2603, 12 May 1877, Page 2

PIAKO.

! I paid a visit to the low level workings of..this, mine yesterday, in, company with the' manager. On reaching the ' bottom I found' that the contractors for sinking, the shaft had made all. necessary arrangementsfor starting sinking, and was informed that they would commence shortly. I first went, to the smaller, face at the Queen of Beauty end, and forind that the reef was evidently improving as driving proceeded. The lode has become; very well defined and in most' of its characteristics it closely resembles its continuation in the Queen q£ Beauty.;? It has a good dip from north to south, and gold has. been seen very frequently oflate in various places in the face. Some colors were visible to-day. Stoping is proceeding at this end and good crushing dirt is being broken down.; The big face has teen squared arid" temporary supports have been fixed till ; the timbers can be got in. The manager is putting in a small, drive into the centre of the reef, and intends to shake down the lode on both sides when the drive is in a little distance. The improvement noticed, some days back continues, and over the whole face the reef is looking well, while stones showing gold are occasionally obtained in ,the, breaking down. I was shown a goodsized block of quartz taken that morning from the side of the drive above referred to, which showed a large quantity of brassy • looking mineral with two or three splats of gold in several places. Early in the week the manager started wages men stoping at this end, after several ineffectual attempts to get the

work done by contract. A large supply of good crushing dirt is being obtained from this work. The breaking out of quartz has been resumed at the JN"o. 5 level, and the other works are proceeding satisfactorily. A stoppage of the pump took place yesterday for the purpose of .changing buckets. At the battery crushing is proceeding with 30 head, and the crushing is looking well. Eetorting will not take place today.