ALBURNIA.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2610, 21 May 1877, Page 2

ALBURNIA.

The crushing foe this mine at the Moanatairi mill is; looking first class, and it seems pretty certain that the return will be quite up to expectations.. The total crushing, when it is completed, will amount to about 100 tons, and there will in all probability be about half a ton of specimens. I paid another visit to the mine this morning accompanied by Mr J. Gribble, underground boss. We first went along the battery level to the workings on the supposed Sons of Freedom leader, , more commonly known as the^rich leader; beyond the slide. The manager is putting :in a drive south on the course of the main slide with the expectation of picking up this leader, which the slide has made to jump. The slide is full of gritty quartz, and close to the face of the drive on either side of the slide there are indicat'ons that a leader tis not fac offi ; the indications being that there are a number of small stringers or " threads " to be seen crossing and re-crossing each other. There are also other indications which, though not always co-rect, are gererally ac? ceptedas being pretty sure criterions of the approach of reef or leader. A drivi is al?o being pufc in a northerly direction on the course of the reef which runs almost parallel,with the main slide", jit is in this direction that the lode is expected to junction with the specimen leader. In. Foster's intermediate level the specimen leader has been stripped up to the slide, but the ) slide has not been touched in either the drive or stope, nor have any more specimens been broken. down.- ' Sloping " stulls " have been erected separating the drive from the ,stope, :aod the manager has started men to carry another slope from Foster's boundary towards the slide, and be is also stopiiig from the slide to meet the one from Foster's boundary. rThe distance j fn.m the roof of the intermediate level to J the floor of the battery level (which is the next one above) is'3o feet, so that at present there is a block 40 long with 18 feet of backs on this lode yet to stope out. As good gold was got onfthe floor of tba battery:]evel it is. pretty certain that the! run of gold will be carried up all the way, j However, above the battery: level the leader has been stoped out right up to the surface. ,In answer to enquiries ninde; as "to wl)"en: the drive would be es-l'i tended through the slide I was informed ■' that when the crushing is completed driving will be started. If the ler.iejj. carries gold through the slide the shaiori will be worth considerably more than they are at present, as not only will there be the gold in the leader itself, but :th :re will be strong probability that it will junction with the supposed Sons of Freedom reef.

The tributers appear to be on the whole doing pretty well.. Skeenaud' party will be crushing shortly, Saturday's crushing having been entirely composed of specimen dirt. McLean, and party are working on their big reef, and are obtaining payable returns. Coad and party's seclion is also doing pretty well. - They hare followed their leader up to the slide in the upper workings, and are at present employed extending .a drive on the reef from the battery level; The leader is of good size, but is ratler broken up, and the tributers would like to see it smaller. Foster and party are also doing well, and occasionally .obttiiu small hauls of specimen stone.