MOANATAIRI.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2612, 23 May 1877, Page 2

MOANATAIRI.

I paid a visit to this mine this morning, and on descending the winze found that there was undoubtedly a great improvement there. "The reef that can be seen is about 4 feet thick, and by sounding it with a pick I found that there is a great deal less mullock in.it than there was some few days ago. I closely examined such portions of the reef as was visible, and saw gold in several places in good large splats, and was assured that the same mineral was showingfreely throughout the whole of the reef. No quartz has been broken down to-day, and the men are employed sinking;; .The next breaking down will probably take place to-morrow or Friday. I then went up; -into the stopes, and found that in the intermediate or middle stope there was quite a fair show of gold. .There is also some gold showing in the western stope. There has been a little gold got from Willis' leader, but there is nothing new in connection with any of the other lodes. About nine feet of the shaft yet remains to be su'ik, and as the new rope arrived from Sydney on Monday by the Hero it may be expected down shortly, and sinking will be carried on till the required depth is reached. The new rock-drill has also arrived from San Francisco by the City of New York, and it will abo be down in a day or two. It is intended to use this machine in extending the main tunnel for the purpose of prospecting the country. It is stated that the directors have resolved to carry a drive east from the bottom of the "winze in the No. 9 to cut the shot of gold. The following is a copy of to-day's telegram :—" Gold show-' ing freely in new winze. No reef broken to-day. Stripping reef in intermediate stope No. 9 reef. 58 ounces of amalgam from singles stamper, exclusive of picked stone.— Egbert Comee."

The following is the manager's weekly report to the directors :—" itighty feet level, S.E. cross-cut No. 9 reef: The new winze is sinking'below this, and is down 26 feet. The reef is now 6 feet thick,

and underlying more south than previously.. Tuehanging-wall, for 8 inches thick,.is composed of quarts and minerals, with itcoii,-blotches of gold. The other part of the. reef is now a mixture of, leaders, with iron pyrites, &c. During the week 10 tons from here have been crushed, giving 2190zs of amalgam. The £outh side of ihe lode is most productive, the mineral being charged with fine gold.The drive west on the same reef is low grade stuff. The lode is now 4 feet thick, and is inovo compact. The appearances here are progressing. The stdpes in the back of this.level are looking very well, especially the middle stepe over the new winze. The reef here is 2^ feet thick, and, for a distance of 16 to 20 feet in length, there" are large quantities of mineral showing. During the last three days, several hundred weight of specimens have been broken from here, and there is still a good show of gold in the face and roof. I have now every reason to believe the shot of gold is going up, having been heaved west by a leader striking into the reef from the south side at an acute angle, and that west from the junction of, this lead with Ihe main reef the shot of gold is going up, -"Ei'C'ui the high.st part of the slopes there are 55: feet of tunnel .level; 1 Heidi's reef: In driving easj this ree,f is. now .one foot thick, and show's gQpd colour.-* of gold. Sloping has not yet been.star ted on this lode. The drive east from Wallis's, on cross-cut leader, has broken through into the drive on Heldt's reeh When ,we have completed, tirabering up, sloping; will be started on ,both these' reefs. North-west cross-cut: The winze sinking on the All Nations leader is down seven feet; the leader is one foot thick, showing, good gold. The stopes on the junction of Nos. 1 and 3 reef have improved during this week. The general crushing is showing up well, and.the single stamper was started this week'with the specimens on hand, and will, I think, be kept going for some days. The water has ri.sen in the engine -shaft 20 feet since stopping. In conclusion, I-have to congratulate the directors on having again found the.old run of gold.—Kobest Comeb, Manager."