QUEEN OF THE MAY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2617, 29 May 1877, Page 2

QUEEN OF THE MAY.

At the battery the crushing continues to shape for a return up to the usual average. Retorting will take place on Saturday. 'At the mine the manager is pushing ahead the sinking of the lhaft

with as much speed as possible, and it is i now down a trifle over 12 feet. The country is of the same hard nature which was experienced while sinking the shaft for the levels above. In the bottom level the drive on the- foot wall leader is in a ] considerable distance into the Queen of the Thames section, and from the face of the drive there issues a stream of water which spurts out with considerable force for a distance: of several yards. The presence of this water is a pretty sure sign that a reef or a large body of stone of some sort; is at hand, and Mr Goldsworihy, the manager, informs me that he has little doubt that such will shortly be proved to be the case. Now it will be remembered that the foot-wall has very much improved of late, and is improving as driving proceeds, and taking it for granted that there is a reef in the vicinity with which, if it is there.it is almost certain that the foot-wall and hanging wall lodes will junction, there should bt! a good patch somewhere near the junction. Some time ago a reef was cut near the surface in the Queen of the Thames section which was proved to bear gold, and it is possible that it will turn turn out to be the same the manager expects to cut daily in the bottom level. No. more specimens have been obtained from the foot-wall lode as the manager is driving alongside of the lode. : The face of the drive on the hanging-wall section is about 70 feet. behind the face* "of the foot-wall drive, but nevertheless the reef is looking well. Good dirt is being broken out all along tho stopes. In the cross-cut from the bottom level nothing fresh has been cut, and the driving is going ahead through hard country, „,