MOANATAIRI.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2632, 15 June 1877, Page 2

MOANATAIRI.

In company with the manager I paid a visit to the mine to-day. After going down in the cage to the 80 feet level chamber, I went down the ladder way to the new chamber which is to be the base of operations for the extension of the new or 150 feet level. The whole of the woodwork about the shaft. is of a most substantial character, as also are the timbers in the chamber. Driving east was started this morning, and the country appeared to be good working country—not too hard, and yet firm enough to stand well. A contract for the extension of the cross-cut w:!l be let to-morrow. As Id the distance to be driven in this direction before the slide is cut, it is impossible to form any correct estimate. If the slide had kept the same course, one to one, in which it had run for a distance of about 400 feet above the 80 feet level it would be cut about 70, feet nearer.the shaft in the bottom level than it was in the 80 feet level; but its extraordinary flatness when cut in ihe winze has overturned these catenations, and if it keeps the course it is now running- down to the bottom level it will be cut at not a very great distance from the shaft. After coming out of the shaft I paid a visit to the winze, on reaching the bottom of which I found that the slide is coming in strong, and now reaches about one quarter the length of the winze, running about east and west. As tlie course of the winze Las for the last 10 feet or so been from north to south, a turn will need to be made, as the winze will follow; the slide. The depth of the winze from the brace was measured this morning! and it was found to be 35 fret deep—just half way down to the depth of the new level. We next went to the west drive on the No. 9 reef, and I found that this morning part of the reef stripped had been broken down, leaving yet several feet standing. I examined the face, and saw that in many of its characteristics it closely resembles the other parts of the lode ia which gold has been got., On the border of the quartz there was a narrow band of mundic, with bright, brassy mineral showing; through the stone. Although otherwise this part of the reef looks promising, I did not see any gold in it, and the manager informed me that he did not see any either. The drive east in the slide has been extended for a distance of over 60 feet, and the manager sees no indications as yet of the approach of the other wall. At present there are several little stringers of hungry looking quartz .and black veins running through the slide. Up in the stopes at this end of the mine the reef is about 10 or 12 feet from wall to wall, but of course this is not all solid quartz, as the reef is much split up, the interstices being filled up for the most part with crushing stuff. The quartz from these workings is mostly of low grade stuff. There is nothing particular to report from any of the other workings. At the battery the single stamper is kept going still on stuff from the winze. It has been decided to erect the air compressing engine at the battery, and at present the manager is only waiting the arrival of (he pipe 3 from Sydney to start getting the rock drill and machinery to work. The vessel with the pipes left Sydney at the same time as the Hero did, and therefore its arrival may be daily expected. Mclnany and party, finished a crushing of 50 or 60 tons at the company's battery to-day for the moderate yield of 39 ounces of gold. Although the average is small this crushing is probably payable as the stuff is not difficult to block out.