Our Mining Reporter.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2644, 29 June 1877, Page 2

Our Mining Reporter.

MOANATAIRI.

In company with the manager I visited the mine to-day. Before going down to the 80-feet level we went along to the tunnel level to have a look at the winze sinking on the No 9 reef from that level. The depth of this winze is about 20 feet, hut no gold has yet been seen in the stone. This winze will come out somewhere near the No. 1 winze in the 80-feet level, and will greatly facilitate stoping and filling in in that direction. On reaching the 80-feet level we first went down the No. 1 winze, where nothing fresh was to be seen except that there is water coming in from the bottom. This is nothing more than could be expected, and the manager only expresses surprise that it has kept out so long. The slide continues to go flat, and it is intended to put skids at the bottom section. It is not improbable that with the water and the flatness of the slide that it wil be necessary to stop the sinking altogether, as the labor and cost entailed would not be repaid by the advantage gained. Should it be necessary to stop ths winze, it has not yet been decided on what will be done, but it is not unlikely that,a little stoping _would be done to the westward of the winze to see if the gold is going down on the slide. The former experiences of the slide in the mine has been that gold has been found cloce on it, as was the case in the " monkey " drive, half way up the winze, but it is just probable that the shot of gold has been pitched out several feet from the slide. The reef in the face continues to be mullocky and though there is perhaps a little more mineral than usual showing, there is nothing to call for particular comment. On going into the western drive I found driving going ahead as usual. There is an improvement perceptible in the face, inasmuch as there is a brassy mineral which looks suspiciously like copper showing in the stone. There is one thing however, which, whether it is a good sign or not, is a matter of debate, and that is that the lode is crossed and reerossed by numerous bands of white and highly crystallised quartz. The winze sinking in this drive is down about 15 feet from the brace. The eastern drive" through the slide is making fair progress through soft wet country, but there is nothing particular to report from that end of the mine. The filling in up in the stopes is completed, and breaking quartz has been resumed. At the bottom of the shaft good progress continues to be made bj the party driving the south-east cross-cut, and that work is now in from 28 to 30 feet. The north-west cross-cut is still making poor progress, owing to the lightness of the ground. The manager thinks the.distance to the No. 9 reef is from 160 to 180 feet.

ALBURNIA.

The crushing of the specimens was started with the single stamper at the Moauatairi batteiy yesterday, and already there is such a large amount of amalgam on hand that there is certain to be a splendid result. Of the specimens were some 3 or 4cwt which could wejl be classified as first-class stones, many, of them being nearly as rich as those lately exhibited in the Bank of New Zealand. The remaining 8 or 9cwfc is made up by ore of a slightly inferior grade, which could all be classified as good picked stone. The general crushing at the. Herald mill is also showing up well. Retorting will probably .not take place till Tuesday or Wednesday next. To-day dOlbs of good specimens were obtained from the Whau lerel. Since writing the above the specimen crushing has been completed for the splendid return of 949:jOzs of retorted gold. This has been lodged at the Bank of ]STew Zealand and will be melted with the result of the general stuff, which will amount to something like 350 or 400 ounces.

PRINCE ALFRED BATTERY.

In a day or two this battery will be in a position to commence crushing, the turbine and gear being ready, and at present the stamper boxes, shoes, and dies ale undergoing an overhaul. A day or two ago one of the pipes from the main burst, but that was soon put right. It must be said that the lurbiue of this battery will have a much better chance of working well than its sister one at the Herald. A ktrial start was made to-day and the performance was in every way satisfactory.

WAIOTAHI.

The manager is crushing up the specimens which have accumulated during the month with tho single stamper. The grade of the general stuff is good. Retorting will take place in a day or two.

KURANUI HILL UNITED.

There is nothing fresh to report from this company's mine. There has been no sign of the auriferous metal on the No. 1 reef, but as the country has not settled it cannot yet be expected. The manager thinks that the.leaders will improve as driving proceeds inland. Gibson and party completed their crushing at the company's battery for the yield of lozs of gold. They treated 2 tons.

LITTLE AGNES.

Thorbura and party have just ccni; plete'd another successful crushing at the Missouri battery. They crushed about 45 tons of stuff, taken from the lower level, and banked as the result a yield which, on being retorted, amounted to 77 ounces of gold, which fetched an high price. '.-•/."'.

VICTORY (KARAKA.)

Scott and party finished their crushing at the Halcyon; battery, Karaka Creek, to-day for the return of 32| ounces of gold which was melted in the Bank of New Zealand. . '

CURE.

Crushing for this mine will be commenced early next week at the Tararu mill. McLean and party, company's tributers, had aa interim retorting oh Wednesday evening at the Kuranui battery after their crushing of 24 tons, and they banked as the result 34£-ozs of gold. The tribute section of this party is that block on the No. 6 reef, between the Crown and Caledonian No. 1 levels.