PIAKO.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2645, 30 June 1877, Page 2

PIAKO.

During the past . fortnight the shaft has been sunk 9 feet, which makes its present depth below the No. 7 level flatsheet 39 feet. Much better progress would have been made had not a large boulder coming into the bottom and a slight stoppage of the pump occurred. However, the pitman informs me that there is a great improvement in the country setting in at the bottom, and a greater depth may be expected as the result of the next fortnight's operations. The Bird-in-

Hand shaft is now dojm about 380 feet. At present it is only being constructed for a mullock shaft to facilitate filling in operations, but the manager states that though, nothing definite has yet been arranged it is ultimately intended to convert ifc into the winding.shaft, and devote the present shaft to pumping alone. "When the shaft now used was put down it was not intended for a pumping shaft, and was consequently only made a size sufficient to wind by, and now that the pump is in it greatly encroaches on the space for winding. Of late several narrow escapes have been made when something is being done to the pump, and if the next level offers sufficient inducement it will be expedient to make this alteration before going to. any greater depth, as the manager believes that he could keep 40 or 50 head going if he had the •haft all to himself. There is no particular change to report in this mice. This morning the manager brought up some stones showing gold, which were obtained from the stopes at the Queen of Beauty end. The drive in that direction is how within 15 or. 20 feet of the Queen of Beauty boundary. The tributers were winding from the No. 5 level this' morning, and will be crushing as soon as possible. .