PIAKO.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2787, 19 January 1878, Page 2

PIAKO.

The trial crushing, which was in progress at the Queen of Beauty battery, waa completed to-day for the yield of 26ozs Bdwti of gold, which is a highly satisfactory return. About 34 loads of stuff were crushed—lo loads being taken from the stopes towards Queen of Beauty boundary, 10 loads from the face of drive towards Queen of Beauty, and 14 loads from the stopes to seaward—all from .No. 8 level. At the mine the different operations are making first-rate progress. At the Queen of Beauty end the drive, has been pot in a considerable distance on the footwall of the reef, but for the purpose .of making a fair trial of the reef for the crushing abore referred to, the manager drore into the hanging wall, and proved the lode to be about ten feet thick and ail fine solid quartz, which should certainly be payable. Some good pieces of golden stone were obtained yesterday from a layer of quartz in the ceLtre of the lode, and colors of the precious metal are 'not unfrequently seen. Driving west or seaward has been suspended for a day or two to facilitate a connection being made with the seaward winze. Men are how employed sinking the winze, which will; break into the roof of the level shortly. The reef here is fully twenty feet thick, but is not all solid quartz, portions of it, however, may be expected to crush payably. Stoping is being carried on, but when the winze is through, besides affording good ventilation, it will enable stoping to go ahead more rapidly. Operations on the Bird-in-Hand lode in No. 6 level are showing that that reef bears a very likely appear? ance, and stuff from it will shortly be coming oat in large quantities, as this block is pretty well opened up. Stuff from it is now being sent to the mill, a,

start having been made yesterduy, and there are already 80 or 40 tons there from the Bird-in-Haml and .Mo. 81evel Yesterday the manager received tenders for two tribute b'ueks, but it. has not been decided which will be accepted yet, as the directors have not yet confirmed tho manager's decision. These two blocks are both on the Bird-in-Hand lode, und are well opened up seciions. One of them is from tho No. 6 level to the intermediate, and the other from the intermediate to the Bird-inHand #o. 4. The other tribute parties are some of them busy accumulating parcels.