MOANATAIRI.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2877, 6 May 1878, Page 2

MOANATAIRI.

During the four days of last week which the rock drill was being worked the tuunel was extended 23 feet. The ground is much easier, and is favorable to the existence of auriferous quartz. The face is now about under the Point Russell lode, where the winze has bean started, but as the underlee carries., .the reef a considerable distance further**fcouth,, the manager is "of opinion that-the-second reef cut in the tunnel some rnopths ago is identical with the Point Russell. The following is a copy of the mine manager's weekly report to his. -Board of Directors, which metin Auckland to-day i —" 150 feet level.—ln driving west No. 9 rref is two feet thick—compact stone, showing colors of gold. The stope on this reef west from No. 3 winze is pay able stuff, and occasionally a fewjjounds of picked stone are broken out. The stope west from No. 2 is suspended, being up within a few feet of the bottom of 80----feet level. As it is low grade stuff, it will be more profitable, to leave this pillar standing, so as to keep the level secure.' 80-feet level. - Good progress is being made in the extension of north cross-cut to intersect No. 2 reef." The stoped on No. 1 reef are nearly exhausted; beinjr now worked along bottom of tunnel lev&h The drive west on No; 9 reef is much djß-, ordered by a band of clay crossings it." The stopes in back of this leTel-are" producing payable stuff. -Tfc«;£wiDze sinking east from cross-cut. ,6n V3S^ 9. or Heldt's reef between two 'slidfejsVis down 30 feet, and has carried a god^.jfayable lode to this depth. It is disturbed? now by a slide,'but I.think after sinking^ a little further it will resume its forme* character. All the stopes are without change to mention. Main lunneLhas been driven 23 t'eet during the last 4^ days. The is now good for progress, and also for gold-bearing reefs. - We are now under the Point .Russell winze, but the reef having underlaid south it is probable the No. 2 reef intersected will prove to be Point Russell reef. We shall now have to cross-cut to strike the reef, and then rise on it up to winze. I think when intersected the water will drain, and then sinking can be carried on more vigorously. On Monday next we shall start baling out water from winze, and then resume sinking by nine men working three shifts. The general crush* ing is showing much about the same as last return; The boilers have been cleaned out and inspected. They are now in good order, and the battery resumed work on Tuesday last at 8 o'clock a.m. —I am, k., Robt. Comeb." ik^Moyle and party crushed r lllbs of at the company's battery for the yield of 16£ozs gold. Shephard and party's crushing produced 2ozs 12dwte gold. Read and party finished a crushing of 60 tons at the Kuranui mill for the fine return of 109ozs 6dwts gold. ,