KURANUI HILL UNITED.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3086, 8 January 1879, Page 2

KURANUI HILL UNITED.

The different workings in the Oddfellows' section of the above mine were visited to-day. The top level is put in from near the cap of 'the hill, and it was from here that Catran and party took a crushing worth several ounces to the ton, which attracted attention to this hitherto almost virgin ground. At the time of my visit only one man was working here, but a considerable amount of driving and stoping has been already done. . The lode averages about nine inches thick, and in some places there are over 100 feet feet of backs to the surface. A winze has been sunk on the lode to connect it with the intermediate level, eighty feet below, which was next visited. About three months ago the good prospects met with in the level above induced the manager to put in a cross-cut to tap it at a greater depth. Consequently this level was commenced, the starting point being close to the Shotover shaft, and only a few feet from the site of Hunt's famous patch. The country is all good standing ground, requiring little or no timber. Two leads were intersected before the Odd* fellows 1 lode was' come on. The first of these, a likely looking lode about a foot thick, has been followed * few feet, and I understand a trial of the stuff therefrom will shortly be made. The next lode it about two feet in thickness, but nothing has yet been done on it. It will shortly be driven on. The Oddfellow's lode was then cut, and was found to have increased in size to about a couple of feet where first intersected. It was followed north, and from this drive the 200 ounce crashing was obtained before Christmas. The country all along this drive could not bo more favorable to the existance of auriferous quartz. It is light brown sandstone crossed with black stringers; which generally accompany rich golden; deposits. The manager has commenced to stope back from the winze towards the cross cut. Just past the winze the lode split into two branches, which, however, kept pretty close together, and were both followed with the one drive for several feet, when further separating it was found necessary to make two drires* Only a few feet has been driven on the left hand branch, which is about a foot in thickness, but on the other section of the lode a considerable amount of work has been done. Very little gold is seen, indeed it is seldom looked for, the lode being of a character in which it is very difficult to detect the precious metal by a mere cursory 1 examination. Some work has also been, done on the lode to the south of the crosscut, where it also splits into two distinct branches. Though it runs through a different class- of country the.stone looks: promising, and I have no doubt but that it would show up well in a battery test. A winze is being sunk on the lode near cross-cut, and it is now d«wn 25 feet. Most encouraging prospects have been met with so far, the lode having increased in size while some good gold has been seen. This winze is being sunk to connect with the workings on the battery level were a party of contractors are now driving a cross*cut to cut the lode. They have about 80 feet further to go, and when this is connected with the upper level workings it will afford greater facilities for the easy development of the section as all, or nearly all, of the stuff can be sent out this way. There is now about 200 tons of stuff to grass from the section, which will be crushed shortly, and I have no doubt but that it will return a splendid yield. At the 640-feet level the only work in progress for the company is that done by a party of contractors who are prospecting.