ALBURNIA.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3481, 20 February 1880, Page 2

ALBURNIA.

This mine may at present be said to be in a transitory stage. The rich ;quartz;of the specimen run abore the 70-feet leVel is exhausted, and all attention is now turned to the development of the portion of the run below the 70 feet leTel. The works to procure the consummation of this have been i^ progress for some time, but owing to Varioas causes the progress made i» hardly so rapid as could be desired. Our readers will remember that about two months ago a winz» was •Urted from the 70 feet lore! at tke

western end of the ran, ostensibly to cos* nect with the 160 feet, but also to prove as far as possible the depth and quality of the terra incognita, so to speak, underneath. This winze is now down close on 40 feet, and good gold has been carried, proving the satisfactory nature of the quartz so far at any rate. The country has been hard, and progress has been slow in consequi-nee. The reef here ' has a promising appearance, identical with the quartz from the 70-feet level, and if a monkey drive was put in at the bottom of the winze, it is very probable as good dividends would be paid from this section as from the block now being worked. Before leaving the 70 feet level, it may be as well to refer to the other works. In the first place the drive on the footwail lode is still being pushed ahead and is making good progress. The lode is of good size and a little gold is to be seen in the footwail which is to be saved. This work is of considerable importance, at not only will it prove the reef being driven on, but will , intersect any reef that may be" running I parellel with the Sons of Freedom lode on that side of the mine. McMiaamin and party have a contract for driving on a large body of itone tun* ning parallel with the main lode at a distance of 50 feet from it. Though encouraging prospects have been met no gold is seen, and the quartz, is barren - looking. The stopes are still being worked, and large quantities of payable crushing dirt being sent to the mill, but the returns wil} be comparatively small until systematic working iscommeneedon the 160 feet Mock. In the eastern drive there is a \#b' feet lode, bat poor stuff. The leading stope is now being earned over this drive, the ground to the westward being nearly all' stoped. out. In the 160 feet level the main . point of interest is the reef in the western drive. No indications have yet been discovered of the, downward, continuation of the specimen run. There is a large body of quartz 7 feet thiok, but hard and unprofitable, with-the exception of about 18 inches on the footwail side, which is sent to the mill. The stopes above the drive are also poor looking, and indeed the indications of the level so far have hardly come up to expectations. Crushing at the Herald mill ia proceeding as usual, but in a few weeks it is expected a start will be made at the Prince Alfred mill, lately purchased by the ' company. A tramway will shortly be erected, connecting the battery with the Maonatairi tramway.- ■ t'