MOANATAIRI.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3637, 23 August 1880, Page 2

MOANATAIRI.

The discovery of the reef in the Nonpariel crosscut, referred to on Saturday, will probably hare a very beneficial effect on the mine, as from its dimensions and the facilities for removing, and crashing it cheaply a rery small percentage of gold will prove remunerative. It is certainly the likeliest looking quartz yet cut eastward of the main slide at the tunnel level, the minerals met with being those generally found in connection with a deposit of gold, while the country is also of a favorable class. It is nice workable sandstane—very different to the hard hungry rock which for the most part has been met with in the more recent operations. The advent of the reef was presaged some days beforehand by stringers of'quartz. The progress made in driving this crosscut, thanks to the efficiency of the rock drill, has been firstrate,. 110 feet having been driven since the bend was made in its course. The manager intends having a trial crushing from the lode, when I will be able to say more respecting its value. In the Golden Age rise there is nothing fresh of importance to notice. The reef cut in the ICO feet lerel on Thursday is the downward continuation of one stoped on above. The manager intends to drive some little distance to the eastward, and then put up a rise to connect with the winze sinking on the Point Russell lode. The manager's report for the week is as follows:— Tunnel level, Nonpareil crosscut: A large reef 8 feet thick has been intersected at nearly a right angle with the drive. The stone is white, well disseminated with mundic and antimony, and looks well fo.* gold. Being in good country a rich find may be met with. The staff broken from here will be saved to crush. Since bending the. drive 110 feet has been driven through good country, but we have not yet, met with the slide. Golden Age rise: Quartz leaders varying from one to four inches thick are dropping into reef. No. 3 reef and branches are producing the usual quantity aed grade of staff. In the footwall branch, prospecting crosacat, nothing has yet been intersected, and there is still 50 feet to drive to our bouor-

dary. Point Russell, Creek level: The reef has been broken from stopes this week At the 100 feet level a reef 18 inches thick has been struck. This is the same lode we were sloping on in the level above. It contains dark blue quartz with a heavy mixture of iron pyrites. We shall drive east on this for a few days in order to give room for putting up a rise to connect with winze.—l am &c, Robert Comer.