ALBURNIA

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3647, 3 September 1880, Page 2

ALBURNIA

The mine manager reports as follows :— "Sons of Freedom tunnel: Driving has been carried on a distance of 130 feet, which has brought the drive to the Whau boundary. The drive is now at a standstill, awaiting its continuation by the Whau Company. I intend, as soon as the road is connected, to start the men hitherto employed on the above drive to clean out and repair the drive in the Lincoln Castle on this level. When this is done, I purpose continuing the drive to cut a reef hitherto worked by tributers in the upper levels, and to cross cut for Carpenter's reef at the Sons of Freedom level, which would give a considerable height of backs should the reef prove payable. 160 feet level—Dixon's cross cut: This cross-cut has been let by contract at 18s per foot for a distance of 150 feet. Good progress has been made during the fortnight, and small veins hare been cut since we started, but we hare not as yet seen any gold. I hare put on two or three men to strip the leader mentioned in my last report, as, owing to the traffic, I can only keep one shift (the afternoon one) at work. 160 ft. level west—Sons of Freedom reef: Stoping has been carried on during the fortnight, where we have obtained some good, crushing dirt, with occasionally some picked stone. 160 feet level east: Stoping has also been carried on here. The reef is large, being composed of bands of mullock intermixed with quartz, and not very rich. Hanging-wall leader: The drive is still being carried on. For some time past the reef has not looked so well as formerly, but a change is now taking place, which, I hope, will be for the better. Stoping is carried on here and on the Sons of Freedom reef, from both of which we obtain some good crushing dirt. West: Stoping has also been carried on in old slopes over 70 feet level, where we have obtained some good crushing dirt and specimens daring the

month. The stopes still look well, being well mineralised, and showing good colours of gold. Dixon's winze: Sinking this winze has been carried to a depth of 76 feet, when the water becoming troublesome, I determined to stop sinking. When we cut the reef at the low level it will be much easier and cheaper to rise to meet the wiuze, and open up the ground in that way. Battery : There have been 312 trucks of quartz crushed during the month, for the return of 8220zs 2dwts. melted gold. Battery and all its appliances continue to work well.—Thomas Eadfoed."