OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3782, 10 February 1881, Page 2

OUR MINES.

SOUTHERN CROSS

The mine manager reports as follows : —Specimen leader: The drive on the eastern side of the winze is now in a distance of forty feet. In driving, gold was occasionally seen in the stone about thirty feet in from winze. We had a few pounds of nice specimens. Five loads of quartz from here, and three from western side have been put through last crushing, which went about one ounce to the load. I have commenced to stope out the leader from winze. There were also five loads of quartz broken out of battery level, with similar results. No. 4 Leader.—l have connected battery level with tramway level with a rise, and have a shoot or hopper here capable of holding six load of quartz. Five loads of quartz was taken out of this leader last fortnight, and it showed better on the plates than the general stuff did. I am also putting a rise up on two leaders that were cut in cross-cut, going towards Tookey No. 1 Reef. I intend to take two or three loads from here for a trial crushing. Crushing : Eighteen loads of quartz and ten pounds of picked sione were completed on the 4th inst. at the Alburnia Battery for the return of 28ozs. 15dwts. melted gold. I have inspected the 100 ft. level, and with the exception of a little seam, found the drive in good condition for 240 ft. from the pump shaft. At the end of the 240 ft. level the drive is broken down from the point to the 19ft. reef. It is 80ft., and supposing the drive to be broken down all the distance I believe it could be repaired and put in good order for £40 or £50. There are other leaders on the level well worth a trial, as there appears to be little or nothing done on them. This level is perfectly clear of gas.—James Coutts.