ALBURNIA

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3836, 14 April 1881, Page 2

ALBURNIA

In consequence of the alleged discovery of gold in the Star of the South reef, I visited this mine to day. It is just a month since Mr Radford let a contract to drive from the vicinity of the "jump up " at the Whau level to cut this lode, and although the ground was all shooting country, the progress made was really excellent, 107 feet having been driven by the contractors. The lode was tapped on Tuesday though some days previous there had been indications of its proximity in the shape o&a multitude of small'leaders and quartz ifenreads. The width of ground these covered naturally led the manager to think they were disintegrated portions of the lode. He, however, continued, and the cutting of the lode proper showed that the surmise was incorrect. Yesterday afternoon J2 feet.of the lode being stripped a shot was fired showing that the lode contained 2 feet of kindly looking quartz besides being highly auriferous, fine strong splats and colors of gold being seen in the quartz dislodged end in the face. A few golden stones were broken out this moraing, and no doubt some will be obtained eveiy shot. The class of country is good enough for anything, and asiong as the lode penetrates this kind of strata, no fears need be entertained concerning its paying qualities. I regard this discovery of the utmost importatce, giving the mine a new lease of life. Very little has been done on the reef at any level, and though it is probable that it undergoes the changes incidental to the other lodes of the vicinity, the history of the Sons of Freedom lode and specimen leader shows^ they generally turn out well in the Jpo^l run and always pay for prospectioigf Another discovery, which I consider of second importance only to the one mentioned above, is one just made in the 70 feet stopes on the hangiDgwall lead. The manager has started to open out from these workings on the old specimen leader, which junctions with the hangingwall velu7 and to-day a nice vein of copper, with healthy colourf* of gold intermixed, was visible. The lead is small, but the indications visible are almost infallible harbingers of a good patch of gold I must not forget to mention in connection with, the Star of the South reef that 160 feet of driving will cut that lode at the 70 feet level. The manager's report is as follows : —" The crosscut in Whau level has been extended a distance of 107 feet, and we have reached the point where I expected to meet with the reef. During the last 20 feet country has been thickly intersected with veins of quartz, varying from two to ten inches in thickness, from which I am led to believe the reef has been split up in this place. I purpose, however, still extending" the crossout, as long as we are in the present favorable class of country, or until satisfied, when I will open out and drive east to communicate with winze sunk from battery level by tributers some time ago. Hanging-wall leader: Stoping has been carried on ; leader still showing a little gold, but no specimens. The leader at "jump up," exposed by the removal of some timber, has not turned out so well as I anticipated, but I purpose prospecting it a little further. Dizon's section: Preparations have been made and a new chamber cut, a start will at once be made to sink No. 2 winze on this reef. Driving has been carried on in battery level over Christie's tribute, but no change has occurred as yet since last report. Battery : Owing to the great scarcity of water, the battery has worked but a few days this month. The tributers have been put off so long, that they have at last determined to crush at the Moanatairi battery, and should there be no change in the weather shortly, I think it will be advisable to start crushing there for"the company.—T. Radfokd." P.S.—Since writing the above we have cut the Star of the South reef, and it looks very promising at the point where we cut it, but I have 80 feet to drive east to get under the winze where the gold was got in the battery level. I have started three men to drive at once, and will not take down the reef until 10 or 12 feet is uncovered, and I hope by all present appearances to be able to give you a good account. NEW WHAU.

The discovery of the Star of the South reef under such favourable conditions in the Alburnia is of the utmost importance to the above mine, as it must run through at least 160 feet of the Whau ground, while at the same time, the present point of intersection is only 50 feet or less from the boundary. The manager feels quite confident it traverses the Whau ground from the fact that in the Black Angel adit there are no quartz indications at all. It'may turn out that the lode junctions with the main reef—indeed, there is a point in the main drive where a body of quartz went off in the direction of the new discovery. It was, .however, only supposed to be a " horse," and as such is now set down in the plan. TJ»e manager intends driving from this junction—if hia surmise turns out to be correct, well and good, and if not, the point mentioned will be as good as any to start crosscutting from. Eecent operations in the Alburnia have likewise eoiivinced. the manager that the Alburnia hanging-wall leader in contradistinction to the Whau hanging-wall leader runs right through the Whau ground. It is probable that it

is identical with the lode cut by Mr hanging-wall leaders run parrallel, and Daykin at the 116 feet level. Both of these dip into each other—indeed it is estimated that at the 160 feet level a distance no greater 20 feet separates them. Gi-ood quartz continues to come from the present operations, and altogether the company's operations have brightened up considerably' NEW NOJRTH DETON.

< At the 160 feet level some good strong colors of gold were seen in the lode today. This is the best discovery yet made at this level, and is more important from the fact that gold was not seen in the footwall portion, which is generally looked on as the gold bearing portion of the lode? The manager informs me that along tbe floor of the 70 feet level he obtained crushing stuff worth 4ozs per ton so that there is every probability of the block now being opened being a good payable one. A winze from the 70 feet level is down about 40 feet, and after the drive has advanced some little distance the manager intends deepening the winze, and so establishing a connection between the two levels. .This mine has to all appearances, a splendid future before it. OLD GOLDEN CALF. All the manager's energies are now devoted to pushing on the drive towards the slide. Good colors of gold are seen every breaking down and the lode continues to bear a highly promising appearance.