OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3854, 6 May 1881, Page 2

OUR MINES.

The AUramia-'Wha.u Dispute.

The Herald publishes an article on the dispute between the Alburnia and New Whau Goldmining Companies regarding the driving of the Sons of Freedom tunnel, this article being republished by the Advertiser this morning. We are surprised that our morning contemporary should republish such an article, when the editor, from his position as a director of the New Whau Company, must have known there were many inaccuracies. Ihe apparent object of the article is to cast mud at the Alburnia directors'—to make it appear they are a party of grasping monopolists, while the Whau people, angelic creatures that they are, couldn't do anything wrong. It likewise stales

that the action of the Albania Company in making application to the Warden is ' unfavorably commented on here, which is scarcely true, it being generally admitted that the Alburnia directors have right on their side. The facts are briefly these:—The Whau ground is situate in the centre of the Alburnia, and the Sons of freedom tunnel is now up to the western boundary of the former. Being desirous of getting into their own ground through the Whau the Alburnia directors started.negotiations witk their neighbours so tbat the work "right be done conjointly. After some beating about the bush the Whau admitted that the work would be bene* nomi to them, and the cost of the work estimated the Alburnia directors agreed S*'? £300. But that would not was h« Jd\ dIOUS Wha«ites, one of whom mean a i liin 61""^ tUat lhe dri™ *ould ■fil?nn*Si ' g °? U> aad that woald b0 IrivP A f pock<V° he did't want the drive. A few adject™ 8 W in prpmiscuonsly added force to the avowal. The Alburnia directors made variou. offers—one of them being to drire the lerel and recoup themselTes from the gold obtained in driving, but all to no purpose and as a last resource they had to make application to the Warden. There ii not the slightest " hostility," as the Herald calls it, on the part of the Alburnia directors, who,.we think our readers will admit, are. only carrying out the trust reposed on their hands by the shared holders. - ' ■ BENDIGO UNITED. The driving contractors are making good progress. The quartz looks promising eaough though no gold has yet been seen. " The workings are very dirty owing to a quantity of water soaking through from the upper levels. ALBDHNIA.

Star of the South reefrln driving on the lode at the Wbau level the country continues hard, rendering progress very tardy. The dig is in Jiard country, well knitted together by quartz stringers which prevents shots taking proper effect. No leader has been broken for the past 10 or 12 feet. When last broken, it was about one foot thick, and showed a little gold on breaking. I should say the present show is worth about an ounce per ton—perhaps a little more. When stoping is started, which it will soon. be, this will be a remunerative lode, and there is a big chance of a patch of of gold being unearthed in it. : The crosscut to intersect the lode at the 70 feet level has been on a hard bar, but this morning there was a softer face in the drive, and it maybe that the rock has been got rid of. Operain the hanging-wall leader continue to produce a good grade of stone. ' ' . NEW NORTH DEVON. Driving has been discontinued at the 160 and 70 feet levels until such time as the mystery of the break is cleared up. It is a matter beyond doubt that the same break extends from the Whau level down, and consequently it is a waste of money to look for the reef in three places when one will suffice. Once the reef is to hand at the Wbau level, it will be a comparatively easy matter to pick it up below. A. winze is being sunk on the boundary at the 70 feet level, aod I believe it is not improbable that an intermediate level will be opened about: that point. For 70 feet along the floor of the level the manager took out four ounce quartz, and there is apparently a good block underfoot. CALEDONIAN;. The work of cleaning out aod repairing the passes in Herival's section is now completed, and work will be started on Monday next. These passes were filled by the Golden Crown, and it is probable the Caledonian directors will demand compensation. The work of cleaning them out was arduous and dangerous, the size of the rocks preventing the pass being "run," so that everything had to be taken out from below. There is nothing else of importance. The manager's weekly report states:—" There is no change in the appearance of No. 2 reef, No. 1 level crosscut, aince my last. We are now 12 feet into it in the roof of the crosscut, and no sign of the hanging wall. I started to sink on the winze at No. 3 level on Tuesday last. The country is still good, and the men are making good progress. I have had Herival's pass cleared out. I shall be ready to start work on Monday next. [*he surveyor was down on Thursday, and made the survey. I send up plan, with Herival's works laid thereon, also crosscut and the reef intersected No. 1 level, atao winze, No. 3 level. Be. Herival's passes Ido not know how the Golden Ccotra were allowed to '. fill them up. It was done before I came and from information I received they were, all seen open nine months ago. To clear the passes just finished has cost your company full £15, and I am of opinion they can be made to pay that amount, as well as damages done to one of the'passes by the timber being knocked out by the large rocks thrown down it by them. I have got both ropes tarred with Stockholm tar, which will preserve them a great deal through the winter.—«T. B. Hicks."