OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3857, 10 May 1881, Page 2

OUR MINES.

OUR DEEP.LEVELS.

Frequently of late have we taken occasion to advocate the necessity of something being done in the direction of prospecting the deep levels of this goldfield, but fro to the apathy of those immediately connected with, mining ventures and the public generally, it appears 'to us that the great importance of the subject is not fully recognised. For 12 years a couple of thousand men have been working away at the surface, which cannot last for ever", another decade probably seeing these kind of operations suspended. An at tempt Waß made at the prospecting of the deeper levels, as everybody knows, by means; of the Big Pump shaft, but funds failed at the time when the bottom of the shaft was on a non-auriferous layer of country, at least so said Mr Severn and others acquainted with geological formation. Subsequently this' assertion was ..borne out by the expensive apd wholly unprofitable investigations of the 640 feet level by several companies—notably the Kuranui Hill, and the stoppage of those companies after the expenditure of thousands of pounds, is an evidence that the directors and managers had arrived at a conclusion that they might as well look for golden matrix in a haystack. This ended dedp level prospecting, and for three or four years |^ej. (ii^, been drifting-^sojnAeUineg encountering a, flash of prosperity,, but never advancing with firm tread on the high road, of prosperity. Now, this is not as it should be. In the vicinity of the Big Pump shaft, the richest gold reefs in the world were discovered, and we ask our readers is there not a fair, prospect—a prospect almost aa^Hjnting to a certainty —that vast deposit! j of gold, the counter .part of those abore, lie under the barren strata referred to. As our readers are already aware, it is our candid opinion that, a large company could without trouble be floated in England, and we have no doubt but that it would be well supported throughout the Australian Group. Let some of our influential men introduce the subject to Sir Julius Togel; Mr Thomas Russell, or some other colonist who has influence iff the London money market. In a week either of the gentlemen named could raise a capital of £100,000 or more. It would not be necessary tor the compnnjr to purchase the upper levels—these would be better worked as they are—but let the bijj organisation acquire a large area, taking only say from 600 feet from the guface. We feel certain that it ould be obtained for a mere nominal sum, and ths bulk of the capital could be available tor developing the resources of the mine. Even machinery would- not be required, the Big Pump being able to drain from 1600 feet greater depth than at present The project is feasible, and we hope to see it' taken up by the public in a spirited manner, when we feel certain we will be able to show our traducers that the old j Thames is not done yet.

01D GOLDEN CALF. Crushing will in all probability be started for this company at the Herald mill to-morrow. There is about 40 loads on hand, and from the gold that has been seen! should think it will shape for at least an ounce per load. At the No. 3 level the .drive is being pushed ahead to get the foot wall, and but little quart? is being broken. Once the wall is reached, the manager will have a better idea of the best way of working the lode. The good appearance of the atone qontjuuea.

CUBE. The crushing for this at the Herald mill is now almost completed. The result will I be a small one. . GOLD KETUJJNS. AIBUENiA. — Christie and party and Waite and party have finished crushing for the respective returns of 1690zs 7dwts and 7ozs gold. Moanataibi.—A. crashing tor JKobbertson and party yielded 18ozs ldwt gold. Kubanui Hili—Le Manquais and party and Hurfit and party have finished crushing for the respective yields of 25ox^ 2dwts and 3ozs 6dwts gold.