QUEEN OF BEAUTY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3867, 21 May 1881, Page 2

QUEEN OF BEAUTY.

The Company have re let to Wingate and party their old tribute section in the Queen of the May portion of the ground, from which it will be remembered they were driven by the water some two years ago.

ALBURNIA;

The manager's report is as follows:— Middle Star tunnel: As there is now plenty of water at the battery, and there being here a fine looking reef from 8 to 10 feet wide unprospected, I bare started a partj of men to take out a trial crushing. Should this average at the rate of 15dwts to the load, owing to its easy position and its easy access to the hoppers, I feel assured that this return would leave a profit. Sons of Freedom tunnel (Lincoln' Castle section): I have again started some men to work here. When work was discontinued for want of water at the battery, this reef was payable, and I am of opinion it will still continue so. 160 feet level; I have started to open up a stope close to the,main pass leading from the 70 feet level. The reef^here is about 2 feet wide and heavily charged with minerals, .bat I cannot speak as to its quality until I have had a crushing. Intermediate level (stopes): I have now knocked off work in these stopes, as I have given them a fair trial at the battery for the last fortnight, and find that the stuff is not payable. This block having proved so poor, I now purpose sinking a winze where we obtained some gold in driving the 70 feet level before we reached the North Devon boundary. I intend to sink as far as the reef is payable, when, if not at too great a depth, I will take it out by an underhand stope ; but should it carry gold down to too great a depth, I will work it out by an intermediate level. 70 feet level (cross-cut for Star of the South reef): This cross cut is now in a distance of 22 feet. The ground here is very hard, and I consider it best to sink a winze from the Whau level to ascertain if the reef be sufficiently rich to justify the company in driving the cross cut below. The sinking of this winze will be a great assistance in proving the block, as I expect the Success reef and another small gold-bearing leader will junction with the Star of the South reef before they reach the 70-feet level. Whau level (Star of the South reef): This level has now been extended to a distance of 70 feet. The reef in the face at present is rather split up, and I purpose letting this drive stand idle for a short time, while the winze is being sunk, as one work would greatly interfere with the other. Dixon's winze: This winze is now down a a distance of 33 feet. for so far it has been sunk on the hanj;ingwa)l of the reef to avoid getting into old workings which had been underhand stoped and filled up with mullock previous to my taking charge. On Thursday last we cut solid ground and reached the reef, from which on the first breaking down we pro» cured some S or 91 bs of stone showing strong colours of gold, and the reef has re'ained this character ever since. Hitherto I have had only two men working in this winge, but on reaching the reef I immediately increased the number to six, so as to sink the winze with as little delay as possible. Battery level: Driving has been continued here with similar results to those last reported. Battery : The general stuff at the battery for so far this month has been of a low grade, and the returns of amalgam very poor.—Thomas Eadfoed.