OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3917, 19 July 1881, Page 2

OUR MINES.

MOANATAIRI

The manager's report for last week is as follows:—"Nonpareil: We have suspended driving No. 5 level east, the reef being small and poor, and have started risiDg at a point where some gold was obtained in driving along. This is now up 12 feet, and few colours of gold have been seen in the stone. The reef is a foot thick, but of very low grade. Tunnel level : In driving west through Central Italy the reef has not been picked up since being heaves! by the clay band referred to in my last report. In driving east from crosscut, the reef is 2vr feet thick, of dark blue stone. It contains but little mineral, and is poor stuff. Morning Star section: There is nothing iresh to report. 132ft level: The stopes on JN'o. 3 reef above this level have during the past fortnight been more productive, one cwt. of picked stone being obtained, and the general stuff is also of better quality. 150ft. level: Two men are still prospecting some leaders here, but nothing has yet been met with. During the last .|'our weeks 427 tons of stuff, including l^cwt picked stone, have been crushed, yielding 200©zs retorted gold.— Hour. Comer."

CALEDONIAN. The manager reports under date 18th July, 1881, as follows:—"I have this day stopped driving on. No. 1 reef. No. 3 level: The reef is fully 12 feet in thickness, white, and hungry-looking and barren of every description of mineral. I have started these men to sink a winze on the junction of No. 1 reef and the Young American leader, No. 2 level, and in breaking down the reef today, I got some nice stones showing gold. This looks promising. No. 1 level : South west drive hes been drive 14 feet along bath reefs, NO3. 1 and 2. Both reets contain certain minerals, and good indications for gold. The drive north-east of same reef has been extended 10 feet. Here the No. 1 reef is split up into small stringers, all of which are charged with nice minerals, and when they come together again it is likely there will be a change for the better. I have let both drives on contract, one at] 4s per foot, and the other at 15s per foot, 30 feet each, The No. 2 reef between th°se drives where I am driving throughout is looking about the same as last week. I am now about 5 feet into it, it is heavily charged with dark mundic and a little copper.—T. B. Hicks."

KURANUI HILL. The manager reports as follows :— " Poverty section : In the stopes under beach level, the quartz now shows gold each breaking:, and will turn out better than it looks. There is an improvement as the stope is carried westward, and it is probable that we may have a considerable . quantity of good stuff from this quarter. In the rise above Pearoe's stopes the, leader is getting stronger, and it is likely any time to make gold. Surface workings: All last week the workings in the Junction and All Nations continue to "give good crushing stuff, aud we have 28lbs of picked stone on hand. Our crushing from here will be a great improvement on the last. I continue calling for tenders for our unoccupied ground, and last week let two sections. None of our parties are doing much good. On Saturday night the storm carried away the flume near the Shotover shaft; the consequence was that a great deal of mullock was swept down the creek, and, with the wreckage, choked the culvert at the back of the battery, causing the flood to flow through the stamp house. The building is no worse, but the floor is covered two feet in sand, and some of our good crushing stuff has been washed through the stamps, and is mixed up awkwardly in the mess. I have already men and drays clearing things up, and the carpenter is repairing the fluming.—J. W. Walker." • - • ■ NEW WHAU. A few stones shewing a little gold were obtained in the Sons of Freedom reef today.