OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3937, 11 August 1881, Page 2

OUR MINES.

CALEDONIAN.

The prospects or this mine have much improved since the present manager, Mr Hicks, took charge, especially in the eastern drive at No. 1 level. The reef driven on here is known as No. 2, and lately a marked change has taken place in it, the dark heavy mundic being replaced by light silvery mineral, which is a capital indication of gold. This change took place last week, and since then the reef has continued to improve, the indications being most favourable to the existence of the precious metal. The manager saw colours of gold in some pieces of quartz taken from here on Tuesday. A shot was fired on Hie reef not long before our visit yesterday morning, and a piece of quartz broken out had a fine dab of gold in it. The reef is in the floor of the drive, and as yet not more than .two feet of it have been broken out. It is thickly impregnated with copper, jasper, antimony, and silvery mundic. The manager does not intend to prove the whole of the reef, which he believes to be about 16 feet through, just yet, but intends to continue the drive. In the western drive at No. 1 level the country is much improved, a deal of quartz being mixed up with the Jmullock, and a body of quartz may form at any time. The rise on the No. 2 lode between these two drives is going up as quickly as can be expected, in a good class of country. At the No. 2 level the only work in progress is an underhand stope on the Young American lode, which is now more defined, but as yet very little gold has been seen in it. It is of a patchy nature, and just above this level some fine gold was got from it by James and party, so it is possible good gold will be got on it here. ALBURNIA. The manager reports as follows: — " New low level: This drive has been extended to a distance of 70 feet. The country is all that could be desired, and a reef may be cut at any moment. Sons of Freedom tunnel, Lincoln Castle section s la underhand stoping this leader, after going down a distance of ten or twelve feet, we cut water, which prevented our going deeper. At this point the reef is about 18 inches wide, with good minerals, and showing colors of gold, which speaks well for the new low level when carried up. Sons of Freedom tunnel: Good progress is being made by contractors, 172 feet being now completed since starting. I have had a survey made, and find that 54 feet more driving will bring us into the Alburnia ground, should the reef retain its present course. I am happy to inform you that the reef could not possibly have taken a shorter course to reach your ground, and that" we will not lose a foot by the reef keeping its present course. Very little has been done in sinking the winze near Whau eastern boundary, as the men have been engaged in timbering and breaking down the reef since my last. The reef here still continues large, and of a hard nature, and I am sorry to say poor as yet. 70 feet level : The winze here is now down a distance of 80 feet. The leader still shows a little gold whenever broken down. Six men are still stoping on this leader, and the dirt continues payable.-r-T. Radfobd." COLUMBIA. Good progress is being made in putting up the rise, which is now up about 45 feet. The leader is more compact, and shows signs of improvement, but as yet no gold has been seen. BENDIGO UNITED. Since starting the crosscut 22 feet have been driven, and yesterday a few veius of quartz were met with, on examining which a few colors of gold were seen. . The country is promising, and should a reef be cut in the present class of country there is every prospect of its turning out payable. GOLDEN STAR. The manager reports as follows :—" I t>au now see colours, of gold in droppers

from main lode, but none in the lode itself. I aui through the large lode, but cutting further into the footwall trying to get the leader where specimens were got on the surface. The footwall looks well for gold —being full of stringers and mineral veins. Indications lead me to believe gold will be got in the large lode ere long.—Henby CoWE." NEW GOLDEN CKOWN. The manager reported on the 9th insfc. as follows:—At the battery level, as usual, from the footwall leader, a payable supply of quartz is coming to hand. I am also sinking a winze in the leader from this level to connect with tbe old intermediate level. The leader is now down a distance of 26 feet, and averages about nine inches iv thickness, showing a little gold frequently. The surface level has been driven aloug the course of the main. No. 1 reef a distrnce of 84 feet, the reef averaging about two feet iv thickness. The quartz from here is of a low grade at present. The drive in No. 1 battery level has been extended along its course a distance of 127 feet to north-east of main crosscut, and a fair start has been made with the stopes along the back of the drive. The reef in the stopes is much split up at present. The quartz is payable with a few picked stones coming to hand occasionally. The quartz from No. 2 reef on this level is of low grade. Work is still suspended in the leaders known as Herival's branch leader at intermediate level, and No. 1 main reef at 40 feet level, on account of the wet weather. The battery has been running full time during the week, and the crushing is showing up for a payable return.— T. A. Dxjnlop.

GOLD EETFENB

City of Adelaide.—A parcel of 15ozs 18dwts gold from this claim was banked to day.