OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3970, 19 September 1881, Page 2

OUR MINES.

MOANATAIARI

The manager reports as follows: — " 150 feet level, No. 1 reef, north-east of crosscut: The small trial parcel taken from here, and referred to in my last, contains about lOdwts per ton ; this will pay expenses, if it continues as good. The leader has diminished in size lately, the baser minerals having; run out to a great extent, which may be regarded as a favorable feature. 80 feet level, south-east of crosscut and east of shaft: The leader here has been somewhat disordered for a day or two, but is again becomiug more defined, and a few pounds of picked stone have since been obtained. 80 feet level, No. 9 reef: There are two men stopiug here, and the reef varies in size from one to three feet thick. Some of the quart* is gold-bearing, and colors are seen occasionally, 80 feet level, All Nations' leader, west of shaft and east from crosscut: A trial parcel of eight tons from this point produced 13|ozs amalgam, which is a very encouraging prospect, and should certainly be followed up._ The leader here, has a healthy appearance at present. Morning Star section: The leaders are improving in quality as we approach the main slide. All our other operations are without any change to report. 104 tons of general stuff have been crushed (including 150lbs of picked stone) yielding 12Oozs retorted gold.—J. G. Vivian."

CALEDONIAN. On visiting this mine to-day I found that the drive east on the hanging*trail of No. 2 reef at No. 1 level had been carried forward about 20 feet. Since taking out the trial crushing the manager has not broken into the reef more than was done in driving. The quartz thus obtained was stacked below, and there is now about.. 2(J loads there. So far the reef maintains its heavily mineralised character, and continues to show good colors and ! dabs of gold. The show of mineral left in the face is quite as good as when the first, crushing was taken out. In the face of the drive there is a leader about 10 inches thick showing. It is composed of kindly looking quartz, and has not nearly so much mineral in it as the main reef. A few good colors of gold have been seen in it, and very likely it will improye when it junc^ons with the main reef, which it will probably do ere long. The cleaning out of .the-cross-cut above No. 2 level is now completed, and men are at work breaking out a trial crushing. The reef is about two feet in thickness, and is composed of bluish quartz.

OLD GOLDEN CALF. The contract for driving 100 feet is now nearly completed, and when it is an immense amount of quartz will be easily obtainable. The reef iv the drive is 3 feet thick on an average, and is a fine, solid body of quarz. In the s topes above the drive the hanging-wall portion of the reef is about two feet thick, and though not very solid produces good crushing dirt, and now and then a few pounds of picked stone. About 80 feet of stopes are now opened tip, and it is from here that inpsfc of the erushiiig dirt eouiea.

The "horse" of. mullock continues to divide the reef just above the drive. Before this is come upon the reef is over four feet thick. GOLD KETUBNB. Smile oe Fobxunb (Owharoa).—The melted return of Oats and party's crush* ing is 4840zs 15dwts gold.