OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4026, 23 November 1881, Page 2

OUR MINES.

CALEDONIAN. The manager reports for last week as follows:—Since my last there has been a great change for the better in the east drive, No. 1 lerel. The reef ia the face is 2£ feet thick, and showing colours of the precious metal; the break still continues ia the back of the drive.. I started a leading stope behind the drive some 30 feet, and over the break, where the quartz is from 1 to 3| feet in thickness, carrying good gold the whole distance; but in the thickest portion I have taken out these last three days 1401 bs of pretty good stone, and there is a good'show still showing in the top of stope. There will be no quartz broken from here for a few days, as it will take the whole of next week in timbering, securing the drive, and placing into position skull pieces; also, putting in air pipes to ventilate the stopes, which are very hot for want of ventilation. I have about 20 tons of quartz in the paddock from here, which I think will yield well. There is still between 200 and 300 feet to drive on this reef before the Calf boundary is reached, and intact to the surface. I shall finish timbering rise on No. 2 next week, when I shall clean out Captain Richards' drivei. When cleaned out, I expect there will be about 30 feet to drive before I get under the Cure shot of gold, which has every prospect of continuing. If it continues, our prospects will almost be equal to old days, when opened up.—T. B. Hicks. KUBANUI HILL. The drive on the Yoang American leader at No. 2 level in the Caledonian shaft is being pushed ahead, and yesterday afternoon a few pounds of fair picked stone were obtained when taking, down the quartz. A leader was cut yesterday in the drive towards the Shotover section from the Albion shaft. The contractors had advanced the face 60 feet from the shaft when they cut the leader, which is a well defined body of quartz about a foot thick. It is of a promising appearance, and well mineralised, though as yet no gold has been seen in it. There in no change to report in the other workings in this mine. GOLD RETUBNS. XtriUNtri Hut.—Corin and party have crushed a parcel of 7 loads at the Herald battery for the poor return of 4ozs 3dwti retorted gold,