Mining in the Upper Country.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4033, 1 December 1881, Page 2

Mining in the Upper Country.

(feom a correspondent.) WAIHI.

In the Martha claim the main level has been driven a distance of 50 feetThe country is all that can be desired, aud rapid progress has been made with the work.

The trial crushing for the Young Colonial has been forwarded to Owharoa and will be treated this week at the Owharoa battery.

In the Emily claim a prospecting tunnel has been driven with a view to intersect the southern continuation of the Young Colonial reef. There is a great difference of opinion as to whether the reef in the Young Colonial is identical with that in the Martha. However, as a tunnel is now being driven iv the Little Tommy, north of the Colonial, the doubt will soon be set at rest. I may say that in the Little Toinmjr the reef is expected to be struck in a, few 3ays. *-- Evelyn—the prospecting tunnel in this claim has been driven a distance of 150 feet, and so far nothing of importance has been met* with. In the Waihi G.M.Co.'s ground, Clarken and party (contractors) are making good headway with the main level. This lertl will be driven up to a point almost immediately under the spot "where the original prospectors obtained f'eir trial crushing, where good gold is expected to be met with. "■■' i '•■■;'.

la the Fanny claim, Liddle and party (contractors) have driven the main level a distance of 100 feet. Owing to the friable nature of the country through which the tunnel is being driven a great deal of timber is required to keep it standing, and - progress is consequently slow.

Prospecting drives are being prosecuted in the Clunes, and the Rosemont claims.

The blocks have been fixed and plates laid for Corbett's new hotel, and a start has been made in the erection of the Waihi company's battery. Everything now depends upon the mill. If the mill can turn out sufficient timber for tho battery, water races, and tramways, there is every probability of the whole contract being completed within the specified time. OWHAROA. Radical.—Christie and party will finish their crushing of 25 loads to-day. The specimens and picked stone iv hand yielded 315 ounces of amalgam. The result from the whole parcel is expected to give an average of nine ounces to the ton.

In the Smile of Fortune the manager (Mr J. Moore) is keeping five heud of stamps employed on trial lots broken out from the, loot wall of that portion of the lode that was takeu out some time ago by the tributers, and the stuff is shaping for a payable return. Since he assumed the management the mine has undergone a thorough renovation, and will soon be in first-class working order.

At the battery the stone from the Young Colonial, Waihi, will be put through to-morrow.

Preparations are being made to start work in the Daisy Hill Claim, and in the Christmas Box claim atTaukanehi, where excellent surface prospects have been met with.

The Earangahaki battery is jn the immediate neighbourhood of this claim, and it is to be hoped the proprietors will reconsider their decision as to its removal to Waihi.

Political feeling does not express itself very markedly in this neighbourhood, but the feeling is strongly jn favour of Captain Morris. Had Colonel Fraser gone to the poll, be would have, no doubt, secured a large number of votes.