OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4046, 16 December 1881, Page 2

OUR MINES.

BIG PQMP.

The pump was stopped for 6 hours yesterday, and as the result, the water rose and filled the drive connecting the pump shaft with the Caledonian mine, therrby stopping the ventilation. The current of air being impeded, gas speedily accumulated, and in such quanti* ties as to prevent the men engaged in the workings connected with the 1 Caledonian shaft going on with their, work) The pump has, however, again reduced the water, and the gas has disappeared from the pump shaft, and probably from the Caledonian mine klso. Thi&inoideiilt gcet to show that if the pump' is stopped, it will malerilly injure some of the surround* ing mine^. We iiope the directors will take this fact into their consideration at their meetiog today, and decide to continue pumping. The importance of reducing the water in the lowest levels, has'often been declared, as it is well known that gold exists at those depths, which the water at present renders totally inaooos< Bible.

The following telegram was received by us this afternoon :•—" At the Pump meeting to-day a proposal was submitted by the Southern Cross Company 16 put in a new level from the Pump shaft on the line of the Caledonia reef, the cost to be defrayed by the Kuranui and Cross Com*. panies. The drive will be 500 feet from the surface."