OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4213, 3 July 1882, Page 2

OUR MINES.

SOUTHERN CBOSS

The stopes on the hanging wall leader are up about 30 feet from the level, The reef maintains its size, being about 2 feet in thickness. No gold is seen in breaking down, but the quartz carries a large percentage of good mineral, and is shaping for a payable return at the Alburnia battery, where 12 head of stamps are kept on it 8 hours per day. The drires oh the main reef at the intermediate level and at the 400 feet level are being poshed ahead, but no change worthy of mention has taken place lately. „ THAMES DEEP LEVEL TBIBUTE

COMPANY.

The water in the three winzes having disappeared, the manager hopes to be able to push on work in them without delay. The gas at the 500 feet level is being rapidly dispelled, and the air will probably be good enough for the men to work in in a day or two. As aoon as

possible, the manager will start a crosscut to intersect the main reefs, which so far have never been touched at this level.

For the past few days, a man has been employed on the face of the hill, behind the steam winch, removing the portions which look unsafe.

HAURAKI (KARANGAHAKE).

A trial parcel of about 2ewt. of general dirt from this claim was brought to town last week by Messrs McCombie and Liddle, the proprietors. It was treated at the- Alburnia mill, and gave the encouraging result of loz 6dwts melted gold, worth £2 9s per ounce. The parcel is from the reef known as the No. 4 in the above claim.

QUEEN OF BEAUTY.

The contractors for driving at No. 9 level are making good progress, sod are now in 44 feet from the chamber. The reef has opened out, and is fully 8 feet in thickness. It has also improved greatly, and is becoming more like the stone found in the winze at No. 8-level. It now contains more crystallised quartz, and the mineral is also of a much better class than when the reef was cut in the chamber. A trial parcel is how going through the company's mill. At No. 8 level, a trial parcel of 10 loads is being taken from the main reef seaward of the shaft. Crushing was commenced upon i^r with 5 head this morning. The winze is now down 23 feet, but the reef is so perpendicular that it has not been cut into more than three feet. The quartz coming to hand from here continues to show gold freely. The tributers are getting on slowly with their drive east' ward on the Queen of the May reef, having got into a very hard class of country. The stringers met with last week' hare proved to be the footwall leader, but they hare not as yet come together. The ventilation is still rather close, but the winze coming down from No. 6 lerel will hole through to the drive by the end of this week, and this will create a capital current of air. Good country for working has hitherto been met with in this winze, but a hard bar has now come in at the bottom.

SMILE OF FORTUNE.

The manager telegraphed faom Paeroa that he had cleaned up for 2120z5, and would be down with the gold to-day. The tonnage is not yet known, but the return is a good one for the month, and it is expected that it will enable the company to declare another dividend.