OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4255, 21 August 1882, Page 3

OUR MINES.

SOUTHERN GBOSS. A few days ago.tEe directors wrote down for an estimate of ' the obsfc. of sinking a shaft somewhere on the flat to a depth of 400 ft, and the erection of a winding engine, &c. ilt is now probable that this,idea will be abandoned, and efforts made to secure the right to use the Crown Princess shaft, at the corner of Albert and Pollen streets. The shaft is on an allotment belonging to Mr Graham, and he will probably be interviewed re the terms by the directors of the Southern Cross and Deep Level Tribute Companies to-day. This shaft is admirably for the purpose required, being only about 130 ft. from the Southern Cross boundary, and about 400 ft. deep. It is through it, also, that the proprietors of the Queen of England and Beach claims wish to work. There are several lodes which have yielded rich returns running into the Southern Cross from the Crown Princess, and these the manager would no doubt commence operations upon should the negotiations for the shaft end favorably* - From this shaft, also, the manager could easily drive to the prince Imperial lodes, and as the "ground west of the latter claim's boundary is entirely unworked, there is no reason why good quartz should not be discovered. Some yearsago, when the Crown Princess claim was in full work, some tribute parties were getting good returns from the bottom level, but they could not go any deeper on' account of the water and Sas. Should the gold be found to go down, le I>«ep Level Co. would no doubt extend the 6$ feet level from the pump shaft and connect with this shaft, thereby opening up a block 240 feet in height. It is the opinion of many well acquainted with the field that this should have been done long ago. as the gold bearing channel in the neighborhood of the Queen of Beauty, Crown Princess, and Prince Imperial mines is known to be dipping towards the Big Pump. It is to hoped now that the directors have decided to commence operations in this part of the mine they will give it a fair trial, and that they will meet with success. Nothing of importance has been met with in the drive and rise on the main reef seaward of the shaft at the 400 feet level, or in the other workings. GOLI) EETUHNS. AißUßNii..—Whitaker and parly have treated 55 loads of general dirt for the return of 74ozs Bdwts gold, Shiib op Foetune (Owharoa).—The monthly return, on being melted, was reduced to 2870zs 17dwts gold.