The Otunui District.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4314, 28 October 1882, Page 3

The Otunui District.

(concluded from our last.) ALBION. The shareholders-of this claim, which ' bounds the Eureka on its western side, put in a tunnel in a north-west direction, expecting to cut the Eureka lode, but when in about 40ft. a hard bar was. met with. They continued the drive, however, turning it considerably to the left, so as to cut straight across the bar, which appears to be striking east and west. The drive is now in about 80ft., and yesterday morning a brown sandstone formation appeared in the-TJT. Tg is therefore likely that the bar has beeppiereed, as in the creek an exactly similar class of country to that jast met .with lies alongside the rock, and the good white sandstone outside that again. ' There is fcreat diversity of opinion as to where the Eureka reef will strike across the creek, but unless it alters its course materially it should pass near the Albion mullock tip. It may, however, turn to the westward, as it appears to be doing iv the Eureka south-western drive, or be thrown in that direction by the hard bar referred - to, in which case it would be ahead of the Albion crosscut. This will be pushed ahead, as two other reefs, one of which has showed gold, have been found on the claim. The distance to drive for these ■herald not be great. . OTUNUI. This claim is situated above the Eureka, and tbe shareholders are tunnelling for a large lode about 3ft in thickness, found in « creek. They expect to have to go 50ft, and the face i* now in 20. The sandstone ia of • good class for gold, and is getting a little softer in the face, where a few stringers are also making their appear*

AKIZONA. ] The drive is now in 140 ft, the last 40 of which is in their own ground. fl hry ' expect to get the reef any day, as they hare reached tbe point where it would 'cross if ii fcrpt a true cour>e. The country is of a good class, and a flinty vein, abeut 4 inches thick, and carrying good mineral, was met with yesterday, so the reef should not be far off. CEOWN. The shareholders in this claim are also driving to cut the Eureka lode. A contract for 100 feet was finished a Hay or two ago, and another for 50 was let on Wednesday night to AJlam and party mi Us 9 1 per toot. The country in the face looks better for gold than it has dono hitherto, and quartz stringers are aUo ntiikint! tin ir appearance. Mr McKenzie rxp. cts to get the reef in about 20 feet. ANGLO-MAOKI. The proprietors of i his piece of ground hhve been driving on th« ir reef at the low level in an easterly direction. It has varied in size considerably, and would no doubt prove good crushing dirt, but has not pro Jucetl much picked stone. They are now abf-ut to drive on it in the opposite direclion A larce reef which save «ood rii^h prospects is a few feet ahead of the face of the crosscut, «nd could easily be intersected. Tin-re are a number of leaders in this eround which would pay well for crushing, but they do not yield picked stone. V V ORIENTAL. Four men are now employed putting in a crosscut north-west from the drive on the-large reef. They have extended it about 80 feet, and have passed throngh a number of small leaders, all of which look »erj premising. They intend to open out on one of these next week. EXCELSIOR,. This piece of ground is situated on the strike of the Eureka lode. Three reefs were found outcropping where there was a large landslip, and two men started to drive for them, in a north west direction, from an old drive put in som.e time ago. A distance of 73ft has been traversed, through good country, and the first lode was cut.through on Thursday. Its strike is similar to the Eureka reef, and it is about 2ft. thick, carrying fine mineral, and looking well for cold t though none has yet been seen in it. The best indications are on the left hand side of the drive. Another 30 feet of driving should intersect a larger lode, which showed gold on the surface. BRITANNIA. I did not have time to visit this claim which is situated some di.-tance to the north west of the Eureka Qhe proprietors are driving on a pood-sized reef, in which gold is said to be seen pretty freely.