OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4372, 8 January 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

THAMES GOLDEN CROWN.

The repairs to the battery and water engine were all completed by Saturday night, and crushing was started first thing this morning. New liners and drags have been placed in several of the berdans, and the trunion bearings of the engine turned up. During the stoppage of the mill, work in the mine was chiefly confined to repairs, cleaning up old drives, and other work of a,like nature. There is over 100 feet to drive before the battery level tunnel is in the required distance to connect with the workings on the No. 2 ' reef, and as the country in the face is ! hard, it will be some time before work can be resumed in the stopes. In the meantime the men will resume stoping on the No. 1 reef, near the shaft, where the bulk of last month's crushing»was pro* cured. Driving aud stoping is proceeding on No. 3 reef at and above the 100 ft. level. No picked stone has lately come to hand with the exception of a few pieces from a small leader branching off into the footwall, but the general dirt should crush well. At the intermediate level between the 100 and 170 feet levels No. 1 battery level reef is being worked. A crosscut has also been started south to intersect the No; 3 reef. From this 50 feet of backs are obtainable to the present workings. The block should be a good one, as the best gold was got in the drive and leading stope at the 100 feet level. A few pounds of picked stone have come to hand from the workings on Clark's and other leaders at the 170 feet level. DEEP LEVEL TRIBUTE. The contractors will finish their 100 feet by Wednesday, and^ pumping will then be stopped and the machinery and boilers overhauled. Tenders are called for. extending the drive a farther distance of 100 feet, but the successful party will not be able to start till about the end of next week. ALBUJELNIA. Crushing was resumed this morning with the full force of stamps, 17 head being employed by the Prince Imperial Company, and five by the Southern Cross. CALEDONIAN, The men who were working in the Red Queen crosscut have been started to drive on the cross-reef lately passed through, in a north-.west direction. As yet only about 4 feet of the leader has been taken down, but good colors and dabs of gold were seen in the general dirt. The quartz is now about a foot wide, but is more solid and compact than where first intersected. Air boxes have been laid along the drive, and.a good current is thus supplied. The extending of the old level on No. 1 reef is progressing as quickly as possible, and stoping is also in progress. At No. 2 level stoping is being continued on the footwall specimen leaders. These appear to carry up alongside the old stopes, and there is therefore a good chance of the dirt from here improving as the stopes ascend. A large amount of crushing dirt is stacked in the hoppers, ready for treatment. NEW MANUKAU. The contractors for the crosscut at No. 3 level of the Caledonian shaft are making good headway, having driven about 30 feet. The conn try is of a favorable class. A body of quarlz about 2 feet wide: was passed through some days ago, but no gold was seen in it. • SEYMOUR. ' At a meeting of the directors of this company held in Auckland on Saturday last, Mr Thos. Kneebone was appointed mine manager. Tenders were called some time ago for the removal and re-erection of the Old Golden Calf winding machinery, but none were accepted, owing to the prices being too high, the directors thinking the work could be done much cheaper by.day labor. The work will be started at once under the direction of the manager. It is also proposed to put in a drive from the bottom of the shaft to the surface to drain off the water. Sinking could then be resumed without waiting for the erection of the winding machinery. MOANATAIEI. The manager reports for last week as follows:—" Heldt's section: Stoping is being carried on above 132 feet level, both oh No. 9 reef aud branch leaders. A few pounds of picked stone are some* times obtained from here. We are still driving west on No. 2, and from winze below tunnel level The re&f <it this point is much pinched at present. All Nations stopes above .80 feet level are producing only alittlo gold just now. No. 9 footwall leader, 80 feet level, is being stripped. Nonpareil, 215 feet level: The face of drive is composed of sandstone and. clay, well proportioned with quartz, from which little gold-bearing stone is picked. The Morning Star and the other workings in the mine are without change to report.,-, —J. G. Titian." QUEENT OF BEAUTY. A late report from tie manager says :— The contractors! for sinking the main shaft are making good progress, and are getttng very well on with the work. The sinking draw-lift has been lowered 12 feet during the fortnight. One set of bearers has been put in, and a frame set, securing the shaft as far down as possible. A length of pumps and a length ol: draw-lift rods will be put on to-morrow. The ground in the bottom of the shaft is white sandstone and good • sinking ground. Piako shaft: The Piako shaft is now cleared down to No 6 level. jAll the main pump rods, bearers, plunger wofckV ings (castings), and a portion of the npper draw-lift has been sent up, and the shaft made secure. Below No. 6 the shaft is all sound as regards timber, but is at present partly choked up by fallen timber and debris, being, caught on stays and bearers. There are still main rods in the shaft, but I cannot says how much yet, as the men cannot get more than 30 feet below No. 6 till the fallen timber and mullock are cleared out of the shaft. There i 3 nothing requiring special notice connected with the slopes. The battery has been working since the last rain-—ten head on No. 7 and ten head on No. 9 stopes. All the pump workings and machinery are in good order and condition.