MINING SUMMARY.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4413, 24 February 1883, Page 1 (Supplement)

MINING SUMMARY.

Mining matters continue to bo pretty brisk, and all through the month a good deal of business has been done in the sharemarket. The greatest demand has been for Prince Imperials, which have risen steadily, as also hare Quaen of Beantys and Londons. Deep Lerel Cross kept steady. A. demand set in for Seymour stock about three weeks ago, but they are now quiet again. A large amount of prospecting is being done, and within the next six months, judging from past results, good levels should. be opened up in the Imperial, Queen of Beauty, and Dart companies; by that time also the London, Mariner, and Queen of England should be in full swing, and the south crosscut afc the 640 ft level of the Big Pump will probably have intersected the Prince Imperial reefs, while the Seymour company should* have their shaft down the depth decided on—2oo feet. Imperial: Last month's crushing was considerably in excess of the manager's estimate, and a dividend of 2s 6d per share was paid, making a total of 12s 6d per share in less than 12 months. The stopes above No. 4 level continue to produce g^ood crushing dirt, with occasional parcels of picked stone and specimens. The crosscut for the Mariner's reef has been discontinued. The shaft is down deep enough to open up No. 5 level, and a crosscut has been started for the lode, which will probably be to hand in about a fortnight. The winze from No. 4 is down about 88 feet, and the leader has lately produced some good picked stone, which augurs well for the richness of No. 5 block, as very little gold was seen in the reef at No. 4 level where the winze was sunk. Deep Level Cross: The 640 ft crosscut is being continued, and is in a nice class of country, though no more leaders have been intersected. A drive has also been started west on one of the reefs here, believed to be identical with the Mariner's lode, but no gold has yet. been seen; the stone is, however, well mineralised. Thecrosslode cut at No. 4 level of the Imperial shaft was out off by a large deposit of clay, so driving was stopped, and the men placed in the stopes, which are now yielding good quartz. A start has been made to drive on a leader in the hangingwall of the No.. 2, and the quartz coming to hand shows colors of gold. Queen of Beauty: The shaft is now down the depth to open up. No. 10 level, which will be 670 ft. from the surface. The chamber will be opened out next week. Crushing is proceeding on quartz from Nos. 9 and 7 . levels. Dart: The sinking of the shaft is proceeding very satisfactorily in a good class of country, but it will be some time before work can be commenced on the reefs, as pumping machinery has to be erected. Mariner, London, and Queen of England: These three companies are afc a - standstill till the winding machinery ia ready, the gas,being too prevalent in the old workings to allow of operations being carried on. The contractors should , : be finished in a month's time. Thames .Golden Crown : The return for last month was not very rich, and the one for this month will also be, poor, but next month should see an improvement, as the. manager will then be able to get most of hit crush* ing dirt from a block on No. 2 reef, which has be«n standing idle for want of; air to allow the men to work. The new battery level tunnol has been connected with this block, and the result is good ventilation. The reef is from 10 to 12 feet wide. A contract is to be let shortly for the driving of a crosscut at the battery level to oat the Cure Nos. 3, 4, and 5 reefs, on which very large blocks of ground are standing intact from here to the surface Caledonian: Crushing is proceeding at the Herald mill, but there is yet a laree amount of dirt to go through. The cross-lode in the Bed Queen section is being driven on, and eastward it is now • fine lode over three feet wide, m which soli is freely seen; parcels of good nicked stone are also obtained occasionally New Menukan: The crosscut at the 360 ft lerel of the Caledonian shaft

has intersected several reefs and leaders, but no gold has yet been seen in them. A winze is being sank from the Waiotahi bottom level to connect with the crosscut. Waiotahi: The return last month was for only three weeks' work. Kuranui Hill: The return from last crushing was not very rich, but the manager hopes soon to have some good blocks of ground in hand above the 80ft level. A few pounds of picked gtone was ob» tamed from a leader here, and colors seen through the general dirfc. As soon hs communication is opened with a winze from the surface level,, on a different leader, the block will be taken in hand, and other loaders in the banging and footwall of it. intersected and worked. Moanatairi: The result of the cleaning up yesterday was satisfactory. The quantity of quartz put through since Christmas is 185 tons, which gave 3680zs gold. In the Moanstairi Creek the Beuben Parr and Alburnia Companies are pushing on operations. Both are at present putting parcels of quartz through the mil!. The last crushing from the Alburnia was not payable, but this lot may yield better. In the Waiotahi Creek the Empress Company is cleaning out an old shaft, from which they will drive for the Imperial reefs ; tho Pinafore is working a small specimen leader, the Extended is crosscutting for a reef, the Columbia is prospecting Dixon's reef, and the Bright Smile working a leader from which they have taken very good gold—the last crushing averaging nearly sczs per load. In the Karaka Creek the Seymour and Karaka companies are working.

The return from the Eureka, Otunui, is very encouraging, 1651bg of stone Laving yielded 90|czs retorted gold. There is very little fresh to report from the other mines, but when the battery is finished they,will be fairly tested, and will no doubt prove remunerative. Be* ports from Te Aroba, Waihi, &c, will be found in another column.