OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4422, 7 March 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PRINC S IMPERIAL.

The contractors for the drive on the Beach reef at No. 3 level are making good progress with two shifts, being now within about 35 feet of the Hand of Friendship boundary. The country con tinues of a very favorable clu<s ; the leader !8 about a foot wide from wall to wall, but is rather mullocky. Colors of gold were seen a tew feet back from the face. The manager roported yesterday as follows :— "I am happy to inform you that our final cleaning up and retorting for the month, which took place on Saturday, gave the good return of 6020zs of retorted gold from 327 loads of quartz and 4cwt of specimens. The gold when melted was reduced to 597|ozs. Stoping has been carried on as usual, and continues to prodnce good crushing dirt. No. 9 stope, going along under the old company's workings is looking very well, some good picked stone being obtained each breaking down. DriveJ on footwall leader, No. 2 section east, is now in 25 feet from where it branched off from "No. 2 lead. The lead here has improved very much, gold being always seen when breaking down. Drive at No. 5 level is now in 17 feet from the chamber. Progress here during 1 the past week has been rather slow, the ground still continuing very hard. I think we are now almost through the rock, there being a slight change for the better in the ground on the right hand side of the drive this morning, which, I believe, will prove' to be the back of the hard bar. Battery: I started five extra head of stamps this week, which, if possible, will be kept going. Scanlan and party have given up their tribute.—G-. S. Ciaee." KURANUI HILL. The manager reported on Monday :— " In order to open up with- the least delay the various workings at the Albion 80-feet level, the men have been transferred from the other parts of the mine. Driving both ways on the Wheel of Fortune lode is in progress. Early in the past week an old winze at the northern end waa brokeu into, which at point of intersection is filled with debris. It appears to have been sunk on a slide, and from information from persons who formerly worked in it, it is about 100 feet in depth from beach level. Quartz was only carried down about 15 feet. *No further work was prosecuted on it than sinking the winze. I will be able to give you fuller informa-. tion about it very soon. A .leading slope • is also being carried on and a small quantity of quartz broken, in which a little gold has been seen. It contains a good percentage of bright mineral, and altogether looks well. The crosscut is being continued past the winze lately sunk, and a nice-looking leader has been cut in the footwall, which I intend driving on both ways during the week. The sweep rod, bob, spur wheel, &c, are •jow ready for delivery to Dart Co., and the pipes down as far as 80ft level have been brought to the surface. The remainder of the plant will be got out as quickly as possible. — Thos. H. Cbawitobd"