OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4447, 6 April 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PRINCE IMPERIAL.

The remainder of the reef stripped in the drive so«th of the crosscut at No. 4 level has been broken down. Strong' colors and dabs of gold were freely seeu, but no picked stone was bagged. DEEP LEVEL CEOSS. The portion of the cross-reef standing stripped in the drive to the Imperial boundary at No. 4 level was taken down , yesterday. It averaged 18 inches in width, and colors and (labs of gold were seen in it, though only a fsw pieces rich enough to be called picked stone were obtained. As soon as the drive is squared up Mr Coutts will start a winze close to the boundary. This will prove the reef, and will also be valuable for ventilation purposes when No. 5 level is extended in to it. The boundary crosses the reef at an angle, no as the winze descends on the underlay of the reef, it will recede frotn it, and by the time the. next level is reached, there will be a good-sized trian* pillar block on the Imperial side of the winze in the Cross ground. The new party of contractors at the 640 ft. level are making good headway in the south crosscut, having driven about 6 feet since start, ing on Tuesday, making a total distance of 14 feet out of the last 100 let. The country has been very tight, but a change for the better is noticeable one side of the drive, so it is probable a better class of ground will be in hand shortly. The crushing at the Herald mill continues to shape for a good payable yield. CALEDONIAN. Most of the men are now employed in the workings in the Bed Queen section.

The western drive on the cross-leader is being pushed on with three shifts, and another 50ft of driving should hole through into the old workings. The air is bitter now than it has been for some months, owing to the cooler weather, but as soon as communication is effected, good ventilation can be relied on, and Mr Hicks will then be able to start and stope the block already opened up. The leader is somewhat pinched at present by tight country. The eastern drive is now in between 70 and 80 feet. . The leader for that distance, averages 18 inches in width, and shows gold when broken. A leader crossed this drive early in the week, and as it showed gold freely-the manager has started to open out upon it. A drive has been put in 8 feet, and at last breakiug down the quartz, which is about 10 inches thick, showed good colors Of gold. Some men are at present engaged repairing the No. 1 level, which had gradually sunk till it was too low to be convenient. The 60ft. level crosscuts north and south are being pushed on as usual, but no new leaders have been*cat lately. SEYMOUR. ' 0 The manager expected that the adit level would have holed through on Wednesday, but he finds the distance is a few more feet than was reckoned upon. Communication will, however, be effected tonight, and a start at once made to cut out a chamber. The new rope is not to hand yet, but if it does not come down in time winding will be started with brie rope, so as to push on work with all speed." / MARINER, LONDON, AND QD EEN OF ENGLAND. The cages running up and down the shaft yesterday loosened some of the' guides, and they will have to be overhauled the whole depth of the shaft. This work will probably be finished next week. The winze from No. 2 level has ;been cleaned out to a depth of 70 feet, and two or three feet more will break into No. 3 level, where men are engaged cleaning out the drive, laying rails, flatsheets, &c. The amount ot mullock met with in the drive is more than can well be stacked, but when winding is started progress will be more rapid. -' GOLD RETURNS. Caledonian.—Cater and party hare treated six loads of dirt for the yield of — ozs gold. Daet.—Greenville (junr.) and party have crushed 4 loads of quartz at the Al burnia battery for 8 oza gold.