Mining in the Upper Country.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4460, 21 April 1883, Page 4

Mining in the Upper Country.

(FBOM OUE OWN COBBEBPONDENT). OWHAROA, April 10. The repairs to the. Smile of Fobtune water race are completed, and it will take a much higher flood to again shift the pipes. The mill will start to-morrow on company's stone, a large amount being on ! hand. In the mine work is being pushed \ on upon the Radical and Waterfall leaders. Three feet of good crushing dirt is being saved from both faces. Campbell and party are also getting out a large quantity of stone. The Lucky Hit shareholders are driving through the Smile of Fortune ground oa their reef, and are now within 40 feet of their own boundary. They have 60 tons of stone on hand. The Radical tributers hare out a lot of stone, and will crush as soon as they get an opening at the battery. In the Victobia Joseph is still pegging away. The Evelyn shareholders have repaired all damages of the late flood*, and are pushing on a crosscut to thoroughly prospect the mine. They sustained a considerable loss by having a large paddock of quartz, washed away. They can take out another crushing as soon as they get an opening at the battery. There is nothing to report from Waitekauri, the last crushing for the tributers not being up to expectations. KARANGAHAKE, April 10. Work on the tram is still being pushed on, but when it will be finished no man knoweth, and when finished will be of little use; it will be the most expensive line to work in the colony, and is in danger of being carried away by the first high flood. In the Haubaki mine good stone is coming from the winze, which is down 45 feet, and the stone in the low level has improved. The mine is being well opened op, and ought to be able to keep the mill going some time, when ready to star . .

In the Noble the main drive is in 130 feet. The reef is now 6 feet thick. There is still 20 feet to drire to get under the shot of gold cut in the upper workings. The contractors for the Mabia drire have driren 20 feet since they started on the present contract. The reef is a splendid body of quartz, containing a large percentage of silver.- A road is being surveyed round the bluff to cotfnect with the battery. If a good grade can be had in this direction it will be the main line for all the claims situated on the same spur, and would do away with the present proposed wire tramway, which will be found too expensive to maintain.

Goldbn Cbown.—The level is in 90 feet on the reef, which shows gold. freely and prospects well.

JRetbeat. — The leader from which the 150 pounds of stone was crashed is being driven on, and is now a well-defined leader showing gold freely. The Southern Ckoss and Pebsebveance hare amalgamated, and are pushing on work in the Cross portion of the mine', where two fine reefs have been met with—one is thought to be the Crown reef. Fair prospects are got in pounding. | tThe late find in the Hidden Tbeasxtbe is a good one. The reef is a compact body of stone 15 inches wide,, which shows gold freely in breaking out. Several shares in this mine and the Martha have lately-changed hands, and the infusion of new blood will help to develop this portion of the field, which has been under a cloud owing to no roads and want of Capital to develop it. Roads are now being made, and capital will follow, as there is no doubt the -prospects of this district warrant an expenditure in opening it up. Martha—ln this mine a low level has been started, and is in 30 feet. This drive will cut the reef some distance below where it has been tried in the upper part of the mine. . WAIHI, April 10. Mabtha Extended. — Since taking charge the manager has enlarged and retimbered the Young Colonial drive, and is now driving on the reef, which gives what he considers payable prospects, and any amount of stone can be sent from this portion of the company's mine. A new level has been put in to the Martha winze. This will open up a large block of ground, which can be worked cheaper than formerly. The drive known as Praser's level is being pushed on through the reef, and good stone is at present ooming out. The mine is being well opened up. . Two new hoppers, and all connexions with the battery are completed. The battery will be ready to start about the' 20th of the month. All the alterations are substan^ tial and well finished.

1 The Duicibel shareholders have arranged to crush 200 tons of quartz. As soon as the mill starts they will occupy 10head. At present they 'are putting in.a crosscut to intersect the Waihi main level from whence they will forward the quartz to the mill. > From the prospects obtained in the Dulcibel stone the owners expect a payable return. TE AROHA, April 10. . This district seems to have suddenly collapsed, and why the mismanagement of one . man should have had such an effect is astonishing. Yet such is a fact. Business men complain of the tightness of the chest, and miners complain that wages are hard to be got. Mining news is scarce. Work on the tramways is being pushed on, but it will be several months before we hear the < welcome sound of the stampers. . The winze in the Pbemieb is down 60 feet, gold has.been seen.in breaking out stone to the present depth. The reef is laying" very flat, and the ground is a little harder than it was. From the flatness of the reef it is.doubtful if it has yet been ont in the low level. By the time the battery starts the mine will be well opened up, and any. amount of crushing dirt on band ready to forward. <

The Colonial has been taking out some good stone this last week, and has a large parcel on hand. In the New Find the driving and sinking is being carried on by the contractors, and Mr Bayldon is expected up to lay off a line of tram to connect this and the surrounding mines with the maia line.

The Webahiko, Lucky Hit, and Welcome are all taking out payable quartz; but many of the mines are laying by to see the completion of the mill and tramways. The Diamond Gully, Eubeka, and sereral others are expected to use the same line, which will be constructed at their joint cost. -