OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4467, 30 April 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

QUEEN OF BEAUTY.

Excellent progress is being made by the contractors at No. 10 level, and they bare now driven between 60 and 70ft since Btarting. This would leare about 40 feet yet to drire before the winze from .No. 9 level is reached. The lode is now fully 3ft in width, and though no gold has yfet been seen, the minerals are of a rery favorable class. The quartz is saved for crushing. At No. 9 level the winze is the only work in progress. It is down 40ft, and at present a dig is being sunk on the footwall of the reef, which at this point is four feet in width. It is a good solid body of stone, well^mineralised, and colors of gold are seen in breaking down. The winze remains quite dry. There is yet no sign of the junction of the Queen of the May lode. At No. 8 lerel the drive westward to connect with the Piako shaft is within 25 feet of the chamber, the crosscut put in for the main reef having been come upon. The country here is of a good class for gold, and as excellent ventilation will be obtained as soon as the shaft is broken into, it is not un< likely some prospecting will be done. The main reef is standing at the side of the drive for a long distance, untried with the exception of a few holes fired in it, and there are also a number of promising leaders and stringers on the hangingwall.

MOANATAIRL ■ Retorting took place this morning, and the melted weight of the return, 1350zs 6dwts gold, is very satisfactory, considering that the amount of dirt crushed was only 76 tons and 1301bB of picked stone. There is nothing fresh in the mine since the manager reported on Rowe and party have treated six loads of quartz for the good return of 34ozs 16dwts gold, and Moyle and party's crushing gave a return of 7ozs 7dwts gold. —The manager reported for last week:—• "The most important point we have in hand is at the 80 feet level, on No. 2 lode. The drive has been extended 22 feet west from crosscut. Picked stone has generally been obtained from the hangingwall portion of the lode, also from the hangingwall leeder, when broken. The leader is from 1 to 2 inches in width, and it has improved in quality the last three feet; its strike is towards the lode, and should junction with it shortly, if it maintains its present course. The lode here is about 20 inches wide, and showing gold. The rise is only advanced 6ft above the drive, as ground had to be removed and timber put in, also flatsheet laid. Since the above work has been completed, and rising'and stoping resumed, strong blotches of heavy gold have been seen in the footwall portion of lode, and picked stone has been obtained from the hangingwall lead. HOlbs. of very fair picked stone have come to hand from this point since we struck No. 2 reef. This of itself speaks well for the ground above aud below the 80ft. level. The men who belong stoping All Nations leaders have been, and still are, removing mullock and repairing the drive. Two of the leaders being stoped in Morning Star section show a little gold occasionally. Nonpareil section: Stoping from above 215 feet level is stopped, and the men are now sinking below the level, they haying sunk about sft on a small lead which has produced about 201bs of good picked- stoDe. If it continues as good a few feet deeper, and we do not meet with old workings, I intend to clear out one of. the low drives, which would facilitate materially the working of the ground which is left in this quarter. We shall clean up and retort on Monday next.—J. G. Vivian." DART.

For the Jast day or two the manager has suspended operations at No. 3 level, and put the men to getting ready the surface works while the fine weather lasts. The water is, however, baled out regularly, and the pump hands are putting iv the pipes and rods. The excavation in the hill for the boiler will be completed in a few days, and the boiler.^dhe of those formerly used at the Imperial Crown battery on the beach, will then be carted to the mine and built in in the usual way. The new engine is all ready to be shipped from Auckland, but Mr Btono intends to get everything in readiness before he removes the one at present in use, so as not to let the water accumulate more than can be helped. THAMES GOLDEN CBOWN. Cleaning up and retorting took place this morning for the month, and produced 81ozs gold, which was reduced on melting to79ozs 14dwts. The quantity crushed was about 200 tons of general dirt. HOBSON (LATE TE PAPA.)

Mr Samuel Grribble has been appointed to the management of this mine, and has atarted. The Pride of Karaka tunnel has been cleared and repaired, and communication effected with No. 2 level, some 130 feet above it. A survey has been made by Mrßayldon, and the men have started to rise from No. 2 level to meet a winze sunk belovr a level put in from the Te Papa road. This will secure good ventilation; and the manager will then be in a position to crosscut for the reefs he in* tends to open out upon. SEYMOUR.

The cutting out of tho the third com* partment below the adit level chamber was completed to the bottom of'the shaft on Friday, the distance being 18 feel. Sinking was started on Saturday morning and good progress is being made, three shifts being employed. The ground is more solid than that in the chamber, and requires an occasional shot. It is a good white sandstone, with small flinties traversing it. The water is not found to ba a very great drawback at present, 10 buckets per hour being enough to keep it under. It is chiefly issuing from a small clay seam, and the manager hopes that as he, gets clear of this the influx will decrease. The shaft is now 90ft deep, and he intends to sink another 110 ft before opening out.