OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIIV, Issue 4471, 4 May 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PRINCE IMPERIAL

The 2cwt of specimens obtained yesterday afternoon were bagged while breaking down about 4 feet of reef on the eastern side of the break at No. 5 level. The best pieces came from the foot wall of the reef, though some excellent pieces came to hand from the hangingwall. The stone is ihe richest that has yet come from the No. 2 reef. It was obtained from the whole height of the drive, and a splendid, show was left in the roof. A portion of this, however, was torn out this morning by a shot, but a good show still remains. A little more of the reef was also broken near the floor, and good gold left visible in several places. ' The face is now nearly squared up, and to-night the manager will start the men to cross-cut to the- southward, so as to pick up the reef on the seaward side of the break, as was done at No. <t level. Quartz showing gold can be seen just inside the break, but this is probably only a few loose pieces, and is not at all likely to be a con-» tinuation of the reef. The distance from the break to the chamber is aboat 127 feet, so there is still a large block to open up seaward before the Deep Level Cross boundary is reached. The eastern drive and leading stope are being pushed ahead, and gold is seen through the quartz in breaking down. The country here is very similar to that in the seaward end, and there are several flinties striking into the reef. A leading stope is also being carried along the western drive from the winze, and good gold was showing here to-day.

DEEP LEVEL CROSS

The winze on the cross-reef is down 14 feet, and as the lode has not come together again yet, only the footwall portion will be sunk upon in future. Gold is seen in breaking down. The stopeß look about the same as usual, a few pounds of picked stone or specimens coming to hapd occasionally. The output of quartz is large, and 20 head of stampers are employed on it. The winze on the No. 2 reef at the Imperial boundary has been cleaned out, and sinking was resumed to-day. It is about 40ft deep, and the manager thinks he will hare it down just about in time to meet the Imperial drive. The leader in the bottom is pinched very small, but will probably open out in a few feet. At the 640 ft level the country in the south crosscut is somewhat, softer than it was last week. Small quartz stringers are still met with. These, the manager thinks, are probably droppers from some reef on the seaward side of the crosscut, and which is running nearly parallel to ifc.

EURANUI HILL,

The rise on Cook's leader from the 80ft. level has holed through to the winze from the surface level. The leader had not been taken down in the rise, and the manager now finds on breaking it that it is looking well and showing strong dabs of gold. It will probably be payable for over 40 feet in height, as at that {distance from the level above the quartz looks well going down, and shows gold freely. The stopes on the Wheel of Fortune lode are looking pretty well, gold being seen through the quartz. A start was made this morning to sink a shaft on the southern side of the battery. This will be put down 30 feet, and crosscuts will be driven north and south to cut Barry's and Hunt's reefs. These will probably be met with in 30 feet of driving each way, and as nothing has been done on them seaward of where rich gold was'found in the early days, the manager is in hopes of coming on payable quartz at any rate. At the time the reservoir on the north side of the battery was cut out, the former lode was met with, and it is stated that goldbearing stone was broken from it. Whether this is true or not, there is a good chance of finding payable dirt^ and as the shaft will be so handy to the mill, a small precentage of the precious metal would recoup expenses. For the present a windlass will be used to lift the dirt, but the company own a small steam engine which could j easily be utilised for the purpose if required. QUEEN OF ENGLAND. The No. 1 reef in the seaward drive has not yet been broken down, but a start will be made to do so early next week. A favorable class of country is in hand, and a small quartz vein in the dig, striking towards the reef carries good minerals. A start will be made to drive eastward on Monday. In this end a good body of quartz 3ft. wide is showing, THAMES WINDING ASSOCIATION. The alterations to the engine and gear have considerably improved it, and everything works much more steadily. A car*

penter is at work encasing the cylinder, and several other small improvements are being made. A start will be made on Monday next to wind the water from below No. 4 level.

GOLD RETURNS.

Welcome Extended. —A parcel of 37ozs. 18dwts. melted gold has been banked from this claim.