OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4501, 8 June 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

QUEEN OF BEAUTY.

A discovery of some importance was made in the bottom level last night. While putting in a dig on the footwall of the Queen of the May reef a body of quartz was struck, which when stripped of the mullock appeared to be about 2| feet wide. It is evidently an altogether distinct reef from the Queen of the May, as the stone is of a different class, nor is it likely that it will junction with that body, the strike being, so far as can be seen from the small piece stripped, more to the north-east. The quartz is compact, and carries a similar class of mineral to that in the main reef, only in the new body the farorable indications

are more abundant. No cold was seen in the small portion of quartz broken, but it looks better for the precious metal than the main reef, and should shape well when crushed. The reef has the appearance of having been heaved into its present position, and from the fact that it is only about 20 feet from where the main reef was cut off by the slide, and the similar nature of the quartz in the two bodies, the manager is inclined to think it is the continuation of the. main reef. This cannot, however, be decided till more work has been done. The main reef in the stopes is looking well, and continues to shape for about 2ozs per load. A portion of the reef seaward of the shaft was taken down to-day, but it is small and flinty in nature. It will, however, improve as the drive advances.

THAMES WINDING ASSOCIATION

The water issuing from the crosscourses cut in the drive on the reef at No. 5 level has proved very troublesome for the past few days, and the manager has, therefore, put in a small drive northward on a cross-course a little to the eastward of the shaft. A great deal of water is now running away through this, and Mr Waite thinks he will get the whole of it away by to-night. Two new cages, heavier and stronger than those in use, have been made by Price Bros., and «c now ready to be fastened to the ropes. HOBSON. The manager reports that. the ■ m&ze\ sunk by the former proprietors on the crosslode has been cleared' out within 28 feet of the bottom. At this depth I discovered that it had quite collapsed, all the timbers having gone together and the sides fallen away, to all appearances as far as the reef. The cost of repairing the winze would be from £50 to £60, and then it would only be of use for a very short time. It is not advisable that] any communication should be made with the winze at the bottom, but it would be better that a rise should be put up upon the reef, between the face and the late rise, which was risen from No. 2, and to break through to the winze above where it has collapsed. In working this rise, the stuff taken oat will be passed down through to No. 2 level, which will save a great amount of trucking. I have put the men on three shifts and started them on this work. LONDON.

About three feel more of the No. 1 reef in the eastern drive at No. 5 level was broken down today. The quartz looks well, carries plenty of favorable minerals, and several colors of gold were seen in it. A small leader has been discovered on the hangingwall side of the reef, from which it drops off close to the roof of the drive. In taking this down slbs of good picked stone were bagged. The leader is only about 2 inches wide, and is white in appearance, but gold was seen freely in it. The gold is accompanied by bright mineral, and a little ruby silver. There yet remains about 10 feet of the reef to be brokeo, but this will not be taken down for a day or two, as the hopper is nearly full. The reef near the face is fuliy 3 feet wide, and is looking well for gold. The treating of a trial crashing will be commenced in the middle of next week at Bull's mill, and as soon as some of the dirt^has been carted away from the hopper, the * manager will be able to resume breaking.

QUEEN OF ENGLAND. Breaking down the No. 1 reef at No. 3 level was started last night, and continued to-day. In the eastern drive over 40 feet of the reef was stripped, but this is not yet all taken down. The quartz looks well for gold, but none was seen in it to^ day, though a stone containing a good col r of the precious metal was picked out last week from the eastern end. For sevt ral feet west of where the slide crosses the eastern drive, the hang* ingwall portion of the reef has not yet been taken down. A good strong body of quartz is being shot down in the western drive. It is not being saved for crushing. The country in both ends is an excellent class of sandstone. On Monday next the manager will start a crosscut from the eastern drive, 100 ft from main crosscut, to intersect a specimen leader from which some good gold was got at the level above. The distance to drive is only about 35 or 40 feet, and the leader will be cut close to a slide near which the best gold was got above. A large block can be opened up if payable quartz is met with.