OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4536, 19 July 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PRINCE IMPERIAL. The fifth stope west above No. 5 level produced 501 bs more specimens last night, and a good show is still left in the roof. The specimens and picked stone will probably be treated next week The second stops westward, upon the foot wall branch of No. 2 reef, is within about 20 feet of the boundary. The leader here is yielding fully 18 inches wide of crushing dirt. There is a rich show in the roof for a length of about 4 feet a short distance back from the face. The third stope is 20 or 30 feet from the second. In it the footwall and hangingwall branches are together, forming a strong lode 3 feet wide. The fifth stope is about 15 feet through, the break, and No. 2 reef is looking exceedingly well. It is not of large size, but gold is freely seen all through the quartz, and in the back of the stope rich gold is visible for about 3 feet in length, promising well for the sixth stope when it comes alon?. The good hauls of stone obtained here during the past few days are pro bably a continuation of the rich shot struck just above No. 4 level, and there is no doubt but thai the block now in hand on fro. 2 reef west of the break will yield some rich parcels of stone as stopes are advanced along it. The hangingwall leader just seaward of the break is now about 10 feet from the No. 2 reef, and is producing good crushing dirt, colors of gold being seen. The manager in future will not work both in the same stopes here, but as soon as the break is reached, will cut along it, and pick up No. 2 reef, leaving the other to be worked back from where they junction. The show in the back of the sixth stope is very rich, for fully 5 feet in length. East ward of the winze the reef in the stopes is looking about the same as usual. At No. 4 level the drive on the footwall portion of No. 1 reef is in 10 or 15 feet past where the winze from the level above will come down. Good crushing dirt is coming to hand, and gold is also seen in breaking down the hangingwall of the reef. The stopes here present no change worthy ef note. DEEP LEVEL CROSS. The drive on the footwall leader at No. 5 level is in over 30 feet from the boundary. The main leader looks well, being about 9 inches wide, and colors of gold are seen in breaking. Two small leaders are also showing in the dig, both contain* ing excellent minerals and looking well for gold. A leading stope is being carried along this drive, and a few nice picked stone w.ere bagged yesterday from a small leader on the bangingwall of the main portion, which, at my visit yesterday, was stripped ready for breaking down. The hangingwall branch in the stopes is looking pretty well; it is 15 inches wide, ■bowing colors of gold, and yielding a few picked stone occasionally. The crossreef is being driven on north and south. Three shifts are employed in the northern drive, so as to break into the winze, which is 20 feet ahead, as quickly as possible. The lode here is four feet wide, and looking well, though no. gold haß been seen lately. In the south drive only the footwall portioo of the reef is in band, the main body, which is of large size, being left in the wall for the present. The winze from No. 4 level is down over 76 feet, and it being sunk on the footwall of the reef. As soon as it is down about 15ft further, work will be stopped, and the men started to sink the winze on the hangingwall branch of No. 2 reef from No. 5 level to connect with the 640 feet south crosscut. The stopes above No 4. are not yet quite worked out, but are left standing for the present on account of the crater issuing from them. An excellent class of country is being penetrated in the south crosscut. The manager is of opinion that the reef cut last week is only a hangingwall branch of No. 2 reef, and thinks that lode is some distance ahead yet. The footwall leader in the drive at No. 5 level was broken down today, and colors of gold seen through the quartz. QUEEN OF BEAUTY. The pumps started this morning at 4 o'clock, and the bottom level will be dry some time this evening. Crushing at the Stoanataiari battery has been stopped, but it will probably be resumed when the winze being sunk from No. 9 level boles through, and the block seaward of the shaft is opened up and stoping in full swing. The manager reported on Tuesday afternoon as follows :—" No. IP level: Since my last of the 7th inst. the contractors in the drive seaward hare been employed timbering, and we have put air boxes in, which has supplied the drive with good air, and the contractors have resumed work again. The drive to the northward is in 52 feet; we have also been timbering up this drive. The reef is 18 inches in thickness in a good hard white sandstone country. In the stopes above this level the reef is about the same size, averaging about 3 feet in thickness, but it has not been turning out quite so well as it did last week. No. 9 level: The contractors for sinking winze seaward of the shaft have sunk 12 feet, and they are at present in tight ground. The drive going northward is in 50 feet, and the lode is 8 inches in thickness, showing gold when last broken down. In the Btope above this drive we are in 30 feet from the junction; the lode is 12 inches thick, showing dabs of gold when last broken down. According to instructions, I have stopped crushing at the Moanatairi battery, having finished grinding our blanketings there. I have reduced the number of hands in the mine, but am still keeping the full force going at our own battery.—C. H. Wilson." LONDON. The winze at No. 3 level is now down five feet, and the main reef was shot down to-day. Several large blotches of gold were seen, besides colors, and the mineral in the stone has a very favourable appearance. CALEDONIAN. Work in this mine is confined to lead* era in the Bed Queen section, at No. 1 level. A block, about 150 feet in length, is being stoped, but owing Jo the reef being rather small, the amount of brushing dirt which comes to hand is not very large, though it is of payable quality. In every stope gold is seen frequently in the quartz. In rising for the fifth stope a new leader has been' discovered, about three inches in thickness, iv the hangingwall of the main re»f, running due west. Four pounds of picked stone were taken from it last week. The manager will try and trace this down to-tbe level before doing much on it.

The western.drive on the cross leader it being continued, and though the quartz has been pinched up a little lately, it is still carrying good gold. The right*hand branch is also being driven on and is keeping about the same size, carrying good minerals, and showing colors of gold. The winze to connect with No. 2 level is down about 30 feet, and the prospects met with so far are very encouraging. The reef in the bottom is 18 inches wide, a, good solid body of stone, containing a large percentage of copper and ruby silver, and showing strong colors and dabs of gold each breaking down. The country is a capital class of white sandstone. The manager has cleaned out a crosscut at No. 2 level, and will get it surveyed to see how far he will have to drive to connect with the winze. Two hoppers full of quartz are on hand, but crushing will not be started till the others are also full. GOLD RETURNS. Aibuenia.—McDonald and party have finished a crushing of 11 loads for the return of 21ozs 6dwts gold. •.■.:.■ Kubaniti Hilt—Jxmes and party have crushed one load of dirt for the yield of sozs 2dwts gold.