OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4539, 23 July 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PKINCE IMPEBIAL.

The manager on Friday last; started the seventh stope west of the winze, abofe No. 5 lerel, and in breaking down the reef for the first time to-day lew t of specimens -were obtained, making the quantity on hand about lOcwt. Four hundredweight were treated at the Alburnia battery to»day, and another parcel will be put through to»morrdw, but it is doubtful whether the amalgam will be retorted till the end of the month. The

manager reported on Saturday:—"During the past week 155 loads quartz hare been reduced at the batteries for the good yield of 7060zs amalgam, making the total amount now on hand from general dirt

18490z* Ihrtjn wo head of stampers are still employed at the Crown': and Alburnia batteries. Stopiog on the $0.2 lead at No. 5 level has been carried'on as usual, and I have much pleasure in stating that the lead ia all thesfcopes continues to look well, having produced 3cwt of speoLj^ mens and picked stone during the v&K.The second stope ia No. 2 section #©3J

will be up to the boundary on Monday, when the men will be removed to No. 7 stope in No. 1 section west (which vras started yesterday). The third stope is now almost forward to where the good show of gold was left in the back of the second stope. The fifth stope, from which such good hauls were obtained, is still looking well, and there is a good show still left in the back. There is no change to report from the stopes in No; 1 section east. The drive on the Noj 1 reef at No. 4 level is still proceeding through a splendid class of country. The reef con* tinues to maintain its size, and gold is always met with each breaking down. I will be very much mistaken if a good run of gold is not met with in this reef before long. The winze from No. 3 level is now connected with the drive, the distance between the two levels being 130 ft. Now that this block is opened on this large reef it is only aquea* tion of hauling as to keeping almost as many head of stampers going as we may choose. I intend 'starting the single stamper on.Monday to reduce the specimens and picked stone, as the box it now full.—G. S. Clabk." \ MOANATAIBI. The manager reports for ' last week: " Stopes on No. 2 reefy 90 feet level, are abandoned, as there are no immediate prospects of them paying, and all dead work that it is possible to suspend has been done, reserving 20 miners' to be employed to the best advantage in the most likely places in the mine. No 9, Redan sectioD. tunnel, level, is carrying • good deal of likely mineral for gold. Nothing has been crushed from here during the week,|the stuff being required to'stand in order to save much stoping. Heldt's section, 132 ft level: In driving west on No. 9a few pounds of good picked stone were obtained yesterday, and colors are sometimes seen in stopes above 132 ft level, same reef. Four tributes have been let during the week, one on No. 9 bangingwall lead below 80ft level, and three above tunnel level (one in Morning Star section, and two in Heldt's section) at 15 to 20 per cent.—J. G. VIVIAH." • [ QUEEN OF BEAUTY. The manager has started to sink a winze from No. 9 lerel north of the shaft, about 30ft from the junction, and cloae to, the hitch iii" the floor where gdoU^bld' was left showing when timbering up. About 2^ft in depth,of the reef was shot down to-day. 40lbs of picked stone came to hand,tuis morning, and about 20lbs later in the day. CALEDONIAN. The manager reported on Saturday :■— " There has-been very UtUe driving dooe ou any of the leaders this wwek; 12 fe*t has been drivei? on the new leader dis« > covered in the third stope. It is snutt, abous 4> inches, but-carries some nice gold. I have now. traced "it over the centre pass, where I intend to break through. When done this will be an outlet both, for quartz and.mullock. Ik will thus be easily traced down to tho No. 1 level, when it will be propwly opened up. The winze ia bow down 83 feet; the leader still continues tin aame, and the men are now making good headway. There is an old crosscut driven tt No 3 level 125 feet towards, these leaders in Bed Qaoeu section, and 150 feet more driving should meet .the winze. This ! work should be commenced forthwith. No. 2 old level will require,repairs prior to commencing; should like to get a survey before I start, but Mr Bayldon is upcountry. The stopes are looking, pretty well, and are turning but payable crushing dirt. There are in hand 3 hoppers full; ooe> more yet to fill before crushing com* menoes.—T. B. Hicks." . - '

JDAUT, water is now kept from rising above the bottom level by pnroping two shifts, the first from 8 a,m. to 4 p.m., and the second front 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The pressure of steam required is only 30lbs. The winding gear is all ready and the cages have been run up and down the' shaft times, everything working ■moothly. The men started this aftarnoon to continue the crosscut at No. 3 level to intersect No. 2 reef, and thrcK shifts will be employed till the contractors" start, wbioh will be towards thn end of the weak.

GOLO.EETTTBNS. -, - Box Pbdbo.—Kneebone and party, proprietors, have banked Boza'3dwti gold from 9 loads of quartz.