OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4551, 6 August 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PBINCE IMPERIAL

Rich Haul of Specimens.

The manager during to-day broke down the No. 2 reef in the seventh stope west above No. 5 level, and the exceedingly rich haul of 9ewt of specimens was bagged. About five or six feet in length and five feet in height of the reef was taken down. The leader is not large* being from 6 to 8 inches in width, and the best stone came from the footwall portion. The specimens are of good quality, and the gold is chiefly in the white stone, not being accompanied by a great quantity of mineral. This, however, is usually the case on the hillward side, of the break, most mineral being found in the reef on the seaward side. Gold is showing jin the face, and.a splendid show is visible all along the back of the portion broken, promising well for No. 8 stope. The 7tii stope is not yet forward to the rich show left in the back of the sixth stope, but the face is within a foot or two of it. There is thus a continuous show of gold for fully 10ft. in length, six feet of which is in the back of the seventh and the rest in the preceding stope. Saturday's lodgement of 12240z5. retorted gold was reduced on melting this morning to 12120z5. 5 dwts., making the total melted return for the month 26000z5. The Alburnia battery was formally taken over to-day, and the whole 22 head are now going: on the company's quartz.

QUEEN OF BEiUTY. The water this afternoon was down to .the cap-piece ,of No. 10 level chamber, and the manager expects to have the flatsheet dry by tomorrow morning. Work at No.* 9 level is now in full swing, and the eastern drive tho stopes and the winze will be pushed ahead. The seaward winze is not yet clear of water. The contractors here, after sinking about 30 feet, have thrown up the contract, and as soon as it is dry wages s men will be placed in it, so as to effect communication with No. 10 level as quickly as possible. At No. 8 level another trial parcel is being taken from the main reef in the vicinity of the Piako shaft, and a start was made this morning to continue the crosscut commenced by Mr Black in the direction of the Bird-in-Hand and the Vanguard reefs. The crosscut is now in 120 ft. from the shaft, and a further distance of 240 ft. will have to be driven before the first mentioned lode may be expected. Now that the drive to the Piako shaft is open, < he manager does not anticipate the least difficulty in obtaining good ventilation, as he can easily with boxes carry in a strong current of cool air. MOANATAIEI. The manager reports for last week as follows:—Heldt's section, 132 ft. level, No. 9 : Encouraging prospects have been met with in drive at this point since my last. Tho reef is not one compact body of stone at present, but is formed into several branches varying in width, from 2 to 6 inches, and these are interspersed with most congenial sandstone formation, with :stringers traversing it. Gold is sometimes seen in some of these. About 301bs. of picked stone have been obtained from the branches referred to during the week. There is a large block of ground to work in this quarter; if the reef only continues to yield as it has done for the last week or two. The same reef in Redan section, tunnel level, has a very kindly appearance, but I regret to say is not payable,' that is, jud gin g from the amalgam obtained from the parcel treated, from which I reckon it is not worth more than sdwts per ton.; The All Nations lead above tunnel level produced a small parcel of picked stone the last breaking down, but it is very small and not so kindly looking as it has been. No. 2 lead 80ft level, yields a little gold beating stone each breaking down. The Nonpareil lead produces a few pounds of picked 'stone occasionally.—J. G-. Vivian."

THAMES GOLDEN CEO WIT. A trial parcel of 15 tons from the small leader being worked at the 170 ft. level in the Cure section was finished to-day, and gave the satisfactory return of 17ozs melted gold; ; . ; ■■-■■: CALEDONIAN. The manager reported on Saturday :— " There has been 7 feet driven east on the Red Queen leader this week, and 9 feet on the right hand branch. The leaders in both drives are about the same size, and look very well. The stopes are still being carried on with two shifts, and gold is seen.occasionally. The winze is now down 50ft., still in good country, and carrying a good sized leader~ fully 15 inches in; thickness, and also showing colors of gold when broken down. This indicates well for the block below No. 1 level. I have three, shifts, repairing. No.. 2 old level, which should be well under way next week. Mr Bayldon was down making a survey to-day; sball know result early next week. ? The distance will be more than at first anticipated. I have two men putting in a small surface drive from the hoppers to take off the surface water, which is bad in rainy weather. I have now to grass about 100 loads of quartz, some at the battery awaiting a start. The Imperial engaged the battery a few hours prior to me for a few days. Expect to start on Wednesday next.—T. B. Hicks."