OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4562, 18 August 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PRINCE IMPERIAL

The No. 2 reef in the eighth stope west above No. 5 level was broken down this tnoruing, and the splendid haul of 4cwt of specimens was secured, a rich show being left in the face of stope, and gold also being visible in the roof. The stone is of good quality, and some of the pieces have a band of gold fully four inches wide right around them. The length of reef taken down does not include more than 3sffc of the show left in the back of No. 7 stope, and the richest of that show is still on ahead. This, and the fact; that good gold is visible in the face of the stope from top to bottom and on both hanging and footwall of the reef, augurs well for the next breaking down. The richest specimens came from the footwall portion of the reef, where also the best gold is showing. There is now ou hand a total of 20 cwt of specimens, and as the boxes are fuli, the stone will be put through next week and the amalgam retorted. DAET.

The drive eastward on the No. 1 reef at No. 3 level is now in about 40ft. from the crosscut. Both No. I reef and the hangingwall leader were taken down yesterday. The former is from 18 inches to 2ft. in width, and carries excellent minerals, but has shown no gold so far. The smaller leader is about 6 inches wide in the bottom and a foot in the top of the drive. Some good dabs of gold were seen in the quartz. The two lodes are now striking more towards each other than they did at first, and will apparently junction a few feet ahead. Near the floor of the drive they are only two feet apart. The crosscut for No. 2 reef is in 130ffc. from the shaft, and another 60ft. should see the reef in hand. The country has been tight for the last few feet, but better ground is now coming in. The water dammed back at No. 2 level is rapidly running away, and has receded over 40 ft. since the crosscourse was passed through at No. 3 level.

HOBSON. The men have lately been prospecting at No. 3 level, and a small trial parcel from a leader nine inches or a foot wide, situated between Nos. 2 and 3 reefs, is now being treated at the battery. The mouth of the Una No. 4 level has been cleared of mullock, and the remainder of it has been found to be in pretty good order. A start will be made in a day or two to lay down a road. The manager I has explored the tunnel, and finds good sandstone country surrounding the leaders/ He will commence prospecting here as soon as possible. LONDON. Yesterday's lodgment of gold was , reduced on melting this morning to 16ozs Sdwts. The manager is still continuing the eastern drive, which is now in 85ft from the crosscut. The leader has been heaved about 4 feet to the right, and the drive is being put in on the hangingwall, la the face there is about nine inches wide of quartz showing. It is well defined, and the last two loads broken shaped much better than the remainder of the crushing. The men have resumed sinking the winze on No. 1 reef, and gold was seen last night in breaking out the stringers running between the hangingwall leader and the main lode.

MABINEE. The cross-leader in the winze at No. 3 was again broken down last night, and strong colors and dabs of gold were seen. The winze is down 16 or 17 feet; the leader is about 6 inches wide in one end, and 9 inches in the other. The men have not been able to work in the drive on No. 3 reef at No. 5 level for the past few days, on account of gas accumulating.

LUCKY HIT (WAIORONGOMAI.)

The trial crushing of 30 bags quartz, was finished to-day, and gave the very satisfactory return of 170z3 7dwts melted gold, or at the rate of about 4053 to the ton, the weight of quartz crushed not exceeding 4| tons. The manager informs me that several larsje reefs run through the ground, the leader from which the crushing was taken striking through them. The junction of one of these large lodes should be met with shortly, and he expects to get gold when h,em.eets with. it.

GOLD RETURNS. MoANATAiai.—Kneebone and party have crushed three tons for the good yield of I7oza 6dwts melted gold. WEEKLY GrQLD, RETURNS. oz. dwt. at. London ••• •». ••. 61 6' ° Lucky Hit (Waiorongomai) 17 7 Q Moanatairi (Collins' tr) ... 815 0, Do. (Moyle's tr) ... 23 2 Q do. (^neebooe's tr.) ... 17, 6 0 West Cqast (Creighton's tr) 512 0 Tota.l „, ,„ .1^ § (j