OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4613, 17 October 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PRINCE IMPERIAL.

The stopes on No. 2 reef above No. 5 level continue to look well, and the fact of the reef on the seaward side of the break yielding good parcels of specimens as the stopes ascend is a guarantee of rich returns for come months to come. The highest stope is the 11th, which is only about 20ft from tbe winze, and above this there is about 50 feet yet to takeout before No. 4 level is reached. The leader in the 11th stope is about 3ft wide, and yields good crushing dirt. The 10th stope has been carried through the dead ground at the break, and tbe le:.der on the seaward side was taken down for the first time to-day, If cwt of good specimens being bugged from it, and an excellent show left in the roof. The lode is not very large, but gold is freely visible all through the quartz. The best of the gold was obtained c'.o:e to the break. The rerf has only been taken down for about six feet in leagLh. In the 9th stope, which is 30ft iom the break, the lead is a foot in width, and shows gold very freely, a few pounds of specimens also coming to hand each breaking down. The reef in the Bth stope also looks well, gold being seen pretty freely. This stope is! about 15ft from the Cross boundaiy. On the eastern side of the winze gold is frequently seen in breaking down the reef, and payable crushing dirt is coming to hand. At No. four level the "eastern drive on the No. 1 roaf is only in about BiVfrom tbe break, and the lode has not yet been taken down for the whole of that dist nee. It appears to be getting mo ye comprct, and is canying'fi well defined footwatl. 1 here is about 18 inches of quartz showing in the face. The stopes on this lode continue to look well, the greater portion of the Clashing dirt being obtained from here. In the second stope, the reef is fully JO feßiwide. A start was made yesterday to drive eastward on this reef from the crosscut at No. 3 level, but rone of the qurrtz had been broken down up to tbe time of my visit. The Queen of Beauty battery start d crushing to-day, making the total number of stamps employ d by the Imperial Company 47.

DEEP LEVEL CROSS.

A splendid class of country continues in the face of the south crosscut, at the 640 ft level, and the men are making fair progress. Tbe winze on the hangiogwall braGch of No. 2 nvaf at No. 5 level is down about 52 feet. The country continues good, but the leader has been small for several feet, though carrying excellent minerals. The winze started on Monday on the foot wall branch of No. 2 reef at the boundary is down 6 feet; a few specimens were bagged from some small stringers on the footwall, but no gold was seen in the main leader on breaking it down last night, though the stone is a good solid body about a foot wide and containing excellent minerals. One stope is in progress on this leader, and a few pounds of specimens were bagged from it to-day. Another stope is in progress on a branch of the reef striking off to the south-east. The leader here is about a foot thick, and shows colors of gold occasionally. Two stopes are in hand on the footwall branch of the crossreef north of the junction, and one southward, and a stope is also being carried alorg the hangingwall branch of the No. 2 reef. The dirt from |these is of payable grade. A considerable change is apparent m the seaward drive on the hangingwall branch of the crossreef. A clay head has heaved the reef to the left, and beyond this it is looking much better for gold, though none has been seen in it. It is a foot or 15 inches wide, and of a more rubbly nature than formerly. Fifteen head of stampers are still employed 16 hours per day, aad the general dirt is shaping for about an ounce per load. ■'....'*

DAEWIN.

A new leader was cut in the well hole of the shaft yesterday at a depth of about 160 ft from the surface. It is 10 inches wide, carrying excellent minerals, and the manager has seen a few colors of gold in the quartz. Though t!ie precious metal was noi seea nearly co freely as in the larger lode, enough has been observed to prove the gold bearing character of the leader, and as the dip of the new lode is not so flat as that of the larger one, they must junction above ihe 150 ft level, when both bodies of quartz, should improve. Both reefs have the same Strike, so the junction'will be nearly horizontal, The

manager does not :itend to open out on i the new leader at present, and the men were to day engaged timbering up the well hole, preparatory to commencing to cut out the chamber to-morrow. Very little of the reef will be taken down for a day or two. The manager has so far seen nothing to change his opinion as to the reef being the Waibtahi No. 5, but as-soon as Mr Bayldon returns from the Upper Country he will! have a survey made. A small temporary paddock is being made to hold the quartz till hoppers are erected.

KURANUI HILL

The principal work in this mine is the extension of the eastern drive on No. 9 reef from the Belfast tunnel. Since communication was made with the drive frol a Kelly's section the reef has improved considerably, and for the last two breakings down has shown colors and dabk of gold,, the first yet observed, There is a block fully 250 ft. long with 90ft. of backs to Kelly's level to werk out here, and considering the rich returns that were obtained from this claim in former days, it will be a wonder if the manager is not able in a short time to open up a good payable block. The following report was forwarded onTuesdaj :—" Junction : Nothing fresh has shown up since my last report. The same work continues in progress, and the ler.d still bears the same appearance. AH Nations: Stoping is proceeding as usual with same results as previously mentioned. Belfast No. 9 : Holed through to Kelly's end on Wednesday last, and broke down the portion of the lode which was stripped on Saturday and got a few stones with some nice dabs of coarse gold; to-day also gold was seen in the stone on shooting down the reef. This is a very strong reef in splendid country, running parallel with the lode driven on in Kelly's end, with which it must junction upwards, and go through it. The main runs of gold wrought overhead were further ahead than the end of the drive : it is, however, satisfactory to see gold at this point. The reef varies from lOin. to 2ft. in thickness, carrying splendid minerals. As both lodes have shown gold in this chancel of country, it is only reasonable to expect to get it in, payable quantities.—T. 'H; Ceawfobd."

GOLD RETURNS.

Moanataibi. —Cameron and party,trib» uting in the Morning Slav section, have crushed 6 tons of general dirt and 951bs specimens for the rich return of lOOozs sdwts gold.—A crushing of 5 loads for Patterson and party gave 2ozs 9dwts gold. Adelaide.—Macder and party have banked 16ozs 6dwts gold from 15 loads quartz. Waitekatjbi No. 2.—Stevenson md party, Iributers, have banked 52ozs ldwt. gold.