NEW PRINCE IMPERIAL.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4616, 20 October 1883, Page 2

NEW PRINCE IMPERIAL.

The No. 2 reef was broken down to-day in the 10th stope west above No. 5 level. Large blotches of gold were freely seen, but no haul of specimens was bagged. 151bs picked stone were obtained from the 11th stope. Gold was seen pretty in breaking No. 1 reef at No. 3 level.

DARWIN.

A start was made yesterday afternoon to break down the reef stripped in the chamber at the 150 ft level, but owing to the lode lyiDg so flat, it will not be all down for a day or two, as it will continue in the chamber for the whole length. The quartz broken last night showed colors and dabs of gold freely throughout, and the manager also secured six pounds of fair specimens, which were lodged in the Bank of New Zealand for safe keeping. I visited the mine this afternoon, and found that the portion of the reef broken was only about 8 feet in length by an average of 3 feet on the underlie. Nice gold was showing in the solid stone in the centre of the reef in two places. The specimens did not come from one spot, but were secured from several places in the reef. In, the end towards the Cambria the reef is a little smaller, though looking well and showing gold freely, but in the opposite end there is over two feet of crushing dirt visible. Owing to there being a good deal of water constantly drippingdown the shaft, the dirt gets very muddy, rendering it impossible to see gold unless the stone is washed, but on cracking the lumps of quartz in the paddock, colors and dabs of the precious metal can be easily found. There is now about five loads of quartz on hand. The negotiations for the purchase of the old winding plant of the Prince Imperial were satisfactorily concluded to«day, and the machinery has been taken over by the Darwin directors.

HAND OF FRIENDSHIP.

This company, having received permission from the New Prince Imperial to work through the latter's shaft, intend to commence operations without delay; The first undertaking will be a cro33-cut at No. 5 level to intersect the Mariner's reef there, and tenders will be probably be called for the work in a few days. The estimated distance to drive is about 240 ft., starting from the end of the eastern drive on the No. 2 lode.

DAET.

The winze from No. 2 level has holed through to No. 3 at a point about 34ft west of the crosscut, and the drives are thus well rentilated. The western drive is in about 11 feet past the winze, and the reef is veering around slightly to the left, which coarse will probably lead to a junction with a hangin^wall leader. At this junction on No. 2 level some good stone wps bagged, and the general dirt westward from it was of gcjd quality; so the reef should improve also at No. 3 level. The portion of the reef in hand is about 2 feet wide, and is compo ;ed of good looking quartz, well mineralised, though no gold has been seen for a few fret. At No. 2 level the manager is carrying along an underhr.nd stope four feei dtap beloir the drive on No. 2 reef west of the cross* cut. The reef average" 1, about 2 feet in width, and has shown colors and dabs of gold pretty ."rcely.

BEIGHT SMILE.

Tbe manager bagged sOlbs of specimens to*day irom the fourth stope over the western drive, a fair show ot gold being left in the rcof of the stop 3. The leader varies from 4to 8 inche3 in width, and is looking well, while tbe class of country is ,a'so favourable. The crushing at the Queen of Beauty battery is shaping for a payable return, though, as was to be expected, not quite so rich as last parcel.

NEW EUEEKA (OTUNUI).

The manager to-day brought dowa 33ozs 6dwts of retorted gold 5 which, added to .the return banked last week, makes the \

excellent totJ of 63ozs Idwt gold from 30 •lb;ids of general dirt, or over2ozs per load exclusive of the specimen gold already obtained from this quartz. The mill is now idle, as the carters are unable to work on the road, bat as soon as the weather be'omos dryer they, will start again. In the mine a leading stope is in 20ft over, both the eastern and western drives. The reef in both eids shows gold pretty freely, aid westward it has made a large "blow "of quartz 7ffc wide, all of which is saved for crushing dirt.