OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4625, 31 October 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PEINCE IMPERIAL.

Only three stopes are at present ia progress on No. 2 reef, above No. 5 level, west of the winze. No. 9is about 60 feet past the break, and here the lode is somewhat split up at present, though looking well, and showing gold. Wo. 10 is 20 feet behind Wo. 9, and here the reef is a good solid body of quartz; a breaking down took place today, when a few pounds of specimens were bagged. The 11th stope Is within 20 feet of the break! but * the reef here is small, and not looking , quite so well as usual, owing no doubt to the presence of a soft clay seam, on the hangingwall. No. 4 level: The eastern drive on the No. 1 reef has been advanced about 15ft from the crosscourse which intersected the lode. The body of quartz showing in the face is small, about a foot wide, and is not very solid, but the country is favorable. No gold has been seen in the quartz, which, however, carries excellent minerals. The leading stope is now up to the crosscourse referred to, but the drive is not timbered yet. There is no change to report from the other stopes, which continue to produce a large amount of crushing dirt. Jo. 3 level: The eastern drive on No. l reef is making good progress, being in over 30ft from the crosscut. There is about 18 inches of quartz showing in the face, and gold bas been seen freely each breaking ■ down. Some stringers are showing in the dig on the footwail, and they will strike into the main lode two or three feet ahead. Colors of gold have been seen in them, and they are probably . identical with the stringers cut in driving' the crosscut, and from which lOlbs specimens were secured. DEEP LEVEL CROSS. Retorting for the month took place today for the payable yield of 2590zs gold, which was reduced to 2570z5. on melting. For this 157 loads of general dirt and 2cwt specimens and picked stone have been crushed, all of which came from the branches of No. 2 lode and the crossreef at No. 5 level. In the mine there is very little change to report. The contractors' - winze was sunk 12 feet last week, making the total depth about 75 feet. The winze r on the footwail branch of No. 2 reef is 22 feet deep. The leader has been small lately, and has not shown any gold. The southward drive on the hangingwall branch of the crossreef has been stopped for the present, and the men are now driving northward on the footwail branch. A clay head has crossed this drive, heaving the -leader to the left, and on shooting down in this direction to pick it up the junction of the hangingwall branch was met wiih, forming a large body of quartz. . No gold was seen to-day, but the quartz is; well mineralised. The stopes on the footwail branch of the crossreef and the hanging and footwail branches of No. 2 reef are being carried on as usual, and a little gold is seen in all of them.

DAEWIN.

The manager expects that the engine will be in position, the poppet legs and brace erected, and everything- in readiness for commencing to wind in about five weeks' time. Fromjhe quartz broken while excavating the chamber about lOlbs picked stone were secured, and there are 10 loads of dirt on hand. Driving west on the reef was commenced to-day.

MOANATAIRI.

Cleaning up and retorting for the month took place this afternoon, for the good payable return of ' 178ozs gold, for. which* 110 tons of general dirt and 1501bs of picked stone and specimens were treated. All of this came from No. 9 reef at the 132 ft level, with the exception of 5 tons general dirt and 151ba ~; pickod stone from the loader in the Crown crosscut. This latter parcel yielded at the very satisfactory rate of 2|oZ9 per ton.

DAET.

The first cleaning up for this company took place at the battery to-day, for the yield of 51ozs retorted gold. This is the produce of about 100 loads of general dirt, most of which came from the winze . aad drives on. No. 2 reef, and was of low grade. The remainder, from the under- . Can 1 stopes on the same reef, and also the : specimen leader, at No. 2 level, shaped for a good payable return. Notwithstanding ■ that the result of the dirt treated so far ; has not been very good, it is , encouraging - to learn that a marked improvement has taken place in the western drive on No. 2 reef at the bottom level. The face of this drive is now in about 30 feet past where the winze holed through, and no gold had been seen for - several feet up to yesterday, when on: shooting down the reef colors of the precious metal were freely seen, and about B!bs of fair picked stone bagged. The : • reef is 18 inches wide, and looks well. The country is also improving, and several . ■ nice looking flinties are showing in the dig. The junction of the hangingwall leader has not yet been met with, but the manager has cut into, the wall a few feet back from the face, aud finds that it is not. more than three feet from the main lode, - so they may be expected to junction a very short distance ahead.. The underhand stope at No. 2 level, on Nc, 2 reef, is still in progress, and payable dirt is > •;' coming to hand. The battery has not been stamping for a few days, but will start again very shortly. " EOCEY POINT. '"■••■: The northward drive on No. 2 reef at the General Chute level has been put in 15ft; the'reef averages about 18in. in.width, \ and showed colors of gold pretty freeljr. The men to-day started to open out on it southward of the crosscut. A parcel from it will be crushed next- week.