OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4629, 5 November 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

DARWIN. : Notwithstanding the bad weather experienced lately the manager is making fair progress with the surface works. The excavation for the engine-house, &c, is very nearly completed, and^a start was made today with the excavation of the framework of the building. The timber for the poppet legs and brace is on the ground, and ready for erection. ;: MOANATAIRI EXTENDED. The contractors have sunk the shaft 13 feet since they started last Wednesday, and;ara now nearly through the surface dirt. The top sets of timber have been puddled to keep the water from percolating through into the shaft. THAMES GOLDEN CROWN. Sinco the fire occurred at the Caledonian No. 1 level, work in this mine has been confined to,the leaders near the shaft at the ICOft leve), which have yielded payably, but now that the levels are again clear of gas and smoke, the manager is making preparations .to re-commence driving on the leaders opened out upon from the 100 ft crosscut. KURANUI HILL. The eastern drive on the No. 9 reef at the tunnel level, from the Belfast section, has. been advanced 90 feet since gold was first seen. The reef for that distance has averaged about 18 inches in width, and has shown a little gold each breaking. It :is looking well in the face, being over a foot wide, and of a more favorable appear ance than hitherto. A leading stope is also in progress here, and the reef shows gold in it when broken down. The only ; other.work in progress at present is stoping on the Junction leader, which will be completed this week. The battery will start on the arrival of the Julia Price with a supply of coal. That vessel may be expected to-morrow or next day.

MARTHA EXTENDED (WAIHI). The manager, Mr J. Moore, today brought down 186ozs sdwfcs gold, which was reduced on melting to 185azs. This is the return for the past ■ six weeks' operations, during which time about 600 tons Of dirt have been passed through, the mill. The quantity crushed is not so large as usual, owing to the heavy floods experienced having caused several stoppages of the mill. The return is, however, up to the usual average, and not only pays for the cost of mining arid crushing, but will also defray the expense of erecting the additional 10 head of stampers and building a new hopper which will hold 50 tons. The extra 10 head of stampers started on Thursday last, and worked splendidly, the turbine driving the 30 head with ease. The manager hopes to keep the full force of the battery going this month, which will, of course, increase the return. Operations are now confined to the surface portion of the Martha section, where the men will be employed during the summer, the other stopes being left for wet weather. The intermediate level is being extended, and the manager has four passes 100 ft apart through to the surface from it. An open cutting is being carried in from the Martha spur. The reef here is over 30ffc wide, composed of alternate layers of flint and crushing dirt. The flint is thrown away, and the remainder of the dirt put into the passes, from which it is conveyed to the mill. The dirt is easily obtainable, no powder or dynamite being necessary to break it out. GOLD EETUENS. Moastataibi.—Williams and party have finished a crushing of 46^ tons for the payable yield of 32ozs 7dwts gold, 21ozs 2dwts of which was banked from an interim retorting last week.