OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4637, 14 November 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PRINCE IMPERIAL

There is very little change to note in this mine since the report in our last issue. No. 10 stope west on No. 2 reef above No. 5 level, is just past the junction of the hanging and footwall branches. Both are of fair size, and show gold freely. Nc. 11 stope is over 30ft seaward of the break, and the men are now stripping the reef, which is quite 2ft wide in the face. No. 12 has not long left the winze ; here the lode is split up into a number of branches, and this stope has to be carried in quite nine feet wide to include the whole ot the roef. Good dabs and colors are seen in breaking. Two stopes are in progress on the eastern side of the winze ; the reef, though small, is looking well. The highest stope here is about 40 feet above the level. In the eastern drive on No. 1 reef at No. 4 level there is a body of quartz about six feet wide showing; the drive is at present being carried in on the footwall portion, which, though whiter in appearance than on the western side of the break last passed through, carries excellent minerals.. The stopes here present no change to report. No. 3 level; In the eastern drive on No. I reef the lode is split into two portions, there being about 18 inches of mullock between. Both branches, however, show gold freely. A strong body of quartz, well mineralised, is showing in the western drive. DEEP LEVEL CEOSS. The sinking of the winze from No. 5 level to connect with the 640 ft south crosscut has been let to Dare and party at 38s 6d per foot. As soon as Mr Bayldon returns from the Upper Country, the manager will have a survey made and the contractors will then put on additional men to rise to meet the winze, the stipulation being that they must keep ten men employed as soon as practicable. The crosscut at the 640 ft level has been stopped till the winze and rise are connected, as all the air available will be required to ventilate the rise, The country in the faoe at present is softer than it has been for some distance back. At No. 5 level, two stopes

are in progress on the foot wall branch of IS o. 2 reef. The highest of these has only left the boundary a few feet, while the foremost has just reached the junction with the footwall branch of the crossreef. This stope has produced 901bs stone during the past week, and gold is also showing overhead in several places. Three stopes are in hand on the-footwall branch of the crossreef, and one on the hangingwall portion of No. 2 ; payable dirt is coming to hand from these places, a little gold being seen occasionally. The northward drive on the former leader was Resumed to«day, it having been at a standstill while the leading stope wasjcarried up for ventilation. 15 head of stamps are employed 16 hours per day at the Herald mill, and the general dirt is shaping for an ounce per load. DAET. The western drive on No. 2 reef at No. 3 level has been advanced 50 feet since the contractors started work, the reef having shown colors of gold all the way. Another breaking down took place yesterday. The reef has become smaller, being about 18 inches wide, and is composed of stringers of quartz intermixed with mullock, as is the case in the winze in progress from No. 2 level. The quartz, however, carries excellent minerals, and showed colors and dabs of gold freely. The winze is down over 20 feet; the reef having opened out to a large size, only about 2 feet of the footwall portion is being sunk on, so as to get through to No. 3 level as soon as possible. Colors of gold, have been seen each breaking. Having about 24 loads of dirt, to the surface, crushing will be started next week ; a payable return is expected.