OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4641, 19 November 1883, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PRINCE IMPERIAL.

The mine manager reports as follows: —•"' The batteries have reduced 215 loads of quartz during the past week for s the yield of 510ozs of amalgam. The same number of stampers hare been employed this week as last, viz., 32 head full time, and 20 head 16 hours per day. The 10th stops on No. 2 lead above No. 3 level is within 8 feet of the boundary, A larjre

amount of good crushing dirt is coming to hand from here, but no picked stone has been obtained lately. In tbe 11th slope the~-lead has been looking well, having produced between 4 and 5 cwt. of specimens and picked stone this week, leaving a good show of gold in the back, which promises well for the next stope when it reaches this point. The face of this stope is about 40ft past the break or directly under the rich run of gold obtained on No. 4 level. Some more good hauls of stone should come to hand from here during the coming week. In the 12th stope, which is 20ft. in from the winze, the leadis look.ing considerably better than it has done for sometime. Stoping is being continued as usual on the eastern side of the winze, but there is nothing fresh to report of note. Driving on the No. 1 reef at No. 4 level wag suspended to day, pending a survey to ascertain the position of the boundary. The men employed here have been removed to the drive going eastward on the No. 2 lead at No. 5 level. It is my intention to keep this drive manned now as we are not likely to tap the water confined in the drives overhead before the Deep Level Cross winze is through to the 6dO»feet level: The principal output of quartz from the mine at present is being obtained from the slopes on the No. 1 reef, above No. 4 level. The drive going eastward on this reef at No. 3 level is 60 feet in from the crosscut. The reef continues to look much about the same. The western drive is in 20 feet. The reef here is improving in quality as the drive'advances. The drive at No. 2 level, on this reef, will be cleaned out, and the chamber for the winze excavated, this week, ready to commence sinking. Tenders for this work will be called during the coming week. The Hand of Friendship Company have j started to drive the crosscut going north at No. 5 level, and have also started to sink on the No. 1 reef at No. 4 level, at a point 20 feet on the eastern side of the No. 2 break. The reef here looks exceedingly well, carrying splendid minerals for gold. I cannot say what depth the winze will be in our ground until we have a survey made. There ia now on hand 6cwt. of specimens and picked stone, which should yield up to the usual average.—G. 8. Clabk." MOANATAIRI. The manager reported on Saturday as follows:— 81 Stbping has been.progressing oh specimen lead, above 132 ft level, during the week, but without satisfactory results, a few picked stone only having been met with* The lead is disordered, and the country not quite so likely for gold as it has been, but an improvement may take place at any time. We shall leave the specimen leader for the; present, in order to carry; along a stope on No- 9. The lead in Crown ' crosscut continues to look promising, producing a little picked stone occasionally. The crosscut itself is with" but change to report.~J. G. Vivan. DEEP LEVEL CROSS. As Mr Bayldon will probably be down here to-morrow, the manager will lose no time in having a survey made of the workings, in order that the contractors may start rising from the 640 ft. level without delay, and also to see how far the northern drive on the crossreef has yet to be< advanced to react the Imperial boundary. Fifteen head are now kept constantly employed at the Herald battery. r CALEDONIAN. j Crushing was started this morning with five head of stamps at the Herald mill. There are two hoppers full of quartz on hand, so the manager will be able to keep the stamps going for; some time; The stopes on the Red Queen leader above No. 4 level are looking about the same as usual. The leader is looking better west of the crosscut than it has done before, and if it continues to improve in this direction the company's block will be considerably lengthened. The crosscut at No. 2 level was driven 23Jffc. in the past fortnight, making a total distance of 17Oft. Another hard boulder was met with, but this has now, been cut through. ■J BRIGHT SMILE. Mr Senior, acting manager during the illness of Mr: Garvey, "on Saturday banked 501bs specimens and picked stone, obtained from the stopes above the low level. TARAEF EXTENDED. This licensed holding, which includes the old Sunbeam claim, Tararu Creek, is held by a number of gentlemen, including Dr Campbell, of Auckland, and several English capitalists. Work was started about 18 months ago, and since then a large sum of money has been spent in putting in a low ldVel. The rsef was struck here, but was found to be of poor quality, so the tunnel was continued, and a rise started which would strike the reef nearer the surface, and in a more likely place for the finding of gold bearing quartz. A few days ago payable dirt was struck in this rise, at a point which will give 80ft; of backs to ; work out. The reef is 7or Bft. wide. The present discovery was unexpected, as the shares holders 'did not expect to fitid anything good till the rise reached the surface. The shareholders own a battery driven by water power, and situated within a short distance of the low level. WAITER AURI No. 3. Mr E. M. Corbett, the manager, called for tenders for sinking a winze on the tributers' reef from the Queen to the Horn level, a distance of about 150 ft; also to drive on reef at No. 4 level. Tenders were received, and the directors have accepted the lowest, that of Mr Morgan, at 30s per foot, for both contracts. - , - -