MINING SUMMARY.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4658, 8 December 1883, Page 4

MINING SUMMARY.

- It is satisfactory to note that the returns from the principal mines hare this month been good, and there appears every likelihood of their continuing so. The sharemarkot has," however, been dull, the only excitement being in Te Aroha stocks when the amalgam returns came to hand ; bat this speedily subsided when it was found that cold water, instead of hot, as is the usual practice, had been used in squeezing the amalgam, which process greatly reduced the proportion of gold. A movement is now on foot, and apparently the project will be successfully carried out, to form a tribute company of 100,000 5s shares to prospect at the 640----feet level underneath the rich runs of gold worked in the upper levels of the Caledonian, Moanatairi, and other mines. Worjfc would be carried out from the Big , Pump shaft. The Cambria licensed hold--1 ing, 'situated between the Darwin and Moanatairi Extended (Waiotafai Creek), was" sold at auction by the Warden on November 24th, being bought by Mr J. M. Lennox, of Auckland, for £550. A strong company has been formed to.work tb* gtound, and operations will probably be-fltarted next week. „_ New Prince Imi perial; Thii mine continues the- -premier

one of the field, and heads the list of returns for last month with the fine yield of 15960zs gold from 912 loads of general dirt and Bcwt. of specimens, while a good return is also expected at the general cleaning up- in a fortnight. The No. 1 reef, above No. 4 level, still yields the bulk of the crushing dirt; driving is to be commenced on this reef shortly at No. 5 level. The stopes on No. 2 reef, above No. 5 level, are looking well, occasional parcels of specimens coming to hand. The eastern drive on this reef at No. 5 level is being extended, and the lode, which is quite a foot thick, shows gold freely. Deep Level Cross: This com pany's return (400ozs from 275 loads and 2001bs specimens) is very satisfactory, and the general dirt continues to shape payably. Works is being pushed on in the mine above No. 5 level, on the branches, of the cross-reef and No. 2 [ lode. The south crosscut at the 640-feet level has been temporarily stopped, until communication is effected with No. 5 level of the Imperial, which should be j done in about three weeks. The Cross will then be able to work much cheaper. Hand of Friendship: This company has started driving on the Imperial No. 1 reef at No. 4 level, but no quartz has been broken yet. A winze on , the same reef at this level is down 20ft; the quartz looks well, but has not shown any gold so far. Queen of Beauty: The Vanguard crosscut at the 500 ft level should reach the Bird-in-Haud reef in about less than 20ft of driving. The only other work in propressat present is a crosscut at the 670 ft level to intersect two branches of the reef which dropped off the main body below No. 8 level. Moanatairi: The block in hand on No. 9 reef above the 132 ft level continues to yield well, 32 tons and 1201bs specimens crushed from here and the leaders in the Nonpareil section, giving 1390z8 13dwts gold. Kurahui Hill: The trial from the Moanatairi No. 9 reef did not yield up to expectations, but the manager is still pushing on the drive on it, as he has a considerable distance- to go to the boundary. Thames Golden Crown; The excellent return of 2120zs 16dwts gold from 160 tons dirt has been banked. About half of this tonnage came from the leaders in hand at the 100 ft. level, and the remainder from the surface, near the brace. Caledonian : The stopes on the Bed Queen leader at No, 1 level are producing remunerative dirt, and five head of stamps are now running on company's quartz. The crosscut at No. 2 level to open up the reef has been retarded by hard ground, but is now making fair progress again. It will be some weeks, however, before the leader is to hand. New Manukau: This company contemplates resuming work from the Golden Crown levels. Waiotahi: The amount of gold banked for the month's operations is 3050zs from 220 tons of general dirt, obtained at Nos. 2 and 3 levels. Mariner: Fair prospects were met with in the winze below No. 4 level, but it has been suspended for the present, the manager now being engaged driving on the dropper from No. 1 reef at the same level. It is small, but shows gold freely. London: The drive east on No. 2 reef at No. 4 level has holed through to the winze sunk from No. 3 level on the footwall of No. 2 reef for ventilation, and now only 100 ft of a crosscut remains to be driven before connecting with the winze on No. 1 reef, in which such good prospects were got, and to work which the level was put in. A party of- the company's men are stoping a small block on this reef above No. 3 level, and payable dirt is coming to hand. Queen of England: This company is still pushing on the crosscut at No. 4 level to pick up the London No. 1 reef, which should be to hand very shortly." The class ot country being penetrated is favorable for gold. Tararu Creek.—ln- this district the Tararu Extended shareholders are pushing on work. After putting in a low level, in which the reef was not any good, they rose up and cut the lode at an intermediate level, which gives 80ft of backs. The reef is 6 or 7 feet wide, and prospects for a payable return. Some time will yet elapse, however, before crushing can be started, as ventilation has first to be secured. Moanatairi Creek.—The Eeuben Parr and Alburnia companies are prospecting on reefs, though neither are at present obtaining payable dirt. Waiotahi Greek.—A Jlarge amount of work is going on in this district, which promises to one mora come to the fore. Commencing from the head, the Bright Smile is the first to attract notice. Good payable dirt is coming to hand, with occasional parcels of picked stone. Crushing will be commenced shortly. Nothing has yet been done on the new leader found in the footwali of the one being worked, owing to no survey having been made. The New Columbia trial lot from the intermediate level not proving payable, the manager has recommended the directors to extend the eastern drive a distance of 180 feet to get under the Nil Desperandum shaft, in which good gold was got in the early days. The New Diamond is driving a low level, from which 170 ft of backs are available on the reef, and good dabs of gold were seen in the quartz for the first time a day or two ago. The Moanatairi Extended shaft is down about 85ft, but the country so far has been unfavorable for gold. It is likely, however, to change for the better. The Cambria is referred to in another portion of this summary. The Darwin machinery is all in position, and steam will be got up for the first time on Monday. The reef is being driven on westward at the 150 ft level; it averages over two feet in width, and is looking well. No trial crushing has taken place yet, but the iiirt on hand will be put through shortly. The Empress low level, tunnel has not yet cut the reef the manager is in search of. JCaraka Creek.-^-Matters here are not looking quite so well. The: Seymour has finally stopped work, and the fiocky Point crushing did not prove payable; the crosscut for the Adelaide reef is still, however, being pushed ahead. The Adelaide and City of Manchester proprietors, and also tributers in other claims are doing pretty well, and payable gold is being obtained in private elaims.higb.er up the creek. Rape Creek.— The Dart has been meeting with good quartz in a winze from No. 2 level and, the western drive at No. 3 level, the general dirt from these two places shaping for I|oz3. per load, while there is now some 60lbs of picked stone and specimens on hand. The manager expects to be able to keep the 13-head mill running full time in a week or two. Otunui.— Work in this district has not been pushed ahead very energetically, owing to the wet weather preventing the dirt being conveyed to the battery, which has consequently been idle. The Eureka is. putting in a low level, sod has let a contract

toconrey 200 tons of quartz to the mill, so crushing will be in progress again next week. The other claims are not doing much at present. In the Upper Country the district of Te A«Qha is attracting universal attention. The 40-head mill at Waiorongomai has been steadily crushing, and the dirt altogether has shaped for excellent yields. The following are the full returns of the gold for the month's crushing at the battery :—New Find, 260 trucks (each holding a ton and a quarter), 3430f0z5. amalgam, 6930z3. gold; Premier, 344 trucks, 2546f ozs. amalgam, 4070z5. gold; Colonist, 311 trucks, 17300z5. amalgam, ' 3060z5. I7dwts. gold; Werahiko, 174 trucks, 1453f0z5. amalgam, 2600z5. 10 dwts. gold; Waitoki, 82 trucks, 217£oz*. amalgam, 36ozs gold; total, 1171 trucks, 9378|0z5. amalgam, 17030z5. gold. Tests hare been made of tailings with the following results:—Premier, 40 feet of tailings, 2ozs. 2dwts. gold; New Find, same amount, loz. 16dwts. gold ; Colonist, same amount, loz. 15dwts. gold. There is a heap of tailings stacked outside the battery which it is estimated, with the berdanings not yet ground up, will give quite SOOozs. gold. The above returns prove beyond doubt the payable nature of the mines which have been crushing, and it is the firm belief of those who ought to be able to form an opinion that numerous other claims could send quite as good dirt to the mill if they had an opportunity to crush. Several other batteries are likely to be erected shortly. Waihi: The Martha Extended is keeping 30 head of stamps running on payable dirt. Owharoa: Mining matters are not so brisk here, but several parties are workiDg. The Smile of Fortune has only two men employed, but two leaders giving good prospects have been cut in the low level. Waitekauri: The Waitekauri No. 3 Company is working, and several tribute parties are taking out crushing dirt. The return from the United claim is not yet to hand. Karangahake : There is nothing fresh to report from this district; the battery is idle owing to the fluming having been carried away by floods.