OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4715, 16 February 1884, Page 2

OUR MINES.

BRIGHT SMILE.

Cleaning up and retorting took place this morning for the payable return of 37ozs 12dwts melted gold, for which 26 loads of general dirt and 30lbs of picked stone vrere crushed. This was obtained from the main Multum-ih-Parvo leader, the block on the dropper worked bj f Mr Garvey being exhausted. The manager will next week enter an intermediate level from the western stopes to prove the reef on the seaward side of the slide. Tho^ lode has never been worked on this side below the Bank of New Zealand level, where it was payable, so there is a chance of opening up a remunerative block here. i Tbe winze on Garvey's leader is down 20ft ; a clay head crossed it a day or tiro ago, and though the lead has become defined again, it has not been broken yet. The contractors for driving the low level from the Extended tunnel are making fair progress. The Monarch reef is being driven on, but no gold has been seen yet. CALEDONIAN. Tbe reef in the drive at the No. 2 level was broken down this morning. It is fully 18 inches wide, a strong compact body of stone, and gold was freely seen in. taking it down. DA&T. The crushing at the battery continues to show up for a payable return, though so far not much picked stone has come to hand this month. The two new berdans are in position, and will be started on Monday. There is about nine loads of blanketings stacked in the battery, so it will take some time to reduce fiem. In the mine, the sixth stope has b?en started eastward on the No 2. reef above No. 3 level. The crosscut at No. 2 level to the Alfred leader, and the drive on it, have been cleaned out to the face, and driving eastward will be started without delay, in the direction of a shot of gold which was worked in the earlier days. NEW FIND (WAIORONGOMAI) The manager's latest report is as follows: —Since date of last report I. have had two shifts stoping on No. 2 reef, some good gold coming to band in breaking quartz. The contractors driving on the reef south have driven 12 feet,'the reef lookiag more kindly and showing gold. The contractors driving north on footwall portion: hare driven 9 feet, the reef still looking well and showing gold. Before cutting No. 2 reef in crosscut we cut through a lode 3 feet wide, but not showing gold; no work was done on it, but in driving on footwall portion of No. 2 reef ithas functioned with it, andis showing good gold. I have stripped it back 5 feet in timbering No. 2 drive, and it still shows good gold. I intend to strip it back to crosscut to further prove it. No. 1 . Bun: Hands have been kept breaking quartz from here, which is still good crushing dirt. I hare started to stope again on No. 1 reef from No. 1 level, the reef looking well. I hare also had two hands breaking quartz from No. 1 reef north from No. 1 run, some nice gold showing in breaking. Tbe contractors driving crosscut from the top of Arizona shaft have driven 30 feet, and what looks like No. 1 reef is just to hand. A little gold is showing, and thereof looks healthy. No.' 1 reef, Arizona Tuanel: About six.feet has been driven on the reef, which is still showing gold freely. I intend to fully man this next week, as now having the Arizona shaft clear of quartz, which will give us good air, and as the drive is clear of dirt, we will be able to push on drives on reef.' Low Level Tunnel ■. The contractors have driven 87 feet up to date, the ground being a little tighter than when starting. I have had to let a contract to sawyers to out some rails and planking for the mine at £1 per hundred feet. Up to date 149 tracks of quartz have been forwarded to the battery.