MINING SUMMARY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4727, 1 March 1884, Page 4

MINING SUMMARY.

Notwithstanding the fact that mining on the Thames was dull in the earlier part of the past month, two events have occurred during the past week or two which hare given all a firmer belief in the future prosperity-of the field. The first^was the starting of operations at the 640 ft level by the Caledonian Low Level G-.M.C0., who intend to crosscut to the Moanatairi main slide, a distance of about 800 ft, and then drive at right angles in each direction, to prove all the principal reefs on the field. The crosscut is now in over 40ft, and a rook drill iv use is working splendidly, so that 30ft a week should be driven. The second event referred to is the finding of gold on the 640 ft level in the Deep Level Cross miue. Somo two months back, .it will be remembered, we chronicled the encouraging fact that gold had been found in a rise 20 feet above the level. The leader has now been put at the level, and shows good colors of gold freely. The manager is driving on it seaward. Where just cut, there are about 50 feet of backs, after which the leader enters the Imperial boundary, but as the drive advances, the backs greatly increase, owing to the course of the leader, which is nearly north, and south. A level 60 feet below tiJe-lffipßridr^e;. 5 is to be entered next week on the No. 2 reef, the blocks in hand above being now nearly exhausted. The return for the month is a payable one, and the balance sheet for the year shows a profit cf over £1300, though the expenses of keeping the pump going have more than absorbed this. The company's prospects are now much brighter, the discovery of gold at the bottom level auguring well for the continuance of payable, dirt even below that depth, and thus opening up a large field for prospecting, as none of the reefs hare been worked here yet. New Prince Imperial: The return of nearly 4000ozs gold by this company from last month's operations was the best ever obtained. The rich block is now worked out, and though good general dirt is coming to hand from the eastern stopes on Fo. 2 reef above Nos. 4 and 5 levels, and No. 1 reef above Nos. 3 and 4levels, the return this month, though a payable one, is not large enough to warrant paying a dividend. The prospects continue encouraging in the winzes below Nos. 4 and 5 levels, and the shaft is being sunk to open up another level. Hand of Frendship : A litte gold has being seen in driving east on No. 1 reef at the Imperial No. 4 level, and a trial parcel gave about 6dwts per lode, which is not payable. Work has been stopped for want of ventilation, but will be renewed when the weather becomes cooler. Queen of Beauty : The crosscut at No. 8 level should reach the Vanguard reef in six weeks, and if the conntry continues as favorable as at present, the prospects of discovering payable gold are very good. At No. 10, the manager is prospecting in the hope of picking up the shot of gold lost at No. .9. London: The No. 1 reef has been driven on east about 40ft. at No. 4 level, but it has not shown gold. The drive is being continued, and an intermediate level has been entered 12ft above. Here, strange to say, the lodo looks well, showing, gold freely and yielding a fewpounds of picked stone. Mariner: The workings on the No. 2 reef below No. 4 not proving remunerative, driving is to be started on No, 4 reef at No. 3 level. Ik^panatairi: Payable quartz is coming to hand from No. 9 reef and the oiber work-, ings in hand. Kuranui Hill: 1 The No. 9 and two other reefs failing to give payable results at the tunnel level, the manager is rising to pick up the■ best lodo on the hangingwall of a erossreef; .'where better dirt should be found.. A scheme for prospecting another portion of the mine, traversed by a number of leaders, is now. before the directors; it involves 300 ft. of driving. Thames Golden Crown : -There is nothing fresh to report in this mine; payable quartz is being unearthed. New Manukau: The discovery of gold in a hangingwall branch of No. 2 reef, just above the iGoldeij ; Crown 100 ft. level, while stoping on the small leader, caused a brisk demand for shares, and when hauls of 40 and 50lbs specimens respectively were announced shares rose to ss. Since then, however, the next stope not proving so riehj they hare receded to 2a

9d. Very little has yet been done to open up the discovery, but there is a good chance of a large payable block existing bore. The locality is near where some good patches have been discovered in earlier days. Waiotahi:' A good payable return was banked for January, and remunerative dirt continues to come to hand. A large boiler is now being made by Price Bros, for this company. Caledonian': The stopes above No. 1 level on the Eed Queen and branch leaders are yielding good general dirt, and five head of stamps _ are now continuously employed, while another five will "probably be engaged shortly. In driving upon a branch of the leader at No. 2 level the ,prospects met with are quite as good as at No 1 level. This augurs well for the richness lof the block intervening, and also speaks favorably for the payableness of the lode between No. 2 and No. 3 level.—Mojmatairi Creek: Mining matters in this locality have improved somewhat since last summary. The fieu^ ben Parr manager, Mr W. Tregowetb, has found what appears likely to prove a payable run of gold at the low level tunnel. He is now opening it up, and ha 3 backs of over 100 ft. in height to work out. The Atburnia is prospecting at the low level. The new company formed to work the New North Devon ground has not fairly started yet, some difficulty beine: experienced in obtaining permission to work through the Alburnia ground. Waiotahi Creek.—There is very little fresh to report in this district. The Bright Smile return is a payable one, and in sinking below the level encouraging prospects are ■ met with. The winze started by the Darwin Company at the 150ffc level has now dipped into the Cambria ground, and the two companies are sinking the winze and the main shaft conjointly. The former is down over 50ft; the lode, which opened out to over four feet in width, carried a little gold for a depth ©f 40ft, arid though none has been seen lately, the minerals are very favorable, acrd gold is seen in footwall stringers. Ihe shaft is also in good country. The Empress is d?ising a crosscut in likely sandstone for gold, and two or three private parties are taking out payable dirt. Karaka Creek ,_The City of Manchester, Adelaide, and some other private parties are turning out good dirt, and the Eocky Point should in another month be close up to the reef. Hape Creek.—The Dart mine is not looking so well this month, though the return is a payable one. It ia almost entirely from general dirt. In driving west at No. 3 level, the lead has been pinched up by hard country, but it is now opening out again. The Alfred leader is being driven on at No. 2 level towards a shot of gold worked in the earlier days. Otunui District.—The return of 1340zs from the New Eureka claim is the proceeds of 106 tons quartz. The battery will now be idle for a few weeks, while contractors are finishing the road* In the meantime an extra supply of water will be brought in, which will increase the power, In the mine, the Tow level is being pushed (ahead. The Oriental, the only other claim working, is driving a crosscut. Mining matters in the Upper country are looking brighter, especially at Te Aroha. Here work has been resumed, since our last summary, in most of the mines, and the Warden has forfeited a number of holdings on which the proprietors had not carried on operations continuously. The New Find has lately been keeping 20 head 'employed at the battery, and the dirt from all parts of the mine, low level included, shapes for a good payable return. The Colonist struck good gold about a week ago, in their low level, about 40ft. below the one first entered. The gold is richer and much coarser than above, and the general dirt is now shaping for quite 2ozs per ton. The Premier, once the most favoured mine, ia not looking quite so well, and there ia very little fresh to report in the other mines. Several trial lots will be treated at the battery shortly. The erection of the tailing plant is proceeeing apace, and the site for the new battery up the Waiorongomai Creek is being cleared. A prospecting party is working on the old field, and altogether things appear to be improving. Owharoa, Waihi and Waitekauri are quiet, but Karangahake is showing signs of life again. This district is being connected with the Waiorongomai field by means of a° 7-mile track. The Hauraki battery is working on company's dirt, the Sir Walter Scott is erecting a shoot by which they will be able to tip their dirt into the mill, and the Golden Crown in* tend to erect a battery of their own should the reef prove good in a low level now being put in; a few other mines are also working.