OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4792, 19 May 1884, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PBINCE IMPERIAL.

The mine &U through continues to look well, and it is especially encouraging to find the No. 2 reef at No. 4 lerer continuing payable in the eastern drive, which has now been carried within 140 ft. of the Hand of Friendship boundary. The manager reported for last week :— "The work of cutting out the chamber for No. 6 level is being proceeded with as fast as possible. The ground. is very hard, but being a good blocky sandstone works pretty fair. It will take the greater part of next week to enable us to get in far enough to start the crosscut. No. 5 level: One shift is still employed driving eastward on No. 2 lead, which continues a fine body of quartz nearly 2ft. thick. The country is very favorable for gold, but none, however, has been seen since driving has been resumed. From the stopes above this level, very fair crushing dirt is coming to hand, ana a little gold is occasionally seen in taking down the lead. I am having the airboxes re-fitted up in the south crosscut on the break for the purpose of improving the ventilation, so that driving may be resumed. 150 ft. further should cut the lead for which the crosscut was started. No. 4 level: The No. 2 lead in,the eastern drive continues to look about the same, showing a little gold each breaking down. This drive has been extended 85ft. since work was resumed, making the total distance from the shaft 285 ft. There is still 140 ft. to drive to Hand of Friendship boundary. The usual number of stopes are in hand on this lead above the level, which continue to produce fair crushing dirt. Thejquartz from the stopes on No. 1 reef above this level, has not been shaping quite so well this week. The reef is very large, being in one stope 22ft from wall to wall, the whole of which has to be broken down, and the payable portion of it picked out. No. 3 level: Driving eastward on No. 1 reef was started again today, the ventilation being now as good as any other part of the mine, since the connection was effected with the air-shaft at No. 2 level. There is nothing fresh to report from the stopes here.—G. S. CIABK." MOANATAIBI. The battery started crushing this morning, 15 head being employed by tributers, and 5 by the company. The manager repbrted on Saturday as follows :—" The footwall portion of No. 9, which is being stoped above 132 ft. level, we9t end of workings, looks very well; a few pounds of picked stone are occasionally met with. Its average width is about 6 inches. The reef east end of stopes will average 15 inches in thickness, but is inferior in quality. A winze has been started from 132 ft. level, just below where we got good gold in the leading stope above the level referred to. The branch, which is a part of No. 9, has shown strong colors since we commenced to sink, and the country is highly favorable for gold. The portion of No. 1 reef on which we are rising and stoping above tunnel level is about 9 inches in width. The quartz and minerals it contains are most congenial for gold. The Waitemata crosscut has been extended 20ft during the week. The country is disordered at present. Driving and stoping is progressing in Morning Star section, 75ft. level, with the usual results.—J. G. Vivian." . QUEEN OF BEAUTY. Very hard rock is now in the face.of (he crossout at No. 8 level, but as another 15ft will take the drive underneath the level above, the manager thinks the Vanguard reef should not be more than that distance ahead. Should the lode be found lying in good country close to the edge of the bard bar, the probality is that it will bo of good quality.

NEW EUKEKA (OTUNUI). ' The manager reported on Saturday :— " The low level has intersected the course of the reef in the slide; and driving on it is now proceeding westward. The total length of the crosscut is 388 feet,, and the distance from the flat-sheet between 60 and 70 feet. The slide appears to be lying rerjr flat, Bnd we may hare a good distance to drive before reaching the quartz in the level. I intend to rise up to meet the winze when we reach that point in the drire, and thus drain the top level. The distance driven for the fortnight is 42 feet. There is about 45 tons of quartz in the bottom hopper, and the jwrter has promised to start carting on Ifonday. I will start crushing as soon as possible.—Thos. Black." ImILE OF FOETUNE (OWHABOA.) The manager on Saturday brought down a parcel of gold, the melted weight of, which was 20o« 15dwts. The dirt crashed waalow grade. The new leader re npw being opened up.

DIIMOtfD GULLY (WAIORONGOMAI.)

A winze on the run of gold in the low level is now being sunk. The vein is about 2ft in thickness; since sinking was commenced it has yielded some excellent stone, and the manager telegraphed to hia directors on Friday as follows -.—Down 3 feet in winze ; 25lbs picked stone. Gold showing in face., GOLD EETUHNS. Albtxhnia.—Holt and party have crushed 7 loads for llozs 4dwts gold.

Thames Golden Ceown.—McKenzie and party have banked 6ozs 15dwts gold.