OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4972, 16 December 1884, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PRINCE IMPERIAL.

Driving is now in full swing seaward on the No. 2 reef at No. 7 level. The lode is over a foot wide, though it is not all solid quartz, and in breaking down a portion this morning some strong dabs and colors of gold (the first observed at this level) were seen, and the precious metal left showing in the face.

CAMBRIA. In extending the east intermediate drive, the manager up to last night only broke the hangingwall of the reef, in which colors of gold were seen, leaving the footwall vein, in which the specimens were previously found, standing. This was, however, broken last night, with the encouraging result that sOlbs of very fair quality specimens were bagged, and an excellent show of the precious metal left risible. At the visiting hour to day gold could be seen in various places right up the face, but the best show was about half way up the drive. The reef is quite six feet wide in all. In the eastern drive there is very little change to report. Gold is seen in breaking, but the quartz is not so heavily mineralised, and carries more antimony than formerly. The slopes, both over this drive and on the hangingwall reef, continte to yield payable dirt. The winze on No. 1 reef is down about 13ft; the lode is still composed of stringers, lying in a splendid class of sandstone, and all the quartz broken is sent to the mill, where 15 head of stamps are kept ■ running. SAXON. The directors have adopted the recom.mendations of the mine manager, as to the works to be at once carried on in the mine, aqd no time will be lost in starting them. Baling will be commenced tomorrow, and as soon as the shaft is dry, sinking will be commenced. Men will also be put on to-morrow to stope out the block on No, 1 reef, left standing by the late London G.M. Co , and payable dirt should come to hand at once. DARWIN. Ec-tor ting took place this morning at the Golden Crown mill, and the gold after melting weighed 69ozs 19dwt>, being a return of nearly 2nzs per lnad, as only 36 loads of general din, wiih loibs specimens,

were crushed. All this parcel was obtained from the western drive on the Cambria reef, and the yield is a highly payable one. In the face of the drive the country is now tighter than formely, but the favorable stringers are still found on the fooS wall. A leading stope is being carried along, ready to put in timber, and also to improve the ventilation. NEW MANUKAU. The manager this morning secured lOlbs of specimens from a leader in the crosscut at the Crown battery level. This leader is the third cut in the crosscut, is from two to five inches wide, and has shown gold freely whenever broken. Three shifts are now driving on it. A little gold was also seen in the second i leader cut. There has not been much I work done in the claim above this level, so there is a good chance of opening up payable blocks on the leaders now in hand. As soon as possible the manager will continue the crosscut another 80ft., when it will have traversed the whole length of the claim. GOLD RETURNS. Albttbnia.—McLean and party, tributers, have banked 7ozs 3dwts gold. Moanatatbi.—A crushing for Jones and party gave 14dwts gold.