OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 4998, 19 January 1885, Page 2

OUR MINES.

NEW PRINCE IMPERIAL,

The manager reported on Saturday as follows:—"The western drive at No. 7 level has been driven 17ft during the week. The lead has been looking better, and good strong colors and dabs of gold have been freely seen almost every breaking down. In the face at present there is about a foot thick of quartz, but I think the size is caused by the junction of the hanging-wall lead at.this point, and as both leads will now run pretty well together from here to the boundary there is a better chance of meeting with something of more importance limn we have yet had on this level. The sandstone on the footwair is of a good description, being much firmer, with no soft seams in it. Should the soft seams on the hangingwall side of the lode die out aud (uui aaud«

stone take its place I believe we would get some good gold. The extension of the eastern drive has been suspended for the present, and the men put into the leading stope. The lead in this stope and the one going we.»t is similar to what was in the drive underneath. In the western stopea above No 6 level about 3Olbs of picked stone have come to hand during the week. Sloping on No. 3 lead above No. 5 level is in hand as usual, and some very fair crushing dirt is being obtained. Two shifts are employed in the winze on No. 1 reef below No. 4 level. The footwall portion of the reef (en which the winze is being sunk) is about Ift. thick, and looks well. I have seen no gold as yet, but from the quality of the slone, and the gooJ minerals which it contains, I believe good payable quartz will be got when the block is opened up. - G. S. Clabk " DEEP LEVEL CEOSS. The No. 2 reef, in the seaward drive from the Saxon rfo. 2 level, has been broken down. It averages about six inchest in thickness, and showed gold pretty freely throughout. CAMBBIA. Though there is no change of importance to report in connection with the mine, the way in which the general dirt is shaping at the battery proves conclusively that the quartzbeing broken from the various workings ia of remunerative grade. During last week 70 loads were treated at the Golden Crown battery for the excellent return of 3970zs amalgam, equal to over Ifoz gold per load. DARWIN. The dirt coming from the western drive and stopes shaped better during the week ending on Saturday than it did for tho week previous. The return of amalgam for last week, from 47 loads crushed, was the satisfactory one of 1440zs sdwts. THAMES GOLDEN CEOWN. Tenders were opened at 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon for removing the winding machinery from the Seymour shaft, Karaka Creek, aDd re-erecting it on the company's ground. Six tenders were re« ceived, varying from £160 to £140, at which latter figure F. Dobbs' offer was accepted. CALEDONIAN. A survey was made last week of the crosscut at No. 3 level, and from it the manager finds that by driving straight for the winze he would reach it in 170 ft, whereas by first driving to theEed Queen leader, and then along it to the winze, he would have to drive at least 50ft further, and tbe gas from the lode would also render the ventilation worse than by the other plaa. The course of the crosscut has therefore been changed, and it is now directed straight for the winze. The distance to drive is estimated at 170 ft, but if the country keeps of the same favorable nature as is now in the face about nine weeks' driving should hole through. At No. 2 level, the leading stope is in progress as usual, and dirt of good quality is being obtained from it. TAPU DISTRICT. Encouraging reports still come to hand from this district. Bull and party, of the Little Edith claim, have been getting out excellent dirt, showing gold very freely, during the past few days, their lode, which had pinched very small, having opened out again. Manueland party, in the Tapu Prince, are said to be getting rich stuff from the leader which yielded so -well~last crusuiugrand-several other parties are taking out trial parcels. Mr Pepper is erecting another berdan at his battery, but expects the mill will be ready to start crushing a fortnight from date.