OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5012, 4 February 1885, Page 2

OUR MINES.

CAMBRIA and DARWItf.

Tea tenders were received for driving a crosscut 100 ft on the boundary line at Ho. 3 level, the prices varying from 15s 51 to 21s per foot. They will be forwarded to Aucklasd to morrow morning for the director's disposal. QUEEN OF BEAUTY. The manager reported yesterday as follows:—"Tlie chamber is now nearly j finished; the last set of timber will, I expect, be put in position to-night, when I will lay down solar and flat sheets at once. I would now recommend that two contracts be lei at once, to drive two crosscuts to cat the two different reefs, one each side of the shaft. One of these crosscuts will, I expect, havo to be driven about 150 ft. to cut the reef on the west* crn side of the shaft, viz., the reef which was cut through in sinking the shaft from No. oto No. 10 level; this wascut at No. 10, and showed good miuerals, with a little gold. The other crosscut, by the measurement which I have taken to day, allowing the reef the same underlay as from No. 9 to No. 10, will have to be driven about 30ft. from thu back of the chamber, which is now iv 15ft. from the shaft. One of the winding shafts needs a little repairing, which will have to be attended to as toon at the chamber is finished.—Thus. Badfobp."

CALEDONIAN LOW LTCVKL. The crushing from the reef in the south crosscut at the 640 ft level gave the very encouraging return of 2ozs 9dwta melted gold. The quantity of quartz crushed was 20 trucks, which is equal to between four and five loads. A small portion of the trial was from another loader, but this proved worthless, so the dirt from the cross^vein averaged quite lOdwts gold per loan!. As the lead is about 18 inches wide, and no gold could be seen in break* ing-it, this return cannot be looked upon as other than very satisfactory. In order to further test the leader, driving has been started on it in both directions. One of these drives should shortly meet with the junctions of two reefs cut just prior to the one in hand being intersected. The propress of operations here will be watched with great interest, as the discovery of a payable leader at this depth would be sure to have a beneficial effect on the field's prospects, and would greatly stimulate deep level prospecting.

MABTIiA EXTENDED (WAIHL>

The manager states that the rain has enabled him to start 20 head of stamps, but the supply of water doe 3 not promise to last long. In the' mine, besides the usual stopes, he is driving both ways from the bottom of the wioze below the.low level. This still keeps free of water. The reef looks very promising, and gives a good prospect when pounded, though at present it hardly appears as rich as it did on the level above ; as yet however, it has only been driven on a few feot.

GOLD BETURNS. Thames Golden Crown.—-McKenzio -and party have crashed a parcel of quartz for the return of 7ozs sdwts gold. Moanataibi.—Christie and party .have crushed 5 loads for 25ozs Idwt gold.