OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5200, 16 September 1885, Page 2

OUR MINES.

CAMBRIA..

The hangingwail of the reef in the winze being suok from No. 3 level was broken down this morning. The quartz maintains its usual promising appearance, carrying excellent minerals, and dabs of gold were freely seen, while a few pounds of picked stone were also secured. The winze is now down a depth of about 33ft., and it is satisfactory to note that good gold has been carried down for the whole distance. The manager reported yesterday as follows:—" The reef in the winze still continues to look well. The hanging wall portion is carrying good mineral, and there is a little gold showing. There is also a mineral rein about 2ft. from the hangingwall in which gold is seen freely when breaking it down. 2001bs of specimens were obtained from here during the week. The eastern drive at No. 3 level is still being extended ; about j Bft of quartz is being carried in the drive iat present. Gold is seen freely herein a stringer about 3ft. from the hangiogwall of the reef. Driving is being continued on the crossreef. There is about 12ft of quartz in the face of this drive; a little gold is seen here occasionally. In the western drive there is about 6ft of crushing dirt; gold is frequently seen in the quartz here when breaking down the reef. In the stopes above this level four men are employed on each shift—two on the eastern side, and two on the western side of the winze. Gold is seen in the quartz on both Bides of these stopes when breaking down the reef. Gold is being seen in the stringers on the bangingwall of the reef in the intermediate drive east. A little gold is being seen in the stringers on the hangingwall of the reef in No. 2 stope over the western intermediate drive. There are only four men working above No. 2 level; very good crushing dirt is being broken out here. Two men on each shift are still working on No. 1 reef. Gold is still seen frequently in breaking the quartz out.—H. W. Moore."

DARWIN. The manager reported yesterday as follows : —" The drire on the reef at No. 3 level is in a distance of 220 ft. from the joint crosscut. About 4ft. of quartz is | being carried in the driva. The reef still continues to carry good mineral, and fold was seen through the quartz when reaking down the reef to-day. No. 4 Btope is along a distance of 29ft. from the winze; a little gold is seen here in the stringers on the hanging wall of the reef. No. 5 stope is along a distance of 10ft; from the winze; a little gold is also seen here in the stringers on the hangingwallof the reef.—H. W. Moobe."

THAMES GOLDEN CEOWN. There is rery little change in the mine except in the shaft reef at JSo. 2 level. This lode has been driven on nearly 60ft. hillward, and a great improTement baa taken place. Tke lode is now 7or Bft. wide, but rubbly. Gold is seen every breaking down, especially in the hanging wall, where a few pounds of quartz, almost good enough to be classed as picked stone, are occassionaliy obtained. As developed, the probability becomes greater of this lode being identical with the Cambria reef. The crushing is about payable.

NEW MANtTKAU. The reef being worked from No. 3 level of the Waiotahi mine is somewhat disturbed at present, in consequence of the occurrence of a small cross course. The sandstone, however, is still kindly, and the quartz is again forming in the face. As a block some 50ft. in length can now be easily opened up, the manager purposes carrying a* leading stope along over the drive, when good payable quartz will no doubt be obtained. The .lode being driven on from the Golden Crown is a heavily-mineralised body of quartz about a foot wide. This mineral is not exactly the class most desired ; still, if a change of country or in the character of the leader took place, payable {{old might bo expected.

MOANATAIRI. . A nice leader about throe inches wide has been cot at the tunnel level. It is supposed to be Williams'. These trfbuters are rising, and are within 12 or 15ft of the level. They obtained lOlbs of picked stone on Thursday last, so that the leader just to hand should prove payable. At the 80ft level, in the Hedan section, a kindly, well mineralized leader aboqt sis inches wide has been out. The crosscut, however, will he continued, as the manager tninks another leader should be ahead. The manager has recommended that in order to prospect for the Cambria lode, a crosscut be driven at the tunnel level eastward of the Nonpareil shaft towards the Italian shaft, communication with which would provide ventilation. This crosscut would, lie thinks, intersect the Cambria hangings-all leader.

MOANATAIRI EXTENDED. A winze is being suakon the gold-boar-ing leader recently met with 5 it is down about 3 ft, and colors of gold are seen in the quarts?. The sandstone is of a very kindly description, and colors of gold were seen this morning in some small stringers crossing the bottom of the winze. A windlass was rigged to day, in order to facilitate operations. NEW ALBURNIA..

The winze on the Success reef, below the Whau level, ia novy down a distance of about Iqft. The reef is still divided into two branches by a horse of mullock, but produces good crushing dirt, and io breaking down yesterday colors of gold were seen, and,/** few pounds of picked stops secured. Good progress is being made with the work of renovating the Sons of Freedom lerel, and tho rsils have now been laid for fully SjOQft,

CALEDONIAN. The Red Queen leader was broken down ir'lthedriv'eyesterday afternoon, when yolops of aold were seen pretty freely distributed through the quartz. SAXON, Thp tftaoager reports for the past weelf as follows:—"The No. 1 reef at No. 3 leTel is still keeping its faTOMble appearance, aud each breaking down

shows colors of gold, and occasionally produces a frw picked stone. There is nothing doing on No. 2 reef. In the winze from No. 5 level where I commenced to crosscut the new leader, which is now in hand, but is a little disturbed by a water-course at present, there is very favorable mineral and good indication for gold, and when properly opened out I expect good results. There are about 14 loads ot crushing dirt in the hopper, and I shall start crushing at an early date.— C. James." GOLD RETURNS. Moanataibi.—A crushing for Kirby and party, tributers, produced lSozs 19dwts gold. Diamond and party hare banked loz I7dwts gold. Adelaide—A crushing for Cleave and party, tributers, produced 59ozs lftdwts gold. "■ '