THE CALEDONIAN MINE.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 914, 16 January 1872, Page 2

THE CALEDONIAN MINE.

(Correspondent of the " Southern Cross.") Grahamstown, Jan. 5. I went through the mine this morning, and, excepting the havoc made in the lode by the several parties of contractors who are now working the mine, no change worthy of special notice has taken place since my previous visit. At the low level the main lode is still being followed both ways. Towards the Otago it has concentrated into some 30in of solid stone, with very good walls but no minerals to speak of: antimony and copper are entirely wanting. The lode is much larger towards Tookey's say 9ft between the walls, including about sft of genuine stone. It has been broken down flush with the bottom of No. 3 winze. Gold, antimony, or copper ore is not to be seen in it, but pyrites are plentiful. Notwithstanding this absence of gold and its associates, I think that this swell of the lode in the Caledonian ground carries the line of gold, if that line continues downwards. At Tookey's boundary the lode is small, but increases in size as it is followed backwards, which is now being done. About 18ft of the lode is standing) intact between where the men are '

breaking it down from Tookey's bona. dary and where it is being broken down towards Tookey's so there is yet room to hope that the shot of gold may yet be picked up. But it must not, therefore, be inferred that the probabilities are in favour of the shot being found in this strip. I much fear that the rich gold has broken off, and will have to be sought for at a lower level. Beating out the main lode at the higher levels proceeds apace, and a great deal of stuff is sent to grass, its average value being, as near as I can ascertain about loz. to the ton. Considerable inroad is being made in the block towards Tookey's corner peg, wherb a lot of the old ricb run was left standing. Iu a day or two, perhaps less, I expect to hear the cry of specimens again raised. The new leader in the hanging-wall of the specimen leader, about which a cry was raised the other day, is not a very important find after all. It appears to be only a small branch of the speci-men-leader, aud is likely to either join that vein again or run out altogether. It has yielded very good stone, but not much of it. I can report favourably on the appearance of the specimen leader where it is being followed at the bottom level to warns the Golden Crown. It has made into a good sized lode, say five feet through, and is bounded by a very well defined-wall. The mine appears to be in admirable condition throughout. Economical and smart working is the order of the day. Sinking the main shaft was resumed yesterday ; the water has much decreased.