31

C—3a

pressed air for the air-winch and pump. On the surface a line has been cleared for an aerialttram from No. 4to No. 7 levels, and the foundations are being laid for the upper terminal. This will convey the quartz from the upper levels to the trams which connect with the battery. At present the quartz is being stacked at the mouth of No. 1. This level has been enlarged and retimbered. The lode, which dipped at first to west, has been found to underlie to east at a depth of 17 ft. A winze has been put down 60 ft., but the reef split up into leaders. The No. 1 level or cross-cut is being extended to west. The face is in about 200 ft., and at present is in decomposed and rather jointed brown slate. Air sufficient at present. The only other work doing by the company is a connection being made between Nos. 1 and 4 levels, which two men are completing. A party of four tributers are working in one shift in the leader level, 32 ft. above No. 1, and in one stope to the south. Air good, as the face has broken into an old level of Antonio Zala's. The prospects of the mine at present are somewhat uncertain. Twenty-five men in all are employed, including the tributers. (18/9/97) : I found the passes from No. 7to No. 6 level must soon close as a travellingway. The latter level is worked out, but I notified the manager to have them kept open as a second outlet. This was subsequently objected to, and, in company with Mr. Wilson, the Inspecting Engineer, I revisited the mine in January, but at date of writing the question is not yet settled. United Italy Quartz-mine. —(17/9/96) : Three shifts, of two men each, are employed in this mine on tribute. At present the leader is being worked about 45 ft. below No. 3 level, and is about 2in. in thickness. A set of timber needed at face; this will be put in. A good current of air circulates from No. 4 level. Tyrconnel Quartz-mine. —(17/9/96) : Stoping out the leader is being continued from the intermediate level, 180 ft. above No. 6. A pass is being put up to the No. 5 level in addition to the present travelling-way, which also provides good air. Only four men are now at work. Eules posted up, but no copy of the Act; one will be obtained. The prosptcts of this mine, lam informed at date of writing, are considered poor. Lyell Greek Low-level Tunnel. —(16/9/96) : The winze has been sunk to a depth of 155 ft., but in the last 30 ft. of this there is no quartz, it having been passed through, owing to the pitch or dip of the end of the block. At 125 ft. from the brace a drive has been opened out to north, and is in 36 ft. from the winze. This is the only work at present being done. The lode is here about 7 ft. wide, but tending to get narrower at the face. A good current of air at the bottom of the winze, but the pipes are not yet led in the drive ; this is to be done. 12 ft. has been driven to the south of the winze, where the reef in the face is 7 ft. wide. The course of the lode is a little west of north, and it dips to east at about 60°, tending to get flatter as it is followed down. The retimbering spoken about at mine-mouth has been attended to. Eules posted up. Plan not at mine, bat, as only six men are employed, it cannot be insisted on being kept forward under the Act. Westpobt. Some work has been done in the Swanston Mine. Numerous claims have been taken up in the district, and surface prospecting is being carried on. Some driving has been done in the Great Eepublic ground, nearer Westport, and an adjoining claim, the Britannia, has put in a tunnel and cut a reef, from which excellent specimens are shown. Having been fully occupied otherwise, I have not inspected these mines. Eeefton. Inangahua Loiv-level Tunnel. —(20/10/96) : Work has been resumed in this mine, which is now the property of the Consolidated Goldfields Syndicate. Eand rock-drills are used for driving, and compressed air is led in in 3 in. pipes for most of the way ; then the size is reduced to 2-|in. The pressure at the air-cylinder is about 50 lb., and no receiver is used. The distance in from the minemouth is over 3,000 ft. The air is led in the tunnel and out in boxes which exhaust by water-blast, and in addition to this the compressed air is turned on after firing, which keeps the smoke back from the face until cleared by the exhaust. Merrie England Min.e. —(17/10/96) : A reef having been exposed by sluicing on the saddle near Soldier's Creek, Messrs. Salter and Gabriel sunk a winze on it to a depth of 66 ft., and half-way down have driven on it for a few yards. The lower half of the winze was standing full of water, but the quartz could be seen in the face over 3 ft. in width. A small subsidy was desired to assist in prospecting, and this has since been granted. Progress Quartz-mine. —(21/8/96) : No stoping is now going on, the only work being development of the mine by driving or cross-cutting and reopening passes or levels which the old company were done with. The old drive past the blind shaft to north has been reopened, but, only broken leaders being found, it has been allowed to close again. Further on in No. 2 level two men are cross-cutting to north. Air fairly fresh. The face of No. 2 has run into the foot-wall, and a crosscut six yards to south has cut the track of the lode. No work is doing there now, but the No. 4 level in the Globe Mine is at date of writing being extended to connect with it. No. 5 level is being driven to south-east by three shifts of two men each, and is to be , connected with the Globe workings. Pour men are also cross-cutting to the line of reef, as the present face is off it. Air good. Eeturn signal wanted at No. 5 chamber. About 140 ft. from the face of No. 5 a wmze has been sunk 147 ft., and at 80 ft. down two men are cross-cutting towards the hanging-wall in the reef. Compressed air is used for winding, in place of the steam as formerly, and this is an improvement for the ventilation ; but the lower levels are not likely to have a uniform current until connected with the Globe or mechanical means adopted. About 450 ft. from the mouth of No. 1 level a drive is being carried on to connect with the new main shaft. Thirty-six men in all are employed. Globe Quartz-mine. —(19/10/96) : No. 6 west level is now over 230 ft. into the Progress Claim. About 60 ft. back from the face a prospecting cross-cut is being driven to south-east. The level has passed through.two breaks, or blank ground, 10 ft. and 35 ft. in length, the latter one extending close to the face, but is now 'in quartz again, about 7 ft. in width. This is now supposed to be a