WAITAHUNA CEMENT CLAIMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 9

WAITAHUNA CEMENT CLAIMS.

We take the following items in reference to the Waitahuna Cement Claims from our Tuapeka contemporary : —

In the Extended claim, bad air has been encountered, and the company have directed their energies towards opening up communication with the old whim workings. This will serve two purposes — viz: that of thoroughly ventilating the mine, and concentrating work on ground known to be rich. For this purpose a few days ago they commenced driving up from a point in the main tnnnej, where the pug" ia first met with, in the direction of the old workings. This is being done in three shifts of eight hours each ; and it is expected they will reach the old whim workings in about three weeks. The drive is very steep (quite 45%) ; and the staff is lowered to the main tunnel by trucks, a strong brake being used to steady their descent.

Quilter and Miscall have stopped work in the tunnel they were putting in on the main bottom, and commenced working the " pug " or false bottom. They have done a good deal of driving during the past few weeks, and have now two main tunnels in — one being Bft by Bft, and the other considerably smaller. The latter (or tipper one) is going towards the boundary of their claim adjoining the City of Dublin, and the other towards their boundary adjoining the Extended Company's ground. In the upper tunnel they have two or three side drives and have commenced blocking out from the feather edge. The " pug " comes yery near the surface at this part of the claim, indeed so near that the red cement is brought down in blocking out. The other or large tunnel is in about 150 ft. The stuff ia very easily conveyed to the machine, and being above the level of the battery, the winding-gear is not called into requisition. As there is only the one turbine to work both the battery and the winding- gear, this enables the machine to be worked at fall speed. The City of Dublin Claim, owned by Messrs Mark, Webster, and Roberts, 'is being worked most systematically and economically. The claim extends 1000 feet from the boundary of Quilter and Miscall'a on one side to the John O'Gro&t'a on the other. At a point about 300 feet from the boundary of the former mentioned claim, they put in a tunnel, taking the feather edge of the reef, and following ifc to a distance of 140 feet. As the main bottom did not give any very encouraging signs, they made a " jump up," and Btruck the " pug" about sixteen feet above them. Finding a fair prospect, they were encouraged to proceed with tne work, and they have now opened up several drives showing very good looking cement, six feet of which they are taking out. The system the party have adopted for working their claim and utilising the main tunnel is a most excellent one. By a series . of shoots communicating between the false and main bottoms, tha stuff is dropped down into the tracks with the greatest ease. The jmain tunnel in the falsa bottom runs in a line immediately above the main tunnel on the real bottom, and the drives strike off at right angles at each shoot. At present the party use a horse and whim for lifting the stuff, which is bring stacked in a convenient place in a gully b>;Uw the mouth of the shaft. The advantage of the system of working which this party have adopted will be this — that in sinking the main tunnel otiithe reef they will also be prospecting their claim. They calculate that they would have to go at leubt 190 feet more with their main tunnel before they reached the boundary of the adjoining or Richmond Hill claim. The latter Company, like others, was unfortunate .at the start with breakages, and now they are not in full work until turbine No. 2 is replaced. We must again express our satisfaction with the manner in which the machinery is arranged, every convenience and accommodation being provided for the man in charge of the battery and winding gear. In the mine work is proceeding satisfactorily under the new manager (Mr T. 11.I 1 . Morris). The main tunnel is in about 100 feet, and two drives have been put in therefrom — one 60 feet and another 30 feet, towards the City of Dublin claim. A cross-drive is also being put in, which will leave block No 1 of this claim. The manager is pushing; on with <the main tunnel in order to get other drives started. The copper-tables of this company and the Extended company alsa, do not seem to answer the purpose well. The silver does not take to tbe plates. The consequence is it goes into the tail race, taking with it, doubtless, the gold also. Manuka scrub is being used in the tail race for the purpose of saving it.