MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1850, 27 June 1874, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Tookey—Lowe's Tribute.—The crushing for Lowe and party, which was completed yesterday at the .Manukau battery, did not yield quite so well as was expected. An average of an ounce to the ton was looked for, but the total yield after melting was only 17ozs 18grs, and there were in all 25 tons of stone put through the mill. The crushing.was, we understand, a trial from a new block, and although the return is moderate, it is, we learn, payable, and will encourage the tributors to proceed further with their prospecting works,

Almjbnia.—i retorting took place at be company's battery yesterday, in order o free silver to be used again, and the esulfc of the retorting was 150ozs gold. Phe final retorting for the company will ,ake place at the end of the month, which time the specimens will je put through, and the total yield will 10 doubt be a very handsome one considering the many stoppages which have taken place and the comparatively small quantity of stuff reduced during the present month. No retorting has yet taken place for the company at the JBallarat and Ulunes battery, where a quantity of stuff from the main reef in the Dixon's No. 1 main level has been crashed. This stuff showed up for a very fair average yield and will add very considerably to the total result of the month's yield. The stuff generally is looking well both in the mine and at the battery. Gold shows pretty frequently especially in the hanging-wall reef, which is the only one on'which stoping is at present carried on, for on the new reef the only work at present progressing is the rise which is going up on it.

Twentmhibd of June.—Retorting for the tributers of the Twenty-third of June mine took place at the Prince Alfred battery yesterday after 10j tons of general stuff had.been put through. The yield was 23ozs 15dwts of gold, a very handseme return considering that a large yield had previously been obtained from specimens selected out of the same stone. The lode from which the stuff has been taken is about two feet thick, but only a portion of it is reserved by the tributers ■ for crushing.

Am Nations.—Retorting for the All Nations Company took place yesterday at the old battery of the Kuranui after about a fortnight's run with six head of stampers, and a handsome return of 1450zs lOdwts of gold was obtained as the result. The mill was for three days employed on a crushing taken out of the Oddfellows' old leader, which only yielded 12ozs, and which therefore reduced the average return very materially.

Long Deivb Teibute.—Ketorting for the Long Drive tribute also took place at the Kuranui battery yesterday, after about a fortnight's run with the same force, but the yield was only a moderate one of 64ozs lOdwts of gold. The old battery of the Kuranui has been rented by the All Nations and Long Drive, and is kept exclusively employed on crushings from these mines.

Watchman Tbibute.—A crushing for Long and party, tributers of the Watchman, who are working the old Virginia City ground, is now going on at the Prince Alfred battery, but is not likely to yield more than a moderate result.

United.—The shareholders of the United claim, formerly the Durham Ox, have commenced forwarding a trial crushing to the Prince Alfred battery from the reef which they recently opened in the upper portion of their ground. Owing to the break in the weather yesterday, however, they were obliged to discontinue, for the stuff has to be sleighed from the workings to the tramway, a considerable distance, which not only makes it more inconvenient' to send quartz to the battery, but adds consider; ably to the expense.

Albion (Poverty Teibute).—The crushing for jNerthy and party, tributers if the Poverty and Charleston mine, at the Prince Alfred battery was completed yesterday, except the retorting, and the return is likely to prove far greater than was expected. There were in all 40 tons of stone iput through, which produced 400uzs amalgam, which was squeezed through hot water. There was very little gold showing through this parcel, but an average of 2sOzs to the ton was expected. The result will be considerably in excess of this average, and these fortunate tributers will have to congratulate themselves onjmother handsome yield.

Old WHiu.-The manager reports that there is no change in the mine since the previous day. The show of gold is quite as good as it was then, and a parcel of specimens come to hand, small in quantity, but on the whole rather richer than those taken outijon the previous day. Operations are still confined jto driving, and before rising on the main reef or commencing stoping, the level will have to be timbered. Meanwhile the crushing for the company at the Moanataiari battery is improving from day to day, aud is now showing up for a very handsome average. Oitt op London.—The trial crushing from the winze on the No. 2 reef is not yet completed, and will occupy the mill for several days to come, but it does not show much improvement, and is only shaping for a moderate yield, This crushing is to be followed by a trial from the junction of tlie lodes at or near the City of York boundary, in the 170-feet level. Operations in this leyel are being carried on with considerable difficulty at present owing to want of ventilation, and we are informed by the manager that a quantity of gas accumulated in the drive yesterday which could hardly be expelled by the fan. It must be unlike the carbonic acid gas which accumulates around the Oaledonisn, Tookey, and Pumping Association, which, like water, sinks until it obtains its own level,, and as the 170-feet level is higher than the others is might naturally be expected to rush down into the deeper levels, which it does not appear to have done in this instance.

Queen of Beaut?.—The contractors are now driving on the course of the No.l reef, which shows splendid gold. Yesterday an excellent sample of specimens came to hand from this lode.