MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1883, 5 August 1874, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

ExcffAN&E. — As regards the mine itself, there is little fresh to report. The new reef which has been opened is still being driven on, and maintains its recent size aud appearance. Yesterday the directors held a meeting, and received applications for the appointment of a mine manager. Mr 0. A.. Cornea, of the Central Italy mine, was one of the applicants and received the appointment. We do not think the company could have made a better one, and although he was supposed to be the nominee of a clique, from our personal knowledge of Mr Comes, we can say that he is not a man who would do a dirty or dishonest action in the working of a mine or the rigging of a market to please any patron or set of patrons under the sun. Mr Comes has a hard wou and well earned reputation as an experienced and successful miner, and he will be able to bring the same knowledge and forethought to bear in working the Exchange mine which he has so prominently displayed in Kelly's tribute and the Central mine. If the gold is in the mine he will take it out as cheaply and economically as any man on the goldfield. In reference to the works carried out in the mine we may state that they are extremely credit ible to Mr Garvey, the managing director, who has hitherto performed the duties of mine manager. The dead work of the claim is to a large extent performed, and if there have been mistakes in the mode in which they have been carried out ib has only been in one instance, in which, against his own judgment in following the instructions of the board of directors, by changing the course iu which the drive has been carried. Mr Garvey has carried out his work faithfully and well, aud Mr Comes has now a new mine with rich prospects to take charge of. Central Italy.— rtetorting for the Central Italy Company took place yesterday, at the Manukau battery, after 11 days 19 hours crushing with 10 head of stampers. As the result of the retorting there were 183ozs gold lodged in the Bank, and there are a few ounces still to be obtained from the blanket washings and silver, so that the melted return will be equal, at all events, to the amount lodged yesterday. There were 118 loads of stuff put through, which, calculated at the highest, might contain about 170 tons of stuff. On the Bth of July a lodgment of 2410zs was made on behalf of this company, so that the total return from the mine lodged within a month is 42'Aozs gold, and the prospects promise well for future yields. The Central Italy Company loses a valuable manager in Mr Comes, who has done more to make their mine a rich valuable one than all the managers who preceded him. His careful attention to the runs of gold in the mine, and his economy in conducting the works, have materially assisted the company, so that if they have had no dividonds to declare, they had at least no calls to make. The final retorting for the month took place at the company's battery yesterday, and prodaced % ounces gold, which, in addition to the 2160zs previously lodged, makes the total yield from about a fortnight's crushing 3120zs gold. The result, although a moderate average, is quite up to expectation. There is no fresh news from the mine, and operations havo not yet been commenced from the Whau adit level. Manukas. - We are informed by the manager of an important find which occurred yesterday in the ManuKau mine. It appears that at the 150-feet level or the level 50 feet than that at which the mine is now worked, the manager has driven a cross-Gufc and intersected the main reef. It is 12 feet through and heavily impregnated with minerals. A rich show of gold also presents itself, aud from the foot-wall veiu of it about lcwl of good specimens came to baud yesterday. Wade.—Another small crushing for the Wade claim was completed yesterday at the Shamrock battery, and from a partial retorting which took place 20ozs lOdwts of gold was obtained. This claim, which is situated between the Queenslaud Company's ground, the Shamrock,

and the Rising Sun, is one of the oldest claims on the Thames. It comprises three men's ground, which is occupied by Messrs Charles McLean, and George Downey. They have already had several good crushiugs out of it, and there are excellent prospects in the same lode for the future.