MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1861, 18 September 1874, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Ceown Pbince.—Retorting for the Crown Prince Company took placa yesterday at the Manukau battery after a month's crushing, during which 425 tons of stone have been put through the mill, but the result obtained; although richer than yields obtained from the upper levels, has failed to reach expectations. Tho total result obtained from the retort was 311ozs 4dwts, which was lodged in the Bank of New South Wales for melting. The amalgam did not produce ashoavy a gold result us was looked forward to, but on the wholo tho return is so far satisfactory that it leaves a good profit, for tho average is close on 15dwts to tho ton. There was only ono previous crushing' which gave a higher average than this one, and that was some stuff taken out of tho winzes sunk to meot this level. In two oftheso winzes good rich patches were mot with which swelled that avorage very materially, but nono of tho stuff from this section of the mine has been included in the present crushing, but there will probably bo some of it stoped out this month. Crushing is still continued with the full force of 20 head of stampors, and thcro is ample stuff of payable character to keep that force, or even a larger ono, in full work. There is nothing particularly fresh to report from tho mine, except that tho drive on tho course of the No. 1 reef has now nearly roached the Exchange boundary. Middle Stau Tmbutb.—Two trial parcels from tho Middle Star have been crushed for the tributers, but neither yielded a payable return. There were in all 15 tons put through tho mill, for a return of 4 ounces gold.

Almon Tuibute—Poverty.—Another crushing has been commenced for Northy and party, tributers of the old Povorty mine. A start was made yesterday with a force of 10 head of stampers, but tho crushing is only a trial, and how long it will bo continuod will entirely depend on how tho stuff turns out. There is plenty of quartz available, a good reef 2 feet thick being in hand, but it has not shown gold. It would, however, bo premature at prosent to speak of tho probable result, but it will certainly not be so rich .as previous crushings. Red White and Blue Tribute.—A parcel of stuff for Mr Skidmore-, tributor of No. 1 section of the Red White and Blue mine, is now being crushed at the Princo Alfred battery, but it is only showing on the plates for an average return of 15dwts to tho ton. There aro 6 head of stampors employed on the crushing, which will probably be comploted today.

Ji'xchan&e.—Tho No. 2 roef, which was expected to hand for some days'past in the main cross-cut, ha 3 not yet been reached, but from the nature of tho country and othor indications there is no doubt but that it is now close at hand, and may be looked for any hour. There is still a considerable quantity of gas coming in from the face, but not in sufficient quantity, to create any difficulty, for the apparatus is quite adequate to keeping up the supply of artificial ventilation and to disperse the gas. Vory good progress is being made with tho .drive on tho course of the No. 1 reef towards -the Crown Princo boundary.

Tweedside Tbibutees.—The tributers started their ongino to work about a weok ago, and commenced pumping, but soon after a difficulty arose, for the pump bucket required repairing, and they attempted to hoist it out of the pump without success. They then prooured tanks to bale the water down to such a depth as would enable them to reach the clack door having beon previously informed that the pump buckot could not be hoisted, as tho working barrel was larger than tho pump column. However, after they had arranged tho engine for baling the water they were again informed that the buckot could be raised, and made a second attempt, which was successful, the bucket having only been jammed in by stones, which fell into the pump; but having proceedod so far to arrange tho engine to do winding work as woll as pumping, they determined to complote it. It is now finished so far that pumping will be resumed to-day, and in the course of a few days work the water will doubtless be all out of the workings. These tributers have exhibited a great deal of industry and energy, and wo hope they will be rewarded by success in opening up a good payable mine.

Mount Pleasant.—ln this mine the drivo from the lovel of the Hapo Creek battery has been c mtiuued for a considerable distance to intersect the reef at such a lovel as, whilo it gave good backs for stoping, would enable the manager to run the'quartz directly into the ba'tery from the workings on the lode. The reef has not yet been intersected, but is now expected hourly, as the estimated distance has been driven, and there are indications in the face pointing to a reef in close proximity. Arrangements have been so mide in regard to working this mine in connection with the battery as to incur the minimum amount of oxpense, and if the lode yields an avorage equal to what was obtained from it in the early days of the goldfield, and which was not then payable, it can be made to yield a very handsome profit.

Ouly Chance.—For several days past tho Bedford battery, Hape Creek, has been employed on a crushing of stuff from tho Only Chance claim. It will bo finished to-day, and will probably yiold a good payable average. South Stafford.- A crushing from the South Stafford claim, Hape Creek, is to be commenced shortly at the Bedford battery. This claim comprises a portion of the old George Stephenson claim and some .adjoining ground, and is tho property of Mr W. Thomas. A largo amount of money has been expended in getting it into good working order, and tho proprietor is sanguine that it can be made to pay well.

Caledonian.—The trial crushing from tho No. 3 reef to which we alluded in yesterday's issue has been comploted, but tho result is very unsatisfactory to those who entertained high hopes that this reef would renovate tho Calodonian mine. Whether the stuff contains any gold at all is a quostion which yet remains to bo proved, for tho treatment in the berdans is not yet finished, but tho 15 tons put through tho mill showed no amalgam ou the tables or in tho boxos, and it is questionable whether the silver contains much. In driving north on this reef at a distanco of 12 feet from tho cross-cut a slide came in yesterday, which cut clean through tho lode. This is tho first real slide that ha< ever boon mot within the Caledonian mine. Its striko is oast and west, and it is composed of clay and quartz formation. It is, vertical, but what its thickness is remains to bo soen when it is driven through. The lode bofore reaching tho slide was roducod to very small dimensions, moasuring only from 6 to 8 inohes at the point whoro it was, qufe off; but in the opposite direotioa

in the drive southward towards tho Golden Crown boundary, it is a niooly formed lode 20 inches in width.