MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1882, 30 October 1874, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Calf.—A very fine show of gold was met with yesterday forenoon in the rise which has been started in the now lode in the Golden Calf mine, and about lOlbs of very fair specimens came to band from it. "No more stone has since been broken down, becauso the manager found it necessary lo put in some timbers, but the prospect is a very encouraging one, considering that only a start has been made on the lode. It certainly promises well for tho new block which is being opened up, and aB the reef, although small, is in good working country, an ordinary average would pay well. However, for the length which this has been opened, 40 feet, it has shown gold regularly, and is likely to prove a very important acquisition to the company. So far as can be ascertained at present, it would appear as if this reef, when followed on its course, should lead up to the Just-in-: ime lode, and perhaps, after all, it might be as cheap to drive tor the latter along the course of the new reef as to continue tho cross-cut in search ofit.

No.s'PAßEtL.—The manager is continuing operations above the adit-level, on the No. 1 reef, and a very fair show of gold is being found in the slnff. Yesterday some good looking stuff came to hand from this part of the mine, and it is quite probable that a valuable block of ground will be opened up above ihis level. Such is the opinion of the manager, and it is, we understand, the intention of the company not to shift the winding machinery from the Nonpareil to the Italian shaft, but to allow the manager to work on this block. It is expected that the block will pay handsomely, and provide funds to defray the expenses of the machinery without necessitating any calls ou the capital of the company. Vanguard.—A start has been made with excavating the chamber at the bottom of the Vanguard shaft, The country is at present rather hard, but it is not expected that this hard seam will continue for any distance- after driving commences. This will begone as soon as possible, with a view of cutting one reef, the existence of which is known, and prospect for others, On the whole, the operatious of this company possess a peculiar interest, as they will prospect a section of the flat country south of the Bird-iu-ffand, in which no work has yet been performed. Any discovery made in it will be new, and from the success which has attended other companies who have started operations under less favourable circumstances and carried them to a successful issue by the discovery of auriferous lodes, tue company may be considered to occupy a good position, for the existence of one lode at least is a certainty, and that is more than some of the companies had when they first started operations.

Cube.—The crushing for the Curo Company was completed last night, but the retorting will not take place before to-day. as the grinding up of the blanket washings is not yet finished. The general crushing showed up and produced a larger amouufc of amalgam than the manager or the most sanguine shareholder anticipated, and the parcel of 3cwt of picked stuff and specimens which was put through the mill yesterday will add very largely to the total result. The yield from the total crushing of 15 tons will certainly be a very handsome one, and as a test of the value of the black lod>, cannot fail to create a favourable impression,

Tookey.—On the 400-feefc level of this mine the reef to which wo iilluded a few days ago as having been found in the south drive has been cut through'. The hanging-wall was reached yesterday, and it shows a total thickness of over seven feet of quartz which maintained the same promising characteristic throughout as those which were apparent when the reef was first struck. In laot on the whole there is an improvement, for there is a fine sandstone country on the hangingwall aide, but there has not been any gold visible, The total length of the drive from the shaft at present is 102 feet, aud another contract will be immediately let for continuing it a further distance of 100 feet. No doubt as soon as space will be available the mauager will test the worth of this reef by opening it up for sume distance and crushing the stuff broken out.

Caledonian.—ln this mine very good progress indeed is being made with the sinking of the main shaft, although up to the present only one shift has been working in it each day. A start was made with tin sinking a fortnight ago, and the shaft has. been sunk 14 feet during that time, but from this forward better progress will be made, for three shifts can work in future. A penthouse, consisting of strong kauri beams laid on their edges, on top of which will be piled fascines to a depth of about 10 feet, will be constructed to-day over this portion of the shaft, so as to prevent danger to the mm working in the shaft from a falling cage or pieces of rock. ■' if course, up to the present the men could not work while winding was going on, but this will form no impediment in future. In the main level driving on the No. 3 reef is continued. Towards the south it has now almost reached the Golden Crown boundary, but northward of the cross-cut there is still a very long distance to drive. But there is no improvement in the quality of the reef, nor has there been any gold visible in it. There is no crushing for the company going on thin week.

Bibd ik-Hand.— To-day tho Una battery will be started to its full capacity on stuff from the Bird-iu-Mand mine. This arrangement has been made in consequence of the impeudiug stoppage of the Imperial Crown battery, after Saturday next, as there is a very large quantity of stuff "available for crushing. At tho Una mill the stuff is said to be showing up very handsomely, as much as 37ozs hard squeezed amalgam having been obtained as the result of a day's run with 15 head yesterday Bkight Smile.—The No, 2 reef has not yet been cut through, although it is penetrated for a dopth of about 10 feet, and gold showed yesterday in this part of the reef. It is certainly a magnificent lode, aud will supply immense quantities of crushing stuff. In driving on tho courso of No, 1 reef the winze has not yet been cut into, but will doubtless be reached to-day. Cleaning up and retorting for the company will take plaeo tomorrow at the company's own mill and at tho Imperial Crown, where 10 head of stauipors have been employed on the company's stuff for tho fortnight. The yield will bo a very handsome one. The stuff has come mainly from tho winzes which are being sunk to meet tho new level, and has shown up for a better average than the quartz from aiiy other part of tho mine.