MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1888, 6 November 1874, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Bright Smile.—The No. 2 reef has at length been cut through in the main level, and shows a width of from 14 to 15 feet of quartz, which contain good runs of stone, and through which gold shows not very thickly, but in sufficient quantity to warrant its being good payable stuff. Driving on its course is now going on, and good crushing stuff is being taken out of it. Driving on the course of the No. I reef is also going on regularly; but althongh men are now working in both directions, the distance driven, up to the present, is inconsiderable, only 8 taJO feet; but the lode is a magmficent'bne, 3 feet thick, and better defined as well as stronger than itjvas in any of the upper levels. During'the last two days, the greater portion of the crushing stuff came to hand from this level, and it has shown up at the battery for a splendid average, much superior indeed to any of the recent crushings. Stone is also being taken out of the new lead which was intersected in the cross-cut for No. 1. This lode averages from 9 inches to a foot in thickness, and shows gold pretty regularly. This vein, in which gold was first struck in the new level, is Btill maintaining a distinct course, but it now appears to be striking towards a point at which it will junction witb the No. lreef, from which it is apparently a dropper. Watchman.—The mauagerhas started breaking out another crushing from the Daughters of Freedom reef, and the show of gold is quite as rich as it was in the former crushing, which yielded 39ozs out of 9 tons. We may remark that since last crushing the manager has been engaged on opening up works, A drive has been carried on to the old winze from which former operations were carried on. The lode averages 15 inches in width, and now that the works are fairly opened there will be no time lost in taking out a crushing of a larger quantity than that recently put through. Stoping has only just been started, but there was a very fair show of gold to hand yesterday. MiNUKAir.-The gold lodged by this company for melting lost rather heavily. It was reduced yesterday to ingots weighing 98iozs lldwts, showing a loss of 28ozs 9dwts. There is nothing new to report from the mine. Bied.in-Hand.-W6 visited the Bird-in-Hand yesterday for the purpose of inspecting the new reef, or the cross-reof as it is called, although that name is a misnomer, for this lode strikes a few points east of north, not quite north-east, which is the usual strike of main reefs in this district. In fact its course corresponds pretty closely with that of the No. 1 reef of the Bright Smile, at least its course is parallel with that lode, but that of the main lode of the mine deviates very considerably from the usual strike of the re.efs. However, up to the present it has been known as the cross-lode of the Bird-hi-Haud, and it will, we presume, continue to be called _ such, although we may now state our impression that it is more likely to proyeto be the main reef of the mine than that wkioh has hitherto been worked as such. It is being driven on in both directions. At the foot-wall side of the old lode it has beW followed about 6 or 7 foet. It does not appear to be in any degree disturbed by the intersection of the other lode, but presents the appearance of a well-defined reef, with a strong westerly underlie of about 40deg, and its thickness in the face at present is fully 4 feet. It was only about 3 feet when first opened on. On the football side of this lode there is a strong seam ofquarta of a remarkably good formation, varying from 6to 9 indies. It is in bands, and is charged with minerals, and in this section of the lode gold has been visible several times, not in large quantity certainly, but the indications are, to say the least, encouraging. There _ is a similar seam of smaller dimensions about the centre of the reef. Ihe footwall is remarkably clean and well defined, and altogether the reef at the south side presents a very encouraging aspect. On the north side the lode is not so large, nor has it been driven on above a few feet. It has been carried for a length of about 8 feet along with the main lode before taking its separate course, but the foot-wall is quite as well defined as on the opposite side, and the foot-wall seam, although smaller, is similar in formation. The reef already has iucreased considerably in size, and is likely from appearance to increase still further. In regard to the old main reef we have nothing new to report. In the drive eastward, towards the hill, the lode is about 18 inches thick, and of good formation, but westward, where it has been followed through the broken country, it has reduced to a mere string, not quite an inch thick. It is, however, as well defined as ever, and is in splendid country. It is possible that the disturbance caused by the cross-course has split it into veins. Indeed there are now several veins apparent, striking into the hangingwall side, but driving on this end has been entirely suspended for the present, although of couuse it will be resumed as soon as convenient. Stoping is going on as usual, and crushing at the Una battery with its full force, where the stuff appears to be showing for a better average than usual. City of London.—The conlraot for the erection of the Uivy of London hoisting machine, sheds, and gearing was let yeaterday to Messrs Wilson and Oornes for £365 Bs, under guarantee to be completed in 7 weeks at a penalty of £3 per day. The Waio-Karaka road is now so far finished that the timber and machinery, with the exception of the boiler, can be carried over it, as the main impediment, the jutting spur of the hill, has been all cut away. All Nations.—Betorting for the All Nations Company took place last night. The yield was not quite so large as was expected, but it was a very good one, amounting to UOozs gold from 80 tons of stone. The general stuff did not yield so well as was expected, but the specimens proved remarkably rich. As we have already stated, this is the final retorting for the All Nations as a separate company. ALBUBHiA.—The crushing for the Alburnia Company at the Herald battery is only showing on the plates for a moderate yield. •