MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 30, 5 February 1896, Page 5

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS.

Moan'ataiari EXTENDED.— The drive on the Libble and Good leader has been advanced lOfb for the week. The reef is not looking very promising, bub ib should change as tho drive advance*. The low level on No. 9 reef has been stopped during the week on account of gas. Occidental. —Ths reef becoming pinched in the drive on the course of the Hague Smith reef, the manager has started to drive on tho opposite side of the cross-cut in » southerly direction. The country ia a good firm class of sandstone interlaced with quartz and mineral voina. Occidental section : The leader contains minerals of a vary favourable character and a few colours of gold are seen occasionally when breaking down the quartz.

Aurora (Kuaotunu). — Two men are sinking on the main leader 200fD from the crosscut. The quartz the manager ie saving is giving good dish prospects. A small level is to be pub in the Otama end of the ground, where there are good surface Drospects. Ten tons of quartz from tho mine have been scut to the Mo&nctaiari Battery, and 1 ton to the School of Miuss for treatment.

Ixglewood.— The low level drive hag been advanced 20ft, making 173 ft. There is no change in the country. The western surface crosa-cut has been extended 14ft, the country being about the same. Another crosscut drive has been ebarted, going east from the western boundary.

Aleurnia East. —We have started driving on the cross reef in the Pacia'o tunnel, and have advanced sft. The country is very tight, being a good class of sandstone interlaced with quarts stringers.

Crescent.—Wo have extended the drive a further distance of. 13ft. The country has been a liotle tighter for the last few feeb, so progresi haß been a little slow.

Adelaide.—The contractors have sunk the main shaft a further depth of 42ft. Tho. rise has been extended a further distance of 38ft. We have another 25ft to go before holing through to connect the riae with the shaft.

May Qdeen. —The drive coming west on No. 4 reef is now in 100 ft. The reef is 15in thick, showing colours of gold for the last 15ft. The ground is still favourable for gold. Tho stopea on No. <\ reef continue to ptoduce payable quartz and picked stone. The stopes on norch-weeb reef continue to produce a large amount of crushing dirt and-picked stone, in the Saxon little work has boon done on accounb of the air not being good. Retorting took place on Saturday ; 700 loads and 801bs of picked etono yielded 4790zs 2dwts melted gold.

Balfouk. —The two men are still cutting: through two different) spurs. A small leader 4in wide was met in one of these drives, and very fair prospects of gold obtained. Cardigan.— Tho crosscut has been extended a further distance of 44fb tor the week. A nine inch lode showing colours of gold has been intersected. Broken Hill.—Tho reef in south faco still maintains its large size. The ore is of fair grade. -.. -.

Comstock.— Tho low level crosscut has been extended 7ft during the week, making the total distance driven 142 ft. Golden Crown section: The reef in tho face is about iba usual size. The mineralised ore is on the hangingwall of the lodo instead of tcotwall.

Cambria.—Stoping on No. 7 hangingwall leader is being carried on as usual. The leader is very poor. Tho intermediate drive on No. 4 leader is beiDg extended as usual. The lode ia still looking well. The stopes on this leader are turning out a fair supply of crushing dirt. Crushing will bs finished this week.

Portsea.—The low level drive has been extended a further distance of 6 feet. A clay slide has been tneb with, which evidently displaced the couroe of the roaf. No doubt a few feet ahead the reef will be found in its usual course, and bhab the disturbance will have a beneficial effect.

Grace Darling. — The leading stope north has now been carried along a distance of 40 foet. The reef ia similar in appearance and quality to that mentioned in last report. ' No. 2 rico is now up a distance of 45 feet. Tho reef maintains an average size of four feot of very nice stone, in which gold can be seen occasionally, The prospects, though not bo good aa last week, are Btill very encouraging. Midas.—The manager reports that he has cub tho reef about 10ft from the Midas boundary. He thinks tho lode will prove to be about 4 feet vride and will traverse the whole length of the Midas ground. It prospects splendidly, nob less than ljoz to the fcon.

Sterling.—The manager telegraphed today :—Cub reef 15 inches laet night. Believe it to be footwall branch main lode.

Magazine*—We have made fair progress in driving. The ground is not good tor Bpoedy progress, but of the very best description for gold. Waihi Extended. —Have extended crosscut a distance of 12ft for the past W6ek through a similar class of mineralised country as before reported upon. Maritana.—No. 1 drive is making co much water tnac the manager found it necessary to start timbering back tor 20fS. In No. 2 there is still a good deal of loose quartz in tho present face. Hkitman Freehold.—The shaft is Bunk a depth of 160 ft, bub the country is much harder. There is more wuter to contend with than hitherto. New Zealaxder.—No. 1 level : The road has been laid into the face and the reef broken into 7 feet. The quartz is of a dark bluish nature, thickly impregnated with mineral favourable for gold. No. 2 level : The reef is cut into 8 feet, the quartz being of a first-class description for gold. A little gold was seen by dish bssb. No. 8 reef : Thiß level has been extended 7 feet. Some of tho stone broken down from the reef looks well. A iittle gold was also eeen in the dish.