WOODSTOCK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 305, 23 December 1896, Page 2

WOODSTOCK.

(FBOM OWS OWN CORRI-SPOtfBENT.)

The whole of the operations in progress in this Company's property at the present juncture are of an opening up and of an exploring character, awaiting the much delayed commencement of crushing operations, which cannot now tako place bofpro before the end of January. The manager meantime finds the greatest difficulty in paddockiug his quartz, of which an immenee quantity ia stowed away. Ab the No. 1 level the drive en the reef is in 375 feeb south of the crosscut, and a good class of stono is showing in bho face, the lode being about six feet across. North of the crosscutstoping operations are being carried on, 20 fathoms having been stoped oub daring the month. These are all bhe works ab presonb in progress at this level, the sinking of the winzo having been discontinued for the present. At the intermediate level a distance of 30 feeb has been driven on bhe Maria lode, making a tubal distauce of 55 feeb in a southerly direction. The lodo ia of good size, and a well • defined body, bub is as yeb low grade. Ib is Intended to connect thia level with No. 1 by means of the winze mentioned abovo, and which is mow down 110 feet. Tho lode in this intermediate lovel haa improved considerably in appearance since last month. At No. 2 level 656 feeb of lode ha.. now been explored, and bhe face has almost reached the point where a rise is coming up from No. 3 level to connecb with thia ono. A leading stopo is being carried along at the back of No. 2 level, and the reef shows about four feet wide, bhe ore both hero and in the face being of good quality. The crosacub to the west of bhe Maria lode i. now advanced 700 feeb, 40 feofe of which has been, done this month. No lodo has beon meb during bhe month. From this crosacub driving on tho main WoodBbock lode is proceeding, it having now been proved for 55 feeb in a northerly direction. The quality of the lode cannot be fairly estimated yeb. Stoping on Shepherd's lode from this crosscut is now proceeding both norbh and south, and some very tine ore is coming to hand. A rise along the course ol this lode ia now up 80 foot, and will ultimately conmaob with the intermodiafco level, whilst driving norlb of tho rise has now been accomplished for 45 feeb on this same lode. At No. 3 level driving is still suspended, and the rise from tho face is up 50 feet, and will be continued till connection is effected With No. 2 level. Stoping operations are also going on in No. 3 level, and the reof is beiug broaen out to a width ot five feet, tbo ore being of first-class quality. Tbe second winze going down to connect with No. 4 level is now down 50 feot, whilst the firsb ia holed through. These winzes will provide ventilation between the two drives, and will also come in useful when stoping operations are commenced. Ab. No. 4 level 543 feet of driving on the Maria has been done, and the lode has improved considerably during tbe month ; in facb, ib appears to be improving all the time. Four feeb of the lode is being broken out withoub any sign of the foobwall, and bhe ore appears of fair quality. Ab No. 5 level the reef has been driven on for 490 feeb altogether, and here also bhe lode is of large size, being the full width of tha drive and leaving quartz atill in bhe wall. The crosscut under way to the west from this level, with the object of intersecting Shepherd's lode 5s now in 119f_, and another 701b should eeo the reef to hand. This crosscub has passed through two Bmall lodes, and will be continued westward to cub the Woodstock and obher lodes, Tha country rock is hard ab present. In the Ivanhoe section the gorge tramline has succeeded in cutting the main Woodstock lode, bub as this only occurred the day before my visit, it ia im-poseil-la to say anything aa to its character yet.