MINING- MATTERS AT THE THAMES. (FROM THE "THAMES ADVERTISER," OCTOBER 14.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3510, 15 October 1868, Page 4

MINING- MATTERS AT THE THAMES. (FROM THE "THAMES ADVERTISER," OCTOBER 14.)

Aladdin's Lamp Claim : This claim consists of eight men's ground, taken up about three weeks ago on the Hape Creek, near the West Derby Claim. The shareholders have excavated a drive of 20 fett, which exposes to view a succession of quartz leaders, extending nearthe whole length of the drive. They have tried the quartz from two different places, and. found the results satisfactory. The first trial took place at Mr. Spenor the chemist's berdan, which yielded at the rate of 6oz. to the ton. The s«o >nd trial took place at the Victoria Battery berdan, which produced sdwt. from lowt. of the quartz. The quartz for these trials was taken without any selection from a large heap of the same now lyiug on the ground. No gold was visible in the stone. The shareholders consider themselves fortunate, as they can turn out as much quartz m can keep the 8-stamper battery employed at, least for six months, and the distance from the machine beiDg only three-quarters of a mile, with a sleigh road the whole distance, within about four chains, which the party is now preparing to make. The driving is still continued, with the view of meeting a far richer leader (in which gold can be seen), which is found cropping out on the surface, near the top of the spur. This claim is under the management of Messrs. George Mason and John Deakiu, both experienced Victorian diggers. They have built on the ground » large and substantial whare, affording sufficient accommodation for the whole party. Since the above was made, however, several parties have take a up the surrounding ground, and »re perfectly satisfied with their selection. Indeed, the Hape Creek is bidding fair to retrieve its reputation. We were shown yesterday some excellent specimens from the Rose of Castile, situated on the Waiotahi. The shareholders inform us they have a reef, at preseat from two to three feet in thicknest, which promises a good return. The claim was pegged off some four months back. During thab period a prospecting diive has been made 125 feet in length, with several promising leaders, but none of which have at present bren tested Some distance higher up the spur a shaft is sunk 48 feet. It was formerly 30 feet, when a drive was made, coming across the reef that has been previously mentioued in these columns. The additional depih has beeu done during the Jasfc three weeks, when they commenced to drive again, and had only got some 10 feet when they reached the previous-mentioned leader much thicker, and from which some excellent specimens have been obtained. The Moanatuari Gold-mining Company's Claim (registered), formerly known as the tfousou Park, is situated on the spur dividing the Kuranui from the aboTementioned creek, immediately above the Panmure Claim. It embraces 1L men's ground, and was originally taken up over 11 months. A drive has been entered 216 feet, half-way through the spur, in the direction of the Eureka ground. A leader hat been recently cut in this drive, close to the Eureka boundary, the same as that being worked on in the la*t-mentioneii claim, the whole dip of which is supposed to be into the Uobson Park ground. A second drive, entered 24t) feet in the centre of the claim, is driving through the same spur, towards the Homeward-Buuud grouud, and follows a leader in all the distance,' varying from three inches to threi feet, which yields on an average at the rate of 3oz. There are .three rises in this drive for the purpose of stooping or backing out. This is believed to. be one of Hunt's leaders. A shaft has also been sunk between 30 and 40 feet, bearing a line towards Hunt's, following a leader almost perpendicularly from the surface — the same leader in which gold was first 'struck by the Homeward-Bound (Claim 12 months ago. This leader varies from 18 inches to 2 feat ia thickness, 25 tons of stone from which will be crushed at the Victoria Battery next week. This shaft is to be farther sunk to a depth of 100 feet, tracing the leader with the ultimate object of joining the main drive, whiah will be effected by a cross drive from the main drive. Tramways are laid down through the whole of the drives, and it is estimated that a saving of at least £40 will be made in the conveyance of 100 tons of quartz to the machine. The previous cost of conveying 82 tons has been estimated at £46 10«., whilst now 100 torn, it has been estimated, can be comveyed to the same machine for £6 — a result attributable to the construction of tbe tramways, and which must bo as gratifying to the shareholder* as it is creditable to the good management displayed by the experienced manager of the I Company, Mr. James Gibble.