MINING NEWS. Grahamstown, Saturday.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4355, 31 July 1871, Page 3

MINING NEWS. Grahamstown, Saturday.

Caledonian. t-I went through the mine this morning, including the deepest workings — the chamber of the new low level. The manager's report the other night anything s bub prepared me for what I saw there. The newly-found quartz in the chamber is neither a small leader, nor one of a bunch of string veins ; ,but, instead, it appears to be part of a .strong lode of some kind. It was first touched m the floor of the chamber, and since then it has been penetrated about one foot, and a section of it uncovered. The surface 'of this section is eridently the back of a lode, and its lay, both as regards strike and dip, is nearly the same as that of the footwall of the Caledonian main lode. A t least, so it appeared to me, but on this point I will not speak, positively, as I had neither compass nor other instrument to take bearings with. Moreover, the chamber was so lumbered up with mullock that I could only obtain a view of a small piece of what had been cleared of the lode, which, whatever other it may claim kindred with, is not the "Young American. Should it prove to be the Caledonian main lode, not a few experts will have to recant formerly-expressed strong opinions upon the lay of that strangely-constituted mineral vein, that seems fated to bother and mislead those persons most interested in correccly ascertaining its whereabouts. By the middle of next week, and not earlier, I may be able to write more positively on this question. The lode is composed of good - looking gold-bearing stone. I examined specimens which had been taken out of it. I also examined the face of the lode where the old shot of gold is. It looks well, carrying, as it does, a seam of gold at least 20ffc. long. The run of gold has been fairly traced into the next block below. Good stone continues to be taken out of No. 1 winze, that is being sunk on the junction of the specimen leader, as it is called, and the main lode. This is on the side of the main run of gold nearest to the Otago or to the north-east. The new shot of gold nearer to the Otago again is also yielding handsomely ; some very good specimens were taken out of it last night, and the general stuff is estimated to be worth from Boz. to lOoz. the ton. I estimate the quantity of specimens on hand from all parts of the mine at five tons.

Vulcan. — A first cleaning up of general stuff crushed from this mine was finished yesterday : the gold obtained weighed 660z. About 33 tons were crashed. The specimens of which mention has been made from time to time are not included in the above return ; they will be treated separately by-and-by. The yield is quite as large as was expected, and considering the size of the reef— four feet — and also the fact of the machine being bran'-new,and therefore certain to lose a percentage of gold, may be quoted as first-rate. The result of this crushing gives character to the Upper Tararu district, and will encourage the development of claims of adjoining companies. I may mention that a very material item in the yield of a crushing has been omitted in this one, viz., the blanket washings, there being no berdan or other appliance at the machine for treating them. Berdaus, however, ara to be erected forthwith, and also another battery of stamps, the one — and only one — in use being utterly incapable of keeping the mine clear of quartz.

Bright Smile.— The find in this mine is bond fide, and also important, seeing that it ia another stride — and a long one too — in the development of a main quartz lode of great promise. In my report of the Waio-karaka Creek the other day, I stated that the line oE strike of the Queen of Beauty lode passed through the adjoining Bright Smile ground, which extends across the flat to as far as Pollen-street. A shaft was opened on the supposed line last Monday week, and, I after thirty - six feet only had been sunk, the lode, was cut into yesterday afternoon. It appears to be of large size, fpur feet- through at least, and bears ex-cellent-looking stone, in which gold is plainly visible* The lode is exceedingly mullocky, as is the case where it is in hand in the Queen of Beauty and City of liondon mines. This find is of , vast importance ; rich in itself, it will induce, the development of the same lint of reef across the flat to the sea beach. It also helps to substantiate my formerly expressed opinion of the Queen of Beauty lode being a champion vein.

Quebn OP thk Max.— A quartz vein, which I believe is a continuation of the City of London lode,' was struck last night in this mine.- It will not be cut through until Monday.

Una Company.— -The usual fortnightly cleaning up to-dfiy produced 2710z. of gold. ." .GoliDKlcCrown Company.,— rThia company cleared np for the' fortnight to-day, and obtained gold.' Of this 11240z. came out' of thplnew. reef. 120 i;ona of stone were crushed.

■-' .Centrals Italy. *r The new leader in the shaft is increasing in size,, and, shows more gold 03 it to followed down. No work has been donSin'itto'&ay, inconsequence of a grea.t deal of timbering haying to be done in tho §Uafu. farther newsj andl believe good news tW,,;wilt'b% heard about the vein next week,— rCorrestiondeut.l J/ ;

.-. - ...- .« COROMANDEL, July 29. \ ■ !">•* *E}us 0^k v criiBliing'w&3 fiaialied at Wh^,oi t battery te ? fd *y' a I return of !4i§B(W.! 4i§8(W. gw,4 ftoia about 85 tons. Tint i» «n wo*Q«ai rotwj,— Th« Tok*t«»

commenced sending down stuff yesterday by the tramway to the same battery, and crushing will be commenced to-day. The battery will now be kept constantly at work for this company,' and it is the intention of the management to clean up every month, ami declare a dividend. — The New Zealand Company's battery will start on Monday to cvush about 40 tons for the Christinas Box. The stuff is to be brought down by the tramway thi3 afternoon. From the result of the two or three tons which have been already put through, a handsome return is expected. — i The leading topic in mining matters here is still the Tolratea. On visiting it yesterday I was much pleased with the richness displayed. Geld is being brought up at every shift, and two large specimen • boxes are already full. . The main drives and winzes are still being pushed on, and gold is being carried with them throughout the whole ltngth of the mine. The management are now able to turn out 100 tons°per week. Great credit is due to the present mine manager, Mr. Kelly, who has got everything into Hrst-rate working order. The shareholders in this company may be congratulated on the splendid prospect before them. The Harbour View are steadily adding to their •rich heap of stone in the paddock, and will be ready for a crushing next week. The No. 1 leader was cut yesterday in the low level, and specimens taken from it show very good gold. It is about lft. wide, and promises to be as rich as it was in the upper workings. This adds to the value of the claim not a little, and proves that deep - sinking is likely to be as satisfactory here as at the Thames. The level is 160 ft. below any prpvious workings in the mine, and there will now be a back of over 200 ft. for stoping along the whole length of the lease. The main drive will still be pushed on to cut No. 2 and No. 3 leaders to drain the mine, so that winzes may be at ouce put down to connect the different woi kings. —The Christmas Box is looking very well, and has been getting out splendid gold during the week. There are now over lew I. of specimens on hand, and, as the drives are being pushed on, the gold is getting better and of richer quality. When the lower level on the Kennedy Bay side is completed this property will be a very valuable one. The gold has been now carried to the Peep o'Day boundary. — The Masonic Lease are getting ready to send down their stuff for crushing when the road now being made to the mine ia completed. . Their reef is about 7ft. wide, and, from the result of trial crushiugs, will give about l^oz. to the ton. It is hoped the Government will extend the tram to the mine, so that large quantities of stone may be carried cheaply to the batteries. — The Bismarck, Excelsior, Peep o'Day, and other claims in the vicinity eire all more or less on gold.— The Peep o'Day intend to advertise for a low-level drive immediately after the general meeting of shareholders, to be held on Wednesday next. — The beach claims are still looking exceedingly well. Excellent gold is being obtained by Howe and party. The Venus, an adjoining claim, is also rapidly increasing in value, and there is a consequent rise in the price of its scrip. — [Correspondent. ] Operations will be commenced immediately on the Tokatea No., 2 Company's ground, by driving a level soms 100 ft., which is let by tender, with a view to intersect the Royal Oak leader, now turning out so exceedingly rich in the adjoining lloyal Oak Claim.— The Christmas Box stone, co sisting about 45 tons, will be commenced on at the New Zealand Company's battery on Monday next : it ia estimated it will yield about 3oz to the ton. — Morgan Stevens and party contiuue to find specimens of the richest description on the Golden Point— being part of the old Kapanga ground. — [A Correspondent.]