MINING NEWS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4357, 2 August 1871, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

Grahamstown, Tuesday. Bright Smile.— The question that has been raised in opposition to the present occupants of this miue holding possession of it is chiefly one of goldfields boundary, and if its determination iavolves lesjal process some very pretty points of law will be raised and argued. I cannot say positively whether any opposition really exists, or whether the question of title v\ as merely brought forward as a feeler to guide certain parties, whoever they may be, to more definite proceedings. If tin tone of the market is any cuterion to go by, I should say that the public have confidence in the ability of the lessees of the ground to maintain their hold on it. Prices did decline yesterday afternoon, but have advanced again to-day, and are now £2, with an upward tendency. The question of title has not had any effect upon operations m the mine. Work ia still pursued by the contractors, and with first-class results, a large quantity of specimens of fair quality having been taken nut to-day. The shaft appears to have gone down right on the cap of the lode, which so far as can be ascertained lies vertically, as is the case where it has been followed through the western portion of the Queen of Beauty miue. In the other direction it underlies about one foot in ten to the S.E., towards the Karaka Creek. If the vertical position is preserved the lode will never dip out of the Bright Smile ground. The find is one of the most singular instances of good fortune that ever occurred in this district, for when the preliminary works were projected it was expected that a depth of 100 ft. at least would have to be sunk, whilst the contingencies of water and bad sinking ground were duly considered and provided for. How groundless were the fears upon which the precautions taken were based has been proved by results. The shaft went plumb clown on the reef at 36ft., and through good country, whilst the show of gold very far exceeds anything that has been yet met with on the same liDe of lode. Caledonian. — I went through the mine this morning, and have no material change to report, excepting that No. 1 winze is swamped out again : the water mysteriously disappeared the other day, and as inystenously has made its unwelcome appearance again. It is said that the stopping of the Tookey pumps has caused the water to back up in the lode, and, if so, the fact goes towards proving that no connection exists between the lode in No. 1 winze, and any quartz vein that has been struck in the main shaft working below the 200 ft. level. This includes the uew reef, or whatever it may be, in the new chamber. I again descended to that delectable locality this morning, but failed to ascertain much more than was apparent during my first visit on Saturday. Work there is indeed pursued under difficulties. The flow of water from the roof and sides of the chamber is prodigious, and it is only by careful manoeuvring that lights can be kept burning. I must withhold my opinion of what the lode in the chamber may be for awhile longer. It however still wears tke appearance of a large body of stone, and continues to yield nice specimens. A very good one was broken out this morning. Golden Crown.— Work in the new low level, where a cross-cut is being driven from the shaft to cut the No. 2 reef, had to be suspended this morning. The stopping of the Tookey pumps backed up the water and drove the workmen out. No. 2 reef looks well where it is in hand in the dry country above. It carries a very large body of stone at the bottom of the 40ft. -winze that was sunk from the level of the main level towards the above-mentioned cross-cut. Mr. Donnelly, the sub -manager, informed me that the greatest part of last fortnight's gold was obtained here. Manukau. — In this mine operations have been resumed upon the branch vein which strikes in the Cure boundary, and which produced such an excitement in the market about two months ago. A little gold is to be be seen in the vein, with other good indicacations of payable character. It is about 3ft. thick. Tookey Company. — Wills and party (tributers) finished their crushing this morning, and obtained 50oz. from 22 tons put through. The preceding parcel of 17 tons for the same tribute yielded 510z., the total gold from the 39 tons being lOloz. Christchurch Company.— The reports from this, one of the Wiseman's Gully mines, are good. Stuff from it is now going through Clarkson's machine, and bids fair for loz. the ton. — [Correspondent. ] Celt. — This claim consists of 48 men's ground, situated at the Upper Tararu, held underlease, being the last g< anted by the Superintendent in that district without restrictions. I have visited this mine on my way further up, and I found the contractors atworkonadrive of 35ft., t0 be put in to catch one of the reefs running through the whole length of the claim. The work was heavy, so much so that an additional price was paid to the contractors by the directors to carry it on. It is hoped to get the work completed this week, and cut the reef, which is 4ft. wide. Pure gold has been washed along the line of this reef 200 yards, some of which I saw. There are other reefs running in the same direction, and the opinion formed in the neighbourhourhood is that, with a little more development, the claim will vie with its sister— the Vulcan.— [A Correspondent.]

A Pittsburg woman, whose husband fel asl«ep while he was waiting supper, awoke him by pouring vitriol in his face. She ia •ating prison fare now, and he is rejoicing in the fact that he can see out of one eye. A daily paper recently contained an advertisement for a lost "large black silk umbrella, belonging to a gentleman with a curiously> carved wooden head." A photographer took the picture of a toper, and he was soon on exhibition in all the shop windows. The inebriate signed the pledge. How to raise betta : Takt hold of th« tops *n<lpu&