MINING NEWS. Grahamstown, Monday.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4538, 12 March 1872, Page 3

MINING NEWS. Grahamstown, Monday.

Mqanataiari OojrPANY. — The specimens obtained last week, in all amounting to over 3cwt., were taken out of the No. 1 and No. 2 lodes between the lower level and the battery level. Both leaders are yielding general stuff of average quality, and latterly have been more prolific of specimens than of yore. Whilst the greatest portion of the stuff crushed comes from these two leaders, a considerable quantity—sufficient to keep twelve head going- is taken from the workings above the battery level, where there is much good stone still standing. The manager is also prospecting untried parts of the mine. Cross-cuts are going in towards the Pai Marire oneway, and towards the Morning Star the other ; and a rise is also being put up at the back of No. 3 leader to find the junction of that vein with No. 1 lode. In fact Captain Higgins's object is to get the mine opened up as widely as posBible by < the, time the company's main undertaking of connecting the mine with the Kuranui tunnel is completed. Too much stress cannot be laid upon tho importance of that work, which will not only provide a main outlet to the back, but will also open a deeper level to work from. It will afford immense facilities for getting stone to, mill at next to a merely nominal cost, for I am given to understand that it is the intention of two large crushing companies — the Imperial Crown and the Kuranui— to lay tramways from their milk to the mouth of the Kuranui Hill tunnel. Hence stuff from any of the mines through which the tunnel passes can be run direct to tho battery. The Moanataiari Company's return of gold for the current fortnight promises to be a good one, and would have been better but for several unavoidable stoppages at the company's battery last week.

United Pumping Association. — A steady increase in the water is noticeable every foot the main shaft deepens, but so far does not much interfere with the work of sinking the capacity of the two 12in. lifts, being amply sufficient to dispose of double the quantity. The shaft is a little over 260 ft. deep, and if the angle of underlie of the Golden Crown lode is m »intained, or rather does not increase, it will meet the lode at seventy feet deeper. The estimated i time to do this in is fourteen weeks, but it has been almost decided to adopt another and quicker plan of getting at the reef, and so relievo Tookey's and the Caledonian "companies of water, by opening a drive to cut the reef when the shaft is twenty feet deeper, or thereabouts. It would take much less time to carry in a moderate-sized cross-cut to the reef than to sink the shaft. Sinking the shaft could be continued at leisure afterwards. The erection of the Association's mammoth pumping plant is progressing apace, The threo boilers are in position, and are being bricked up, and the last course of misonry for the engine foundation will be finished in a day or two. Mr. Errington, the manager, appears indefatigable in his endeavours to push the work ahead ; and I think that shareholders directly or indirectly interested may rest assured that, when the services of the big engine are required, it will be all ready to take up work. Manukau Machine. — All the batteries are engaged this week, the Hipply of stone being much more abundant than it has been during the last fortnight. Two of Tookey's tributes— Low's and Willis's— each occupy two batteries ; the Black Angel Company two : whilst two are workiug on trial parcels for the Imperial Crown Company's miue. There is also woik in prospect, the first battery vacated being engaged by the Unicorn tributers, and the next by the Manukaa tributers.

Karaka Creek Gold. — A parcel of specimens, obtained out of some lorle in the Upper Karaka locality, has bo< n crushed at Spencer's, and yielded IGoz. of melted gold, worth G(K per oz. Golden Calf commenced crushing this morning, and, from the show of amalgam on the plates, the yield promises to fully come up to the manager's estimate of 2oz. to the ton.

Albtjrni\. — The accounts to hand of this mine aie excellent;. Last week's crushing with a reduced force at the battery produced 400oz.amalgain. Over lewt. of good specimens were boxed. The supply of water afforded by yesterday's rain-fall will enable the full power of the batteries to be utilised, aud hence the yield of this week as compared with last ought to bo proportionately augmented,

Pjrivce Imperial. — Another crushing is aliout to be commonced ab the Waiotahi Battery. 50 tons are ready, and, with the few specimens on haud, arc expected to give an average yield. — [Coi respondent.]

Tiik Ajjrahvm Lincoln. — Woik on thia company's mine has been constantly and energetically carried on umler the mine manager, Mr. Curtis Moore, The main lowlevel tunnel has been 'put in a distance of 444 ft., and in within 20ft. of the reef, and close to wheio the u uize is being sunk on the lode from above, in which the leader has been driven on right and loft a distance of 50ft. The paddock is now full of quartz taken from the winze, and a commencement has been made to cai t to Vickeiy's batteiy, •which has been hiied foi* ciu suing. — Advertiser.