MINING NEWS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIX, Issue 4794, 7 January 1873, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

Graiiamstown, Monday. Bessie. — This mine, which is situated next the Una, on the western slope of the range, ha8 been recently let on tribute under certain stringent conditions of working. The tributers have made an auspicious commencement by opening on a leader which outcrops near the Una main adit, and strikes directly through the hill. It is a good-looking veiu, some six inches thick, and carries visible gold. Boll's Machine.— This machine is undergoing a thorough ti ansf 01 mation. Origiually of three three-stamp batteries and a single Stamper, it is being enlarged by tho addition of tlnee four-stamp batteries, the foundations of which are laid, and the stamper frames up. A new engine of ]5 hoiae power has replaced tbo old one. These alterations and additions will render the machine very com plete and effective. It will be ready to resume crushing m about a foitnight. South Devon. — The tributers resumed crushing to-day at Greenaway's machine This time the stuff, comparatively speaking, is of indifferent quality, the estimated yield being only 2oz. to the ton. Former crushuigs gave as high as 8oz. and 9o?. to the ton. There are about 12 tons to treat. Bkight Smile. — Sinking the main shaft is proceeding, under difficulties, theie being a good deal of water to overcome ; so much, indeed, that the one engine is scarcely able to cope with it and wind stuff at the same , time. This has decided the directors to put on another engine and, accordingly, anangements have been made to rent one of the portable engines which formerly drove theCnteiion battery, until sufficient depth has been gained at which to open another level in the mine. The arrangement is only tempoiary, and is made for the purpose of foiwai ding current operations. As soon as the next level is proved, occasion will no doubt arise for the creation of a powerful pumping engine. The engine now in use will answer admirably for winding pui poses. City of London. — Consequent upon the extra demand made upon the Blight Smile engine through the increase of water, the arrangement to wind City of London stuff has had to be broken, and the latter company will have to send stuff to grass viA the old Bright Smile shaft, which is worked by a whim. The manager has already engaged horses, and made other preparations to meet the requirements of the case. He is of opinion that the change will not involve any extra expense whatever. Inverness — The rise from tunnel level through the main workings holed into the Don Pedro old adit line on Friday last, the first effect being a marked improvement in the Teiitilation, and so far as the J latter is concerned work can now be cairied t on to advantage. The manager intends to stope from various intends aud crush the stuff in separate parcels on trial. A belt of very hard dyko country having come in, work in the prospecting cross cut at tunnel level has been discontinued. Tramway Machine. — During the holidays the lessees, Messrs. Webb Brothers, rebedded tbe engine upon a solid foundation of Hape Creek stone, and also gave it a good overhaul. The machine is now in first-rate order, and will resume work to-morrow morning — twelve stampers for the Golden Crown Company, and five for Perry's tribute of the Tookey mine. Umted Pumping Association. — Since Saturday morning the bucket and clack of the pump have been changed, and another Oft. length added to the pump, and two new lengths of air boxes fixed. Sinking will be resumed this afternoon. The shaft is 342ft. deep. No change in water or country. Alburnia. — The operations of this company are very much impeded by a scarcity of water for crushing purposes. On Thursday the mill was set going, but had to stop from the above cause after running a few hours, and this was repeated yesterday. A heavy rainfall is much needed, for besides the Alburnia there are many other companies undeigoing alike inconvenience, which means monetary loss. In expectation of lam soon coming, Mr. Gribble has made pieparations to store water by cleaning out the old Pioueei dam, aud the side, head, and tail flumes connected with it. In the mine he is engaged driving along the wain lode easterly, aud rising to connect with one of the winzes that was sunk upon it from the upper level to within 9ft. of the bottom level, aud carried rich stone to a line 4ft. higher, wheie the gold seemed to dip out of the winze to the north. The lise is expected to hole to the winzo on Tuesday. The lode stuff coming from it, and also from tho drive below, is assumed to be [payable, because a portion of it tried separately in the mill made a good plate &how of amalgam. All of it is being saved for crushing. Hich stuff is looked for further east, where the drive ought to intersect the shot of gold. Operations in the specmen lode are, at present, confined to seeing the ground opened, cleaning the walls of quartz left hanging in them, aud puttiug a rise up. A winze has also been opened at the junction of tho rich branch leader aud the lode. It; is down a few feet, and carries a body of stone 3ft. thick, that shows gold freely. 201b. of good specimens were taken ont on Thursday. This speaks favourably for the lode below •id it level. Indeed, the prospects of this mine generally are exceedingly good ; water for crushing purposes is alone needed to ensure its successtul development. City or London. — Work in this mine was lesumed on Thursday morning, and crushing with the full force of tho Una machine in the evening. The stuff shows up on the plates for an aveiage return. — [Correspondent.]