MINING TELEGRAMS. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXII, Issue 5770, 25 March 1876, Page 3

MINING TELEGRAMS. [FROM OU R OWN CORR ESPONDENTS.]

GRAHAMSTOWN, Friday. The Advertiser's Tairua correspondent writes: "The Aja\ Company havuig completed the battery, tho contractors started the engine yesterday afternoon, and everything worked very smoothly, and gave great satisfaction. This morning I visited the mine, and found it had just commenced to crush quartz, and was highly pleaded with the way everything worked. There was scarcely any vibration perceptible, although the stampers were working at 78 strokes per minute, with a >9in. drop, which everyone will allow is a very good speed for commencement. Part of the contractors agreement with the company is to crush 20 tons to the satisfaction of tho engineer before finally handing over the plant to the directors. This, I anticipate, will be completed to-morrow night. I again visited it, and found there was a very fair show of amalgam collecting on the plates. Of course, it is veiy difficult to form a ' correct estimate of the valuo of the stuff after such a short run on new plates ; but I was very pleased with the appearance. The battery consists of 10 head of stampers, each weighing 6301b. The copper tables are 7ft., and blanket streaks 17ft. long. There are two bcrdans of 3ft. Gin. in diameter. The whole is worked by a 12 horse -power horizontal engine, with a lOin. cylinder and 20in. strike. I went through the mine. The main drive soutK is in 110ft., aud is still carrying a large lode in a good country. Eight feet from the face of the drive a large vein was discovered on the west side, bearing towards the footwall of the main body. It is 2ft. wide, and similar in appearance to tho stone in the upper level, and is most probably a branch thrown off in disturbed country. They will continue to drive another 40ft. before rising to connect with the upper works, after which the company will be in a position to get out any amount of quartz, and deliver it at tho battery at a light cost. The Tairua Co.'s tramway is completed, and a trial start will be made in a few days. The hopper is in course of erection, and men are engaged breaking stone from where Neve3 made the last discovery, and good prospects are obtain- . able. It?appears to be an immense body of crushing 'stuff similar to that found in the big bluff. The Golden Arrow is still sinking . down 10ft. There is no difference in the stuff, and the prospects arc good." A meeting was held this afternoon for the election of a School Committee for the Kau■weranga district. The following gentlemen were elected : — Messrs. Douglas, Mclhone, Grigs, Day and Macnab. Red Queen Tribute.— 23 J a tons of stone yielded 35oz. 7dwt. Inverness Tribute — 30 tons of stuff gave a return of 27oz. 17dwt. It is found that the repairs to the Bright Smile cannot be completed by Monday, but a start will be made next week some time. Crown* PnrtfCEhh.— They arc still baling out, in twithstanding the iidiciile cast on the proceedings. COROMANDEL, Friday. Tokatka. — Tho manager states there is nothing new to report. General work is going on well throughout the mine. The chamber in the Siege of Paris level is completed, and the winze is down 8ft. without any sign of water. The contractors in the low level making good progress. Royal Oak.— The report from the manager states that about 301b. of specimens were obtained daring the week, and that there is a good show of gold running through the leader. Uirrox Beach. — A dividend of 5s. per share has been declared, payable on April 3. A few specimen were got to-day, and more may be looked for to-morrow. At the R.M. Court this day the case of Foley v. Rowe — a claim for £17 for election expenses — was heard. Mr. Macdonald defended Rowe. The following letter was put in by Poley :' " I authorise you to spend for the purpose of bringing in the Tiki men the sum of five pounds, and I hope we shall be successful in our efforts. As soon as -the election is over you can draw upon me for the whole sum.— W. Rowe." Mr. Macdonald referred to the Elections Act, and said the money could not be recovered, as the contract between Rowe .and Foley was illegal and rendered them liable to a penalty of fifty pounds for corrupt practices. The Magistrate took the same view after looking at tho Act, and gave a verdict for liowu, with costs. Tho caao is not likely to end with this as an appeal will be lodged. The steamer • Elsip, 5 from Auckland, put in here to-day, disabled through the chockvalve having been broken. She is expected to leave again to-moirow.