REEFING NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1758, 24 March 1874, Page 2

REEFING NEWS.

[IN ANGARA HERALD.]

A dividend of 3s per 20,000 th share, equal to a total of L3OOO, was declared in the Break o'Day Quartz-crushing company on Monday last. This makes a total of 6a 6d per share or L 6250 paid away in dividends during the short period of 11 weeks. Some of tho shareholders, resident outside the district, are under the impression that the working expenses of the mine during the last crushing had unnecessarily exceeded those of the previous one, but a reference to the company's books exhibit the pleasing result that the expense of working and management have been slightly under that of the previous crushing. The reef has again been intercepted in the main level of the Just-in-Time mine in the second, cross-cut 100 ft south of the winze, and is of average richness, t .The. manager will now proceed to open out a face, and raise stone for crushing* : j ; „;

Anderson's. — Tho various works of this mine are being executed with the usual activity. A now upper level tunnel has been opened about 60ft above the lower, the stone being now stoped out to this level. The present length of the tunnel is about 40ft, and the reef was struck when in about 25ft from the face of the hill. There are nearly 4ft of. stone in the new drive. The average thickness of stone in the four faces is upwards of 3ft. The above workings are situated about 800 ft from the northern boundary of the company's mine, and where the new drive is opened, the hill rises exceedingly sharp. In the event, therefore, of the stone rising according to the form of the hill, there will still be a very large body of quartz to come from this level before reaching the surface.

The Anderson - Invincible tunnel is steadily progressing, although the driving has for some time past been terribly hard. Within the past two days a slight change has taken place for the better. Seventy feet of the last contract are completed, and the distance still to be driven before the incline shaft can be reached is nearly 350 feet. The entire length of the tunnel at the present time is over 900 feet. The •company have recently brought in a small stream of water for the purpose of ventilating the mine, air-tight pipiug having also been laid on to within 20ft of tho face.

• Invincible. — The crushing operations are going on steadily, and the last of the stone will be run down to-morrow. The plates are looking exceedingly well, and show signs of an encouraging return. Upon matters of the mine, the only item of importance is the completion of the chamber preparatory to starting the incline shaft on the low level. Two, shifts are now employed sinking, and the work is to be pushed forward with all possible speed. B

Golden Ledge. — All hands engaged in the interior workings. In almost every piece taken indiscriminately gold is plainly visible in the heap of stone. The principal operations have been almost confined to the southern drive for the last few days, where the reef has greatly improved both in quality and thickness, there being at the present a fine face of stone nearly sft wide. The prospects of this claim are decidedly good. There are over 120 tons of stone stacked, and in a remarkably short space of time a thousand could be easily obtained. Preparations are now being made for putting up a rise in the northern drive, and will probably be fairly started in a few days. Energetic. — At the recent meeting of the shareholders, it was resolved tbat immediate steps shall be taken for the erection of new machinery, which will undoubtedly be the means of proving this mine to be a most valuable property. The eastern side of the claim at the present time is completely blocked up with stone, awaiting only a favorable opportunity to crush if. The men who were previously engaged there breaking down stone, are now employed surveying the line of tramway from- the company's coal-mine to the machine site. Some hands are also engaged timbering the middle level tunnel, and when such is accomplished, if in the meantime the weather will not admit of the battery working, all hands will at once set to work on the tramway. Golden Fleece. — The contractors are pushing forward the main tunnel with their utmost power. The rock is exceedingly hard, but fine shooting stone being very solid, one shot sometimes brings an immense heap of stuff down. The distance at present driven is about 30ft. At the bottom of the shaft a chamber Bft square is being constructed ; this part of the work is to be securely timbered, but the tunnel will not require any. The shaft is an excellent piece of work well timbered. The uprise is going on steadily, and as soon as the sutface is reached preparation will be immediately commenced for building a whim. • ' <■