MINING NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4783, 21 January 1884, Page 2

MINING NEWS.

(herald mining reporter.)

Reefton, January 16. Welcome. — The appearance of the mine is all that can be desired, the reef showing similar to that of the upper workings. Should present indications continue during the year in connexion .with operations in the mine and battery, tins company should by the close of the present year produce a larger quantity of gold than previously obtained during alike period. Specimen Hill.— The fluming conveying the water to drive the . stampers is now finished. The mill will shortly be set in motion and no doubt will be found all that may be desired, the -machinery having been built by experienced hands. The trucking of quartz from mine to mill was let a few weeks back, but the contractors threw up the engagement last week and Jthe^Jioxk was again let to Dunn Brothers on Friday last. There is a large quantity of quartz already to grass and the mine is opened in such a manner that the mill will

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be kept going when once it is started for a 1 considerable time. The reef in this mine has been sunk on for several hundred feet, the thickness varying from 2ft to 6ft. Hopeful. — The portion of the mine now being wrought is a section between Nos. 4 and 5 levels. There are four stopes now being worked in all these faces. The reef on Saturday was of good size, viz., from l£ft to 3|ft thick. There seems to be a large quantity of antimony mixed with the quartz, which is a good sign, as in most cases a better yield of gold is obtained from stone heavily charged with antimony. At the time of my visit there was about 30 tons of ore to grass, but since the parcel has been greatly augmented. Little Boatman's Low Level. — The tunnel will be used by eight or more companies so that in the course of a few months at the most) it may be reasonably expected that quartz will be brought to the surface from having the use of this level. Eureka. — The ground pierced last Aveek in tne extension of this incline adit was of a much easier nature than that driven through for some weeks past. The distance attained during the week was 10ft. There are three shifts kept constantly employed in the face, two men in each shift and three hands are employed in the engine house, thus making the number of nine men actually employed at this Company Vworks. Keep-it J)ark. — When in this mine a few days smce the lode was being operated on north oXthe point where first intersected on th\ low level. The size of the lode from w&.*l to wall at the time of my visit was f ulls 6ft. Since striking the reef in these leVer workings, about eight or ten weeks lAck, the^distance driven on the reef jVs been necessarily small, as a chambeir^ad to be cut of the ordinary size, absorbing a good deal of time. The ground from the said chamber to the face is now securely timbered and good speed is being made in the exploration of the reef, which has gone to prove the stability of the property. I can only 3tate that the lode has the same, and if anything, a more defined appearance on the level now being opened up than that of the upper workings. Inkerman. — The steam engine is now fixed and in operation on this company's machine site. The engine is employed in cutting timber for the various buildings in connection with the crushing machinery. The putting together of the crushing plant will be proceeded with, and in the course of eight or ten weeks from date we may expect to find the building of the 30 heads about completed, the contractors now having a large staff of men employed (9). During the time occupied in building the batteries, certain works will be performed on the surface, such as building trams, paddocks, and shoots. These structures are of an inexpensive character, and a few hundred pounds will cover the cost. The mine is proved several hundred feet in depth, and the reef varies from five to twenty-four feet in thickness. The stone throughout has proved payable.