OUR MINES.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 30, 18 June 1877, Page 2

OUR MINES.

MUKUAY CHEEK. [BBOM OUB MINING BEPOBTEB.] ANDEESON'S FXTENDED. Since the name of this company first appeared among the newly organised yen* turos of the district, a number of hands have been steadily employed, but the various works have until very recently been entirely of a preliminary nature, such as repairing timbers, cleaning oat passes and drives, combined with a careful course of prospecting that the operations were not of sufficient interest to command a lengthy or even prominent notice in the weekly resume of mining news. Some attention, having, however, been attracted during the last few days to ; tho improved prospects of the mine, I paid a special visit to the scene of opera" tions on Friday, and for the information of those interested, I furnish the follow* ing brief account of tho position of the mine at the present time, which to say the least is a marked improvement comparatively to its appearance on my last visit. The first portion of tho mine which is worthy of notice is what is known as the continuation of the old Invincible block where two men are employed putting up a rise on the reef. This same block has been followed in the drive for nearly a hundred feet in length, varying in thickness from sis inches to ay.cc two feet, and* although the stone is decidedly small in places it cannot be said to have entirely pinched out in the whole of the above mentioned distance, the rise is only up 'eight feet, and in that short distance the lode h*s increased from eighteen inches, to three feet, thus denoting a strong body of stone overhead, the qualify of which according to the yield from previously worked levels, may be estimated highly payable. The next part of tho mino which presents a raost promising feature is in the old ground of Anderson's, It will doubtless be remembered there were two blocks of sfcone contained in that mine. The northern block was never proved to live down to the main level, but from a recent discovery in an old winze at the south end of the north block a well defined face of stone has recently been cut through, three feet in thickaess. From the ap» pearance of the end of the winze referred to, where a small vein, of stone is exposed, it would seem, that this work was originally constructed in following a leader, and this newly discovered face of quartz being excellently defined, and only five feet to, the eastward of the winzo, it is assumed to be the main lode. As, however, preparations are now being made on. the intermediate level to cut this same stone, which is sixty-fire feet down the main shaft from Anderson's middle tunnel, and not being a convenient process to do more work in the winze until communication is opened fsom the intermediate- level referred to, I shall refrain from further comment at present as to the probable importance of this, discovery, but a few days more work may give a very altered appearance in the Company's, affairs. Independently of the work already mentioned, two. hands are kept driving north on the main level, the face of which carries two splendid walls, with about a foot of stone, but , whether of payable qualify has yet to be tested.. The face certainly, would justify the belief of the existence of a reef close at band. It will be seen from- the above that there ace six hands at the present time employed, independently of the mining manager, and from the various works in oporatioa their labors are most judiciously, bestowed, and there is undoubtedly every likelihood of the en» deavours of tho- new company being crowned with, success. I shaM visit the mine again in a few days. The result of. operations in the mentime will be duly, recorded.