REEFTON MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 867, 12 October 1888, Page 20

REEFTON MINING NEWS.

(FROM OtJR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Reeeton, October 10.

Business during the week has been very quiet. Darks have receded Scotia* are more in demand at an increase of 3d, as are also Inkermans. The Golden Treasure is resuscitated, and sales have been effected at la.

Keep-it-Dark.—The battery returns are 2680 z of amalgam from 168 tons of stone. Globe.—The returns for tho week are 1750 z from 175 tons of stone. No change to report. Big River.—The mine manager states that since the last report the drive has been ex« tended 14ft preparatory to again sinking on the reef. An uprise to the surface has been done of 29ft. We have had a little over three days’ crushing. Thirty-seven tons passed through the battery. Twelve of this came from around the old winze, which, I estimate, did not yield more than sdwts to the ton; berdans, 17oz ; total amalgam, 108 oz, giving 440 z 6dwts of retorted gold. Progress.—The winze has been sunk 7ft 6in for the week, making a total of 58£t. The stone continues very hard, but carries excellent prospects all through. It can be seen very plainly at the bottom. Sootia.—A solid reef has been struck in No. 2 winze, carrying splendid gold. The thickness of the reef is from 1 foot to 15 inches. It seems to be widening out. |The reef was cut last week. It was at first thought to be a "boulder, but after 4fc had been sunk on it, the thickness increasing and the quality of the stone improving, no doubts of its being the reef can be entertained. The winze is now down 230 ft, 9ft having been sunk during the week. No. 2 South Keep-it-Dark.—A rumour has been current that the block of stone now being operated on is exhausted. It is true that the present level is worked out, but it is also true that the reef lives for 50ft under font. A winze will be sunk on the stone. The present level is 280 ft, and there is every indication of the reef living for a considerable depth. Two hundred and eighty tons has been got out, which gives a trifle under an ounce. This will allow a good margin to carry out the intended work. The battery returns show 4090 z from 224 tons of stone. . Hard-to-Find.—The reef in the shaft is 2ft, and north it is 18in, carrying good gold. . Venus Extended.—No change in the stopes or the extended main drive of 10ft. Battery returns, 211 oz amalgam from 90 tons. Welcome. —Crushing will be resumed at an early date ou stone of the same quality as the last operated on, which gave such ■excellent results. It is reported that all newly-created shares have been applied for and will be allotted to the original shareholders on the Bth inst. Seeing that tho results of the coming crushing will place the Company in a good financial position there will be no bar to the proposed amalgamation with tho Homeward Bound Company. Steps will be at once proceeded to complete it. , _ , , Inkerman. —The wire rope from Englan 1

for the aerial tramway is expected to arrive in the Colony in a week or two. No change in the mine to report. Nil Desperandum.—Still stoping'on payable stone on both blocks.

iDglewood. The mine manager reports that the counection with the uprise is now completeand being timbered up. Crushing, will commence this week. The level is being driven south. As soon as the stopes are opened crushing will be continuous. There are already about 200 tons iu the paddocks. Fiery Cross.—Themiue is looking as usual. The rise is up 20ft. They are now driving from this height toward the Just-in-Time boundary. The mill is still crushing, but goes very slow, as tbe Just-in-'lime is crushing ; also there is a partial supply of water for each mill. The battery- returns are 207J0z of amalgam from 85 tons, from blankets only. Just-in-Time. —Only ten beads of stampers have been going during the week, as there is not sufficient water for both batteries. The late rain will, no doubt, make a difference. The mine is looking about the same as last week. Cross-cutting is still going on in a favourablo country. The eastern block will be operated on during this month. The stone now being crushed is of the same quality as last week. Lyell United Alpine.—The mine manager reports No. 7 level has been extended a distance of SOft for the month, making a total distance of 1638 ft. The driving throughout has been fair. The tributors in No. 6 level are now breaking down stone for another crushing, and expect to have from five to six hundred tons for treatment before Christmas. There is no change of any importance in the stopes. The reef still continues to run south. The battery manager reports that for the past eight days 15oz of amalgam were obtained from the berdans, yieldiug 4oz of retorted gold. Quotations. —Keep-it-Dark, 45s 6d ; Globe, 2Ss ; Big River Extended, 10s’;- buyers, Sir Francis Drake, 5s ; buyers, Scotia, 2s ; Gallant, 3s ; Inglewood, 4s ; Nil, 2s 6d ; Progress, 23s ; Venus, 7s ; Fiery Cross, 153 6d : ; buyers, Alpine, 20s; Just-in-Time, 2s; Welcome, 7s : Supreme, 3s 3d ; Inkerman, 5s 3d ; No. 2 South Dark, 2s ; sellers, Hard-to-Find, lOd.