REEFTON NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 998, 17 April 1891, Page 18

REEFTON NEWS.

(FROM OUK OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Rksfton, April S. . The Big River mine manager reports as follows :—We have struck the old reef in the main level at a distance of 202 ft from the main shaft. We have not bored through here yet, and can’t say the thickness. Stone broken off shows very good gold. Reefton, April 12. The following are the latest quotations : Cumberland, 6s 9d to 7s 5d ; Durham, 5d to 6d ; Golden Lead, 5s 9d to 6s ; Hercules, 2s to 2a 3d ; Merrijigs, Is to Is Id ; No. 2 Keep-it-Dark, ss7d to 5s lOd ; Scotia, 9dto Is; Wealth, 3s 6d to 3s lOd. Sellers— Alexander Dredging, 5s ; Big River, 9s 9d ; Blue Sky, 6d ; Gallant, 5d ; Inglewood, 6d ; Dark, 12s ; Lord Edward, lOd ; Alpine; 19s. Buyers Alexander Quartz, 2d ; Devonshire, 6d. Returns —Globe, 80oz amalgam from 180 tons; Progress, 2160 z amalgam for the week ; Fiery Cross, 3530 z amalgam from 106 tons ; Cumberland, 2770 z amalgam from 160 tons ; Keep it Daik, 660 z amalgam from 80 tons ; No. 2 Keep it Dark, 171 oz amalgam from 90Itons ; Wealth of Nations, 660 z amalgam from 85 tons. Reports. —Cumberland—The mine manager reports for the follows: —The bottom level has been extended 13ft, making a total distance on the line of reef of 158 ft. The reef still continnes in the drive, bnt is thrown to the north at too acute an angle to follow ; but the drive will be brought round as faot as possible, and made a convenient level for trucking to intersect the reef again in a few feet. In the leading stope from the main level on the perpendicular reef four and half fathoms of stoping has been done, the reef being 4ft wide, and showing gold freely. Twelve fathoms of stoping has been done in the stopes on the flat reef, the reef averaging 2ft in thickness, and of the usual quality. Big River.—The mine manager reports as follows :—We have cut through the reef met with in the main level. It measures 3Jft in thickness and shows good gold. Nothing more can be done on the Btone until the contractors timber up the drive, which will take some time, as there is over 100 ft yet to timber up. Twenty tonß from the new reef is now in the paddook, and we have commenced to timber the crosscut. Scotia.—The mine manager reports that since the holidays the level has been extended Bft, making 30ft driven by the wages men. men. The country is very hard, and there is very little quartz in the face. The crosscut has been driven 10ft, making 48ft from

the level. They crossed a track carrying big lamps of quartz, but no gold. Venus.—The mine manager reports that during the week 17 tons of quartz have been taken from the mine. The reef in the stopes is from ISin to 24in thiek. The distance driven in the stone during the week is 13ft, and at present there is lSia of stone in the back of the rise, and it shows gold freely. Gallant. —The manager reports as follows : —The levels dnriog this week have been extended Bft. There is a good track of png. with quartz leaders intermixed, 3ft wide in the face. Merrijigs is still carrying gold-bearing leaders, and the country is straightening up a little in the level, but we are not yet in the line of country we are driving for. Driving is now in a nice slate country. Inkerman.—The mine manager reports that the main shaft is now down 90ft below No. 2 level. The contractors will be ready to pat in an opening set for No. 3 level at the end of the week, and will continue sinking for a vveek. Tenders for the construction of No. 3 chamber and driving the tunnel to the reef will be called in about seven days and accepted at the end of the month. In the north new find the poor stone has cut out. Crosscutting in the tunnel would most probably expose the rich reef which ran alongside it on the surface. Prospecting for the solid reef near the Scotia boundary will be continued. Caledonian.—A supply of rails and timber now being ready, the work of opening up and re-timberiog the lowest level, known as the Argylo tunnel, will be continued. Three men are engaged at this work.