MINING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4146, 4 July 1874, Page 6

MINING.

Tho lately reported explosion of fire-damp in a quartz-mine is thus described by the Thames correspondent of tho Southern Cross ; —The drive on tho course of the No. 1 reef in the Crown Prince mino has been carried a long distance to the seaward (westward) of the other workings of the mine, and a slide has been struck. The slopes have been earned up to the same slide, and hence the difficulty arose. At about eight o’clock last night there was a leakage of water about 12 feet above the level in the slopes in this reef. The underground manager, Mr. Becche (brother of Mr. Beoche, the manager of the mine), went up into the slopes, and was about to stop the leak with clay. Unsuspicious of danger, he brought his candle close to the aperture, when suddenly a fierce blaze burst out. Ho at once dropped into the main level, and the flame, with great fury, roared through the slopes with fearful sound. -Mr. Beeche, by being underneath, escaped the flames, which in about ten minutes died out. This morning one of the workmen went to tho aperture to jam up tho hole, when his caudle again set the gas on fire, and before he could escape the front of his shirt and other portions of his clothing were much scorched. This is quite a uew enemy with which to contend.

Larry’s Creek, a remote but rich locality in the luangahua reefing district (Nelson) is thus spoken of by the reporter of the llecftonZ/craW : It is certainly gratifying to note the improvements that have taken place hero of late, and especially so to one who has been a constant visitor during the last two year's, and has seen Larry’s pass through all its dreary stages in the scale of advancement. The scene is somewhat dilferent now to what it was twelve months ago, when veteran Lnrryitcs assembled around Cox’s fireplace to wear away the leisure hour in recounting their past experiences, and indulging in fanciful hopes of the future. The few huts which then marked the site of the present township, have given place to substantial buildings. The population has increased to very nearly one hundred men—all of whom find employment in one or other of the claims.

Boatman’s is another locality in the Inangahua district from which good accounts are

received. The Piery Cross Company have struck a very rich reef in the incline shaft, at a depth of 84 feet below tile main level. The width of reef 2 feet S inches, entirely free from pyrites, antimony and other mineral substances, with which the stone has been so heavily charged for the last 70 feet of sinking. The block of stone which has" been just met with is of a dull blue color, very solid, and is thoroughly impregnated with gold, though of a fine quality. The Herald considers that the fact of such rich stone being found at a depth of 320 feet below the level of the Just-in-. Time Company’s present workings, indicates the pennanancy of the reefing industry iu the Boatman’s district.

The mining manager of the Halcyon Quartz Mining Company, Mohikinui, sends the directors a most encouraging report. He says that soon after arriving on the ground, he proceeded to carry down the shaft already commenced in the southern drive. After sinking fourteen feet, which with that already done made twenty-four feet, the reef ran out altogether ; but the casing still continued. He sank another five feet through the casing, when he struck the top of the lode, one inch wide. He continued down on this, and iu the course of five feet' sinking, it widened out to twenty inches; the stone on the upper lode getting- poorer as they got lower; but the finding in the under lode is rich beyond anything yet found in that rich district. Gold, says Mr. Champion, is visible iu every piece. The Halcyon Company intend bringing 700 to 1000 tons of stone to grass before entering into any negotiations for machinery. The Kanieri water-race is described by the directors of the company constructing it as certain to prove a success. There have already been two extended claims applied for in Connelly’s gully, and Thomas Caldwell has made an application to he supplied with three heads of water, he wishing to have the first right. Also after crossing the left hand branch of Kanieri River, there is a highly payable flat, of between 300 and 400 acres, at present being worked by two parties with a very inefficient water supply. This flat will be supplied from the race, and will probably require from fifteen to twenty heads. There is also a good prospect of water being required to work the whole of the terrace from Kennedy’s point back to the long tunnel, a distance of three miles of auriferous country. The first claim is now about opening with every prospect of being more remunerative than any claim hitherto worked in that neighborhood. In addition, the Directors confidently expect that water will be running through five miles of the race in about three weeks, and the whole of the present contracts will be completed on or about tbe 30th September next. The Collingwood correspondent of the Nelson Colonist furnishes the following particulars regarding the promising reefs at Anatori: —“That we have as rich and as extensive a goldfield close to us as has ever been opened in New Zealand, I am convinced. Of course I allude to the reefing district of West Wanganui, which may he said to be only on the eve of being opened. You heard, of course, of the result which a crushing of one ton of quartz from the prospectors’ claim gave, 46ozs. Another small crushing of S.llbs. of specimens from the next claim yielded the extraordinary quantity of lOjozs. of retorted gold, at the rate of about 4400z5. to the ton ! Admitting that this was obtained from. picked stone, it is still very great, and a sure indication of the immense richness of.the quartz. This small quantity was brought over by the proprietors to obtain the necessary funds to prosecute these works, and they are satisfied they can continue getting funds in this manner,’ viz., by crushing a few pounds occasionally as they require money. They are about to put in a tunnel at a low level, and are sanguine of striking the reef by driving a little 1 more than 100 feet.”