REEFTON MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8524, 2 November 1888, Page 7

REEFTON MINING NEWS.

(from our. owk correspondent.) Reefton, October 31. Big River. —The mine manager reports ; Since my last report I continued sinking on the winze a further distance of 4ft. At this distance the stone pinched out. I then started to break out stone over the level that I drove from the first winze sank. I continued the level east, and found the reef in the back wall. I am of opinion now that the reef will be found in the back wall, about the bottom of the winze, as I believe it is only a slip. I was shown the new find yesterday ; it is near the bottom of the Broken Hill and Big River Company’s ground. I prospected the stone and found payable ground. The prospects yielded over loz per ton. I cannot say much of this find, yet the prospectors are taking np a cutting to enable them to get clear of the water. In a day or two I shall be able to speak more fully. Lone Star.—The Mine Manager reports : I have kept four men in the intermediate level driving north for three weeks. My reason for doing so was that the stone was broken, and I wished to ascertain, if poa. Bible, which way it was going before I extended the level. I rose a few feet, and got the stone with a sharp underlie to the west. The distance driven on stone up to date is 177 ft. I have four men prospecting, two of them south of the intermediate and the other two on the lower level. Nil Desperandum.—The mine manager reports ; —During the month I have opened the new block for the distance of 50ft, the reef varying in width from Gin to 3ft, show, ing good gold all the way aud stone still going north. The old stopes are still looking very well. I have sent 212 tons to the battery up to date, the battery returns being 2270 z from plates only. Venus Extended. The mine manager reports Have sent 43 tons of stone to the battery during the week. The rise from the main drive to No. 6 stope is through. The reef will average Ift Sin with the underlie to the east. I have at present three stopes through the slide and into the reef again. Next week I expect to get a large quantity of quartz. The battery returns are 1630 zof amalgam for 4| days' crushing. Keep-it-Dark.—The battery returns for the month far exceed any records for the past three years. The Directors met on Monday to declare the regular dividend. The sinking of the winze from the low level is being vigorously pushed ahead. The reef is still of unknown thickness ; no signs of either wall. The returns for the general clearing np show 9020 z of amalgam from 185 tons of stone. Globe.—The returns for the week are 4040 zof amalgam from 190 tons of stone. This is poor, but it will improve shortly, it being known that a better quality of stone will be got at soon. It is merely a question of time. The poor stone must be got rid of or the prospects of the mine will be materially damaged. Fiery Cross, —The crushing for the week is 1440 z of amalgam from 80 tons. The Company now compasses the Hopeful Extended in addition to the area formerly held. The tender of C. Williams has been accepted tor sinking the new winze on the reef, which is to be carried to a depth of 150 ft, the con. tract price being £1 17b 6d per foot. Inglewood.—The crushing returns are 450 z of amalgam from 95 tons. There was no scraping of the plates, as it was decided to run the stampers until the end of the present week. The new reef shows gold freely, and it is supposed to be a continuation of the Phoenix reef, which crushed 2oz about three years ago, aud to which it bears a great resemblance. Sir Francis Drake.—There is now nothing to delay the starting of the battery by the end of the week. Merrigigs.—Tho contractor’s drive is now in 67ft in a similar country to that previously reported. Just-in-Time: —The mine manager reports there is nothing new to report, only Bft of driving in the cross cut having been done. No change in the ground. In the middle of the week 1 put the men on to try to break through to the winze. I believe they will get through to-night 20ft north of the uprise. Gallants. The mine manager reports nothing fresh, only’that they are on a hard bar, too hard for any reef to live in. South Hopeful.—The mine manager reports : —I took out about three tons of stone, as only one Jman could work to advantage, the other being engaged baling. I then opened out south on the 30ft level. After driviug a few feet we found a new make of stone, which we have followed, whioh is bow 18ft from the winze. This stone is a different sample to that obtained north. The rock of whioh the walls are composed is also of n different nature, and the formation of the ground generally presents a more regular appearance. So far the reef has been small and irregular. Three tons of stono have been got; it is undoubtedly of good quality. As there are no difficulties to contend with, it is likely to lead to a rich and permanent reef farther south. Hard-to-Find, —The mine manager reports having Bunk 4ft 6ia during the week, the reef being 18in thick and showing gold freely at the south end. The reef is small owing to the hardness of the country. Should the country soften we may get a body of stone any day. South Wealth of Nations.—The make of atone at the south end of the level improves with each foot driven. The face now shows a clean body of stone ICin wide. The quality carries excellent gold, and as the lode was met with on the bouudaiy, and both strikes and dips right into the Company’s ground, high hopes are entertained of its future development. Londonderry. The directors’ meeting which was to be held on Saturday was postponed for a week, when future operations will be decided on. Quotations. —Keep-it-Dark, 43s 3d, buyers; Globe, 25s fid, buyers; Big Rivers, 8s fid, buyers ; Sir Francis Drake, 4s fid ; Scotia, 2a 3d; Gallant, 3s; Inglewood, 3a 9d, buyers; Nils, 2s fid; Progress, 26s ; Venus, 7a ; Fiery Cross, 14s ; Welcome, fis 3d ; Just-in-Time, 2s; I nited Alpine, 19s fid; Supreme, 3s 3d; Merrigigs, fid ; Happy Valley, lid ; Inkerman, 4d ; No. 2 South Dark, Is fid; Homeward Bound, 6s 9d; Golden Treasure, Is ; Bendigo, 7d.