MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1894, 14 November 1874, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Bright Smile. — Early yesterday morning the drive which, at the bottom level of the, Bright Smile, was following what has hitherto been supposed to be the No. 1 reef, communicated with the No. 2 winze sunk in that lode, but to effect this some cross-cutting had to be done; and it is now quite evident that the No. 1 reef of the Bright Bmile mine has never been opened at this level at all except at this point where the communication was effected. Tlie manager naturally enough supposed, when the cross-cut driven for the No. 1 reel intersected two lodos, that the first was what is known as the shaft lode, and the second the. No. I reef. But this was not the case. The two lodes were in reality the shaft-lode split into divisions; but the cross-cut was never extended far enough to intersect the No. 1, which was left in at the hanging-wall side of the lode in hand. This shaft lode, we nny remark, is a lode which strikes a long diagonal course between the No. 1 and No. 2 reefs, connecting with the latter at the eastward side of the shaft and with the No. 1 towards the seaward boundary, When the No. 1 winze was sunk, it wa'i started on the junction of the No. 1 and shaft lode, but after being carried for some depth the lodes separated, and only one lode could be followed. It so happened that- it was the shaft lode which was sunk on, and hence the error which has arisen. But now the two lodes are plainly discernable, and the GO feet which has been driven has been on the shaft lode, but it has left the No. 1 reef almost stripped close to hand. There was gold showing yesterday in the No. 2 reef, but the crushing during the last few days has not been showing up so well as usual, There will be a retorting to-day at the company's own battery after a fortnight's run, and the yield will be about 200ozs of gold. As there has been very little stuff reduced at the Imperial Crown battery since crushing was resumed this week, it is not probable that there will be any retorting there.

Bird-in-Hand. — The trial crushing from the cross-reef of the Bird-ia-Hand mil'* was' completed yesterday, but alti uUfjii the stuff contains gold, it is not in payable quantity. There were in all 10 tons of the loio tested in tho most perfect manner. 1 here was a {Ire-head battery bo. npart for it, the silver was retorted before being used, and it got thorough fair play, but the total yield from the 10 tons was only lfozs of gold, or 3-3-dwts to the ton. '1 his return, although not payable, is satisfactory evidence that the reef is auriferous, and it certainly affords encouragement for fur- • tlier prospecting, for it is quite possible that, although the grade of tho stuff is low at the point now being worked, where we may add the lode is disturbed by the action of the other reef, it is quite possible that other portions of it inuy prove payable. It is certainly looking much better and more of a defined lodo at present tlmn it did at Erst, and although just at present the manager will not continue operations upon it, because for one reason the ventilation is not good, there is 110 intention ot abandoning iho lodo or leaving it uuworked. When more favourable circumstances arise it will bo more thoroughly prospected ou both sides of tho main reef. This lattor lodo, wo may add, is, at tho Una battery, showing up for quite «b good an average as the last fortnight's yield, but at tho .Imperial . 1 rown battery there has not boon much stuff put through sinoe the miUwti.s ■ slatted, tliig week*

Kubanui.—A cleaning up and retorting for the Kuranui Company took place at their own battery yesterday, after 200 tons of stuff had been treated. The. yield obtained was 139 ounces, which, after melting, was reduced to 13Gozs 6dwts. The crushing was 1 brought to a conclusion in consequence of stuff remaining short, but in a short time no doubt there will be more available. Tookey — Lowe's Tbibute. — After paying the company's percentage and other expenses, the four shareholders in this tribute had a dividend of £101 each yesterday out of the result of the crushing which was completed on the previous day. They expect to have another good | crushing before Christmas. Aliiion — Poverty Tkibute. — The crushing which is now going on at the Prince Alfred battery for Northy and party, tributers of the old Poverty mine, will not yield so high an average as some of the previous crushings, but will yield much better than an ounce to the toil. The quantity put through has been considerable, the body of stuff available in the breast being larger than before, but it will be finished up to-day, and the return will be a good payable one. Golden Calf.—The only new feature to notice in regard to the Golden Calf mine is that there has been a great change for the be'-ter in the face towards the main reef. This of itself is of some

importance, as there is a considerable distance still to drive before the lode comes lo hand, but with country of the same class as that now iu the fict 1 , the eon tractors will soon havo it in hand. There is not much work doing at present on the small reef from which tho last crushing was taken, but gold shows through it every time quartz is broken down. Aluuunia.—Crushing for the Alburnia was resumed at the Herald battery last evening. It is expected that the stuff which is now being sent to the mill will yield better than that which has already been put through, because the workings are now closer up towards the run of gold. Old Whatt. — Gold showed again pretty freely yesterday in the body of the main reef of the Old Whau mine and in the foot-wall side of it. The general show was encouraging, and about lOlbs of picked stone were taken out of it. Crushing was commenced at the Herald battery at noon yesterday with 10 head, and a show was noticeable on the plates soon afterwards.