MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 1951, 25 January 1875, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Mantjkau.—Ketorting for the Manu* kau Company took place on Saturday, and the result far exceeded the amount expected by the most sanguine, and is in. every respect a splendid yield. The result of the retorting, after 16 days' crushing with 17 head of stampers, was 1,2780zs gold. '1 here will be another retoning at thfi end of the month : ;for the company, and judging from the prospect of the mine at present and the manner in which the stuff has lately been turning out, there will doubtless be a handsome addition to the present return. Old Whau.—Retorting for the Old Whau also took place on Saturday at the Moanataiari battery, after a fortnight's crushing with 20 head of stampers, and 9 days with 10 head. The return, although not quite so large as was anticipated, is nevertheless an excellent one, amounting to 5420zs gold. Qoekn of BKAurY.—There were two retortings for the Q'icen of Beauty on Saturday, after the fortnight's crushing at the company's own mill and at Bull's battery, and although the stuff was much poorer than usual in consequence of the largo amount of country which has to be taken out between the two reefs at the junction, the return is a good one, and will pay a dividend. The company's own mill produced 3270zs and Bull's battery 3460zs Uiwts, making the_ total return for the fortnight 6730zs 14dwts of gold. Old Monabch. —A small parcel of stuff from the Old Monarch claim at the bead of the Waiotahi, was crushed on, Saturday for the handsome yield of 7oas Idwt 12grs of melted gold. Pjjinoe Alfbed Batteby.—At this mill there are a few small crusbiags going on which will be finished to-day. They include a trial lot from tbe.Springhill claim (about which a lawsuit is now pending in the Warden's Court), and a parcel of 16 tons from the Watchman claim. To-day a start will be made upon small parcels from the Twenty-third of June and Christmas Kve claims.

Golden Cbown.—A good, strong seam of quartz, 15 inches thick, was met with on Saturday ia?the cross-cut at the 70feet level of the"Golden Crown mine. It lies in the hanging-wall side of the No. 3 reef and the foot-wall-of the No. 1. The stopes in the latter have not yet been, reached. This.leader, although gold is not visible at the point of intersection, is a most promising looking one. It is heavilv charged with rich looking copper mundi'c, of that class which is invariably associated with gold in the lodes of the locality, and the manager is pretty sanguine regarding its prospects. A trial crushing will be taken out without delay, and this can be very readily done as the lode is almost stripped by the ground having fallen away from it into the stopes on the No. 3 reef. A few feet more driving should now be sufficient to roach, the stopes on the No. 1 reef, and when this is accomplished there will be ample ventilation to enable the manager to open, up, not only tbislod-, but the other wbiob. was cut some time ago, and which showed gold at the time. This latter lode the manager has hitherto been unable to drive upon for want of sufficient ventilation, -t Califoehu.-A gold return came to hand on Suturdayfrom the old California claim, Tararu, and is the first lodgment of gold from that district for many months past. Its amount was liozs 6dwts. It was the result of a parcel j>f stuff crushed at the Missouri battery, the average of which was about 4dwts to the ton. It was taken out of a deeper level ihan any previously opened in the claim.. Queen of the Mir.—the manager is about to call lor tenders for inuiediately starting a drive from the chamber of the City of London shaft into the company's ground. For the first 12 feet the drive- will not bo on the reef, but after that the lode will be to hand all tuo distance; and in 60 feet of driving the bottom of the winze, which has been, sunk from the upper level, will be reached. A large block of ground will thus immediately be opened for stoping; and in the course of about a fortnight, or three weeks the manager, will be able to start a permanent crushing for the com* •Pany- ' City of London.—ln this mine the manageress almost finished the chamber —at least it is fiuished to a sufficient extent to enable him to start operations by driving in the lode, and crushing will commence this week. 1 here is already a considerable supply of qiartz from'the chamber, for the junction of the No. 3 reef and the cross-lode was to hand in the bottom of the shaft j and a trial lot from this will be sent to the mill as soon . as possible. BaiaHr Smile.— There was a?iin a nice parcel of specimens to hand from thelowerlevelot'the Bright Smile mine on Saturday.forenoon, and the appearance ~oT the reef in the face continues very satisfactory. There was no cleaning up for the company ou Saturday, as it has been decided to continue crushing up to the end of the month.

ALBUHHU.-Ihis company's crushing at the Herald battery is utmost finished. The stuff has shown up very fairly on the plates while going through the mill, and the return is likely to prove a satisfactory one. The specimen leader is not yet to hand in the cross-cut.

Cubb, —The contractors are still making steady progress with the cross-cut from the'.No. 1 level of the Caledonian, through a fine sandstone country, which blasts well. In another 25 feet of driving they will reach the black reef of the Cure mine, near the spot where the winze has gone down. 'J his winze although not quite down to the level, will probably be struck by the top of the drive, so that communication will be im« mediately effected, and s toping can be at once commenced. During the present dead work, of course, the aspect of the reef remains unchanged, but the block which will now he opened will be aa extensive one, and it has already beoa proved to be rich by the crushing* which have been taken out of it. The drive will reach the winze day week, so that in a very sbortiime .tlie manager will be able to start vigorous operations ou the lode with better facilities for working than be has ever before possessed, so far, at least, as this lode is concerned.