MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2046, 17 May 1875, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Queen of Beauty.— l he usual fortnightly retorting for the Queen of Beauty Company look place on Saturday, and produced a total yield of 5550zs 2dwts gold. The company's own mill was working steadily during the fortnight, and turned out as the result 3020z5, while Bull's battery, which was idle for one day, and only "represents 11 days' crushing for a result of 25iiozs 2dffts. The return, although perhaps not quite so large as wa3 anticipated, nevertheless leaves a large profit', out of which the shareholders n ill this week have another handsome dividend. Tho company's own raachino will be idle for a few days this week while certain repairs to the boiler recommended by the Government Inspector will be executed.

Oiiy of LoKDON.-Tlicre was a retort, iug on Saturday for llio City of London Company at the Kuranui battery, and the yield proved considerably heavier than was generally expected. Indeed the average per ton must bo considerably over that of the- previous fortnight's crushing, for tho yield is larger, although during the last week thero were only 80 head of stampers crushing for tho company, tho remaining ten head having been engaged on a crushing for the tributcrs of tho Kuranui mine. Under these'circumstances such a largo return as G49ozs of gold was not expected. Thero is not much newto report from tho mine. Driving on tho Wo. 3 reef towards the City of York boundary is going oh steadily, so also is the sinking of tho winze on the junction of JNos. 3 and 'I reefs to meet this drive, and tho pitmen are making excellent progress with tho siukiug of the shaft. Sloping is going on as usual on the main reefj and there is no diminution, in the size of the reef or in the quantity of crushing stuff available for the mill. v

' QaEEN of the May,—Eetorling for the Queen of Uio May has been postponed until this raorniug. Ike last fortnight's crushing has been unsatisfactory on ac

count Of frequent stoppages to the mill. These were caused by the defective stato of the centrifugal pump which is employed for raising tbo water used in tho battery, but a new pump is being pro- ; cured so that in future there will be no further delays from this cause. Of courso tho fortnight's yield will be diminished by reason of theso stoppages, but tho average will, we believe, be quite as good as that of last crushing. T?feedside.-A small crushing of 2 tons of stone from the Tweedside claim has been put through the single-stamper battery of the Prince Alfred machine for Mr McDermott, the tribuler, It only .' yielded loz 9Jwts gold. .The average is not so good as that obtained from the last trial, but as the lode is of considerable sizo and easily worked, such an average would pay well, especially if tho lode was worked with system and economy.

. Manukau.—A nice parcel of 40lbs of specimens canio to hand on Saturday from somo of the branch veins at the foot-wall of No. .3 reef. Operations are going on as usual on the main lodes, and the Tramway battery is again'working to its full capacity on stuff from this mine, but tbereia no chango of importance to notice as regards the large reefs, the average of the stuff being apparently similar to the last month's crushing. No arrangements have yet been entered into regarding the deep level which jt was proposed to open either from the present workings of tie Cure mine or the 170feet level of tho Goldon Crown. Negotiations had 'been commenced, but it is understood that they have been discontinued until the affairs of the Pumping Association are in a more satisfactory position than they are at present. If tho pumps' stop, of course it will be impossible to work ihis or any of the adjoining mines. It maybe that such an exeroiao of caution is uunecessary,';but itis a pity that enterprise, which would be 'devoted to the development of new reefs and new levels, should be paralysed by the unsatisfactory manner in,which the arrangements entered into by the Government, aro being carried out in respect to payments for the sinking of the Association's shaft, and the maintenance -of the pumping machinery. "•' Golden Calf.—During the last weok gold has continued to show in the reef which has been driven on from tho 350feet level, and on the whole there appears to bo an improvement in its quality, but the extent of the improvement and tho qualify of the reef will be best shown by the result of a crushing which is to lake place next week. Tbcro is not a largo quantity on hand, merely what has come irom the drive, but it will no doubt be a fair test of tho reef, and if the result should prove satisfactory, no timo will bo lost in starting stoping and breaking out a larger parcel. Bright Smile.—The plunger, with nil its connections, pump-rods, &c, havo all been fixed iu their place in the bottom of the shaft, and the final adjustment,will, it is thought, bo completed to-day, so as to allow tho engine to be started, and pumping resumed.. Sinking the main shaft will be started this week. To-day crushing on a small scale for tho company will also be started with ten head of stampers at| the company's own mill (Vickory's battery). , ...

Cbown PitiNOEBSt-A further breaking down of stuff from the No.-2-reef,-on Saturday, showed the reef to have main- - tained its auriferous character, for there *.*' was a very good general show of gold, although there wero no; specimens. bb-' tnined. A considerable. quantity of crushing stuff ; was forwarded to the •Bright tfrailo battery on Saturday, and • there crushing will be commenced to-day with a force of 12 head of stampers. Tho stuff on hand is mainly„ from the specimen leador v but in tlie course of a few days the manager will start sloping the No. 2 reef, and from both sources there will probably be sufficient quartz obtainable to keep up a constant crushing with a'good force of stampers.

Little Lizzie.—The parcel ofapeoimens from the little Lizzie claim, alluded to in Saturday's issue, was crushed on Saturday in the berdans belonging to the shareholders, and a hand-, somo yield of 9lozs 6dwts retorted gold was obtained from the 1201bs~ of stono treated. This waß melted at the Bauk of Australasia, and reduced to a bar weighing 87ozs sdwts 12grs. ..