MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2081, 28 June 1875, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Qfjebn of Beaut?.—"Retorting for the Queen of Beauty took place on Saturday at both batteries, and the total return was considerably in excess of what was anticipated. The stuff crushed during" the fortnight at the company's own mill produced 3150z5, and that treated at Bull's battery 3070zs 17dwts, making a totalreturn of 6220zs 17dwts. The first week's crushing was on stuff of inferior quality, but the last few days'run showed a material improvement, and if, as is likely to be tho case, the stuff continues to shape up as well during the current fortnight, the yield should bo the largest which has been obtained from the mine for many months past. The crushing completed will, after defraying current exponsos, probably pay a dividend of £150 per share. In the mine the manager is still opening up the No. 1 reef, where it was recovered in tho bottom level under circumstances to which wo have already alluded. There is a large mass of crushing stuff, and gold shows freely through it. Jn the 150-feet level also, where operations are still progressing, there is a very fair show in the new lode which has been discovered running between the workings on tho Nos, 1 and 2 reef 3. In fact, inoveryjespect, notwithstanding tho comparatively poor show mado by some of the mullooky stuff treated last fortnight, the aspect of the mine is eminently satisfactory.

ALnroN.'-Retorting for the Albion Company took, place on Saturday a.t the Prince Alfred battery, after 33 tons had been treated, and a handsome yield of olozs 18dwta was the. result. This stuff was tho first trial from the reef opened sometime ago at the bottom of Kelly's shaft, and the result has proved that the lode is a highly importaut one. We have previously written of the large extent of it which' can bo developed from the present level, which affords solid backs o£ 170 feet in depth. Drives will be put in from the shaft to cut the block into more convenient sections forstoping, and when this is done the lode will supply very considerable quantities of crushing stuff, although tho country surrounding it is rather hard. We may add that crushing for the company is still progressing, and operations in the mine are going on not only on this lode ■ but on tho Young American reef, a rich section of which has beon opened up. : Waiotahi Tbibuie,—A parcel of gold weighing, after melting, 7ozs Cdfrts 12grs' was lodged in the Bank of New Zealand on Saturday as tho result of a crushing completed at the Waiotahi battery for tributers who are working a section of the company's mine. The stuff was poor, and the return is scarcely payable. South Stafpoed.—Another retorting took place on Saturday at the baltory belonging to this claim, on the Hape Creek. We have not ascertained the exact quantity put through, but the resuit, amounting to 16ozs 6dwts ,12grsj is, we believe, payable. Bkighi Smile.—There was a cleaning up and retorting for ■ tho Bright Smile Company on Saturday, after nearly a fortnight's crushing with 10 head of stampers at their own old battery. Tho result was 108ozs gold, and the grade of the stuff treated is very much superior to that composing some recent cruahings. In fact, the return is a very satisfactory and . encouraging ono, and • augurs well for'_ the company when they have their new and powerful crushing machinery operating on stuff from this level. Of course there is only a very limited mine force now working in the mine, but everything is ready for putting on a sufficient force to break out stuff when the new battery-is completed. We may add that the extension of the No. 2 reef, to which we recently alluded, contains a gcod show of gold and a large body of quartz.

HazelbaukTbibute.—Another cleaning up and retorting took place on Saturday morning at the Prince Alfred battery for the tributers of the Hajclbank Company, and tho result was again highly satisfactory. The quantity crushed was 45 tons, and the yield was 103ozs 9dwts, which when melted was reduced to lOlozs. Tho stuff crushed was from the young American reef, in which tho show is still good, and as tho body of quartz is largo tho tributers are in a position to crush largo quantities.

Manukau.— i satisfactory arrangement lias been arrived at between tho Cure and Manukau Companies, by which the latter havo obtained permission to work from tho Cure level, and operations will bo started to-day. The manager of tho Manukau willbe able at once to start upon quartz, for the lodo has been driven on in the Cure mine up to tho Manukau boundary; 'This will enable the Manukau Company to open up an advantageous low lov.el in their whole mine, and wili besides' afford them an

opportunity of working not only tho No._ 4 reef, but tlte splendid No. 5 reef, which is now yielding so splendidly for tho Cur,e Company, Una.--Driving on tho course of-tho reef has been carried on for a length of i 16 feet, and although there has not been any gold visible since tho reef was first intersected, tho / class of work is very satisfactory, au'd it is heavily charged. with bright copper raundic, and also with dark heavy coloured mineral of that cla33 which was usually associated with gold in the upper levels. Tho reef has beon diviJed by a howe of country, but this is now giving out, and the sections of tho lode aro closing together, forming a mass of about three feet of crushing stuff. Ilriving on tho lode in tho opposite direction will be started to-day. Nono of tho stuff oblaiued from the level has yet been crushed, as tho tramway connection between the mine and tho battery is not yet completed.

MoANATAiAEi.-During the last week there has been a slight improvement in the Moanataiari.crushing, although nono of the stuff fronfrth'Q Eureka portion of tho mino has yet reached tho mill. Astart will be made with the latter this week, when a quantity of stuff from the aurface will be forwarded to tho mill.

Golden Calf.—An excellent Show of gold was met with on 'Saturday evening • iu the main level of tho Golden Calf mine, and on this occasion the gold was in tho body of the reef, not in the branch veins or stringers, In fact, tho show was tho most encouraging yet found in this level," and if it continues to spread through the ' rock, and it is now doing, the reef will become a Very valuablo property. City or London.—Retorting for tho City of London has been postponed until to-day. < Queen of the May .—Retorting for this company will take place to-day, after a fortnight's run. The return will be an improvement upon recent ones. Point Utjssell Tmbute.—A parcel of 1\ tons, crushed at the Moanataiari battery for Britt and party, tributers of tho Point llussell Company, only yielded 2ozs 13dwts gold, and this when melted was reduced to loz 19dwts 12grs. Tho stuff is not payable. ,