MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2132, 27 August 1875, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Bbight Smile.—Excellent progress is now being made with the sinking of tho main engine-shaft. A depth of 40 feet below tho present main level has already been attained, and the country through which it is passing is described by the manager as being the best .that has ever been met with since tho shaft was first started, The inflow of water is also very muchless than it has been for a long time. In fact, the pumps have very littlo work in comparison with tho former strain upon their capacity to perform now. Whether the shaft is draining the reefs is not of course known, but it is quite reasonable and accountable that there should be less water to contend against in tho deeper levels, now that the whole of the surface drainage is exhausted. Sloping was started yesterday on the Queen of Beauty reef. This is tho first fair start made by tho company upon this lode, and from the class of rock which was worked up to tho boundary in the Queen of Beauty, and the prospects in the lodo where it has been opened in the Bright Smile, we believe that the stuff obtained from this lode will make a very material difference in the fortnightly returns for the company. Cbown PBiNCEss.-Good rich stone still continues to come to hand from the Crown Princess mine, and yesterday an increase of 301ba was made to the contents of the specimen chest, and good rich stone was still in sight.- Crushing for tho company will be resumed on Monday nest if by that timo the repairs, to tho Bright Smile old battery are finished, for the manager intends to continuo crushing at this mill with his usual force of 12 head of stampers.

Moanataiabi.—Although tho quantity of stone reduced'for the Moanataiari Company during tho current fortnight will be much less than usual, tho battery having been idle for five days last week while repairs were being effected to tbe engine, wo believe tho average will be superior to the recent returns. A considerable proportion of the crushing stuff is coming to hand from Heldt's reef, a large lode whieh is being worked nearly under the creek bed, in which gold shows occasionally. _ There is no doubt but that this lode, besides adding so very materially to the quantity of crushing stuff available from other sources, has also improvod the yields since, the manager began to break it out in quantity. There is still a length of upwards of 100 feet of the reef' undeveloped; but the drive on its course is being pushed towards the. boundary as rapidly as-possible, and there are reasonable expectations that before that distance is driven there will be some good shots of gold discovered; at all events, the lode has been improving as it has been driven on, and is now producing stuff which leaves a good margin of profit. - Nick Whifflts.-A small crushing of 10 tons from a claim on the upper Waiotahi, to which tbe abovo appellation has been given, was completed yesterday at the Waiotabi battery for a moderate yield of sozs Gdwts 12grs melted gold. South Djsvon.-A parcel of 20 tons, [ crushed for' the tributers of the South | Devon, only yielded Bozs6Jwts gold. Tho return is not payable.

Manukau.—As wo anticipated n day or two ago, tjie management liavo decided not to retort the amalgam now on hand until such time as the trial crushings which are to go through next week are completed. In the meantime the mill is idle, and all operations on behalf of this company from tho 100-feet level of the Golden Crown are suspended. From the Cure level, however, tho drive on the course of thb No. 4 and No. 5 reefs is being pushed ahead as rapidly as possible, and the winze from the upper level is now down to a sufficient depth to meet this one. The stone derived from the reef so far has been saved for crushing, although it has not shown gold, nor indeed does the manager anticipate any rich find until tho drive reaches some

distance beyond tho winzo. Communication will be effected probably to-day, Jor although the ground is very hard, there only remains a few feot to drivo to break into the winze.. ! Golden Ceown,—Mining operations in the Golden Crown wero resumed on Monday last, and since then eight men have been employed. They have started two prospecting drives to ihtorseot branch veins, but tho ground being very hard they have not mado much progress yet, nor has thero been any discovery since operations have been commenced. Buuion, Tapu,—lt appears that at last the Full Moon reef, for which tho shareholders of tho Bullion claim, Tapu, havo been driving for such a length of time, has at last''come to handi Mr James Robinson received a telegram from Mr H. McLiver, manager of the claim, last night intimating, " Struck tho Full Moon reef; gold showiog through tho quarlz." Mr Robinson is, wo may add, a director of tho company, and ono of tho largest shareholders.

Caledosiah.— During tho last day or two the company, in driving on tho courso of the reef, havo been still iu tho Cure mine, but tho boundary was reached last night. The stone is. still standing, very little having been broken down since Tuesday last, but tho face will bo squared up to-day, and - somothing more will thon be known of the quality of tho lode,