MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2149, 16 September 1875, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Bed White and Bx.de,—Tho crushing for Campbell and party, tributers of Wo. 1 section of tho lied White and Blue mine, which was completed yesterday, at tho Moanataiari battery, did not mcot expectations. Tho result during tho crushing was variously estimated at from three-quarters of an ounce to tho ton, but even tho lowest of those avoragos was not reached by the result. There wero, in all, 90 tons of stuff put through, for a yield which, when melted, only amounted to ddozs Idwt gold. Tho result iß,_ wo ; believe, payable, for the stuff was obtained easily. Caledonian.—Tho rich show of gold in the JNVS reef Caledonian mine, which created such a sensation during tho last few days, continued yesterday, and tho operations carricd on during the forenoon brought down 601bs of specimens of as rich quality as thoso exhibited in tho bank, besides a considerable quantity of rich picked stuff. There .was good gold still left showing in the face and roof of the drive, and during tho afternoon another lot of specimens equally good and equally largo camo to light, and there is no falling off in tho show of gold now apparent. Tho reef is, on the whole, slightly larger in size than it appeared to be on tho previous day, _ and tho golden vein which was struck in the hangingwall side of it produced a fair proportion of tho specimens which came to hand yesterday. The company is to bo congratulated on tho rich prospects which are opening beforo them in this reef, and the crushing which is now going on at

hoPrinco Alfred battery is certain to ield a handsome, in fact, brilliant, ro-

turn from tho first lot of rock from tho No. 5 or Curo reef treated for tho Cale-

donian Company. x MANUKAU.-Thero is a marked improvement in tho quality of tho No. 6 roef in tho low level of tho Manukau, and although gold has not yet been visible

through it in any great quantity, tho indications aro now such that tho manager is pretty confident that in another few days at furthest tho drivo on the course of tho lode „will open golden stono and'good crushing stuff. Wo have often previously referred to tho number of rich leaders which, from tho foot-wall .of the No. 3 or largo reef, striko down towards tho hanging-wall of tho No.. 5 as being almost certain to make a good run of gold in tho latter when thoy formed a junction with it. These leaders, when worked on tho 100-fcot lovel, were for somo months tho main source from which the yields were obtained, and tho drive on the course of Wo. 5 has now

almost reached tho spot where theso leaders will join it. The favourable indications apparent yesterday, and tho improvement in tho class of country which has taken place, aro -accepted as evidences that gold is now close to hand. There is a quantity of Stuff to hand from tho reef, but there havo been no rich prospects through it, and crushing has been postponed pending the opening of the reef at the spot where it was expected good rich stono would be found. Golden Calf, — Crushing for tho Golden Calf Company will.bo resumed to-day at tho Tramway battery. Tho stuff now sent to the mill has been broken out by Mr Pearson, tho present manager, whilo cutting down tho floor of the drivo on tho main lode, and as thcrowas gold visible and fair'prospects thero is a strong probability that tho stuff will yield a good payable roturn. Tho cross-cut for ventilation has not yet reached tho Otago workings. We 0 understand that Mr Pearson has tendered his resignation to the company in consequenco of his having to go to Lyttelton on private affairs. Mr Pearson has not had much opportunity j during the timo ho has had charge of tbo mine in tho way of improving tho prospects of tho company, but wo feel certain that from his knowledge of the reef system of this and tho adjoining mines, Bnd especially his experience in tho Central Italy, as foreman and manager, that he would havo made a valuable servant to tho company. Queen of the May.—Eetorting for tho Queen of tho May Company will take place to-day, at tho Una battery, after a fortnight's crushing, and tho result is likely to bo similar to those of recent crusbings. Crushing' is now temporarily suspended, but will be resumed again in about a week. Tho blocks of lode'-stuff opened from tho present main level are becoming exhausted, and thero is therefore somo difficulty in keeping up constant crushing, but, with a week's spell occasionally, to allow tho quartz to accumulate, returns will bo kept up. Meanwhile the sinking of tho main shaft is making steady progress.- It is now down about SO feet, and is still in first-class working ground.

——' J Qoekn of BBAOiY.—Tliis corapany has discontinued crushing at Bull's bnttory, and retorted tho amalgam resulting from llio weok's crushing, obtaining as tho result 2340zs gold, 'J hero is a littlo moro still to como from tho scraping of tho plates and tho final cleaning up. Tho manager's reason for discontinuing crushing at Bull's battery is that, now that tho blocks opened hnvo boon to sorno cxtont worked out, and there is no immediato prospect of opening up the new level, ho justly considered that it would: bo undo* sirablo to employ 'such a largo crushing forco, and thereforo profora .keeping sufficient stuff availablo for a constant supply to tho company's own mill .until such timo as tho now level is fully opened. Wo may add that tho main shaft is now down -15 feet bolow tho presont working love), and is in splendid country. Tho lode is just coming into tho 'shaft, and tho quartz composing it is of an excellent class, but sinking is now discontinued.