MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2201, 17 November 1875, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Qceen of Beauty.—The shareholders held their usual fortnightly meeting yesterday, and after passing accounts and making provision for the payment of all liabilities, declared a . dividend of £100 per share out of the splendid "return obtained by them from thoir last fortnight's crushing, The prospects for the ensuing fortnight are excellent, the show on the plates being as good as it'was at: any time during the previous fortnight's crushing.

Cohban.—A small parcel of about ten tons of stuff is now being crushed at the Moanataiari battery for the Coliban Company. It will probably be finished up to-day, but no estimate can yet bo formed regarding the probable return. The crushing is more for the purpose of a trial than otherwise.

Aibpbnia. - The manager-having made arrangement to start a. permanent crush, ing from the Sons of Freedom old workings, will commence this morning on a small scale with 5 head of stampers at the Moanataiari battery. The roeent operations carried on in this section of the company's property have developed a large section of the reef, and encouraging prospect's have been mot with,.and no doubt as the crushing advances, should it prove to be payable, the manager will be itv a position to increase the.crushing force employed. Should operations at the same time be pushed on the .Carpenters' lode, which was met some time ago in the low level, there will bo an additional supply, bo that there will be no difficulty once the quality of the crushing stuff is proved to be remunerative in keeping a very considerable crushing force permanently engaged, Meanwhile crushing is goiog on as usual at the company's old battery on stuff derived from the old levels and upper workings, but its quality is barely payable. Booky Point.—The parcel of stuff forwarded by the shareholders of the Kooky Point claim, Karaka, to the Bright Smile old battery is not yet completed, but will probably be all through the mill to-day. . The stuff, consisting of about 40 tons, has throughout shown up for a good payable return, and when completed will probably equal an average of ISOZ to. the ton. These shareholders, since taking tho claim into occupation, have performed a considerable amount of work, and wo are glad to find that they have been successful in developing what has now been proved by two crushings .to be a good payable lodeMoanataiaei.—Tho' improved prospects of this company's mine, consequent upon the development of the No. 2 reef at the 70-fect levels, have become still further enhanced by the fact that the show' of gold which was. met with in the first instance has increased, and it has been further ascertained that there is a very large block of the .reef intact, which will be available for the supply of crushing stuff for many months to come. The result of the prosent fortnight's crushing wil show a very handsome improvement over those_ obtained recently, and in future returns it is hoped that this improvement will continue and increase. OEowN.PjiiNCEss.--An important item of news came to hand from the Crown Princess mine last evening. During the day the drive on the course of tho No. 2 reef reached the No. 2 winze, which has been sunk from the upper level to meet that lode. The work has been carried on with very .considerable difficulty during the last day or two, and fires hadto.be kept burning in order to disperse the gas -which always accumulates in this mine during murky weather. Of course the ventilation was improved as soon as communication was effected, and the first instalment of reef atuff fromllieloirlcvor of this reef was 'then broken down. The result was rich, much rioher than was anticipated, for fully lewt of good picked stuff and specimens oame to hand almost immediately, and the general character of the reef itself is all that could be desired. It is wellformed and heavily charged with most promising minerals,in addition to the fact of its auriferous character being proved by the rich find to-which we have just alluded, It is expooted that the drive on the course of No. 3 reef will shortly break'through to the winze sunk on that lodes. There only remains about 15 feet to di'ive, but here the gas is just as troublesome as it was in the drive on No. 2, and fires have 'to be kept alight to create a draught.. The present crashing for the company will terminate to-day, and retorting wilUabe place this afternoon.

Queen or the Thames G.M.C.—An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Queen of the Thames G.M.O. was held yesterday at the company's office. The. resolution that the company be wound up voluntarily, which was passed at the previous , extraordinary meeting held on the 12th October, was confirmed. It is expected that after all liabilities are paid and the company wound up there will be a dividend of 5d or 6d per share accruing to each shareholder.