MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2457, 30 October 1876, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Pumping Association.—The completion of tho second contract for driving in the north drive from the Pumping Associalion'S shaft was considered by tho manager to bo a favourable opportunity for effecting such repairs to the pumping ongino as wore rendered necessary by the long spell of work (over live months) which has been carried on without intermission sinoe tho previous stoppage for a similar overhaul. Accordingly the pumps wore stopped at noon on Thursday) and the ropairs were promptly set about, Tho energy with which the work was prosecuted will bo seen from tho following statement of what has been accomplished, The air-puuip backet was repacked and the air-pump find condonser thoroughly cleaned out, The equilibrium valve was taken out, and now rings fitted'to it, and the three expansion joints were cloaned out find, re-packod, besides which sundry other minor repairs wore effected, and everything being again in its place, a lair start was made again at 9 o'clock on Friday morning. During tho stoppago and while tho repairs were in progress the bucket of tho bottom lift has been drawn, and the two plungers were packed. The wholo of this work was accomplished and the pumps started to work again after a brief stoppago of 21 hours. In tho meantime) of course, tho water rose considerably ; but it is again reduced, and everything will be ready for starting tho

men to work again this morning. A now contract for extending the north drive a further distance of 150 feet, on behalf of the Kuranui Hill United Company, has been let to McLoughery and party, and they start operations first thing to day. AiiBUKNiA Tributes.—Several crushings for the Alburnia Company's tributers were completed on Saturday, with results which, as usual, wore excellent. Allen and party, from a parcel of 3001b3 of picked stone, obtained a handsome yield of 69ozs 9dwts melted gold. They will start a general crushing'of 60 tons this week at I the Moanataiari battery. Yorcoe and party, tributers cf another section of the mine, crushed tons at the Prince Alfred battery, for a profitable return of 31ozs 4dwts melted gold; and Barclay and party, who have completed a somewhat extensive crushing of 132 tons at the Moanataiari battery, lodged 3530zs gold in the bank on Saturday as the result of the first retorting. The final cleaning up will take place to-day, and it will probably add 150ozs more to the already excellent yield obtained by this party. Caledonian Tribute.—McTnness and party, tributers of a section of tho Caledonian'mine, finished up a crushing of 20 tons of stone at tho Una battery on Saturday, and obtained as the result 27oza lldwls molted gold. Windsor Castle Tributb.—Stanley and party, tributers of a section of the Windsor Castle mine, crushed a parcel of lewt picked stuff on Saturday, for a handsome return of 18ozs melted gold. Several other parties are working in this mine, and obtaining fair prospects. Lithe Lizbie.—The shareholders of the Little Lizzie, Karaka, finished crushing a small parcel of 401bs of specimens on Saturday, as the result of which they banked 21ozs4dwts melted gold. Wilson and party, who are working a section of the claim on tribute, also crushed a 3 mall parcel of 251bs, for a handsome yield of 9ozsl3dwts melted gold. Both parcels were molted at tho Bank of Australasia.

MoiNATAUBi.-The usual fortnightly .retorting for the Moanataiari Company took place on Saturday, the result being 2300zs gold. A cleaning up aud retorting ulso took place at the company's battery for Trcwheella and party, tributers of a section of the old Point liussell mine, for whom 12 tons were treated, and a yield of 18ozs lldwts gold was obtained as the result. The return for the company is not quite so largo as that of the preceding fortnight, but the difference is not very great, and it shows that tho increased average of the returns from this mine, to which we recently referred, is fully maintained. As before, the main j •body of tho crushing stuff was obtained from the Eureka section of tho mine, where thero is still a considerable extent of ground available from tho present levels. Operations on the new level beneath tho Kuranui tunnel are being pushed ahead rapidly, and both drives have made rapid progress through an excellent class of country. Since the intersection of the auriferous reef in the north-west drive, to which we drew attention last week, there have been no further discoveries, and for reasons which havo already boen stated, the manager has decided not open out on this new reef until such time as the main lode is intersected, and communication with tho winze, which is already sunk, effected. Queen of Beauty. -Should tho stuff from this mine continue to produce amalgam 1 at tho same rate during the present week as it has done up to Saturday night, the return from .the present fortnight's crushing will not only be superior to any obtained since the present level was opened, but will bear favourable comparison with the returns which came to hand so regularly when tho mine was at its best, and when there were several levels opened together. The drivo on the course of the main reef has now reached the City of London boundary, but there are large blocks at this .end available for stoping. In fact there is little doubt but that a full and ample supply for the batteries will be available up to the time the new level is opened. In the meantime the sinking of the shaft is making rapid progress through a splendid channel of country, and it is probable that in about a month the necessary depth will be accomplished, and a start made towards opening the new level.

Snowden's Claim (Piece's Point) aro now opening a small block on the left of adit level, and aro getting out a few pounds of picked stone. To get at the lower block tho directors purpose putting in a low lovel from tho level of high-water mark. • This will give, it is estimated, about 100 feet of backs on the underlay of reef, with 400 feet to drive. The Union Beach (Cohojiandei,).The mine manager reports -.-Road level: Tho rise on the cross leader was holed through to this lovel just before the recent stoppage of works. The Green Harp leader is in a distance of 266 feet from the mouth of drive, 33 feet having been driven since starting the continuation of drive. The leader is improving in appoaranee, and a small quantity of good picked stone was obtained from the face last week. Eighty feet and intermediate levels-Cross leader: A block of ground 90 feet by 80 feet from this level to the road level, and also one of 60 feet by 80 feet on the same leader from the intermediate to tho 80-foot level, aro opened out for stoping, which operation commenced on both blocks during last week, and, judging from previous experience whilst opening out those blocks, they ought to yield well. The new pumping gear is working well, taking 5j strokes a minute (4 feet 6 inch stroko) to keep tho water down, the previous rate of travelling used to bo 16 to 18 strokes on tho 3 feet 9 inch stroko. I shall start battory again to-morrow, everything being now in readiness, tho paddock contaiuiug at tho time of writing considerably over 100 tons of quarlz.