MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XI, Issue 3126, 26 September 1878, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Albumi a. — The manager's weekly report is as follows:—" Sons of Freedom level: The two hoppers at bottom of winze, are now complete, and the dividing of passes and erection of ladder-way will bo pushed on as expeditiously as possible. Dixon's low level: A. portion of ground had to be removed to make room for hoppers. This is now almost complete, and a start will be made to-morrow to erect tho hoppers and drive the winze for passes and ladderway, 70 feet level.' Contractors are making good progress; no change in the reef, Intermediate : A change for the better has taken place, within a day or two a few pounds of picked stone have come to hand. Whau level, west drive: The reef is notcontinuing so large, but is still shewing a little gold. Leading stopo_ above still retains its usual size and quality. Second stope: Beef looks well—2s lbs of good picked stone taken from it yesterday. Dixon's section: The Few North Cluneg company having driven to their boundary, I have started to continue their drive. The reef is divided into throe sections, each shewing gold. A few pounds of picked stone have come to hand. The drive going east towards the above drive has been put in 20 feet through barren country, but a reef now appears to bo making in face. West drive: No progress has been made, the men having been employed in timbering up, which is now complete. The stopes in back are not producing such good crushing stuff as the stopes in the intermediate above. There are now on hand about 2501b5. of picked stone. Battery: Tho general stuff has not much improved as yet, but I. expect an improvement today, as tho quartz seems of a much better grade.—S. Gmbblb, Sept. 24,1878." New Nomh Clunes.—A leading stope is being taken along on the top of the drive on Dixon's reef, west of No 1 drive. The lode is 2\ feet thick, of good crushing dirt, gold being seon in the stone at every breaking down. A start will be made to take a leading stope east of the winze in a few days. Driving on the Whau reef is suspended for a time, as the men are wanted to stope out Dixon's for a while. The lode is a fine-looking body of solid quartz, and is 2£ feet thick, with plenty of pood mineral running through it, but no gold is seen. Tho last of the quarlzin the hopper was forwarded to tho Prince Alfred battery yesterday. About 38 loads havo been sont down altogether. No estimate of how tho dirt is shaping at tho battery can yet bo formed, as there were no berdans available until yesterday morning, but tho manager feels confident that it will be a payable one. Bendigo United,—No work is being dono in the stopes at present, nor will there be until tho winze is through from tho upper level. It is now down about 18 feet in rather tight country, and tho roef iu the bottom is 18 inches thick. In the meantime the men are employed in repairing tho traok in the lower level and putting in new timbers where they are

wanted. A start will bo made to forward quartz to tho mill as soon as tho tramway is availablo, there being a considerable quantity in tho hopper. WATomiiN.-In tho low level men are employed in stripping tho lodo in tho leading stope, preparatory to breaking it down. The winze from tho tribulers low level is down about 27 feet. The reef is 3 feet thick and gold is aeen in tho quartz so far as it is sunk upon. The tributcrs, George and party, have put up their rise to a height of 25 feet on the reef, but have not seen any gold for tho last day or two. They intend to forward a crushing to the battery to«dny, from which they expect a payable return. •New North Dbvon.—There nre effect of good crushing dirt in tho face, and gold _is frequently seen. Tho lodo is running through good country, and good progress is being made. A start has been made to put up a rise about 20 feot from the faeo, and as soon as it is up a sufficient height leading stopes will bo pashod ahead in both directions, The manager intends to commence crushing operations next Monday, as the hopper will be full by that time. Caledonian.—Gleaning up and retorting for this company took place yesterday at tho Prince Alfred battery. Three different trial lots were put through, but the first two put through gave a very poor yield of amalgam; tho third, about 12 loads from tho new lode near the Goldon Calf boundary, gave a bettor return, the yield being 15ozs Mwts melted gold.

Amalgamated Companies' Deive.—A. new roof has been mot with in the southern cross-cut from the pumping shaft. It i 3 of Rood size, four feet having been driven through without showing signs of the wall, and the stone is looking favourable for carrying gold. ItniANUT Hut, Tbibotes. — Ohallis and party crushed 16 tons of general dirt at the company's battery for the good return of 31ozs lidwts melted gold.— Christie and party put through a trial parcel, at the same battery, for the yield of 3ozs 6dwta melted gold.

Don Pedro.—Woods and party crushed a parcel of two tons at the Kuranui battery for the return of 2ozs lOdwts melted gold. Juno.—Smith and party, tributers, crushed a parcel of picked stone at the Prince Alfred battery for the yield of 15ozs retorted gold,

Golden Crown.—Lamb and party, tributers, finished a crushing yesterday; aud obtained 13oza 2dwts melted gold.