MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XII, Issue 3469, 12 November 1879, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

Albubnia, — The prospects in this mine are very encouraging at the present time. The main operations are on the 70ft level. In the drive west which is going towards the Whau boundary the reef has been driven on 40ft since gold was struck. It is a splendid body of stone, about three feet thick, and oolours of the precious metal are strongly impreg. nated in it. At the time of our visit several nice pieces of auriferous quartz were broken down In the leading stope wbioh has only recently been started but which is already a considerable distance in, the lode is similar in appearance to that on the level, and equally good prospeots are observable. STesterday the men were employed in ' stripping both the leader in the face and that in the stopes, prior to breaking down to-days The stone in this portion of the mine has a similar appearance to that obtained in the vioinity of tho famous Whau level patch, end it is believed that there is a rioh deposit somewhere in the neighbourhood, The company had a large block of ground here, and should something good be unearthed, it would take several months to work out the block, ihe manager's opinion is, - and it has been backed up by others competent to judge —that the present show wil[ continue, in which case the oompany will very soon be in a position to deciare a good dividend. The reef in the face of the drive east is a healthy looking body of stone, nearly of three feet in thickness, and the whole of the stuff obtained from it is sent to the mill. There is no change in the stopes above the level; a large quantity of average quality dirt is being broken out from them. Ihe winze that is being sunk on the main lode from the floor of the level, at the point where a small leader Btrikes into it is down 15 feet. The leader is well-defined, and colours of gold are occasionally seen in it. On Dixon's lower level the lode in the drive east continues to improve, and colours of gold are muoh more frequently seen in the stone. In tho present face there is a large body of healthy-looking quartz, the whole.-of whioh is being forwarded to the battery. At the battery there is a deoided improvement in the crushing, consequent on the improved quality of the stone from nearly every part of the mine, but more especially tho 70-feet level, and the manager anticipates a return this month nearly double that obtained last time, if present appearances continue. The tributers, Barclay and party, finished a crushing of general stuff yesterday for 15fozs gold. Moanataiabi Teibutbs.—Thomas and party lodged yesterday loz 14..iwts, Brett and party loz 6dwts, and Whieker and parly 33ozs 18dvrts. JNw Worth Devon.—Mcllhaney and party realised 3ozs from a crushing. Waitekaubi.—Hollis and party, who lately obtained the Golden Point section of this mine on tribute, have finished a trial crushing for a return of 18ozs of gold.