MINING MATTERS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3571, 25 March 1880, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

]New WHAtr.~We had occasion yes? terday to point out a statement made Vy our contemporary that its sapient mining reporter was altogether not very favourably impressed with the prospects of the bottom, although we showed, on the authority of the mino manager, that the young gentlfifoian in question was not within 12 feet of the bottom, Wo also took occasion to mention that we feared our contemporary had made a dead-set against this mine, because this was not tho only 1 derogatory notice of its workings in the samo issue. Our fears received further confirmation in yesterday's issue, whoro wefind re-printed an opinion of "Bed-Cap's," written prior to last Friday, and convoying the same idea the sapient mining reporter reproduced in Tuesday's Star, namely, that " the bottom has not beeii goad—that's what's the matter." So far as "Ked-Cap" is concerned, the Whau occupies the position of the sour grapes, because ho failed in his efforts to get back tho number of shares he forfeited in the old company for non-payment of calls, But "Ked-Cap" is not alone in this respect.

There are others amongst tho detractors of the mine in the same posi ion. Odo of these was yesterday industriously reporting that a horso had come in at the bottom, and another that "nothing" could be seen—we don't know if the individual had spectacles on at the time. Wo believe a few days will suffice to prove to all such that they are false prophets and speak the truth with economy. Wo regard the discovery as most important for the fiald, and those who are best acquainted with the character of the country in its vicinity tell us that it is the best run of gold yet met with there, and will prove itself to bo such before much more work is dono. As to the sharemarket, we have long ceased to regard that as any criterion of the intrinsic value of stock. Waiotahi.- The manager, Mr Jas. v. mith, continues to . keep this mino a paying concern, notwithstanding that he has had many obstacles to contend with, one of whioh was his being driven out of No, 3 level on account of the stop, page of the Big Pump, which caused the water to flood that portion of the mine, For some months past ho haß been engaged in driving and sloping on several small leaders which were discovered whilst breaking out the main reefs, and some of these have proved to be very remunerative, whilst there still remains others to be projected at some future time. At present operations are still confined to No. 2 level, although the water is now all out of No 3; but Mr Smith thinks it best not to commence operations there until the oountry is thoroughly drained. It is likely, however, that he will commence work in this part of the mine at the commencement of next month. On No. 2 level a prospecting drive has been put in a short distance, west of the shaft on the hanging-wall of the Waiotahi big reef, but this is now at a standstill owing to the scarcity of powder. Some of the quartz broken out was sent to the battery, but it only yielded at tho rate of 2 or 4 dwts. to the ton, and the manager is of opinion that the most of this gold cafoe from a small leader which is running alongsido of the reef. When work is eommonced on this big reef again, the footwall portion will be broken into to'see if the quartz is of better quality on that side or not. A little prospecting is also being done on tho No. 3 reef on the same side of the shaft, but the indications of the reef are not at present very encouraging, the ground being hard and not favour* able for gold. No. 4 leader is all but worked out above this level, there being only one more stope to bring in on it before it is finished. This lode haß proved to be more than payable, and has helped the manager considerably towards mak« ing it pay its way. Whilst bringing up the stopea on this reef a small lender was met with near the junction of No. 4 with JSo. 5 reef, whioh the manager thinks to be the old footwall leader that proved to be so rich with the precious metal in and above No. 1 level. He is now engaged in putting in a prospecting drive on tliis leader from the slopes to prove that it is the one mentioned, and should it prove to be so, the cross-cut whioh was put in to cut it on JNo 2 level about 12 months ago will be extended until it is met with. When this crosscut «as brought in it wag driven severel feet beyond the perpendio« ular of the leader, but it appears that tho leader must have changed its underlay between the two levels, so that the crosscut will have to be extended a few feet ! further ahead to meet with it, The leader is looking very promising in the drive from tho stopes, although it is not very large, and some good dabs of gold have been seen in the quartz. The hanging wftll leader in stopes west of main crosscut continues to yield a little picked stonei and a fair quantity of payable quartz. Good progress is being made in sinking the winze on No 5 reef 140 feeteast of the main cross-out, It is now down a depth of 40 feet, with the reef averaging from 18 inches to 3 feet in thickness and showing a little gold. During the last 10 feet of sinking, how. ever, there has been a break in the lode, but it is now making again on one side. The reef has got a very flat underlay to the present depth of the winze so that the " dig " has always b&en put down on, the footwall, but now it appears to be a little more perpendicular and the manager intends to get into the hanging wall. Cleaning up and retorting for the mouth will take place at the latter end of next week, when a good payable return is expected to be obtained,

Moanataiari Tributes.—Hayes and party crushed 60 pounds of picked stone at the company's battery fori : the good payable return of 31ozs 16dvr|s ; melted gold, and Moore and party crushed 22 tons at the Xuranui battery for the vield of JBozs, , Bed Queen.—The tributers, Gijmour and party, obtained 17fozs melted gold from 6 loads of general dirt crushed at the Queen of Beauty battery.; Imperial Crown.—Teas'dale and party, tributers, crushed 14 loads of general dirt: at the Queen of Beauty battery for the payable return of 29ozs 2dwts melted gold. New North Devon.—Gfarvey and party finished their crushing, of 39 loads of general dirt andabout2owt.of specimen stono at; Bull's battery for tha handsome return of 3370za'8 dwts melted 'gold. The return is equal to over-Siozs per load. , Amuenia Tributes —Oloutt and party,. who,are working a block of ground ia section of the mine, haul of 90 pounds of speoimens whilst breaking down 'quarts on Monday, whioh, when crushed at the Moanataiari battery, yielded return 16dwtB 45ozs 2dwts gold from 5 loads of dirt crushed at Fisher's mill. Xuranui BAttbry.-AH the tribute parties hare now finished crushing quarts... at the battery for the present, and there S now only remains a few blanketings to go through the berdans for one or two parties, Williams and party cleaned up yesterday for the return of 3ozs'ldwt gold from 5 tons, and iNicholls and party soz3l7dffts =. from 7 tons.