MINING NEWS

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXVI, Issue 7595, 1 August 1893, Page 2

MINING NEWS

Moanatairi.—Cleaning up and retorting for this company took place yesterday for the return of 183ozs of gold, made up as follows: 310 tons of general quartz, 90ozs; 101 tons, Inverness lead. 43ozs; and surface dirt, 50ozs.

Acme.—James Bros., tributers in this mine, yesterday finished a crushing of 151bs of specimens from Dixon's reef for a yield of 15ozs 7dtws of melted gold._ A [company is now in course of formation for the purpose of working this ground, which is attracting some attention in Auckland, where a considerable number of shares have already been taken up. The Acme is bounded on two sides by the Alburnia, and has the same line of reefs running through the ground. The area contains some well known gold producing mines of the early days, notably the Nil Desperandum, Vale of Avoca,and Papakura. The upper portion of the last named section has been let on tribute to James and party, who are at present working on a brauoh of Dixon's reef. In order to open up a lower lovel on this reef the proprietors purpose renovating the Ruby tunnel. A further distance of 15 feet of driving will intersect the reef and as this tunnel opens out on to the main County road.it will afford excellent facilities for conveyance of quartz, a considerable tonnage of which is now on hand.

Hazelbank, - The manager (Mr Coutts) reports as follows:—" The ' eastern drive is still being extended on Darby's at the No 2 intermediate level. The country has been rather broken this week, but there is an improvement in the face to-day. The lead is about one foot in thickness, and is carrying a good deal of nice mineral, amongst which gold has been frequently seen in breaking it out. Stopiug operations are proceeding as usual on this lead above the No. 1 intermediate level. Gold has been freely seen in breaking out the quartz from the different stopes, and 15 pounds of picker! stone came to hand from the sixth scope. In the second stope on the crossreef, abovotho No. 2 intermediate, there is about 18 iuches of crushing dirt, but as it is of a mullocky nature it reqaires careful selection. Some of the quartz ooutains favourable mineral, but we (have seen no gold. The drive on No. 1 reef, at No. 3 level, has been driven 8 feet during the week, but there is little change in it since my last. Some of the quartz still looks promising, but no gold has been seen. Tbe joint drive on Kelly's lead at No. 1 level is now within two feet of the boundary. Coloars of gold have been seen in the quartz, but nothing obtained that could be classed as picked stone. As the ventilation here is not all that could bo desired, it would be as well to stop work on this lead for the present, or until the Moanatairi Co. effects communication with their workings. There will then be plenty of air, which will allow work to be carried on in this block to more advantage. Crashing was commenced yesterday at the Moanatairi battery. It is making a. fair show on the plates, but I cannot say much about it yet." ; Alburnia.—When breaking down the reef '' in the No. 6 slope eastward of the winze yesterday, 201bs of pieked stone were secured. The manager (Mr Dunlop) reports as follows: "As per wire to-day 201bs of picked stone were obtained from

the, No. O.atope east of! winze. This stope ; has now been carried along a distance of 8 feet from the winze, and a little gold is still showing along "the back of the stope. There is now abont 20 feet between the back of this stope and the floor which will be a good block The fifth stope in this direction is about 25 feet east of the winze, or up iu a line I with Nos. 4, 3, and 2 stopes, and in this there is a very fair class of mineral mak- [ ing its appearance, so much so that I in-i tend to push- this stope'ahead, but more, in the shape of an intermediate drive, at jpresent,'' This will prove the block cheaper than carrying,, the whole of the stopes up from ihe 70 feet' drive. In the western stopes No. 6 has now .been extended 22 feet west of winze, or to the point where this and the footwall branch junctions. Yery little gold has been seen in this stope after leaving the side of the winze, and for the present I think it will be advisable to oarry this block from the, winze to the junction right up to the Whau level, leaving the other western stopes and the footwall leader in abeyance until this block is beat out, and the ground seonred. The crosscut was started at the 70ft level to cut the footwall branch of Dixon's reef,- but owing to the quantity of mullock to handle which was interfering with the supply of quartz for the battery, I have discontinued this for the present Still I think this will yet provo to bo the main portion of the Dixon's reef. Amalgam on hand, 3830z5.