QUEEN OF BEAUTY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1995, 27 May 1875, Page 2

QUEEN OF BEAUTY.

I am glad to be able to report that there has been a decrease of IS inches in the water which rose in the lower level of the Queen of Beauty mine, the Bright Smile pump having resumed work last night. There, were rumors that a difference arose between the shareholders of the Queen of Beauty and directors of the Bright Smile as to the drainage contribution, but the facts of the case are these. The time during which the award of £30 per month for six months was payable has expired, and on the Queen of Beauty people offering the usual contribution (being willing to continue on the same terms) it was refused, and subsequently a letter was received from the directors, requesting to know what the Queen of Beauty shareholders were prepared to do. It is satisfactory to know, however, that the < Bright Smile has recommenced pumping, after having made the necessary repairs to the machinery.. The Queen of Beauty, being, doubtless under the impression that the cessation from pumping would be of longer duration had recourse to their upper levels, through which I was shown by Mr Wilson, the Manager, this morning j and it was certainly no idle boast that there was work in these levels to keep the men fully employee? for a considerable time,; free from water. Having made all secure in the 340 feet level, the manager cOmmenced_ clearing out the workings and "passes in the upper sections. On the 270 feet level a winzo has been put down on the main reef to. the £40 feet level, an incline, of 70 ;feet, and by a most complete arrangement of passes, . the reef can be knocked down, and will pass into the shoots leading into the lower level, when it will be carted in trucks to the shaft, and hauled to the surface. The winze will also be filled up.with mullock as: the crushing stuff, which averages 10 feet, is taken down; and ail this will be effected without shovelling, the surface being laid with slabs. Yesterday and to-day the manager has been hauling stuff ;from the 150 feet level. Here work id resumed in the old drive but a larger quantity of crushing stuff is being taken out. The width in the face will average 8 feet- Stopingis being carried on> systematically, 50 feet above this, namely to the 100 feet level, and an immense output of stuff can be secured. It is calculated that there is sufficient work on this level to keep men employed actively for two, years, as the Jode is intapt to the surface, shqul^ the water, by any unforeseen, circumstances, rise in the lower levels,. The cpinpany's own battery was stopped yesterday, but it will be opened again to-morrow. Under any circumstances, it had been purposed to st^rt the battery to'work on Monday, but at the present rate of abatement with respect to the water in the low level, it will be drained dry.by to-morrow, when operations in that direction will be resumed.