CONSERVATIVE.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8604, 8 March 1897, Page 4

CONSERVATIVE.

The No. 1 reef at the No 1 level is being steadily driven upon in a northerly direction, and during the week the country exhibited signs of improving in character. A change may have a very beneficial effect upon the reef, which contains a good class of I mineral and continues a strong body of ore. The No. 2 reef has thickened to 18 inches, and contains abundance of minerals; which is at present very dead, bnt may improve as the work proceeds. KAISER. The company's surveyor laid off the bearings of the new reef during the week, and found it to be striking 20deg south of west and measuring about 2 feet 6,inches in thickness. The distance from the present face of the drive to the Eaglehawk boundary was also found to be 170deg. to the west, so that there is a considerable stretch of country to drive through before meeting the latter company's boundary. Although the prospects obtainable are of a highly satisfactory nature, they are not quite so good as were obtained a few feet back, but of course this is quite characteristic with the various lode .series. As a rule the tenure of the ides varies, but sometimes improves and again diminishes in value, but taking them on the average there need be no fear of a rapid impoverishment of the ore- Forty one feet of driving has been accomplished since commencing the work and the country is all that can be desired. So fas as can be ascertained, the lode, it is thought, is the north continuation of the Sylvia Teef, which it will be remembered was cut off by a fault in the Sylvia Company's ground, and was not, during that period of development, ever recovered. If this idea proves correct, of which there is every indication, then the Kaiser Company have a most valuable and important lode in hand, The trial parcels have been forwarded to the different plants for treatment, but have not so far been completed. THAMES-HAUKAKI. The various works in progress on this company's property were in the early part of the week very much hampered by the wet weather, but old Sol coming out bright and strong very shortly dried the whole of the surface operations, and enabled the work to be resumed as usual. There is really nothing very new to mention, with the exception that the various foundations and excavations for same are progressing as satisfactorily as it is possible to carry them on. To those who feel an interest in the great scheme of operations undertaken by this company a few remarks anent the fouuda tions, etc., may be of interest. The site for the boilers, as most folk are aware, requires to have a foundation of very great magnitude, and to provide tlua a very large quantity of spauls and shingle had to be carted on to the site from various parts of the district. The spauls have all to be broken to road metal size and placed in the bed. In connection with this the shingle will be mixed with the very best of lime obtained for the purpose, and the whole of it will be carefully set, in a site measuring 70ft x 60ft The depth of spauls, shingle and lime will be 18ft. This 13 the site of the new boilers. The foundation for the capstan engine is 12ft x 14ft' and Bft in depth. The winding engine foundation is 16ft x 20ft and will be 12ft in depth. Thus it will be seen that the foundations are of immense size as regards depth, and should be sufficiently solid to carry all that will be required of them. A very high chimney stack will be constructed, and it is estimated that between the stack and boilers fully 200,000 bricks will be used, included in which will be 60,000 lire bricks- It will be seen that the foundations are being constructed with a view to future safety, and are of very great magnitude. In the Deep Sinker section of the work in progress there is at the present time excavation going on lor another boiler and laying down foundations for same. .Deep Levels Consolidated: The advancement of the exploring crosscut is the only work in progress, and that still continues to pass through a very mixed strata of a poor character,

(By Telegeaph-Own Cokkesponden t Auckland, March 6.