REEFTON MINING.

West Coast Times, Issue 2837, 7 May 1878, Page 2

REEFTON MINING.

(herald, may 4.)

Battery. — The Hopeful Company continue to crush at the new batteries. There is a slight improvement in the stone to that lately reduced, but no material change will take place until after the block that is being sent down is crushed out. It is expected that it will be reduced by the end of the present week. South Hopeful. — This company is now prospecting on the low level on the northweat portion of the lease, where they have met with a leader of about six or eight inches in thickness, There was no gold visible, but the stone was the character of that in the claims going north.

Boatman's Creek. — Extended the Alhambra main tunnel 55 feet north ; six feet yet has to be driven before reaching the underly of the winze, which is the object of the present work, as payable stone was left in the foot of the shaft when the hands were driven out with water. When the present drive is connected with the above shaft there is every reason to believe that a large quantity of payable stone will be obtained, and tbe affairs of the company will assume a favorable aspect. Pactolus.— The winzs is- sunk 45 feet. The hands will be taken out of the drive, and all the men employed by the company will be placed to work in the shaft until such time as it is sunk the required depth, as the water is increasing every foot the winze i 8 sunk.

United Miuers. Favorable news is still coming from this lease. The hands are working on between two or three feet of gold-bearing stone. If this width of stone is followed and sunk on to any depth and length shares will be of great value in a few months, as ten or Bfteen chains of tramway, wiih the aid of a shoot, would connect the mine with the Boatman's battery.

Just-in-Time. — The different works now being prosecuted are proceeding with satisfaction. The stone in the paddocks from week to week is steadily increasing, and, as usual, some very rich specimens are met with at times, as has been the case pretty constantly since working this lease. Fiery Cross. — Extending intermediate tunnel, the reef in which is overhead and... running flat. Tbe manager is prospecting in the upper old workings. He has recently taken out some very payable blocks, and it is his opinion that some remunerative stone is yet to be obtained close to hand.

Hopeful. — Mr Crowley will by the end of the present week have sent down the remaining portiou of the block that has been lately reduced. Over the sth level there has been a stope carried to the north boundary, but work in this level is greatly retarded on account of foul air, which is chiefly caused by the lar?e number of hands employed by the two companies— the Welcome and Hopeful — and will continue so until the former company have connected their two levels, which is being done as speedily a* possible by rising and sinking. Welcome. — The reef, on Saturday, in the main tunnel going north, was on the eastern wall of the drive ; as to the thickness I could not speak, as the lode was only stripped for ab:mt six feet, and the width was not exposed, hut by the time of my writing this I would expect that the lode is in the centre of the drive, as it was bearing on that course on the above date.

Specimen Hill.— Since I last paid this mine a visit the manager has extended the main tunnel about 65 feet, and on Friday night the reef measured about three feet thick, and showed gold freely. At a meeting of directors, held at the company's office, on Saturday evening last, a tender was accepted to extend the main drive 100 feet. When the stone has been driven on a distance I will pay the mine a visit, and report at greater length on the new find.

Italian Gully.— At the extraordinary meeting of shareholders, held at the company's office yesterday afteernoon, it w»3 resolved to sell the company's property by auction. After the said sale the manager will call another meeting of shareholders for tbe purpose of winding up the company,