REEFTON MINING NEWS.

West Coast Times, Issue 2860, 3 June 1878, Page 2

REEFTON MINING NEWS.

(prom the herald, mat 30.)

Battery.— > The whole of the crushing power is now and will be for many months to come constantly employed, as the Just-in-Time resumed reducing stone on Monday ; after that company have completed their .'parcel, the /Welcome will then take the fifteeu heads for several mouths with-, out any interruption, excepting the fewweeks the Fiery Cross may require the battery. The Hopeful Coinpauy cleaned up last week, the result of which has already been published in these colnmus. The company jstill retain the use of the new . battery, and * will contiuue to do so for twelve or fifteen months. Pactolus Line of Reef. — In the different claims on this line of reef, the works in progress are advancing with the usual activity. Just-in-Time. — About the same number of men are employed as have been for several months past. They are employed in laying down tramroad, procuring stone, and doing general work connected with the mine. Ihe number of hands breaking down stone has not been increased, nor is it the intention of the manager to do so during the present crushing. Fiery Cross. — During the past week the lodes in the south stopes has assumed more of a defined and regular nature, gold being more plainly to be seen than for weeks previous. In the intermediate level the prospects have greatly improved since my last visit. The reef in the face on Friday last was about two and a half feet thick, and gold was plainly to be seen. Alexandra. — The contractors have experienced very hard driving from the commencement of the work, and are now only in 140 feet. The distance they have yet'to go is from 60 to 80 feet, the contract being to drive the level to the Hopeful boundary. . . . Hopeful. — Stone is coming freely from the mine, and from the general appearance of matters it may be assumed that the price now being obtained for breaking down the quartz will pay the contractors. At least such are the hopes entertained, and from the quantity broken down last week, should the reef continue of the usual thickness, there is not the least doubt but that the contract will pay. The quantity of quartz broken down during the first week should be a little under the average, as generally there is not the progress made at the starting of a coutract as at the completion. Welcome.— ln the fifth level on the boundary of the Hopeful and Welcome operations are very active, as both parties are working close to their respective boundaries. In this mine there are already three stopes opened; and during the past week, I should think from the increase of stone in the paddock, there cannot be less than 150 tons to grass. General preparations are being inade^ by the opening up of a number of stopes in order to have a long and what I think will be a profitable crushing. They will occupy the battery as soon as the Just-in-Time is finished. Italian Gully.— This property was sold by public auction on Satnrday week last, and was knocked down to Mr Beeche, for the sum of £246. An extraordinary meeting of shareholders will take place at the company's office on the 12th proximo, the business being to authorise the directors to wind up the company voluntarilyAfter paying off all liabilities, there will be a balance, which will be divided pro rata, j > The hazardous feat of walking across Middle Harbor, Sydney, on a rope has been a second time successfully performed by the Australian Blondins — two brothers. A large number of people viewed the wonderful exhibition of* rope-walking.skill from the top of the high hills surrounding the harbor, '