OUR MINES.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 21 February 1881, Page 2

OUR MINES.

♦ (fboii oue mining eepoeteb) BOATMAN'S. THE WEEK. Ratubdat, February 39. The post week bus been signalised by a consideralbe run on Pbceaix shares. The excitement was Caused by the striking of 11 red water" by the contractors in the low tunnel. This lf red water "is taken to be an infallible indication of the proximi'y of the red reef, from which the company obtained soch magnificent yields in the upper workings. In the early part of the week the shares ad« vacced to ss, and subsequently reached 7s 6cl, at which figure several parcels were disposed of in the open market. The contractors bave jet 30 ft to drive before cutting the survey line of the reef, and the flow of water indicated would, therefore, go to show that the drive is approaching the correct line. Should the company get the reef as expected, and of which those who " know you know " entertain no doubt, an enor* mous start will be given to mining in the upper portion of Murray Creek. As may be imagined, the whole of the ad» joining leaseholders are on the gui vive, and ready to Uke advantage of the favourable opportunity when it arrives for resuming operations. The 'chief item of interest from Boatman's district during the week has been the discovory of a new development of stone to the north and east of the Welcome and Homeward Bound leases. This has led to the lodgment of several new applicas tions for ground, and expectation is now daily on the alert for more confirmatory information respecting the locality. These two circumstances taken together are

WELCOME. The operations in this mine are now working Bmoo hly as clockwork, and everything denotes a oontinuauce of steady progress. About 40" men are employed in and about the mine and mill, and yet all the faces in the mine are not manned. Stone Lbs been sent to tbe battery from ail parts of the mine, and gold shows freely everyI where. The stone in Ko 6 level is now from 2ft 6 ! n to 3ft thick, and carries gold «s near as can te judged, at the rate of allbut 3 ounces per toil. Tbe amalgam for the week's crushing can i safely be estimated at the same ratio, and the cleaning up will prove that the i yield is not exaggerated when this is I taken as an average. A plentiful sup* ply of stone for tbe mill can easily be kept up from the stopes now working, but should the stampers gain on the mine it will be an easy matter, as the mine is opened up in such a manner that hands could at any lime bo put on to break out more stone, without requiring' any preliminary process of opening out. AiVPFIEBy CROSS is sTnF'idle, except TßaT portion of tbe machinery, which is re* Quired for driving the berdans, used for treating and reducing the vast store of tailings, which have accumulated for years. As tbe process with present appliances is very slow, it would be advisable for the company to increase tbe number of berdans, otherwise on'y small diminution in tbe tailings can be expected, as every future crushing will again supplement tbe stock, and as the process is payable now it might be rendered more so by extending the operations. Halfsadozen or more ber» dans could be kept going at no greater expense for labour than the present number. FIERY CROSS. Tbe contract for sinking the winze to the low level in this mine is still progressing favourably, and will be out of tbe bands of the contractors in about three week*. A good body of payable stone has been carried* down alt the time, and when the winze is completed, the company will be in a position to put out stone in sufficient quantities to keep the mill going. HOMEWARD BOUND. Tbis company is now employing bands to prospect the lease preparatory to commencing active and more exten* sive operations. Gold is found in the stone, which has been traced now for some distance, and great hopes are entertained that still better quartz will be found as the search for it is extended. Tbe present is a mere surface prospecting, but yet the position of the claim has brought it under notice, and shares are changing hands at advance prices. JUST -IN-TIME. This company, which has been engaged in re«timbering portions of the mine, will commence to take down stone, and intend to start crushing 89 soon as a sufficient quantity has been obtained to keep tbe mill going. SOUTH HOPEFUL. This company will resume work on Monday morning, 21st February. Welcome West, Garden Gully, and the Corostock, are the names of three new lease?, taken up and applied for in and about the vicinity of the Welcome Company's ground since last report. The situations are favourable, having been brought into prominent request by the eminent prosperity of their near neighbour.