MINING NEWS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 80, 23 May 1871, Page 7

MINING NEWS.

■ .—o—,, . “• Dredging operations are about to be begun on Hartley’s Beach, just below Cromwell Bridge ; the proprietors of one of the largest dredges on the river having with great labour brought her up the Molyneux River from below the Teviot. A correspondent.from Alexandra informs us that Conroy’s Quartz Mining and Crushing Co. have got all the timber on the ground necessary for erecting the machinery and buildings. The road from the reef to the machinery is now completed. They have put in a long tunnel, and the f¥|)f is said to bo looking splendid. In Butchejfibmd Conroy’s Gullies all the tail-races are in full work, but as yet none are washing up. Most of the dredges on the river are again in full work ; and the river bank claims are starting to Work again. The Ovens Water Race Co. are applyirtg for new ground (an extended claim) above Butler’s Point on the main river, anticipating that they will strike the same lead as yielded so richly at Butler’s Point. The Manuherikia Co. are working on the river hank near Mutton Town, hut with what result is not known.

Our Nevis corrcspondeUt writes as follows : The last rain we had has swamped several good paying claims. It is very disheartening to men when they see perhaps months of hard labour thrown away just as they are commencing to qap the golden harvest. —Winter seems to be setting in in earnest. The frost is as sharp now as it was any time last year, and if it continues the slulcers will have no water to work with.

It is reported that the few miners at work on the Port Molyneux beach are realising good returns of the precious metal, one party of three having netted no less than 203 ozs. of pure gold in three weeks.

The West Coast must be a lively place at present. The Greymoutb floating Star in a recent number says :—“Never within our recollection vvere there fewer matters of either interest or import on the West Coast to record than at present. From Okarito on the south to far beyond Creymouth on the north, nothing has occurred worthy of special mention ; and unless something of startling interest or deepest moment occurs, the newspaper Writers’ occupation in this part of the Colony will collapse.” Prospecting is still prosecuted in the Hawke’s Bay Province, a “prospecting party” having been maintained for a long time past at the public expense ; they are now in the neighbourhood of Taupo. They report as follows: “ After trying a feWplaoeS in the neighbourhood of the Oaranga, we made for the river named on your map— ‘ Duffer’s Gully,’Which was followed Up to its source, finding gold here and there all along the upper part of it, although iu quantity too small tor working. The auriferous deposits are there scattered about with the same evenness as in the districts we prospected further south, and we are now more than over impressed with the belief that it Is in quartz that payable gold must be looked for. We have found two or three reefs, traceable along the surface for some distance, and have brought away samples of the stone, which looks promising enough. We are now about to proceed up the Tauranga, Which, With its tributaries, we intend giving a fair trial. It is almost our last hope of finding any payable alluvial or creek Workings.” Like all now methods for Working auriferous beds, the dredging system did not prove an immediate success on the Shotover. In fact, so unlucky have been the Various dredge companies that those wise prophets everywhere to be found condemned the system as a failure. However, some who have met such ill success as would deter most men from proceeding further, have persevered in spite of all difficulties, and, we aro glad to say, are now reaping the reward their plucky efforts deserve. We more particularly allude to Messrs Ashcroft, Greaves, and Co., who lost one dredge before they bad properly tried their claim at the Sandhills. This firm proceeded to build another, hut up to the Easter holidays met with but qualified success. Since thou they have obtained over lOOozs. of gold. The gold is coarse in description, varying from a pennyweight up to three-quarters of an ounce pieces. The firm, believing that they have hit upon the proper way to work the ground, are about to build a second dredge,— I Valia!jp Mail. The following interesting letter was recently addressed to the Thames A'lmrtmr “ Sir, — As the loss of gold and quicksilver at some of our machines is something enormous, will any amalgamist kindly inform us if he has tried amalgamation without putting mercury in the stamper-boxes, so as to avoid the beating-up of silver into infinitesimal particles when pounded with some of the baser metals. About a year ago, one of your correspondents highly recommended the use of perforated plates over copper plates and mercury troughs ; and instead of putting silver ip the boxes, now and then to sprinkle a little oV(J ,Ae perforated plates, the frequency of the opmff tipn, and the quantity of silver used, being regulated by the quality of the stuff crushed.. The amalgam would thus be chiefly m the form of cones upon the copper, and in the shape of balls in the troughs. If this has been tried, what has boon the cause of failure ? Some gold i.s said to be so fmo that in distilled water it would not precipitate in less time than from five to ten minutes, and the judicious use of perforated plates is said to save more firm gold than-the ordinary smooth tables. In California tho treatment of ores containing antimony, ar-

ssuic, sulphur, is said to be much more econoillicitly and profitably carried on by Paul’s Electric Dry Amalgamating Process than by any other known practical system of amalgamation. At Nevada, many tests were made, and the yield largely exceeded that froni barrel amalgamation, or Wheeler’s pans. But what is the ‘ Electric Dry Amalgamating Process ?’ ” In mining operations about Blacks and sum rounding district, matters have been pretty quiet of late. The Ida Valley Deep Lead,' at Blacks No. 3, is Still progressing steadily, having forwarded to Dunedin, per list escort, about 100 ozs. of gold. They are again washing up about 120 loads of dirt, which is expected to yield as usual. Blacks No. 3, Where the lead is situated, seems to be going ahead, there being already three hotels, three stores, and a hoarding house in course of erection. Besides the present company now working, there are two other companies forming, for tho purpose of sinking.