GARRICK RANGE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 210, 18 November 1873, Page 5

GARRICK RANGE.

Mr Colclough reports that “the directors and legal manager of the Elizabeth Company inspected the mine and works of the company previous to the change contemplated in the mine management, consequent upon Mr Towan’s resignation. The result of the inspection was highly creditable to tiie retiring manager, and the prospects generally appear more hopeful now than for some time past.— The cost of coal should have been 235. 6d,, not 275. 6d. as reported last week.” The manager of the Caledonian reports that the low drive is going in fast, the rock being good for blasting. The depth of the drive does not seem to, make any difference in the nature of the rock between this and the upper workings, and the tunnel being in the same line as the upper tunnel, there is every probability of it being within a foot or two of the reef. It is not considered necessary at present to trouble about putting in a cross-drive to cut it. The Secretary to the John Bull Company reports that they started crushing last Tues day, and about fifty tons have since been put through. It is intended to wash up twice during the crushing. The first cleaning up will be-in about ten days. The tables already look well. There are six men at work on the claim, with room for two or three more good men, if they could be got. The cross-drive has been driven about forty feet. For the last ten feet the reef has been pinched up, but is now opening out, being a foot thick in the face. From the Star, there is nothing new to report. The battery is still at work upon this company’s stone, and will keep at it for a fortnight yet. The Young Australian Co. have not made arrangements yet to have their stone crushed. Several men are engaged on the ranges prospecting for new reefs. The manager of the Otago Antimony Mining Company reports that the bridle-track for conveying the ore to the dray-road is now completed. About ten tons of ore are at grass, being the yield for a paddock of sixteen feet deep and twenty feet in length. The reef averages fifteen inches thick. The ore will then be forwarded to Port Chalmers for shipment to London, where its actual market value will be ascertained.

The manager of the Bannockburn Water Race Company says “It may be of interest to miners on the Bannockburn to know that definite arrangements have been made for the completion of the race by 24th December. The company will then be able to supply miners who have hitherto been obliged to suspend work. There are twentyfive men employed at present. The work that has been completed is finished in a very creditable manner, and the shareholders intend that the remainder shall be similarly finished. In a future issue, I shall give you a full report of the cost and time taken for construction.”