MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 218, 29 June 1866, Page 2

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

There is little to report this week. The rain which poured down nearly the whole of Thursday put a stop to river and creek workings, and the frosty days are a great hinderauce to the proper working of quartz machinery under present condition?. The Otago Quarts Mining Company are the only exception. This Company (the opening of whose works was inaugerated on the 31st of last month) have since spent some time in re-adjusting a portion of their slides, fixing furnace, &c, and, we hear, are now in a position to defy much injury from the inclemency of an ordinary winter. They have piping to heat the water before it passes through the machine, but consider the present contrivance sufiv cieut. The stone is shot on to the furnace, whose top, being so adjusted, serves as a table from which to feed the stamperboxes. It is said the quartz can be raised to a great heat by this means, which thereby will also heat the water carrying wash over the amagam. The Scandinavian Company have received nil the ironwork for their machinery, weighing, we luar, "" about 4.5 tons, adding to which 15 tons of woodwork, such as tables boxes, <Src, brings the whole up to GO tons. Fortius a-ely the packers are able to proceed i ow two or three miles above Maori Point be- \ fore crossing the Shotover, thus avoiding v the worst portion of this bad road. But here again, as in dozens of instances before in the district, private energy has to acc >mp!ish what a supine Government has neglected to do. Mr Fu ier, who is suj erititending the transit of the machinery, hj is stixt.-hed across the river a cable, alcng whi'-.h, suspended from a block, the various pieces have to be drawn across. Government have formed the approaches, but when wdl they build a bridge ! At the Arrow some of the quartz companies are vig. n-ously prospecting, or rather, . i iking deep shafts preparatory to testing the capabilities of the reef at dilTerent jlevels. -" Wakatip Mail."