MINING ITEMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 501, 24 November 1871, Page 2

MINING ITEMS.

Mr. Charles Nicholson, of Moa Flat, is about to construct a dredge, for Clutha I’iver mining, on a new principle. Its cost will be about 1,200/, ami the motive power of the entire machinery will be the current of the river. He anticipates that one or two hands will do the work of six, and that the new dredge will put through a ton of stuff for every hundred-weight now got out by the small dredge at present worked by bis party. At St. Bathan’s there would seem to be a revival of mining industry. The High and Low Levels Companies are making new water channels, and the Messrs. Thurlow are pushing on with their race from Dunstan Creek to Welshman’s. At Smokers Flat applications have been made by two parties for mining lease, extending over some twenty acres. It is the intention of the applicants to bring in water from the Manuherikia. The works will involve a large outlay of money, and give continual employment to many hands. Wages in the District average 31 10, to 3 1 12 per week, and the cost of bringing it in is clump compared to many other places. At the Nokomai many of the claims are giviny good returns, hut the want of water for sluicing is becoming a serious evil. Co nplain’sarc made at the low price of gold, 3/ 12s Gd. The Chinese population are not doing any heavy stroke at present. Some few have, left for Queenstown a-d Nevis and the Europeans wouldnotdeeply deplore a wholesale exodus of the longtails. The 1 Vahnlip Mail says;—“ The trial crushing of poorer atone in the new ground opened by the Phoenix Company, Skippers, has evcceded expectations. The yield of re! orted gold is lOjozs., from 110 tenser shed. As Gdwts. (according to the cal u’ation of the manager, Mr. H. Evans) will pay a dividend, the retnrnswill probably be large this summer, there being au abundance of stone already obtained. The Mount Benger correspondent of the Eeenimj Star says.- “It is not often that one can get thoroughly accu-ate iufonnat'on as to the earning of a party of miners, but 1 have been fortunate enough to learn exactly the result of three months’ mining on the Upper Pom ihaka. This, as you are perfectly aware, is quPe an Alpine re .'ion, where the climate is such that often for weeks, men are unable to leave their huts. Yet i i the time I mention two men contrived to ama s 1G ounc°s and 13 pennyweights, besides a nnmberof “specimens.” There are hundreds of good-looking gullies an 'l over towards the Pomahaka where a hjo l e has never been sunk; and one would think men would find in such pl.-.ens more profitable employment than by bullncking on tbe roads at 5s a day. “ Tucker” is so reasonaVe now 1 hat for even a pennyweight a day a man ca i contrive to hang out, and then there is always the chance of arise.” The Ci’y of Hobart Company, Finga.l, cruslie I 233 ounces from 137 tons of st me. There haveboen fresh gold discoveries on the islau-l. Cheering iutidlige'-.e has been received in Australia Lorn die goldfields in Now Caledonia. GOO men are now employed in the Peak Downs Copper Mine, Queensland, ami the number will shortly be increased to 700. Plumbago lias been disooveied near Fairtie- I, New .South Wales. A. new quartz goldfield, believed tobe very rich, ban been discover'd in Victoria., in the vicinity of tin Grnnpims and Vielo.ia Bulges, at a spot cal’e I the Bik Pan ,e. The working of ninny of the mines at Sami hurst isg e.,tly retarded by the scarcity of 1 demur. Two mhii >g companies atCastlcmaine a e 1 "own by tiie mines respectively of “No-;h Dead Cat," and “Central Dead Cat” S'lvcr-mimng is growing in importance at the Gymp’e diggings, Queensland. Stung hopes are entertained that diamonds w.i'l yet be found in the wash dirt ca tbe Tasmanian goldfields. A correspondent of the Cher'eston Herald says;—l never knew a district having the resources ofCharleton, somuddled for want o' a little enterprise among prosperous business men. They are receiving good profits on every article which they sell; they are doing business in one of the best, if not the very best, districts of the West Coast yet, with all. they are tainted with the chopkeper’s itch., viz ; a de-ire to scrap* the bone to the very marrow rather than li lt the skin of a fresh part of the beast. But no doubt ibis is owing to the vast amount of money lost by them in other large speculations and is cnlv the result o'caution acquired through a series of pecuniary losses. In Victoria such a district would maintain three times the population, because men of money would invest them capital -in undertakings which heic or there would most surely pay them, and by supplying a cordons quantity of water make the district capable of maintabling a large popidation.