MINING ITEMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 587, 18 July 1873, Page 2

MINING ITEMS.

; —0 - Quite a rush has sot in to some gullies and terraces on the Western slope of the i Raggedy Ridge, and about three miles from Campbell and Low’s Galloway Station. From what we can learn, the rush is confined to the Chinese, of whom there are about fifty, and that the whole of them are sticking close to their work, indicating that they arc being paid for their labor. In the neighborhood of the rush it is comparatively maiden ground, it having been run over some years ago by a few prospectors, and as the outward indications are similar- in every respect to Black’s and several other ' places on the same slope of the range that have proved payable, we see no reason wi ; the locality should not prove equally good. The most direct route is by the mam road past D. Robertson’s Balmoral Hotel to the lagoon on the ridge, then by the track which diverges from this point to the right. The application by the Alexandra Steam Dredging Company for an extended or special claim on the Molyneux of two miles and a hair of tire river bod, has been considered by the Government and refused, but they proffer an extended claim of 1000 feet for every 1000/. expended m machinery to work the ground, with conditions that 15 holders of miners’ rights should be employed on the claim, and no grant or title to issue till the money is expended. On the hearing of the application before the Warden, an amount of opposition was made, the principal objectors being the Dunstan District -Miners’ Association. On the reasonableness or otherwise of the o! - jeotions we will not venture a remark; but on the decision of the Government we will give an opinion, and that is, under the circumstances, and as the budding of so expensive a vessel as is contemplated at a cost of 5,000/ or thereabouts, being an experiment, and a very risky one at that, the area is too limited and the stipulation of fifteen being employed is arbitrary. [Upon these terms it is questionable if the affair will not fall through, and the district bo deprived of a means of revenue the loss of which it can ill afford. There being no evidence of the existence of gold in sufficient quantities to pay for working, and as extra inducement to the promoters of the scheme, we think that, in addition to the area stipulated for machinery, the condition as to tiie number of men to ho employed should he struck out, and that a certain area should ho given for each man the Company might think proper to employ, whether that number was five or fifty. Such a claim as this, wo think, would bo equitable, and we feel assured would have met with the approval of all. The pneumatic steam dredge is still sinking her cylinders on the Clyde Claim ; however, with poor results. Once or twice they have obtained a taste of the rich deposits that arc known to exist in this claim ; but as yet have failed to strike the lead. Wo are really sorry for this, as much on account of the owners of the claim as the owners of the dredge, for their want of success, but would advise them to persevere. Mr. Siedeberg expects to get bis dredge Salamander fully equipped and sea-worthy this week, when lie will drop down stream to work. Mr. Siedeberg, in addition to the alterations to bis pumps has boon making, has fixed to his dredge a skirt or apron with which he anticipates being able to completely turn the current of the flowing tailings, and so work his spoon free of them. The apron is made in the shape of the bow of a boat, of half-inch boiler plates, fastened together with hinges, and so fashioned as to distend as it sinks. Being of considerable weight, somewhat short of twenty hundredweight, it is presumed, after dropping it on to the top of the tailings, that the spoon works out the dirt from behind or inside it, the whole thing will drop, and thus divert the tailings to either side away from the spoon and allow it to reach the bottom. If the plan succeeds as well as Mr. Siedeberg anticipates, not only will the thanks of all concerned in dredging be duo to him, but lie should bo rewarded by the Government, in the shape of a special claim (without arbitrary restrictions) or a bonus. This latter idea lias been scouted by many : we, however, do not join issue with them. Mr. Siedeberg, if not the first to introduce the system of dredging for gold, was the first to apply steam ; and we ask in what is it more preposterous to moot the giving a bonus to the introducer of a branch of industry in which the extraction of gold is concerned, to the giving a bonus to the introducer of machinery fur making paper or woolpacks. General mining nows maybe summed up in the following words No new claims have been opened. Those that have had an existence for any time are in full work, there being a good supply of water. The Hit or Miss Claim, at Sandy Point, is in full work, and a full compliment of hands engaged trying to reach the main bottom. From tho quantity of water they have to contend with the work progresses slowly, despite the two large Californian pumps they have to combat with it. A rich lead of gold is' known to run through the point, and it the Company arc only fortunate enough in so far mastering the water there is but little doubt they will got sufficient gold to recoup them for all outlay. There arc plenty of other claims at work on the banks and beaches of the river, from Mutton-town Gully to Alexandra, and some distance further down tuc river. The more noticeable of them is one owned by Mr. Coleman, at Butelior’s Point, and which has been at work off and on for tko last eight years 1 The results hitherto have been anything but payable; but now the claim is in good working order, a strong party of men at work, the river favorable, and having a good supply of water for sluicing and other purposes, the proprietor hopes this season to make up for all lost time,