Country Intelligence.

Dunstan Times, Issue 998, 3 June 1881, Page 3

Country Intelligence.

LAKE COUNTY. MINING NOTES. Notwithstanding that we have experienced a deal of much, wintry weather lately, the frost has kept off wonderfully for the time of year. Miners and farmers have bem considerably benefited thereby, especially the quartz miners engaged at the Maeetown reefs, who have no cause for complaint of the want of, water, as every ton of stone that has been delivered at the machines has been crushed ; and if 'here is anything to complain of now it is the want of quartz to crush. Only three out of the five batteries have been running this summer, which has left fourteen heads of stamps unused out of the total number of thirty-nine. The “ old, old story ” seems to be repeating itself at Maeetown. When there is no machinery, everybodycomplains of the want of it; but as soon as the machinery arrives, there is the want of paying quartz to crush. Of course, in the case of Maeetown the difficulties of transit have a good deal to do with keeping the stone back ; still there is no single instance where a substantial trial crushing might not have been made, and long-expectant and patient shareholders given some idea of the ultimate value of their respective properties. As the Tipperary, Gladstone, and Homeward Bound Companies must very soon wash up, as the frost is not likely to hold off much longer, the respective yields from these mines will be the best test of the future probabilities of this field. So much has been written and said about the Maeetown reefs that it is now high time th« mines themselves told their own story.

The only prospecting party out this season has been Messrs Roberts and Clarke, who succeeded in discovering a very promising reef on or about the line of the Homeward Bound, on the fall of the range towards the Shotover River. The mine is well situated for working, and timber and motive power for machinery are easily obtainable, considering the mountainous nature of the country. The doings of Macetown companies now working, but not crushing, may be thus summarised The Ladye Fayre, engaged sloping out stone of promising quality for a trial crushing at the public battery in the early spring ; the All Nations, driving a low level tunnel to cut a lode originally worked, and making very good progress ; the Maryborough, making preparations to drive tunnel further ahead : some very good stone is showing in the face, the last crushing from which yielded a little over an ounce to the ton—or rather to the load of about IScwt. The same company is also pushing on their tramway works, but they appear to have got into a difficulty with their superintending engineer and the contractors, which will doubtless delay the operations early anticipated in the spring, and prove very prejudicial to the interests of shareholders.

One very great disadvantage to Macetown promises to be somewhat ameliorated, in the shape of a reduction in the costs of living. A new purveyor of butchers’ meat is about starting, and an era of cheap food for the miners is provided. As beef has been selling at 7d per lb., and mutton at 5d and fid, there is ample room for reduction. Over the other side of the range, not more than five miles distant as the crow flics, the same articles of food are purchasable at 40 per cent. less. In both instances the meat, while in a state of life, may he seen crazing in the vicinity of the timers’ dwellings. Pity we haven’t a Shand and Worth or a Dornwell here 1 Shareholders in mines grumble about miners’ wages, but Macetown miners have to pay very dearly for whatever they consume, and are practically in the position of receiving less wages than any other body of miners in the provincial district of Otago, Of course, this is a very serious drawback to the development and success of the field, espeeiallv in the matter of prospecting for new reefs, while contributing shareholders to mines already opened, for the same reasons find their interests by no means forwarded. The Phoenix, at Skipper’s, has been fortunate in striking a very promising shoot of gold in their lower level on the North lode. The stone is 4ft wide, and it is confidently expected that it will turn out at least 4ozs to the ton. Nothing like it has been seen since the early days of the mine. The find has given the greatest satisfaction to everybody, as no proprietary has been so enterprising as that of the Phoenix. It must also he very satisfactory to the manager (Mr F. Evans) to find his skill and patience at last rewarded.

Southberg and Co., Skippers’, are taking out some very good stone from near the outcrop of the old British and American. This is as good as a new mine to the present proprietors, as the old ones did but very little work in exploring the lode. The Mount Anrura, Shotover, is getting out fairly payable stone from the rise towards the old 50ft level. The fortunes of this company are looking up.

In alluvial mining, all over the country there is increased activity, and a large number of claims are being taken up both in old and new ground. This is, of coarse, attributable to the prevailing scarcity of employment, coupled with the inability of many of the workers to betake themselves to the goldfields or railway works of Now South Wales, which colony is now the centre of attraction for miners.

Some of the newly-resuscitated claims on the Arrow River are turning nut very well. One party towards the head waters has been making as much 'as £ls per week lately, and, not unlike the old woman in the storybook, lives and works by himself. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. In municipal affairs at Arrowtown, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth has been succeeded by a season of jubilant delight. The waW-pipes, which were said to have gone to the bottom of the “sad, salt sea," have arrived, and a very advantageous contract has been let for laying them, when the waterworks will be an accomplished fact. A Town Hall has also been purchased,the Oddfellows, like a non-remunerative quarts company, having wound up. The Borough Council bought their hall cheap, and have entered into possession. This halcyon state of affairs is, however, the result of borrowed money. Present ratepayers and their posterity will, of course, be called upon to liquidate the indebtedness. Arrowtown town councillors look prety well after their own individual interests, and are not slow to appropriate to themselves little advantages which may crop up in the shape of occupying town lands without paying an equivalent. These City Fathers, by means of residence area certificates, fence in and occupy quite little farms on the Arrowtown borough extension, and John, the miner, when ho wants to build himself a hut and make a bit of a garden, is told he must go and purchase off the councillor this or that all that he wants, said councillor having grabbed a likely piece of laud, and must be bought out for a substantial consideration on his illegal occupancy, the money finding its way into said councillor’s till, in lieu of the Colonial Treasury. However, as some miners wanting resident areas on the borough extension have resolved to bring their grievances before the next Warden’s Court, it will be out of place to discuss the merits of the dis - pute here Where a large area of suburban lands by consent becomes a portion of a borough extension, only so much of it as constitutes a borough endowment or reserve can be borough property. There exists, of course, the right of the Borough Council to tax occupants of other lands, hut surely the Government are still the owners, and will protect the holders of miner’s rights in the exercise of their privileges, as conferred by “The Goldfields Act ”