DUNEDIN QUARTZ MINING COMPANY.

Evening Star, Issue 3023, 28 October 1872, Page 2

DUNEDIN QUARTZ MINING COMPANY.

On Saturday afternoon, the Directors of the Dunedin Quartz Mining Company, accompanied by Mr M. W. Hawkins, the Secretary, and a few friends, visited the works at the foot of Saddle Hill for inspection and the inauguration of the new battery of stamps. The mine is beautifully situated on a line piece of alluvial ground, about 35 acres in extent, leased of Mr James Christie. The ground is completely fenced, and at the north-west corner a reservoir, capable of containing 3,000,000 gallons of water, has been constructed. The spot has been well chosen, as the fall of the ground is sufficient to give enough velocity to the water for sluicing purposes. The embankment necessary for forming the reservoir is an excellent piece of work, creditable alike to the company and the contractors. It was done under the supervision of Mr Eggers, on a plan devised by Mr Sratton, civil engineer. The crushing machinery consists of ten head of stamps, divided into two batteries, firmly and substantially placed. One battery of live stamps was part of the old plant. They have been weighted by Messrs Kincaid, M‘Queen, and Co., to 4,| cwt each ; and a new battery of five has beep added, each weighing 5 - cwt. The machinery ia worked by a steam engine purchased of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, and adapted to the Crushing Machinery, by Messrs Kincaid, M’Queen and Co. It is a double cy.indc-r engine, the cylinders being each 9 inches in diameter, with a 12-inch stroke, nominally of 16 horse-power, but capable of being worked up to 25. The mu’n shaft of the mine is CO feet deep, and the underlay shaft 54 feet. A drive, extending 30 feet east, and the same distance in a westerly direction, has been put in, and good payable stone from each side has been obtained, yielding at the present time upwards of 10 dwts, to the ton.

The Chairman of the Company, Mr John Mitchell, after a few fitting remarks, pointed to the promising prospects of the Company, especially remarking upon Hie liberality and public spirit of Mr Christie, the owner of the property, in his ana. gemonts made wilh them. ’At the close of his speech, Miss Christie christened the Company “ The Dunedin Quartz Mining Company,” winch fehe confirmed by a success Ti'ly poured-out libation of champagne upon the crushing machinery. The name was received with due honors, and the company paitook of the excellent refreshments provided for the occasion. About 200 tons of stone are to grass, and a contract has been entered into by the Company for raising a large quantity on favorable terms.