MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3924, 21 September 1875, Page 3

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

(From our Exchanges.)

Tho Cromwell is glad to leara that the result of an inspection of the Lucknow mine by .some Dunedin shareholder has been highly encouraging. Crushing operations will be commenced dmoat immediately. Mr Robert .tJeid is about overhauling the turbine preparatory to a Btart, and tbc management of the mill will be tinder the supervision of Mr John iieekir, so long connected with the Cromwell Company's battery. The mine is reported to be blocked with quartz, and the mine manager, Mr Besauko, is opening out on the leader which Mr Ulrich declared to be tho true reef.

for the supposed high lead at Arthur's Point is being carried on with spirit. Stevec3on's and O'Brien's parties have combined to drive a tunnel between their claims, lb allows every indication of success. Thry are driving on a falsa bottom through river drift, and hope iu a few days to have tested the level; O'Donoghuc and iu<; mates are driving further down, but they began too low. They

arc going in now on the same ledge as the part'es higher uo. The ground ia taken up for more than half a mile.

The Nugget and Cornish claim has been prospected at a low level and the reef crossed, but as only the walls were visible a drive along the reef is being made towards that portion of the mine previously worked at a high level, .and the ground is getting softer, with every indication of the neighborhood of quartz. In alluvial mining much activity can be reported. Aspinall, at Skippers' Point, is getting out some good grouud with his new rock tail race and the powerful hydraulic pressure ho has brought into play. On Londonderry terrace, Moore, Weir, and Company are tunnel ing with good results on the ground lately disputed in the Warden's Court.

In the Shotover river, Colville and party have opened some good ground below the Skipper's bridge. They have a powerful undershot wheel and pumps. The new Company have taken up additional ground, a'u.d a new shareholder has bought in—Mr Jobnßv n > °* tlie Twelve-mile, who expresses great cOn^ dence in the pro*pects of this company. Abovb tb ? Sandhills, the lage Chinese parties are well. At the Arrow, the Crown jL.errace reef is looking well; shares are at a prelum but none are for sale. A few tons will suPrtly be sent to Cromwell to be crushed. This is at present the only reef claim being prospected, as although other companies are in course of formation, it is not finally decided upon a spot to commence, and prospectors are as yet only looking around. Work has been suspended for the present on the Columbian reef. It has been prospected to a depth of thirty feet, and although the stone appears very likely, there has been no gold teen in it. The directors will meet shortly and decide whether the reef shall be further prospected. At Cardrona mining claims are being taken up in many of the gullies and terraces. A great many men are employed and more work is in store. Is is satisfactory to notice the numerous tunnels at work, which it is hoped will continue to pay. There is very little snow on the ranges, and a scarcity of water must be the consequence in the summer months, thereby affording poor chance for the sluicers to gain all the water they require in the district. Under the heading "The Largest Reef in New Zealand" the 'Arrow Observer' publishes the following, from its Macetown correspondent:—"M ssrs Barclay Brothers and ttaven have added another to the list of auriferous reefs, which have recently been discovered at Macetown. It is situated on the left hand side of the Twelvemile Creek, and crossing the range in the direction of the Shotover, lying about N.N.W. The average width throughout has been estimated to be about twelve feet, and it has been traced by the prospectors along the whole of the I.iOO feet of double c'aim applied for, and it has also proved to a depth of at least one hundred feet from the surface, by a landslip at one end. Gold has been found at that dep'h in the solid stone. Gold has been found in all the layers of stone throughout the claim. Practical miners of reefing experience state that this is the largest quartz reef yet discovered in New Zealand, and should the gold be found sufficient to pay, the facilities for working it are really good, as the stone can 1 e cast from the top of the range into the creek below, and thereby will be saved both cartage and the need of cutting a road. The prospectors and others who have teen the specimen stone believe that it will pay an ounce ali through. It is a machinery is not on the ground as it could be at once thoroughly tested. Messrs Barclay Bros. and Haven pegged off a prospectors' claim on Monday. It is likely to cau'-'e considerable stir amongst the mining community, and cause these ranges to be properly prospected.