MINING NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 995, 4 October 1871, Page 2

MINING NEWS.

OTAGO.

[TUAPEKA TIMES, SEPTEMBER 23.]

Our Blue Spur correspondent writes : — All the claims -are steadily at work, with plenty of water; and as the Watershed Ranges have received a good coating of snow, there is every probability of having plenty till Christmas. Messrs Livingston and Co. fired a splendid blast with 25cwt. powder, on Monday evening, and anticipate better results than on the last two washings, which did not come up to the old standard, in consequence of having to wash away one of those povertystricken sand bars, which moat of the claims get a taste of some time or other. We have had more business transactions this week than there has been for some time. Two shares changed hands in Messrs Livingston and Co.'s claim for L6OO each, also 25 scrips of a one-four-teenth in the Great Extended Co. for L 460. The buyers in both claims are local men. • The owners of bank claims on the Molyaeux have been greatly disappointed this season, as in no one instance have they come up to expectations. The great Half -Mile Beach Claim has signally failed. This claim cost its owners nearly L4OOO, and as yet has barely paid working expenses, which is much to be deplored. This party owns a valuable waterrace, taking its rise from Butcher's Greek, with which they intend to work a gully known as Golden Gully, opposite the township of Alexandra) • and I am of opinion they will be repaid for their labor. This company at present consists of eight working members, instead of dne working and three sleeping, as formerly, and I believe it is their intention to work the high ground in summer, and at the Half-Mile Beach in winter. lam firmly ~ of opinion this claim will pay handsomely, if properly worked. The flit or Miss Claim has not turned cut as yet enough to pay incidental expenses this season, but at the time the river rose they were about bottoming a paddock, and, from prospects obtained, consider it would pay at least L2O per man per week. As yet they have not been able to get the water low enough to take off the bottom, although they have kept the pump going night and day until Tuesday night last, when the high wind blew the water-wheel over, damaging it greatly. I would much-like to see them get a few months' work at this claim, j&s they are a very persevering party. Several other claims on the Poverty and Gold Beaches have also bottomed without getr ting payable gold. It must be understood that those claims get payable gold in seams* above water mark, but the great idea here is the main bottom ; but I am sorry to say in most instances leaving good wages looking for something rich is to meet with disappointment. The dredges (with the exception of the Galatea and Keersage) have done simply nothing. The two mentioned have done exceedingly well, more particularly the Galatea. It is the general opinion that we want more powerful appliances to work the river bed, on account of so many tailings running into the river from the sluicing claims.. Green's patent is not considered practical in this part. The water-races are full of water, and the shareholders working away with a will. Conroy's and Butcher's Gullies tail-races are all in full work and' doing well, particularly Mintion and party at the lower end of Butcher's Gully. The Conroy's quartz machine started work last week, and had a washing-up on Saturday last, having crushed sixteen tons, which realised 460z of gold, which* is considered satisfactory; in fact, if it continues, it. will be a fortune to the lucky shareholders. The Butcher's Gully reef is again to be started next week, the company having been extended to 20 shareholders instead of eight as formerly. „■ 3