MINING NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1385, 8 January 1873, Page 2

MINING NEWS.

VICTORIA. j [argus, dec, 30.] The gold-mining statistics for the quarter ending 30th September, compiled from the reports of the mining surveyors and registrars, have just been issued. The total number of minera at work in the country at the end of the quarter was 64,347. Of these, 37,574 (22,664 Europeans and 14,910 Chinese) were engaged in alluvial mining, and 16,773 (16,662 Europeans and 111 Chinese) in quartzmining. The machinery employed in alluvial mining consisted of 380 steamengines of an aggregate horsepower of 9796; 317 steam puddling-machines, 25 buddies, 1326 horse puddling-machines, 257 whims, 248 whips or pulleys ; 18,381 sluices, toms, and sluice-boxes, 12 hydraulic boxes, 611 pumps, 253 waterwheels, 253 quicksilver and compound cradles, 420 stampheads for crushing cement, and 22 boring-machines. The machinery employed in quartz-mining consisted of 779 steam-engines of an aggregate hoTse-ppwer of 14,855, 63 crushing-machines driven by other than steam-power, 6552 stampheads for crushing quartz or other vein stuff, 28 buddies, 1 16 winding, washing, pumping, or other machines moved by water-power, 636 whims, 568 whims or pulleys, and 5 boring-machines used in blasting. The approximate value of the mining plant was L 2,066,885,, 066, 885, the number of square miles of auriferous ground actually worked upon I,Olß|, and the number of distinct quartz *eefs actually proved to be auiiferous, 3201. The total yield of gold for the quarter as near as could »c ascertained was 323,8270z 6dwt — 159,1540z Bdwt being alluvial and 164,6720z IBdwt quartz. The gross weight of gold received at the Mint during the quarter was 20,57ft0z of rough gold, and 65,2440z of gold bullion. The gross weight of coin issued was 133,5520z. Alluvial mining in the Maryborough division is very prosperous. A large amount of new and powerful steam machinery has been erected, especially at the Alma and Chinaman's Flat, and several of the newly undertaken deep mines at those places are being successfully developed, and are proving very rich. During the quarter the "Band of Hope Company, Chinaman's Flat, yielded 3280oz ; the John Bright Company, Chinaman's Flat, 22770z ; Alma Consols, Alma, 13920z ; Queen, Alma, 15410z 17dwt 12gr ; Seaham, Alma, 20360z ; and Gladstone, Alma, 14430z. In the Fryers Creek division an experiment of some interest has been made by the Middleton Company. They have erected a water-wheel, to which is attached pumping-gear to drain their mine, thus obviating the cost of expensive machinery. The_ advantages of the plan pursued are attainment or^power »y Tvator, a great saving in firewood, and a saving in the cost of machinery. Half a sluice-head (lOin) of water was found sufficient to work the pumps freely and smoothly, and the cost of the water was only L 2 per week, which was little more than equal to the feed of two horses weekly, which wov\ the wheel was doing. In the opinion of the mining surveyor of the district, a sluice-head of water would drain the mine to a depth of 100 ft or 150 ft, and drive a battery of six heads without intermission, unless the mine made more water. Satisfactory reports have been received from the Pleasant Creek, Castlemaine, Stringer's Creek, St. Arnaud, Ararat, Tarrengower, Taradale, ICyneton, and other districts. In the Tarrengower division the yield for the quarter was 45690z, as against 28280z for the previous quarter.