INANGAHUA ITEMS. .

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1878, 12 August 1874, Page 2

INANGAHUA ITEMS. .

[herald mining reporter.] murray creek. ' Inangahua Quartz Crushing Company. — A large party of men .have, been employed during the week in cutting and bringing up the lower end of the tail-race. The cutting commences near to the point of rocks below the Wealth of Nations, and is to be carried up to within four or five chains of the machine-house, where the ground is too heavy for stripping, at this point a tunnel is to be commenced and carried into the machine-pit. The work is being performed by day labor, and will be. out of hand in time to allow the contract for driving ; the tunnel to be proceeded with early in the ensuing week. The numerous heavy, works intended to be carried out, and for which tenders are invited will give employment to : a large number of men, as the whole are to be taken in hand simultaneously — provided reasonable tenders are submitted for the execution of the same. Wealth of Nations.— Friday, the 31st being the last day of July, as is usual at the end of every month, a general clear-, ing up took place, resulting in 47Qoz of amalgam being added to that previously obtained during the month. At the mine the contract for sinking the proposed new shaft has been let and work commenced, 14ft having been already sunk. The supply of stone continues ample to meet the requirements of the machine. ; United Band of Hope. — The party employed in raising the up-cast shaft from the chamber at the end of the north drive in the second level to the surface, broke through into the old worked ground in the upper level last night. The 3haft will be completed some time next week if those employed should be so fortunate as to reach the surface without having an accident. The timbers used to support the ground above having been crushed, and, as may be easily imagined, the greatest care will have to be exercised in rising through it, as without such care, : loss of life would be likely to follow the under taking. As soon as thework is completed, sinking in the old shaft will be resumed. ; Westland.— The machine is in order,: and crushing will be commenced on MoriInglewood.— One hundred tons of stone are now stored in the main paddock ready for the next crushing, which is to commence on Monday. The time occupied in getting out this stone for the . number of men (12) employed, has been, remarkably short. New North Star.— The last contract let for driving 60ft has been completed, and, allowing for the underly, there' remains 36ft still to be driven before reaching the reef, arid only 66ft to complete the tunnel to right angle with the shaft, which has still to be sunk 163 ft to connect with the tunnel ; : thus it will be seen that there remains 229 ft of driving and sinking to join the connection, when this is done the company can commence getting out stone without; further :delay. , ; . ■ Phoanix.— -It is; understood that this company have arranged to have 76 tons Of stone crushed atthe Westland battery immediately after the Inglewood Btbrie has been put. through the boxes, also that overtures have been 'made for the am&

gamatinn of this company's interests, as also the Victoria with those of the Inglewood, with which the Westlaud battery is to be incorporated, thus embracing one of the largest, and possibly the most valuable mining interests in the district. Whether these overtures will or will not be entertained by the owners of the battery and by the -Inglewood Company, ,, remains to be seen-,, 7 , ... T __,. "_ I Golden new. .paddock is being filled with stone, the whim being kept going night and' dayT" ATthe rate that stone 'is "coming- to the surface, by the end of three weeks one of the "largest lots of stone yet raised from* this mine will be ready for crushing. " :\ Ajax.-— Steam was raised at the machine house on Tuesday, and at five o'clock crushing commenced, and will be finished . tonight. The ; stone put .throughjs said to be i equally as. good as that put Jth^ongh at previous crushing: ; -^ . Invincible. —There are two., men employed driving, to intercept fhe/reef,, in the lower level. '■''■-. ■■■.■:rl{{,-A Independent.'— Andrews and party were the successful tenderers for: extending the main tunnel 160 ft. At present they are driving in blue slate which* ia f very hard. The price per foot for driving is stated to be 345; ;vS V : ■■"•"■■ :'-"-'-:::>; fi:-.v-;"i_ ' IiARUT's CKBBKi- ;/ S ''"' J No. 2 Sbuth.^-The /battery ; 'isr still working' smoothlyj although it was thought that the frolty^lyea^Herln the locality would be r most likely to interrupt the crushinsf. The itself is in excellent working order. Various estimate? are formed as to the probable results of the crushing by outsiders and those connected with the mine, but I think it will be a difficult matter for the shareholders themselves to express a decided because the quartz is of &' peculiar description—so entirely ■different 'from anything crashed before in the In'angahu. To put it at an ounce,, its lowest estimate, with such a splendid reef, it will be a fortune to the shareholder.) ,I<:have somewhat deviated from my subject in making these remarks, because often' 'it >is that people get excited over these matters, and"* if results do not cbmeuptd'th'eirimagnaiy^ stand the fault is attributed to "the re« porter. This company have certainly ex- 1 hibited no lack of energy in\ opening up this claim. All the works -in: connection with ; the mine ; have been executed in a very efficient manner, and; cannot; fail to reflect credit on the management. The ventilation of the interior of -the 'claim is perfect. By meahsof zinc pipes the air is forced through from the mouth ;of the tunnel. Advantage has been taken of the good weather to secure a large amount of imber, so as to keep in_ advance witli^work. The very discouraging hews reached town yesterday that a break-down had occurred to No. 2 South Larry's ' machinery, i caused by the breakage of the pinion- , wheel. A new one will have to be ob- ' tamed from Nelson, and this will entail 1 a delay of three or four: weeks;' Hands will be thrown out of and the i effect generally will be very disheartening, the company, having already been long delayed in getting everything \ prepared for crushing. The prospects, however, are excellent, arid-patience will smooth this difficulty as. it has others of a much more serious character in connection with the operations of this company. ; jfl Comet.— The contractors driving-tunnel are making good progressi- The 1 iength of the tunpel is 400 ft, leaving 100 ft yet to drive to intercept the reef .' .' ; Prince of Wales.— The contractors engaged at tunnel work anticipate/finishing up on Thursday," the 6th instant. The estimated distance to the; base line is 350 ft.. ...■■■■- Caledonian. 1 — Cutting out ■-'' chamber, getting timber into the shaft/ and making general preparations '"for 1 starting to open the level south. Argyle.— Continuing the carve" west, driving towards the reef. According to survey made last week, they have^driven within a very few feet of the line of reef, • and are likely to" intercept it'at any mo- ■ ment. Larry's Creek:— This claim% situated .on the north side of Larry VOreek, opposite to the Caledonian 1 , and is generally believed to stand a good show" of "getting a continuation of the same reef. One prospecting shaft has been carried down to the level of ; the ;creek; butiowing to its haying been started on low grqjnnd, the influx of water was so great on reaching that level that' it was found- impossible to continue the sinking without \the l aid of pumping machine ; but, however/ before plunging into such heavy expenses as the erection of machinery: would entail, the directors visited the ground t an^d.e(JJißd ] on starting another shaft nearer theSu- I side, where the ground is quite firmFl ? visited the claim on Monday; and found | that 1 they had reached 'a deptfi _of 12 or I 15ft with, the new shaft,' and the manager 1 has every confidence that they wilFshortly ] come. on the slate. 'For the present the 1 sinking w through aUu vial, as is characteristic of Larry's, they r met with many large boulders, .whic^'wii|,;no doubt to a great extent hinder their progress »ith their work. No, 2 North. — As before stated, this company are forming j themselves into a registered company; after finishing which, they intend to : commence work.r A reef has already been found on the surf ace of this claim, but as. yet no;gold, has been seen in the stone, owing it is supposed, to its not having been well prospected. A fifth-share in Mulligan's lease and water-rights, at Soldier's Creek,: Reefton, changed hands , las '. week for L4OO. The party is known ias the Big Race Company, \ and they possess a very valuable property. I , The character of the operations is>ground- f sluicing, and ! the face nowbeiagi worked I is upwards Tof 70ft in depth. The water f supply is ample and permanent, and the ■ extent of alluvial country^ commanded by it and available to the party 5 is~practically unlimited. ' ]! r^ ! -X?v; At a meeting of the directors' of Anderson's ■, Gold - mining Company, Murray Creek, held' recently, the mining manager ] reported that all would be prepared for ! the renewal of crushing operations by Saturday next.- It was decided sto start the batteries once more, on Monday, 10th instant. , ' ; : '-■--■■ ' " ■' boatman's., Fiery Cross. — Accompanied by Mr Wright; I ascended the shaft from the main drive to the 60ft level, where he is commencing to open ' But 1 . * Everything is t now in readiness from going, ahead with | the work. The chamber'is^nished and f aho two paddocks for stone have been cut I out, one on each side of the shaft, about I six s pr seven feet; bejlow/thej level, so we * may very shortly expect to see a luge quantity of atone looming, to grass. At

this level I saw a very good firm reef, from 3ift to 4ft wide, showing gold quite freely in both faces, north tmd south. I» is stated that this company will start crushing operations in a few days, intending to put through a small quantity of stone taken from the upper levels. They will not he able to use the battery, bnt for a very short time, because the Just-in-Time will require it in the course of a couple of weeks. . # Jnst-in-Time.— The condition of this mine is about the same as when I wrote last. The contractors have finished their work at the shaft, and the hands are now engaged centreing and timbering up, making preparations to start a level. Tenders are about to be called for driving a short tunnel to connect the upper and lower level tunnels, and the work of the claim throughout is proceeding in a very satisfactory manner. El Dorado.— There is no alteration to report concerning this mine. The contractors for building a paddock have got fairly to work, and as soon as they have completed, the manager will continue to raise stone. Walhalla.— The tunnel is now in 400 ft, and the shareholders expect shortly to intercept the reef. Alexandra and Hopeful.— ln the former claim the contractors driving tunnel are getting on very well considering the hard nature of the rock they have to contend with. Since commencing the new contract the distance driven is 17ft. At the latter claim a fresh contiact has been let far driving, and the work commenced. flit or Miss. — Work was commenced at this mine about a week ago by starting to prospect for the reef, and so far I have been told on very good authority tha promising results have been met with, but I shall be able to furnish more authentic information in my next letter. ITALIAN CULLY, j Golden Fleece.— At this mine the contractors for driving tunnel 50ft are just about to make a fair start at the work. They have driven a short distance and have brought to grass some very nice looking stone, which seems to improve as d they enter the hill.