MINING NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1016, 2 January 1880, Page 4

MINING NEWS.

REEFTON. We take the following items of mining intelligence from the Inangahua Herald of Saturday:— Dauntless Battery.—ls now running on quartz Bent down from the Victory mine by the tributors. Daring the week an accident occurred to the break used on the incline tramway. When it took place there was about 110 tons of quartz sent down. During the repairs a cleaning up will take place, and the balance of the stone obtained from the upper workings will be treated with that procured from the winze, and the average yield obtained from the stone already crushed will be accepted as this average per ton of all the quartz. By the means the expense of keeping the stone separate will be avoided. Victory.—Some fifty tons of qnartz has been raised from the lower workings. It being so near the holidays the tributors are preparing to complete their contract. The upper faces show a moderate width of stone, and it is quite possible that another tribute will be let after Christmas over the main level. The yield from tho present crushing will be similar to that obtained from the last.

United Inglewood and North Star. — The mine has been let on tribute for a term of twelve months. There are to be not less than four men employed in and about the mine during the term of agreement between the company and Mr Peter Blundell, the tributor.

Wealth of Nations.—The manager is now sinking on the block lately intercepted in the Enterprise ground as the air was becoming foul. The reef has a solid appearance in the winze, and it is considered by those who have seen it from time to time during the development that it is a pemanent run of reef. Four men are on contract and sending down about 100 tons per month from the block of quartz in the upper portion of the lease which is known as the " crack."

Nil Desperandum.— The contract for driving level from shaft to winze has during the past week been completed. Nothing further will be done in the mine till after the next meeting of the directors.

Graham and Party's Claim, Rainy Creek.—At this mine a discovery of great value has lately been made some 30 feet west of any works yet carried on. The blow of stone now under note is Bpoken of as being 100 feet wide, and a portion of it carries good gold. A specimen shown to me yesterday was quite equal in quality to any I have yet seen coming from this portion of the district, the gold showing throughout the stone. It is the intention to take the block on a face, send the quartz so procured to the mill so that from the huge mass of stone it may be confidently exected that their mill will be profitably employed. The competition for the Government bonus of L4OO for the best machine that can reap and clean wheat, fit for bagging, took place to day on Rigg's farm, a mile on Adelaide side of Gowater. The reaping was good. Two thousand or three thousand people, representin • the Ministry, Legislature, merchants, and farmers, were present. There were 27 entries, but only 18 machines were on the ground. Of those about a dozen were only at work. The fault with many of the mschines was that they broke the grain and left to much wheat in the chaff. Several of them were too cumbrous and expensive. Of the implements which appeared do the work, the best was made by Forsyth and Daniels, of Laura, but it is very doubtful woether it will sufficiently meet the conditions so as to be entitled to the bonus. Another trial will be made before the decision is given. The machines at work included two of Victorian and one of Yankee manufacture. A. Bower took the prize for wheat harvester; S. M. Stott, of Adelaide, for stripping machine ; and Miller Bros, for mowing machines.