MINING NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 1116, 28 April 1880, Page 4

MINING NEWS

BBEFTON. We take the following items of mining news from the Inangahua Herald, of Thursday : Battery. —The Just-in-Time are running through the boxes what is considered highly payable stone, but like most all other quartz mines in the district, every parcel crushed is made up of different qualities of stone, so that it is almost impossible to judge correctly of the yield. It is sufficient to know that the stone is payable. The present prospects are estimated at about an ounce per ton, but we mußt await the result. The amount of Btone that will probably be reduced during the present crushing will be about 500 tons. There has been nothing done lately in the direction of making any further preparation for the erection of the new battery supposed to be built in the course of a month or two. Cheap crushing, like every other necessary in daily use, should always be urged, but it does not follow that the cost of crushing in Boatman's would be reduced by having the second mill. On the contrary, if the second mill goes up it will most likely make the present battery owners stand out for a higher figure, and the claims that are in close proximity will have to pay the required price, for they may probably be placed in such a position that they would be compelled to crush at the one particular battery. Speaking generally, however, a desire exists that the second battery should he erected. Still, I cannot but thing that the 25 heads at thiß place are capable of crushing all that may be required for years to come. With the limited amount of prospecting that is now going forward to erect another mill would be scarcely necessary. Just-in-Time.—lt is doubtful if the parcel of stone will be so large as was expected when the first truck of stone was sent to the ; battery. I stated last week that the miners working in the mine were as competent a lot of men as could be expected to be found together in any one mine in the field. The contract having been let for breaking down the lode per fathom, the wages hands were consequently discharged, and most of them being good workmen easily and quickly secured work in other mines in the different parts of the field ; and further, the quartz being let on contract in the adjoining claim, labor was scarce, and the manager was compelled to put on men hurriedly. Fiery Cross.—Tenders were invited by this company to raise the quartz, per fathom, contained in the block lately opened up over the lowest level and in the ground known as the Alexandra. They were opened on Tuesday evening last, and it resulted in the tender of Cadigan and Co. being accepted. The prices of the different works required to be performed are satisfactory as far as the mine owners are interested. But an awkward rumour is afloat, which if correct, would show that it came to the knowledge of some of the contractors that the directors of this company on the occasion of opening and considering these tenders, to Borne extent committed themselves. It is asserted that the tender accepted was given back to the party, and after the tender was returned it transpired that that was the one accepted. Those who were party to this apparent irregularity will in all probability find in the course of time that they have made a mistake, for shareholdsrg as a rnle do not approve of such transactions. If contractors have the opportunity of altering and amending their tenders, the companies throughout the district will smart for it in time, for miners who understand their work will be so thoroughly disgusted they will|leave for places where they can have "justice "shown them by "directors," and the ultimate result will be that the most inferior class of labour will be left, which means, in the long run, giving a ruinous price for work.