MINING REPORT.

Kumara Times, Issue 2067, 14 April 1883, Page 2

MINING REPORT.

+ [By our Special Mining Reporter.] On going my usual rounds up the Lead last week, I found all activity and bustle. There was a fair supply of water, and no blocking of any consequence had occurred during the week. Seven parties are all, however, that it will take to sluice at one time with safety, and even then at least 20 heads of water are required to be turned in at the head so as to assist in carrying away the tailings discharged from the tail-races near the head of the channel. The widening of the head-race tunnel is proceeding satisfactorily, and another two months will about complete the same. There have been one or two parties washing-up since my last, and in each case the returns have been very satisfactory. That of Mansfield's—or to give the party their original nomenclature, Di'aper and party's—washingup was very very good, 970z5., and that from what they term the duffer part of the claim. If that be the duffer ground, what the returns from the best part of their claim will be, I leave it to Colenzo or some other competent digger to decide. The claim in question is bounded on the south-west by Morris and party's (late Smart and party's) claim, and on the eastern boundary by Kermode and party's claim. It consists of six men's double-area ground, 120,000 square feet. The major portion of the ground is on Ross Terrace, with a small strip in the Larrikins Flat. The party opened-out in the flat, it being the shallowest part of their ground; and, by working the flat first on the south-east boundary, it will give them an opportunity of stacking stones on the worked ground. They have a stone tunnel 1400 feet long; but now they have got a face on the ground, it is their intention to erect a water-balance, it being considered by them to be a more economical way of getting rid of the stones than by trucking them to the front of the terrace. The party have entrusted the erection of the waterbalance to Fred. Draper. Knowing him to be a thorough mechanic and a close observer, I expect to see the most modern improvements introduced in the construction of this most simple, yet effective motive-power. This party, like most others on the field, have had the bitter experience of having to do a second time things which should have been well done in the first instance; the most serious error being the erection of their water-race flume on a low level, thereby depriving themselves of that most desirable assistant in hydraulic sluicing, water pressure. This mistake has now, however, been remedied, and the new flume is the highest on the field and measures from the bottom of the paddock to the top of the syphon 100 ft. When the water (eight heads) is on and playing on the face through a Yankee patent giant nozzle, it is a sight well worth seeing. In pretty tight wash it will bore an orifice five or six feet in as many minutes. There is, therefore, no difficulty in gettingdown wash; but the chief difficulty is experienced in getting rid of the stones and tailings. With a little more experience and a more systematic application of the bone and muscle at command in the party, the ground will pay well, and stamp itself as being one of the best sluicing claims on the Kumara goldfield. Kermode and party's Claim, adjoining Mansfield and party's.—This claim consists of six men's double-area ground, 120,000 square feet. As regards the auriferous and payable nature of the ground, it is similar in every respect to that of their neighbours. Fair progress has been made in opening out, considering the number of large boulders met with. The shareholders are a steady, industrious set of men, and will ere long reap the golden reward they they are justly entitled to. The same mistake has been made by this party as was made by Mansfield's party, viz., not briuging in their head-race flume on the highest level obtainable. Still they have a very fair pressure, in fact much better than many on the field. When the first fair trial washing takes place, I shall inform your readers further as to this party's claim and mode of working. Rae and party's, late Caird and party's, Claim :—Six men's double-area 120,000 square feet. This claim is situate on the north side of the ridge that separates Mignonette from Larrikins Flat. The depth of wash is about 40ft. The several washings, have given

splendid returns. The stones are brought up an incline by means of a whim, and although the process is slow, still the party experience no difficulty in keeping the face clear between the times of having the water on. The tail-race empties into the sludge-channel, and has a very short run, the expense of re-blocking being therefore very light. As shewing the increased* value of shares in this claim, one-sixth share six months ago only brought £SO. This week R. M'Gregor bought out W. Barnett, the price paid being £170; and I consider the purchaser has got a good bargain.