MINING MATTERS AT REEFTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 133, 7 June 1877, Page 4

MINING MATTERS AT REEFTON.

(G. JR. Argus, June 4.) The Wealth of Nations QuartzMining Company, Reefton, produced 486028. 12dwt5. of melted gold for tbe month of May, but owing to a land-slip on the adjoining lease carrying away the Company's Water-race, the battery remained idle the latter part of tbe month; repairs necessary are being carried out, ani the manager anticipates being able to have the boxes fixed- by tbe end of present week, when crushing wiU be resumed as usual. At a meeting of directors held at the Company's office, Tatnui-street, on Saturday evening, a dividend, the 28th, of 3s per 6,500 scip, was declared payable on and after Tuesday, the sth instant. The crushing for the Golden Fleece Extended Company for tbe last week resulted in 5570« a. of amalgam from the top plates. In addition there was lOoes 12dwts recovered by means of Kil. our r a patent gold. saving brush. We collate the following items from our, Reefton exchanges: — Half an hour after 7000 shares in tha Victoria Company had been forfeited for the non-payment of calls, and were sold at auction to the Company, news was received of a reef carrying good gold having been struck in the Company's mine, driving north towards the Phoßnix. We take the following from the • Times ' of Friday s— The hands in the Nil Desperandutn are still employed driving, and the stone has considerably increased in thickness. No alteration in the appearance of tbe Keep-it Dark Reef has taken place since last report. It bas been decided to call tenders for taking out the stone, it being tbe opinion of the directors that the work will be less expensive by contract than by wages men. / The contractors continue to make excellent progress with the Independent tunnel. 108 ft was driven up to Saturday last. The Golden Fleece block was intersected on No 5 level during the past Week, showing the same favorable character of the lode which has already proved so great a boon to shareholders, and the mine in every respect continues to present %s promising an appearance as ever. \ Several tons of stone have been taken from the small reef recently struck on the upper level of the Energetic, and the appearance of the plates from the same shows the stone Jo be highly satisfactory in quality. The other workings of the mine proceed, with nothing of special interest to mention. The battery is in conelant action, and no interruption has taken place since it started alter the last general cleaning up. A very large body of stone has been recently intersected in the luonel of tha Macedonian, and although of a somewhat broken formation, contains sufficient gold to justify its being set down as highly payable. Although some doubt has been expressed as to this venture being a success, the formation of ihe workings and thia recent discovery augur a good future, and in consideration of the company having their own crushing power, with a magnificent line of tramway for the transit of stone to the battery, there is every reason to believe that a good return will yet be realised for their expensive outlay. The working at the present time does not admit of the exact nature at the lode being thoroughly shown, but oa a future visit a belter opportunity will be afforded of learning its *xtent, but tbe quality of the etone is already shown to be very passable indeed. . Gold-bearing quartz was struck in Victoria claim on Wednesday morniog. All the paddocks in the Wealth of nations are being filled with stone. Work is suspended in the Vulcan mine. Only fifteen stampers are at work in the Crushing Company's battery, and are employed for the Keep-it-D»rk alone. &, Owing to the improved appearance of the stone in the Nil Deaperandum , scrip 'in this claim have improved io value. Wild speculation together with a alight falling off in the returm of gold for last month'B crushing bas had the effect of sending Keep-it-Dark shares down from lis to 8s during the past week. The mine looks aa well ns ever it did, and no doubt, now that tha storm

is over, confidence wili be restored and scrip in demand at prices iv advance of present quotations. Sinking has been descontinued in the Defiance claim, and the shaft given up for the present owing to water.