MEETING OF CREDITORS. AUCKLAND, January 9.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 27

MEETING OF CREDITORS. AUCKLAND, January 9.

January A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Alfred Michelly, at present under< going sentnece in Mt. Eden gaol for" em' bezzlement, was held to-day for the pur< pose of receiving the assignee's report on the result of inquiries made from authorities in Koenigsberg, Prussia, in respect to the wjll of bankrupt's father." The .will was a most curious docqment. . Jt annulled "all previously-made testafcentary^ dispositions in %hioh Alfred 'Michelly was included as 'participant, on" the ground of hiif-misconduct, alleging^ embezzlement of 'his. "employer's moneys- and immoralitjfc-» Should'his son ' attack, wjth success • the. disinhexitment, tHe elder Michelly 'decreed' that his ,son should! only _ receive"-bis legitimate portion, and that" it should be reserved-^or his children. The meeting was adjourned in order that' the assignee might investigate the German law in -regard to ;the disinheritment of Alfred Michelly, one creditor- expressing the opinion that it did not allow of the dig* iHberitanent pf elder

the face of the hill, and in getting his tailrace to" the required depth; he is now opening out on the lead at a- depth of about 150ffc. One- of the nozzles, which works ahead at the top slip, washes the atones over the " maori " bottom lip, thus dispensing with the labour of handling them; the other nozzle blows dtown the wash on the lead towards Fleming and Courtney's claim, where it is ' believed the- best gold will be found. The wash is now widening and improving, . so that in five "or six weeks' time, when' the manager expects to be into Fleming's claim, the returns -should be really excellent. The water supply, which is very abundant^ gives every satisfaction, and so also does the electric light plant. , Mr Frank Reed, inspecting engineer to the ' New Zealand Mines Department, recently returned to Wellington from an official visit to the ' Auckland goldfields. Speaking, to the press, Mr Reed stated that the most important feature that had attracted his attention during the visit was in connection- with the two great ore-producing mines, the Waihi and Taliszfian. Both- of these mines are now working the most extensive ore-beds _they have "ever encountered, both being- in' the - lowest levels of the mines: In the Waihr an immense shoot of sulphide ore has been exposed in the 800 ft level, and in theTalisraan mine very rich ground is being worked between the 12th and 13th levels, which occur at a depth of 1700 ft. These occurrences are most satisfactory as indicating that the quartz reefs of the Dominion mantain their values at a great depth. The Talisman mine, under the able management of Mr Stansfield, has developed into an excellent property. The secretary of the Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Co. reports that at the No. X claim -they had a -good run during the week. The bottom is dipping- to the west. Warm weatherstill prevails. A start has been made to sluice at No. 2. and the elevator has been sunk 12ft. The ground met with has been very oementy and stony, making sinking opera,"tions somewhat slow; The- dam was, on "Saturday,. 3ft from the top, and it was closed to allow^it, to fill. 'At No. 3 a' run of 15^boxes, with tfie necessary ripples and fittings-, haa been erected" so that tailings can be "stacked to'- advantage. On the Lion race^ there is 'still some work to do, as the' extrawater at the. intake .is liable to scour, and will' need a concrete wall to. prevent it. ■- - - January 9. The -■ Manuherikia dredgemaster reports : — 1 "During the holidays.! have been, repairing r the- hucketsi and have not " yet finished, and j don't expect 'get a start before the end of j the week."The Rising Sun master wired yesterday: — " Resumed dredging to-day ; baling, out paddock." The- dredgemaster of the Lady Roxburghwires under date "Bth inst-: — "Started working' 3" o'clock yesterday; river falling fast." The dredgemaster of the- Kura dredge advises that he started dredging at 12 -o'clock on the sth ..inst. There will be. no wash-up this wsek. The workv of unwatering the Old Hauraki. mine is being steadily accomplished. Bailing is> now being undertaken at the Union. Beach' shaft. Mining operations are in progress from the No. 1 level of the .Hauraki, and the outlook is promising. Work should • soon . be commenced .at No. 2 level. ■■- During- the month of December the gold returns from the mines of the Auckland c&strict reached a_ total of £113,984 9s Id. This shows- an increase compared, with the output for November, which amounted to £111,606 ,5s 2d. The fofll returns for 3907 are not yet available, owing to the final clean-ups for the 1 year from several of the bullion producing properties having" yet to be- made. There is' little doubt 1 , however, that when the totals come- to be compiled the gross output for 19&7- will exceed that of 1906 Following are details; of the December returns 1, — Ohinemuri, £104^291 8s~8d; Thames, £9571 3s 8d; Coro--niandel^ £121 I6sr 9d;— total, £113,984 9s Id. During: the past 50 ypars'New Zealand* ha 3 exported 18,218,6780z of. gold, valued at £71*528,978. The "return, for last year shows' ' a -decrease of 55 ; 6350z, valued at £243,414, as compared with the figures for 1906, the totals for 'twe years being: —1907, 508,2080z, valued at. £2,027,499; 1906, 563,j8430z, valued at £2,270.904.. Last month-'s export was 45,8390z, valued at £I 81 r 749 i as compared with 51,6490z, valued; at £208,980, in- December, 19061 The quantity, exported last monfh was made -up as follows:— Auckland, 26,6410z Dunedirti 14.6250z (£59,750); Greymouth, 24080z (£9329); Invercargill, 20500z (£8212); Nelson, -Usoz (£463). New Zealand exported last month 101,4540z of silver, valued- at £10,609, as against ; 89.91502, valued at £11,047, in. December ot the previous- year: January 10. The Kura- dredge started work on Monday. TheTe'will be no wash-up this week. The Excelsior dredge (late Revival) had a ■ trial run on Saturday, after doing some repairs, and everything worked satisfactorily, - Dredging -was resumed on Monday. -- Although falling; fast the river is not quita low enoiigh to allow the Cromwell Syndicate dredge- to resume- dredging at, Cornish Point. ' The wash-ups- at Christmas of several of the- sluicing and"- elevating claims at the Nevia were fully up to expectations. The , Nevis- is one of the best gold-producing, fields, in Otago, and wilL be for many years to come. _ The.niining industry is still being; pursued with considerable vigour at the Nokomai "diggings. No. 1 claim is working away steadily aud getting good .returns^ — iuT fact it. is npw "tha only " profit-making unit of the- three. No." 2 at Velve'town, under _the management _ of- Mx* C. Atkinson, ha» -ceased ' work temp'oranfy, and the plant and pipes are being shifted further up the stream. The No. 3 claim in Victoria. Gully has made a commencement under the temporary control of i Mr W. Robinson, who is in charge of No. 1 It ds anticipated that good returns will be derived from- this ground. The company owning this valuable property is fortunate in having such a fine supply of water — though somewhat short just now — which enables it to thoroughly clean out the pad>J docks. Work is almost contiauoiis, too, as Ithe electric light is installed in all of the claims. — Exchange. Messrs Coutta and party (old Matau) com- ]

• menced dredging on Mbnday~morning. This i dredge has been subjected to a- thorough ' overhaul, and it ia now in first-class order. 1 It is to be hoped that the returns will prove : both regular and handsome. i Says the Cromwell Argus:.— "The private -1 syndicate which is putting on the hydraulic i plant to work a claim "in the Luggate Creek, , has made a start to cut the race in, and ] ! in the course of a couple of months it should be ready to- start Bluicing-. Con- 1 siderable interest, is Being taken in the result* •> of this claim, for if it should turn out well' ■ there is room for several other claims. There ■ is every prospect of the. venture being sucr ; cessful, as there was good gold all about the Luggate, and this ground has been well 1 prospected. -by boring. It is reported that Mr C. Waide and. party have struck something good at the Lindia. There are several , parties working about there just now, -. and ; a» some splendid yields have been obtained ' there in the past, it is almost certain some - - of. those now prospecting will strike some- : thing decent. There is some talk of a pay- ■ . able r«ef being found also at the Lindis. j It is now pretty well arranged for some , work to- be carried out on one 'of the reefs at Bendigo, and with a fair trial there i& . very little doubt about the- returns: being . satisfactory." The number of men employed at the Waihi : mine alone' is- 650- r and at the mine and '■ mills oenneoted therewith about 1500. There' , are* "three hauling shifts and one pumping- . shift employed daily. The present depth of \ tHe low level working is. lOOQft;. the total , tonnage hauled per 24 hours over 30,000; ( present output about £69,000 per 24- days, j The- mine has about- four miles of private i railways with locomotives and large trains ■ of trucks busily employed. The mine" is ' worked on the contract system, which is more- satisfactory than wages, and the miners • make good money. Of the three large pumps only two are in operation, the capacity of these being 700- gallons and 1600 gallons- respectively per minute. It -would take a full day to explore thoroughly the undergrqund workings. A huge suction gaa plant is now being installed. The following telegram has been received 1 from the Talisman Company: — "For broken 1 period in December covering- 18 days, crushed 1 ' 29.75 tons yielding £14,039. Included in this '. amount is_l2- tons ore from No. 13 level : shipped, to London ; assay value £173 per < ton. Total cost for December. 33s «d per' ' ton." ' ] The Waikaia return is 9oz lldwt for 42 : hours dredging in the B. section. The 1 master wires : — " Lost time with heavy i timber; start baling W. section to-night." : The secretary of the Otago Company in- ■ forma us that both dredges- have been under- 1 going repairs just before and 1 - since the holi- j days. Dredging will probably bo resumed , on Monday nfext. The Molyneux" Kohinoor dredge -resumed , on Tuesday afternoon, after effecting neces- , sary repairs. January 11. '. The Black's Flat dredge at Orthir is re- , ported to be getting better returns. ! Water for sluicing is. becoming very scarce. and unles3 rain falls soon, the suprjly will be inadequate both at Baid Hill Flat, and , at Matakanuf." ' The Sandy, Point dredgemaster (reports 1 that the bottom) .is- much, softer; and- pros'- , pects show a slight improvement, but patchy - ' I with an uneven r bottom. Since resuming [ after, the holidays the first motion shaft has i broken-, and as' it would be necessary to ' stop the dredge shortly to put anew crown ! wheel and pinion, in, it has been decided now ; to stop the dieage for eight or 10 days and effect all repairs. - _ January 13. The master of the Golden Gate dredge in reporting his yield, states that the- river is falling. ; _ The Golden Treasure dredgemaster ad- ; j vises 1 hatving had to stop for repairs for '. I -some time/ He expected to be- ready for a- i j start at "the end of last week. Tlie New Roxburgh Jubilee dredgemaster : wires the following return for the week: — ; Boz Sdwt 21gr pure gold and 87oz amalgam. ', There was no wash up on the Rising Sun '. dredge, which finished bailing- out the pad- : dock on Thursday. The Rise and Shine No. 2 dredge will ; probably resume dredging to-morrow night. : Our Reefton correspondent wire* the fol- i lowing report of the Big River mine: "The ' driving on "the main level to the south was- , continued on a. good -reef; the track carrying , quartz. There «re boulders in the leading - : stope over the- branch, level. The reef is; j broken,- with large' bands 'of mullock be- 1 ween the, -atone. Thirty - tons of material , wer&'bffeken for the week." The Ballarat (Victoria) and district mm- I ing company dividends for 1907 tota-l £77,125, being £5261. less than in. 1906. (Daylesford, £25,000; Jubilee (ScarsdaTe), £16,200; and Victoria. Uirited' (BaHarat East),, £10,000 were the highest contributors. Eight, mines paid dividends, against 21 in 1906., The dividends paid by the Transvaal mm- : ■ ing companies in 1907 «re expected to reach ; £7.000,000. On the- Tuba River, California, dredging is. done to a depth of 72ft below the water- ( line. This is said to be the greatest depth J ta which dredging for gold has. been, carried ' successfully. Owing to- the- Trafalgar dredge onry. ! starting work on Tuesday last there was iut ■ wash-up Last week. ! : January 14 - ', The river height at Alexandra, on. Monday ; morniifg was" Bft 10m above, the normal mark. Light rain felL during the- night. The- No Town Creek Company obtained . 540z for 174 hours; " '■ The Alexandra. Eurokjv return. i» 950z for j the week. ' : The Oharltom Creek dredgemaster reports ' a w-ash-up for 240z lOdwfr for eight days' J ■ work. ' The. AlftTa.-n,aT«fl. Lead dre«rge- has- been; J forced to stop owing to scarcity of water. . ' The- Sailor's- Bend Company; has: a reserve 1 fund of £1500 on deposit^ and afc. 13ri»- it is | , estimated it will tate some £250 to £300 to > oveih*ulHih& dredge in. readiness fox woark. ] Miners in the various parts of the Lakes: distrkrt have resumed operations." after toe ' holidays. " ' ; If the river, recedes at- its present rate ' the Fiast Chianoß dredge will soon I>e aible- 1 to camroence operflitiona. on the bank; 1 - " Caxdroma. is very busy, fust now, and. J 'between 40 and '. 50 men: axe; engaged in '■ various undertakings. Both* the Lone Star 3 and Lafranchi'S 'dredges are working, steadily with, we hear, profitable returns. The' Criffel < Face Company has resumed operations after - i the holidays-, and the- Branch Creak Cbinpany is* nmkmg good headway with "fee con- " i structioii ~of" its waterrrace. A large number ] oi hands- 'otfi employed on this^ work. i There ia great promise that the gorge 1 dredges will have a successful season this 1 year, as ti&ere is no snow on the back i country. 1 The various elsimholders and companies ] in. the Skippers district- have practically all ] started wo-iik, and should have a good run i between now and winter. At Maoeftown-woork 1 has also been, commenced in the various i holdings. - i The Electric dredge is expected to make < I a sfait about the third week of this month. £ 1 The Arrow River Coinpanx is bow working 3

in- a- bad part of Hhev ri-r-ex,. xs< it. would bedifficult to keep flood water out, the bed being very narrow. The manager is cleaning: thei' ground, up thoroughly,, prioz to taking the whole, claim in a- face: Th&, present season will doubtless see further handsome yields. A new gold-saving shak» shjioing maohine has been invented by Mesafs Arnold and Motley of Mount Morgan, and patented throughout -fcho ConnnKaiwealAh. The. actvantage of this shake sluice li«e in ita simplicity, and the faot of ft being able to put, through a large amount of staff with very little la>bour. Two men are required to work it, one mam pumping and- Shaking, and the other continual^ feeding. By this means about 16 tons- "per day can be put through without any great effort. The amount of water required is about the same as far ordinary cradles and; other sluices. The inventors claim that sands and alluvial yielding about Jdwt per tan. caa. be worked to- advantage. During- the last-few moatha the inventors have been treating tailings |in the Dee Rivrer,- which- had been abandoned by the Mount Morgan Company. The result, of this treatmenst has- been very gratifying. The- machine- is- said to treat tin- as- effectively as gold, amd some gratifying testimonies have- -been received fromi North Queensland miners who have- tested the machine. The patentees- h*ve' received numerous requests for partioulars and agencies from South" Afribic, South America* and othex centres. But, as ..the inventors intend foxming- _a company s* arr early "date to Bs.ve wa ma<iine protected in oth«r countries, no machiaeer -^have yet been sent outside the Ooaunonweaxth-. — Record*, Btoakhampfcorr, Queensland. The Manuheriki* diredge resumed dredging yesterday.