WEEK'S MINING NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 28

WEEK'S MINING NEWS

March 4. The sudden rise in the liver goes i-ar lo \rove the wisdom of the directors of the dredges in refusing, in spite of the Complaints of inexperienced shareholders, to commence operations before the frost sets in. A false start to a dredge means an almost useless expenditure of enj thing from £83 to £100, tho money being practically wasted, *s that great care has to be exercised before even an apparently steady fall in the river can be taken advantage of Owing ta a missprint in our Monday* issue, it was m*de to appear that the Kurft Company's winch had collapsed, whereas it •was the funnel which broke off at the middle joint. The Punt dredge stopped yesterday lot repairs. The Molyneux Kohinoor dredgemaster reports that the ground worked during the week was much the same as- during ihe previous week. The dredge is working a put about 60 yards wide, the depth of which paries from about 20ft to 40ft. The dredye will p*vobably have to stop to put in new tumbler bushes a::d for boi'er inspection Xuring the week. The manager of the Mount F^ex tin mine

(Avoca) reports under date February 18 • — " Have cut a well-defined lode 18 inches wide. Dish prospects from the decomposed portion gave lib of clear tin-" The Waikaia dredgemsster reports under date February 29: — "Last week's return of 460z 18dwt was obtained from the middle and west sections. The wash is pretty Srifty, but is improving in the river. The bottom on the east side is from 15ft deep, and on the west side from 27ft de«p. The manager in charge of the Sailor's Bend dredge wrote under date March 2: — " I hay© the caulking pretty well in hand, and only a small patch of the deck remains to be done. The coal boit has been beached, bluegum battens put in, and she has been painted with two coats of tar. She is now back in the water again. The timber for b^kheads has been purchased, and is now on the claim. The shipwright will start on this job at once. An industry th«t is assuming extensive proportions in sever*! localities in the province is that of soh«elite mining. A payable reef has been, discovered in the G-kn-archy district, Queenstown, and a number of claims h«v« been pegged out. For the past 12 months now a crushing plant has been in operation in this locality, and it is currently reported that the profits place 1 those of a 70oi or 80oz per week dredging company in the shade. The present market price of tho mineral is £110 to £120 per ton, hut during the past year it has fluctuated from £90 to as much as "£l7O. The next 13 months should show a great expansion of the industry in Otago. i The last return of the Arrow River Mining Company was 31qz for the fortnight. Th« company is at present opening out new ground As some very heavy stones are being met with. The manager is obtaining some stouter hauliug gear, so ac to avoid Btrsimng the present tackle. A party representing a large syndicate paid a vjsit ta th« old Cromwell mine at Bendigo last week, with a view to resuming operations there, and it is quite likely that something in this connection will be done in the near future. Most of the dredges in the Cromwell district were visited by the inspector of machinery (Mr Bethune) last week, foT boiler inspection, which caused a loss of time and a consequent fulling off in the returns. The Cromwell correspondent of the Alexandra Herald reports that practical results on the Carrick are very satisfactory, *nd are infusing new life into quartz reefing in that locality. Word was received in Arrowtown last week that a slip had come down in the Criffel Face claim. This will delay operations for some time. This is unfortunate at this particular period of the year, but it is possible that after it is cleared away that the wash will be more accessible. Mr L. O. Beal, mining engineer, and Mr W. Patton, formerly manager of the Glenrock Company, proceeded to Macetown last Tuesday. It is understood that Mr Patton will take charge of some of the development v.-ork in Mr Farrell's mines, and that operations will be pushed on vigorously. A fresh discovery of gold is reported from the northern territory of South Australia. The manager of Carter's Consolidated reports having struck a reef 18in wide, carrying coaree gold, in a crosscut on the 170 ft level of the El»na mine. Pine Creek. I A clean-up at the Blue Spur and Gabriels I Gully Consolidated mine was finished on ' Saturday last, and produced 5210z Bdwt 12gr ! for the half year — a poor return ; partly 1 accounted for by a meagre water supply, I partly by the quality of the cement wrought, j and -the increased difficulty of working the mine. The season h*s not been so bad as last, that is to s>ay showers have been more frequent., but the baking the whole watershed was subjected to last year ha,s not yet been cured. The subsoil is still very dry, and nothing but a heavy snow fall early in the season will put matters right for sluicing miners. The Mystery Flat dredge worked the full width of the claim last week. The>re was no improvement in the eastern sections, wher« ( the stripping on the hillside was very heavy. The two other sections remained fairly goad, and the boKoni continued to be of " maories " and sandstone. The deepest ground wa« about 17ft. March 5. The manager of the Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company reports » return of 630z 18dwt for February. In a letter to the directorate he accoxmts for the reduction as compared with the previous fionth by the shortage of water and a continuation of large stones interfering with the work. The New Roxburgh Jubilee dredgemaster expected to comm«nce dredging on Tuesday night. The Electric Xo. 1 dredgernaster reports • — '"During the week ive worked 12.7 houis foi 25ft ahead the width of the cut being 105 ft and the depth of ground 39ft. On the Cioruwell side the ground is ke&ping moie uniform, aiid the over-burden of clay and boulders is not so heavy. I expect the obstruction to disappear any day. Prospects during tLe week were only moderate." Since the report came to hand the secretary of the company is in receipt of a telegram stating that the river had risen, and was causing the drift to become troublesome. As already reported dredging on the No. 2 machine was resumed on Thursday afternoon at half-past G. Owing to heavy rains on Saturday «nd Sunday the river rose 2ft. and at time of writing the weekly report was still rising and causing the drift to travel. The dredgeniastcr has since wired that the drift is very heavy, which will affect the week's return considerably. Th« Punt dredgemaster reports: — "We h«d a fair run this week, and got over a fair amount of ground. Prospects still keep poor, and the bottom hajrd. There were a- few wash stones getting in on the top side on Friday morning. Yesterday I stopped for repairs, which will take about eight days." The Rise and Shine No. 1 dredge stopped on Saturday morning for repairs that wilL take about a fortnight to effect, after which the dredge will work the outer cut, which bhould give fairly gopd returns. The corupany'3 2\o. 2 machine worked 16ft ahead on a

f cut 160 ft in width, the depth being from 38ft to 44ft, with a clay bottom. The west side of the ground improved during the week. The Koputai dredgemaster reports tbat the depth of the ground varies from 18ft to 25ft, and that there is no change either in the wash or the nature of the bottom. | The master of the New Fourteen-mile dredge advises that in conseqtience of the rise in tha river he has been oonipelled to stop dredging. The dredgemaster of the Lady Roxburgh dredge reports for the week ended 29th February. — "The ground is getting gradually deeper, and at the week end averaged 46ft across the face, the deepest part, on the wept side, being 49ft. On the east side the reef rises quickly to 25ft. The wash continues much the same, being fine and silty in appearance. The east side continues stony, while large ' chinamen ' are occasionally met with on the other side. At time of writing the river h-as risen 18 inches, and is likely to rise more." From the Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company manager's reports the secretary furnishes a summary, showing that at No. 1 claim work ■was interfered with owing to shortage of water, and that during the week ' only 79 hours' actual aluioing was carried on. I Advantage was taken of the short supply to j cut out a well hole, change the casting, and I put in a new elevatoT. The ground worked has ' become much lighter and freer from stones. The weather continues dry and warm, on | three days the average being slightly over ' 80deg. There was a wash-up at No. 2 — very j disappointing, however — of 2Poz, and the plant is now being removed. No. 3 was at a J standstill. Ii is reported from No 2 that ■ rain fell on Sunday, and continued all night, ' and was still falling when the mail left, so that it is expected that there will be a plentiful supply for all the elevators now. March 6. .The Waikaia field this week maintains its reputation, six of the dredges at work thenreon ' reporting an aggregate return of 3040z 18dwt. The Waikaia. dredge has come «way with a magnificent return this week, the master j reporting % wash-up of 950z lOdwt for 136 hours. I The Koputai return is in the neighbour- • hood of 68oz. The dredge worked 138 hour 3. j The Hessey return is 41oz lOdwt for 156 ; hours. j The Masterton dredgemaster wires having , washed up after 136 hours for 28oz 4dwt. j The Kura dredge washed up for 15oz 4dwt for 115 hours. I The Mystery Flat Company reports a waehup for 56pz lOdwt for 136 hours. j Water is still a, very scarce commodity at , the Matekanui mines, the only claims working I at present being those of the Undaunted and t DTybread Companies. Thee© have only a very '■ limited supply, and very little work can be , got through. — Dunstan Times. " | Prospects with the Blacks Flat dredge are still favourable, «na it is hoped that a permanent run of good wash has been struck. A few shifts were lost last week owing to a breakage to the ladder, but work was resumed again on Thursday evening. The dredgemaster of the Lady Roxburgh dredge wired yesterday as follows: — " Stopping at mid-day; cannot work the shallow side owing to ike* tailings dropping on the deep ground." The Clutha River Company has abandoned the idea of turning a larger stream of water into the high face owing to the scarcity of gravel at the re-quired spot. The dredge was moved up-stream about a quarter of a mile last week, where operations will be resumed on some maiden ground. As the returns from the Hartley have not been very good for some time, the dredge was .pulled ahead a short distance on Saturday. i •What will probably be- the largest dredge afloat is at present being built for the Butmah Gold Dredging Company, of Myitkyina, . Upper Burmah, in whose employ are a great j number of men from Otago. The dredge is to be 140 ft by 38ft, will carry 10ft buckets, and will make the largest of our oolonial machines dwarf into insignificance. It is at present in course of construction. — Cromwell Argus. March 7. A wire from Roxburgh announces that the Ladysmith Sluicing" Company has washed up for 91oz for four weeks' sluicing. The Lady Roxburgh dredgema-steir this week reports a return of 420z 15dwt 16gr. The falling off is due to the high river. The Chicago dredge lost time owing to boiler inspection. The Molyneux Kohinoor dredgemaster wired, yesterdiay that he had struck wash shovnng good prospeota. The Mount Bengeor Mail understands that the syndicate formed to work Parker's reef has now made * start with operations. — > Some prospecting work ha-s been done lately m Potter's Gully. It ia freely reported that the private company's dredge, working at tho junction of the two rivers, at Cromwell, ia obtaining returns approaching 60oz a week. The New Roxburgh Jubilee dredgemaster wires that he only finished his repairs on Wednesday night, and resumed dredging. Consequently tnere will bo no wash-up thts week. The Rise and: Shine Company'B directors have declared a dividend of Is per share, payable on the 11th inst. March 9. Sardy Point dredge lost time through boiler inspection. - | waikeka United No. 2 dredge is still working f he poor corner. | Ri'ey'e Revival dredgemaster lost time Ihrough steam-pipe bursting and rope drive breaking. j The Alpine Consols dredge has now reached the Halfway House, and is about one mil© from the claim where she will start work. I The master of the Clutha River dredge reports tha^ he i_s still moving up to the head of Ihe claim, and hopes to be able to resume dredging in ft day or two. | Tin dredgmaster of the Enterprise Company reports that he was stopped for boiler inspection on Thursday, and washed up and lesumea dredging on Friday night, prospects bomg payable. ' Tho Manuherikia dredgemaster reports: "iSot shifted; repairing; boiler inspection shout Wednesday next.' j.ne Alexandra Eureka dredgema«i«r lost four shifts repairing. Boiler inspection will break this week about Wednesday. I The Vaikaka Queen dredgmaster wires that he was ei'gaged repairing, and did not wa.=h up. The Bignells No Town dredgemaster writes to his directors as follows. "Since writing my last report we have had a good deal of timber to contend with m the face. There has also been a good deal of worked ground, the solid ground has also been drifty and poor, hence the poor returns for the week's dredging. At present we have not near so ' much limber in the face as we had at date of writing my last report. As yet there is uo indications of the waahdirt improving m value. The new driving ropes have arrived; ' the weather has been wet, therefore we have not been able to have the rope stretched. If possible I would like to stretch the new ropes ' before putting them to work." __ j The difdgemaster of the Kuia dredge repores for week ended 4th inst. : "We have had a broken run for the week, the buckets parted ot Friday night, burying them»elvet

in ihe soft pipeclay bottom, causing the loss of ]9 hours. A winch worm broke on Monday. Width of face is 142 y^ds, and depth of ground 26ft to 32ft." The durectors of the Rising Sun G. D. Co. have declared a dividend (the eleventh) of Is per share, payable to-morrow. The prospecting syndicate recently formed in Roxburgh has decided to work a piece of ground known as Allen's Gully, m the Old Man Range. The ground has been well proaI ected, and is expected to prove rjch. Several claims havo lately been pegged off. Messrs M'Pherson and others have almost completed their water race, and will be — weather permitting—in readiness for a start this season. Vernon and. party anticipate an early start. The Golden Spec sluicing and hydraulic claim will shortly have their socond waslPup for the season. March 10. The height of the river on Monday morning was Bft 4in above the normal mark at Alexandra. The weather was warm. The master of the No Town Creek dredge reports a return of 450z for the week. The Nelson Creek return is 220z for 122 hours' work. The manager of the Biftnch Creek Sluicing and Elevating Co. reports, under date sth inst:—"Good progress is being made with sinking and shifting stuff, and will be down 18ft to-night. We have plenty of water now, and the race is behaving splendidly. We are on good looking wash. There is » little gold showing all through, though we are as yet only removing the toj) stun, but appearances are very encouraging. ' The Moonlight Sluicing Co., Moke Creek, reconstructed some time ago. haa now completed its race, and is about to start sluicing operations. Under the management of Mr 0. Lynch, the ground will be thoroughly tested. The Scandinavian Co. has been washing up "Muddy Creek Channel for some months past, and, it is said, is getting splendid returns. The channel has not been washed up for about 20 years. At St. Bathans mining has not been at such a standstill as it has been in Naseby, the Scandinavian and M. and E. Campanies having had enough water for open face work but not for elevating. The Vinegar Hill claim has not been in operation recently owing to the drought making water so scarce. The two first-mentioned companies had to temporarily reduoe the number of their hands. The dry weather is hard on the wages-men as well as the owners. For instance, the M. and E. Co. employs six men on the average, but has had to reduoe to two. \ ; As a result of the splendid rains that fell last week the miners in the Naseby district will be able to get a start again, and now that the drought has broken it is to be hoped that they will get a steady run right tip till winter. It is these lane ap«lls of enforced lttleness that make mining in the district, taken on the whole, such a poorly paid industry.—Mount Ida Chronicle. i There were no sales transacted on 'Change yesterday. The directors of the Masterton Gold Dredging Company have declared a, dividend (the-twenty-second) of 2s per share, payable as from 9th inst. Despite the rise in the river, the Rising Sun dredge had a splendid return of 70oz. It will take 10 or 12 days yet to finish the river portion of the cut, and then the face will be straight with the beach and bank cut. The race will then be about 200 yds wide. The dredgemaster reports for the week ended March 7: —" Dredged 133 hours and worked ahead 20ft in the river portion of the cut; prospects continue the same. The river rose during the week,-causing 'lie drift to travel." The manager of the Gold King dredge reports for the week endjng 7th March es follows:—"We dredged 122£ hours for a leturn of Hoz of gold. The river was not favourable, it having risen 4ft during the week. We had to drop m,ost of the river part of the cut en account of drift. However, the river is falling slowly, ard I hope to be able to take up the full cut again in a few days. There is very little gold on the bottom, but some fair prospects can be got through the wash."