WEEK'S MINING NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 28

WEEK'S MINING NEWS

August 18. The secretary of the Ladysmitb Company :«port6 a return of 150oz of gold for six weeks' sluicing. Writing under date . 15th inst. the Masterton Company's dredgemaster " stated that he had c. good run for the week, the only stoppage being to change the buckets. The work of bushing- and repairing the buckets ■was completed, excepting that a. few runners hed to be placed on the spare ones. There was no change in the nature of the ground. The secretary of the Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing' Company reports that No. 1 did not make such good time last week owing to the slackness of the water supply , At No. 2 sluicing was continued until midnight on the i3th, when the dam became empty. Good progress^ has been made, although the tailing's have ba-en troubleBorne. The manager expected that the dam would be filled and sluicing resumed on Monday morning. The Lion race is having the attention of the No. 3 orew, but the cleaning is slow ov.-ing to the frost in -.the ground. Tho South Waakaia Co.'s dredgemaster reports having had a very good run last week, having put in 139 hours' work. The ground was poor, but there were hopes of it improving. The depth being worked was from 24ft to 30ft, on a r-ed clay bottom, ■with the face five chains wide. The master of the Woikaia dredge, reporting for last week, stated that both corners of' the face were drifty, and the centre portion was rough, with large etonea carrying fair-looking wash. Gold continued scarce. The dredging face was at the time of writing a length from the top of the •block, and there was no material change in the bottom or depth. The master of the Golden Bed dredge, reporting on the return for last week, stated that the bottom had been very hard and uneven during the week, and the returns •would probably be small until the dredge got into soft ground again. We are informed by our Bluff correspondent that work is progressing very eatisfactorily ftt the property of the Tarawera Gold Mining and Smelting Company at Preservation Inlet. The large building erected to accommodate the smelting works ia almost completed. Two commodious floors, approximately 60ft by 30ft, provide ample space for the handling and sorting of the ores preparatory to smelting. The cottagei for the workmen are completed, and the wharf is so far advanced that recent shipments of timber per s.s. Invercargill could be landed on it, and conveyed to the works at a minimum of expense. Mr v Chas. E. Storie, the consulting engineer of the company, who returned from tlie prdperty on Seturdaj", expresses himself as highly satisfied with the way in -which the work has been carried out. Mr Stori-» will leave for Australia within a week or or two to inspect the smelter under option to the -company. -AJiogetKar the condition of affairs must be considered as most satisfactory to the company. The successful operation of the Tarawera Company would no doubt mean a great impetus to mining interests in the Preservation district. August 19. The Mystery Flat Company's dredgemaster reports that stripping was still very heavy last week. The western part of the cut contained fairly good wash. Mr R. A. Mathewson, secretary of tho Muddy Terrace Sluicing Company, reports that the race construction works are practically completed, and that the first start with sluicing operations should be commenced on Saturday next. The secretary of the Otago Dredging Company reports that the No. 1 dredg© resumed work on the 10th inst. The No. ♦ 2 dredge had a good run last week. The ground was fairly good, but the drift wa« very troublesome. It was expected that th.3 rise in the river would interfere with the current week's returns. The master of the Punt dredge reports having made fair time last week, but only getting over 7£ chains of bottom. The tailings piled upon Tuesday, 17th inst., thus causing a great deal of extra work. Prospects were still poor on the bottom, which continued to dip, being 41ft 6in below water level. The secretary -of the Welcome Quartz Mining Company, writing under date 15th instf., stated tfcat he had progressed 80ft with the air rise from the mine level, - and he expected to get through to. the surface by the end of this week. The return from the Paterson's Freehold No. 2 dredge last week was 20oz lOdwt for 130 hours' work. Wo are informed by the secretary that it is the intention of the directors of the company to remove the No. 1 dredge, which has been closed down for some time, to an area of dredging ground purchased from Messrs Lee and party and in the same locality. This acquisition will mean an additional life to the No. 1 dredge of from eight to ten years. It will be neces-

\ sary to dismantle the dredge, and a start I on the -.york of removal will be made very shortly. The manager of the Mount Rex (Avoca) tin mine reports as follows under date [ August 7: — "I hope to complete cutting in a few shifts. In the end of cutting the lode is carrying payable tin. No. 2 i cutting has been taken in deeper. This work has proved the lode to be 18ft wide, and payable." \ The Rise and Shine No. 1 dredge worked the usual cut of 500 ft last week, making 4ft ahead on it. The depth was I from 42ft to 48ft with the bottom com- ' posed of various clays, sandstone, and coal. The No. 2 dredge worked Bft ahead on a cut of 520 ft, with a depth of from 38ft i to A6£t. The coal bottom continued in the I west corner, and for a few feet in the opposite one. There was a good-looking wash coming in about the centre of the cut and making towards the east corner. This carried a fair prospect on a clay | bottom. i The following telegram was received by the Duned'n Stock Exchange late on the 18th instant from Auckland in reference to the Waihi Grand Junction mine: — " Running 39 stamps for 24 days, (Brushed 4850 tons for' gold of the value of £8408. No. -5 level— orosscufcting north 263 ft; crosasutting eouih 365£t. No. 4 lode — No. 5 level driven west for 112 ft, width of drive 59in ; assay value per ton, £8. No 4 lode on .No. 4 level, last winze (No. 8) down 85ft, width 36in. assay value £3 3s. No. 4 lode, No. 4 level, drive west, winze No. 4, down 62ft, width 39in; assay value £7 16s 3d." The Waipori correspondent of the Tuapeka Times writes as follows : — A development from which a good d«al is expected here is the prospecting of the line of the old Canton reef. A preliminary : contract for sinking and driving has been let and we are now looking forward with interest for results. One good quartz reef mine would be worth all the alluvial claims put together as far as the prosperity cf the district is concerned. — The Golden Point Sluicing Company wound up its affairs after ten years of quiet and remunerative work, the whole of its water race plant and claim being purchased by Mr J. T. Johnson for, we hear, £1500. This will be added to the Bakery Flat Company's property for work on the Deep Lead. — Mr Johnson is still at work on the deep levels, which ar© proving remunerative. The extreme depth is somewhat against operations in the driest oart of the year, but the addition of the Golde.i Point water and power should remove this disability, and place Mr Johnson and party in command of the Deep Lead. August 20. The directors of the Rise- and Sfine Company have declared a dividend (the thirtyfirst) of one shilling per share, payable to-morrow. The foUowing items are from the Alexandra Herald: — "During the next few weeks the flats in this district are to be tested by boring with a view to ascertaining the payable nature of the deep ground. The Earnsoleugh Company has made arrangement? with Mr J. s&. Stewart for prospecting its claims with his Keystone borer, and v.hen this work is completed Mr Stewart has made arrangements with Messrs Lane Bros, to put down several bores on their Golden Beach claim. There is also a likelihood of other claims being prospected with this boring plant. — The dredges at Nevis are getting ready to resume work, and tho managers and crews are again taking up their respective . positions. Some necessary repairs and alterations are required before the fleet can start work." The mineral exports from Broken Hilt during' July were as follows: — Silver and silver-lead concentrates, £144,898; zinc concentrates, £60,123 ; silver and eilver-lead ore, £3328; slimes, £7931;— total value, £216,280. The total value of minerals exported in June was £150,268, so that the increase amounted to £66,012 for the month. An immense outcrop of tin ore, described as "the biggest thing on the West Coast," has been discovered running through a couple of 80-acre blocks at North Dundas, Tasmania, held by Messrs P. E. Karlson and J. Riley, and has already been traced along over 500 ft. Every prospect sampled has shown tin and some have gone as high as 30 per cent, in value. The ground is adrnirabl T situated as regards mining possibilities, as it is on rising ground, with 500 ft of backa available. The lode is near the Ring River, and eastward from the shows now being worked at Noi-th Dundas, the stone being similar in both places. August 21. The secretory of the Paracale Dredging Company reports receipt of advioe of a wash-up* for 660z as the result of 127 hours' ■work. The cHTec*OT6 of *He Masterton Company .have declared a dividend (the thirty-second) of 2s per share, payable on the 21st. This makes a return of £5 7s per share, and represents a total distribution among shareholders of £26,750. The Sandy Point dredge worked 118 hours last week on a cut three oHains wide, the depth of the gtroivnd being 30ft. The distance worked alhead was 12ft. The average height of the face above water level was 25ft. Prospects about the centre of the cut showed a slight improvement, aad the bottom seam continued tight in places, whilst the bottom itself was much softer than formerly right across the cut. The following telegram was despatched to london on the 21st by the Talisman Consolidated Company :—" No. 12 level, south, progress 9ft : width of re^f. 30in ; values low. No. 13 level, sourh. driving- north on branch vein, progress, 20ft; width of reef, 18in ; values low." Tlv; New Trafalgar dr<»dee had a broken run la^t w^epk on the mklcLle section. The pround continiTad deep, averaging 44ft, with overburden. There -was a thin layer of waeh right across the cv:_ but with the exception of two or three feet of this, the remainder of the face was driftry. During the last two or throe shifts the ground shallowed near the western section, and the wash was poorer there than in the dee© ground. The directors of the MysteTy Flat DTeccing Co. have declared a dividend (the 45th) of 25 a share, payable to-day. August 23. The Dunedin , Stock Exchange was advised on Saturday morning that the TaiTua Brokon Hill Co.'s battery commenced crushing on Friday. Last week's return from the New Trafalerar dredge was obtained from the middle section. TV master of the Golden Gem dredge stated on Saturday that he had washed up for lloz Jfidwt. He had been 49 hous on the solid, but expected a better return next week because of bsttcr -na^U.

The secretary of the Rising Sun , Co. wired on Saturday, in advising a retuirn of Moz 16dwt for 122 hours' work, " baled 6ilt half the cut." The Alexandra Eureka dredge master advises that prospects are improving. The secretary of the Waikaka Queen Co. wires: — "Broken friction brake." The return from the Otago No. 2 dredge is not yet to hand. The dredgemaster of the Electric No. 2 dredge reports that last week's return of 30oz lOdwt was for the three days', ended 10th inst. The dredge is at present under Tepaire. The dredgemaster of the No. 3 dredge reports: "Prospects till the 20th inst. were only modea-ate ; — improved wash, fair gold being now won." Augxtsf 24. The Molyneux River was 6ft llin above the normal mark at Alexandra on Monday morning. The weather on Sunday was very mild. The master of the Otago No. 2 dredge refporte a return of 390z for 116 hours' work. Last week's return from the No Town Creek dredge was 220z for 133 hours' ■wank. The following returns are reported from the West Coast: — Paciolus No. 1, Soz 9dwt for 137 hours; Pactolus No. 2, 38oz lOdwt for 124 hours ; Worksoo, 250z 3ehvt for 115 hours. \ The directors of the Ladysmith Gold Dredging Onmpany have declared a dividend of Is per share, payable forthwith. Tihe secretary of the Waikaia Dredging Company reports that the top tumbler elevator shaft of the dredge has broken. A new one is being made at Gore, and will probably be placed in position in a couple of days. ; The master of tine Golden Bed dredge reports that he is still working on the hard bar. Last week he was repairing and renewing bushes, etc. Dredging was not resumed until Wednesday, consequently th€<re was no wash-up last week. j According to the Advocate, work on the Orepuki Beach has of late had a good deal of life infused into it, and a number of j miners are engaged collecting gold-bearing i sand for the smelter. One claim is working ! three shifts, and Messrs Fryer and Black i are busily engaged near Kenny's Creek. , whilo a third parry is preparing to com- | mence operations near Kaitangata Point. If results prove satisfactory, the Orepuki Beach should again assume something of its former activity. Mr G. A. Barlow returned on Saturday evening from a visit to Cromwell and | Alexandra. During his trip he visited the I Electric fllaims and also inspected the New Karaunui ckuim, recently acquired by the company of that name. Mr Barlow received, much encouragement in connection with the latter, a large number of shares "being taken up. On Friday evening a | number of local mining gentlemen met at Alexandra and presented Hr Harlow with a. very fine block of crude antimony from the Alexandra district,/ also a sample of refined antimony from the same eourc® as a mark of appreciation of his efforts in the development of the dredging- industry. Mr Harlow secured a very fine specimen of a "imaori" — a hard, black ©tone, which is a sure indication of good gold in the immediate vicinity. This specimen is said to be the best which has yet been seen in Dunedin. The specimens referred to will be exhibited for a few days in the window of Mr S. Jacobs, tobacconist. Last week the Rising Sun dredge started work in her old cut, now 200 yards wide, and which was filled with silt during tho overhaul. Considering that the dredge did not reach the end cf the cut, and that a large quantify of silt had to be baled out, her return of nearly 45 ounces is considered very good. The cut will not be properly cleared out till the end of this week. The machinery is working splendidly.