MINING WEEK'S MINING NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 28

MINING WEEK'S MINING NEWS

August 25. The master of the Masterton dredge reports having had a full run kst week. Tite machinery ran well, and had only the usual stoppages. There was no change in the nature of the, ground. The return from the Peterson's FreefcoKl No. 2 dredge last week was 13oz lOdwt for 135 tours. The drodgemaster reports having worked exceptionally poor ground during the week, bat be thinks it is only a patch, and expects to reach better ground shortly. The secretary of the Welcome Quartz Mining Company advises that at the end of last week the mine manager had progressed 105 ft up with the air rise or the reef, the last 40ft carrying very good stone. Tho Olrig Company's dredgemaster reports that he did not wash up last week owing to the short time worked. . It was Tuesday before he obtained the new shaft, and it took till 3 o'clock on Wednesday before everything was ready to start dredging. In a progress report for the fortnight ended August 11 the manager of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company stated that 3167 tons of blister, copper had been consigned for the current half-year. - The smelting and converter plants were ' both in operation. The master of the Sailor's Bend dredge reports that the river is still rising and there is' little chance of resuming dredging, even if the river goes Jown, as it would only be temporary. He proposes to move the dredge to the summer moorings until the river subsides. The master of the Waikaia dTedee reports having had a steady run until Saturday morning, when, as already advised, the top tumbler shaft of the elevator broke, twisting the top of the ladder and also breaking a pair of rollers and another spindle. There was no difference in Hie ground, which continued poor. He expected to cut out at the top of the present block of ground and be ready to turn the dredge about a week hence. The secretary of the South Waikaia Company reports that the dredge was working a face five chains wide last week. The ground was very deep on the eastern half — being 31ft from surface to bottom — and very poor, on a maori bottom. The other half was 21ft to 25ft deep, on a red clay bottom. This portion was also very poor and drifty. The dredge bad a very good run of 137 hours. The master of the Electric No. 3 dredge reports: — "Bottom was reached on Friday, showing fair prospects. The face is now opened up half-way across the river. Wherever soft bottom is touched good' prospects are obtained, but it exists only j in small patches. From appearances of the bank I would say that as the dredge goes ahead the hard reef will be left behind. Indications at present point to a payable return being won at the end of the present week.'' : The following k the result of the analysis <tf samples ©1 fclack^and irom-fcbe, Grepuki. Beach, which were forwarded to the Minister of Mines by Mr J. C. Thomson, M.P. : ls!*ok sand. — No. 1, sand from Lennon's find. Orepuki,'«a£d^Oi^?ontadn platinum and ojther minerals. ,No. 2, sand eaid to contain large quantities' of "platinum from Orepuki Beach. No. 3, small round piece, showing crystals of iron pyrites. No. 4, "nrullocky " rook from Love's reef, Orepuki, said to contain gold and platinum. No. 1. — The sample, which weighed only 30 grains, was too small for a really accurate determination of the platinum per ton. The value arrived at, approximately, is: Platinum and allied metals, Boz per ton. No. 2.— Platinum and allied metals, 15dwt 2gr per ton. No. 3. — Gold nil ; platinum nil. No. ♦. — Gold nM; platinum nil. Both samples Nos. 1 and 2 are evidently concentrates derived from an unknown quantity of beach Band, and the results as they stand can furnish no information as to the value of the sand. The Mystery Flat dredge worked about four chains of the western -section last week in order to dam off the water on that eide, as the dredge on the adjoining claim was working -close up to the boundary. The bottom in a good many places ehow«d «wob of- -deepening, and .was chiefly of "red clay and sand,' the latter carrying very good £ald. The- present week's return will probably aSb befcTgood "as that of the previous on*, .as. the futt-^aee will ; be worked. The secretary of the Notomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company • reports that fair progress' was being pade at No. 1 until a break in the race interfered with the water supply. The accident was caused through the snow travelling with the water in the top race -and completely choking the race for three chains, and a break of about 50ft occurred. It was expected that the repairs would be finished by the 23rd (Monday last). At No. 2 snow fell on two days, and then rapidly thawed, causing the creek to rise, but no narm was done A strong

wind interfered with the work, end some of the tailings had thrice to be blown. Work at the Lion race hod to be suspended owing to the snow, which caused five small breaks. The men had to come down to the Nokomai, but they were expected to return by the middle of this week. August 26 The master of the Lady Roxburgh dredge reports having had a steady run last week, with no change to report in the nature of the ground. All the ground on the high, reef on the eastern side was cut off from the face. The drift was much lighter at the end of the week. The width of the cut and the height of the face worked by the Sandy Point dredge last week were the same as in the previous week, bat on the river side- of the cut the bottom continued to dip, there being half a chain of ground there that the dredge was unable to bottom as from Wednesday last. The- d<r«d?e had a good run during the week, and prospects were about the same. The master of the Punt dredge experienced a little broken time last week. The depth of the ground below water level was 37£ ft, and above water level 12ft. The i layer of ■ waeh- was maintaining the same < thickness, and" prospects were practically ] unaltered. The- machinery was running fairly well. j The Electric No. 1 dredge put in 120 hours' last week, and worked ahead 21ft. j The width and depth of Che ground were about the same as in the previous week. Prospects during the week were moderately good, and on Monday continued the same, with an improvement showing on the Cromwell side. The dredge had a broker run during the week owing to fitting new shaft and brackets in position in the bottom tumbler, and also effecting • other necessary repairs. The buckets of the No. 2 dredge were coupled up on Monday morning, and dredging was resumed in the afternoon. The master of the Good Chance dredge, writicig under date 23rd inst., stated^ that 1 the drift had been very heavy on the eastern side- of the cut all the week. The ; wash • was very tight on the bottom, and j prospects were very changeable, but im- i proved very much on Thursday, and at , the time of writing continued very fair, i Everything on board was running ! smoothly. The New Trafalgar dredgemaster reports having had a fair run of 126 hours last week on the middle section, from which an improved return was obtained. This j portion of the face was carried up to th© eastern and western sections, and was to be worked for another week, after which j the dredge will be moved to the eastern section. About 50ft of the western section was being included in the cut just worked, bur it was still shallow, with very small signs of wash. The western corner shallowed to 29ft. while the centre of the face varied from 33ft to 35ft. The bottom here was composed- of old man and pipeclay. i -The R,ise and Shine No. 1 dredge had , a good run of 139 hours last week, working- Bft ahead on a cut of 520 ft, with a depth of from 42ft to 48ft. Tlie bottom was of various clays, sandstone, and som© opal. The No. 2 dredge- worked a cut of similar width, making Bft ahead. The depth was from 38ft to 44ft, a-nd there were -rather better indications in the centre ' of the cut. , The Cromwell Argus states that "there was a considerable fall of snow on the high country last week, and as frost set in, this will b» a good thing for the sluicing claims, and should give them a fair supply for the early part of the season. There was only a sligtht fall on the low country here, but it is reported as being heavy at Arrowtown. — The Luggato Hydraulic Co. has made a start again, and there is every prospect of some fine returns being made this season. As the capital is only £2000, this is liksly to b. 1 a splendid investment for the share- j holtlers." The drederinw industry in the Philip- ' pines (says the Motaura Eneign) is touched j on by a letter written by Mr J. M'Neil, j late of the Waikaka Forks dTedge, to Mr i R. L. Christie, of Gore. He is stationed \ at Par&oale (some three days' journey from ' Manila), a. native village with a population ! of some 500 native inhabitants and about j 30 white. "The Paracale dredge," he ! writes, "is the only one working so far, I and being the pidneer is expected to dis- ' tinguish itself. A dredge that the Americans built was to start three months ago, [ but is not yet in operation. The mining j laws are strange here. Unless one is an | American citizen Cand it takes five years to become that) fie cannot take up land, so ' the advantage iz with the American*, j They are endeavouring to boom the land, ! but are not successful. The Stanley dredge j (the .old Teviot brought over here), which ! belongs to a New ZealanH company, is in I process of erection, and New Zealanders ! are employed on her. I would not advise | New Zeaiand^rs to come here, for there at* I many tihinga to consider that one is only aware of when he arrives." The Ofcago No. 1 dredge had an unbroken run lost week/ Owing _to a rise in the ' river the drift was troublesome. The No. 2 dredge had to stop work on Thursday for repairs to the lower tumbler. The i ground continued fair, but the drift in- ' terfered with the return. v ] August 27. j The Waikaia dredge resumed dredging , on Tuesday afternoon, after the elevator J tumbler had been repaired. I At the Adelaide mine, Dundas (Tas- ' mania), about 80 tons of galena is being turned out per month, and it is expected that this output will be considerably in- , ! creased shortly. ' According to a northern exchange, the j return from the Koniata Reef Gold Mining I ! Company's operations during last month rej suited in a return of £2165 from 820 tons ' I of ore. The total amount won from the mine to date is £333,135. ■ The dredging industry at Glenore is to be revived. Mr William Crawford and party, of Waikaka, have prospected both new and workod ground in the Glenore district, and have purchased a powerful dredge, now lying near Beaumont, and .will transport her to Glenore. The syndicate is a working one, and all the members fa.aye had considerable ; experience in dredging. The plan to be adopted by the syndicate in -dredging will not - result in tne river water being polluted. They expect the dredge to be "at work by February next. Reporting progress . in Dixon's Consolidated last week, the Thames Advertiser says : " The low-level cross-cut has been extended a further distance of sft, and is ' now in a distance of 450 ft. No. 2 crosscut: The contractors have driven 22ft forthe week. The country showing in the face at present is of a splendid class, and several leaders have been passed through during the week. The drive near the out-

crop has been -cleaned out for a distance of 27ft, and the hanging wall of the reef exposed. The reef appears to be of a good size in this drive. It will take a day or two yet to get through the fall." On Wednesday evening, 18th inst., at the invitation of Mr G. Harlow, secretary of the Good Ohamce and other dredging companies- in this district, over 30 gentle- | men, including 10 dredgemastera, assembled at the library (says the Alexandra j Herald) to hear- the proposals set forth I to form a new company to acquire the rights of the Alexandra Lead dredge, claim, and pumping plant. The meeting was a mose enthusiastic one, and all present listened attentively to the views expressed by Mr Barlow. He instanced the " turn of th© tide " as regards the Good Chance Company, which had this- season placed on reserve the sum of £800 in three months. Mr Harlow claimed that he could make equally as good a success of the pro posed new company, and said he desired the assurance of local mining people that th© claim was a good one before he would attempt the' flotation. At the conclusion j of the meeting a /hearty vote of thanks was I accorded Mr Harlow for his information, , several speakers, including 10 dredgemasters ; and a number of dredgesneq, expressing the i opinion that the Lead claim was a good j one. They emphasised their faith by applying for shares. August 28. The Alexandra Herald understands that it is the intention of the directors of the Good Chance Company to declare a dividend of ss. Contributing shares have only bcec called up to 15s, and the dividend wiij go towards paying up the uncalled capital on these shares, thus bringing the capital of the company up to fully-paid-up Substantial evidences of a revival in mining are (says the Mount Ida Chronicle) observable at Hamilton, Patearoa. Hyde, and Highlay. Areas of land, in which the precious metal is known to exist, have been pegged out, and on some heavy prospecting work is being done, while on others arrangements are being' made to bring water on to the ground. The dredge I on the Kyeburn River is near ing completion, and should commence operations jm a few weeks. When finished this dredge, which is being constructed on the latest and most approved designs, will be, it , is said, one of the most powerful in m£°' ■P36P 36 motive power is hydraulic. Jf Alexandra Herald reports that the Clyde dredge is slowly but surely being warped upstream to the Alexandra bridge A movement is now in hand to float a company locally to acquire the old Bendigo claim, which will be worked by the Clyde dredge. The machine will be put in "repair, a new set of buckets procured and other necessary alterations effected and then dropped down the river to the claim again, where operations will be commenced JJuring the time the two dredges worked I on this claim some good returns were ob- , tamed, and as the Bendigo Basin is reported to contain rich wash the property is regarded as a sound investment. Particulars of the discovery in Portugal a short time ago of mineral deposits which proved rich in radium show that the de- i ncsjt-? are situated near Quarda, adjacent to the main lines of the Paris-Lisbon rail- ■ way. A. British mining engineer of the name of Bower, learned that the Portuguese in the vicinity- attributed remarkable health-giving properties to a certain stream In one place the stream flowed over a yellow quartz encrusted with crystals of uranite phosphate containing more than 50 per cent, of uranium cxide. Investigations revealed the existence of one main lode extending for a mile and a-half, with a width of pit at the surface to 12ft at a | depth of 50ft It is hoped that the price of radium will, by this and other finds soon be reduced 50 per cent. August 30. The Ladyßoxburgh dredge closed down temporarily on Saturday morning. The master wires:— " River rising quietly." j The Rising Sun dredgemaster reports that I he has cleaned out the remainder of the cut. The New Trafalgar dredge obtained her return from tibe middle section. The master of the Electric No. 2 dredee reports :—" Drift bad." The Golden Treasure dredgemaster advises : — " Repairs and alterations in hand and no wash-up this week. A start will be made early next week." The Orepuki "rush" has Sizzled out as far as excitement is concerned, but those who obtained claims on the reef (says the Southland News) are not parting with them, and are making further tests and assays. Messrs Love, Cullen. oi*l Fryer are driving a shaft to strike the reef, and they are satisfied that it contains payable gold. Most of the other owners are holding back, awaiting the results of this party's efforts before tnej go in for driving themselves. In predicting a general revival in mining in all its branches in the district this season, the Lake County Press says : —At Macetown quartz reefing should play an important part in the year's programme. At Skippers, &t one -time our greatest quartz reefing field, we hope to see a general revival in this class of mining. I n that locality there are many lodes worth development, but capital is required. The richness of the stone in this portion of the mining belt of Wakatipu is undoubted, and in the future we have every reason to believe it will be the Skippers of old, both in quartz-reefing and alluvial mining. Even at present the latter is contributing a large share in the district's output. The Arrow River Company has commenced operations on an extensive scale, and no doubt the payable returns of last year will continue curing the present season. In fhe same gorge- the Shamrock Company will, on ite capital being subscribed, and it is on the eve of it, commence operations Judging by expert opinion this property will be a dividend-paying and lasting concern. From Cardrona way we learn that mining matters are showing signs of activity, and we hope during the present season " of having the privilege and pleasure of recording good and payable returns from the different ventures in that once famous field. We hear that Mr J. Tripp has struck payable stone in the Nugget mine, Skippers, and he deeerves every success for th© way he had etuck to his venture. It ie probable come hands will be put on to develop© the lode. Messrs Johnston and Peat's reef opposite the Nugget looks exceedingly well. They have done an immense amount of work on it. August 31 The Molyneux River was 7ft lOin above tho normal mark at Alexandra on Monday morning. The weather was very mild. The master of the Biaokwater River

dredge wired on Monday: — "Started work this morning. All going well." After a month's delay, the water was turned on at the -Muddy Terrace 'Hydraulio Company's claim on Monday morning. The master of the No Town Creek dredge reports a return of 370z for 131 hours The secretary of the Alexandra Eureka Company reports a return of Boz 16dwt" for last week. Reporting on last week's dredging, the master of the Central Charlton dredge stated that the return from No. 4 paddock was not up to the mark, and he did not think it would be advisable to work up to that end of the claim any longer. H$ intends to work all the best of the ground at the south end, leaving the poorer areas foT future consideration. He reports that the machinery is all working well since repairs were effected Referring to the Waihi Grand Junction mane, an exchange says :— Driving both ways on the lode in the north crosscut is being proceeded with, the crosscut itself being discontinued. There is nothing fresh to report regarding the south-east crosscut, which k in 400 ft! The drills are still, working in country rock. Driving east and west on the Empire lode at the same level is progressing favourably. Good 2* # m t ¥» weßt f **- Driving east on eeldinf" 1 Ut N °- 4 kTOI **•>*> P™ On Saturday Mr L. Harris secretary of the New Luggate Hydraulic Sluicing Company^received the following telegram 3.Bottomed to-day; good prospects." The master of the Rising Sun dredge reports that he dredged 130 hours last week, and worked ahead Bft on a cut 200yd6 w^' f® d no ! : , get * cross the cut till Wednesday as fully 60yds of it was full of accumulated silt The prospects continue fair, and the machinery is running' ■well. "