MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Volume VI, Issue 492, 12 June 1866, Page 2

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

<* (From the Lake Walcalip Mail, 2nd June.) The chief event of the week has been the opening of the works of the Otago Qnartz Mining Company, Skipper's (Southberg and party's), which was inaugurated on Thursday by christening the wheel. There was a large attendance of miners and other visitors. The machine of eight heads of stamps worked splendidly, and must be considered a great success. We are unable now to give full particulars of the works of the company, but hope to do so in our next. Perry, "Watt and Co. having nearly completed their works, and will probably, iv another week, also be in full work. The Scandinavian Company are packing their machinery on to the ground as fast as possible, and as quickly erecting it ; so that before many weeks Skipper's will be able to boast of three quartz-crushing machines in full working order. A new claim has been taken up by Hacket and party, under the name of the Mountain company, on the Pactolus Keef, adjoining that of the Miners Eoyal. Another lease has been applied for on the Nugget Eeef, on the eastern side of the Shotover. "We were lately shown a rather remarkable specimen from the Alexandra Company's claim. A seam of gold was distinctly traceable through it, besides sundry specks of the precious metal in other portions of the stone. We understand this company have in contemplation the suspension of prospecting operations till the severe months of winter are past. I The stone in the Criterion Company's claim, Arrow, is said to show better than that of the first crushing. Mundic abounds in this reef, one and a half pounds of which has been tested by Mr. Mining Surveyor "Wright, and the result was nearly seven grains, or at the rate of more than twelve ounces of gold per ton. There are good indications of Criterion Co.'s reef, in the Jupiter and Who'd-have-thought-it Companys' claims. The Barracouta Company have struck I in one of their shafts a large leader, supposed to indicate the near existance of the main reef. A party have struck a reef near the eightmile, where the Deep Creek joins the Arrow, but no auriferous prospects have at present been reported. It is also rumored that a new reef has been discovered about five miles from Arrowtown towards the Kawarau. At Twelve-mile, Arrow, most parties doing well, also those on the Deep Lead, at the Cardrona. The parties on Lower Nevis, sluicing the Kawarau banks, are doing very well. A correspondent, writing from the Arrow says: — ''The Columbian Quartz Mining Co held their first meeting on Wednesday, 30th ult, when the following gentlemen were elected directors : — Messrs Worth (Queenstown), Gr. C. Bowman, E. I\ Williamson, E. De La Perrelle, and E.' Campbell. Subsequently Mr Bowman was elected Chairman of the Board. The Cornish Co. in_ German G-ully have accepted a tender for sinking thirty feet upon the reef in their present shaft. The prospects are very encouraging, gold having been found in the stone. Criterion hard at work, and the amalgam looking well. The company do not up until Saturday next, 9fch inst." A correspondent writing from the Nevis, under date 22nd May, says: — " Mining matters are rather dull here at present. No prospecting is attempted owing to the insufficient size of claims allowed by the present absurd Mining Eegulations. The consequence is that most of our miners, aB their claims get worked out, transfer themßelvs and their earnings to the goldfields of Westland.. instead of remaining to develope the resources of this district. Verily, Mr V. Pyke has a deal to answer, for Buch an unsatisfactory state of things. We are of opinion that the sooner mining boards are establisned the better for the mining interests of the province, # We may state taat great dissatisfaction, is i'elfc here at the New Regulations, anont water-races, If the owners of water-whaele are to pay fa for each head of water required, we am only cftU jt t&Sftttam '-.with ft *3