BLUE SPUR MINING NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 112, 31 March 1870, Page 5

BLUE SPUR MINING NEWS.

Our Blue Spur Mining Correspondent, writing on the 22nd, says : — I- have not much to chronicle this week in mining matters. The water supply is plentiful, but this is owing to an extensive landslip taking place on the fiyst saddle at the south end of the Spur, and which has brought down several of the water races, thereby bringing to a dead-lock four 4sluicing claims which were at work when the slip took place on the 10th instant, These four claims were using at the rate , of 1200 inches a day, and have been at a stand-still since the mishap, No arrange-

ment has yet been come to, and there appears as little prospect of a settlement as ever. It is to be regretted there is so very little good feeling amongst the miners at the Spur. Nothing but law will satisfy any of their disputes — every matter, however trivial, must be referred to the Warden. In the case of Best and party v. M'Nab and party, a non-suit was accepted by the plaintiff, but as far as I can near, the law will have to decide the contest between these parties still further, unless some of them put their hands in their pocket to assist in getting a flume thrown across the broken ground. A company of fourteen miners has been formed here to prospect a reef situated near the Waipori Co.'s water dam. The two men appointed by the company to prospect the reef, report it to be well defined, what little of the reef has been prospected on the surface. They have sunk a shaft 30 feet deep, but have not struck the reef. The men are afraid to venture any further with the sinking of the shaft, as the water is making pretty freely, which leads them to believe the water is coming from the reef, and they intend driving for it this week. Morrison and Co. fired a blast with 1 ton 7 cwt. of powder, which blew the bottom well out, leaving the top to come at its own leisure. Livingston and Co. fired a blast. The charge consisted of 17 cwt. of powder, which answered admirably. This company cannot miss having a good blast, as their face is in an excellent working position, and the quantity of metal extracted exceeds any of their former ground. The Perseverance Co. have purchased a piece of ground from the Extended Co. for the sum of £200, for the purpose of constructing the water races on a lower level. The undertaking is a very difficult one. I fear the company will not be short of water occasionally, more especially if all the races break into one. A share in this company has changed hands lately for £1100. Mr. Margate is the purchaser.