MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 115, 21 April 1870, Page 6

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

A meeting of the shareholders of the Aurora Company took place on Thursday last, to make definite arrangements regarding public crushings. It was stated that forty applications had been received, and that a few more were still expected to come in. The question of rates was discussed at some length, and resulted in the following tariff being adopted: — Per ton, for the first ten tons, 405. ; and for any quantity beyond 10 tons, but not exceeding 20 tons, 355. They will commence crushing early next week-; the stone from Colclough's, Loughnan and Eeed's, and that from M'Loughlan's claims is the first that will be put through. At present the compauy have only sufficient water to drive five head, but as these will be kept going night and day, we may expect shortly to be in a position to report the result of more than one trial crushing. Indeed there is every probability that by the time spring sets in the prospect from the majority of the claims will have been ascertained, and shareholders put in a position to decide as to what further action should be taken. It will also be the means of producing a little more of the needful than is at present circulating in the district. One claim alone will, we understand, put through 150 tons — the yield estimated by the prospect taken out of the mortar being seven ounces to the ton. That is Colclough's prospecting claim, and from what we know of it, we do not consider the probable yield over-estimated. — Cromwell " Guardian."

Queenstown telegrams state that a report reached there on the evening of the 13th instant, that a prospecting party from Canterbury have found payable gold twenty-five miles from the head of Lake Wakatip. Numbers of diggers, including Pox, the discovsrer of the Arrow diggings, are proceeding to Martin's Bay. The "Thames Advertiser" says: — The following letter has been issued by Tana te Waharoa to the natives. Tana is the second son of William Thompson, and has hitherto acted chiefly with the King party, although his influence has been almost uniformlyexerted in favour of peace, and for the repression of disorder. It is evident from the letter, that Mr. M'Lean has induced Tana to use his influence with Te Hira to get Ohinemuri opened, and that Te Hira has agreed that it shall be worked, but by Maoris only. This, certainly, is not much, and the diggers will not be inclined to put much faith in Maori miners, or to trust to them to give the locality a fair trial. As to the promise that the land will be hereafter opened to Europeans, it is very vague: — [Translation]. "March 18, 1-870. Te Tuiri [Te Hira] consented to me and my proposition for the gold, to let it be worked by the Maoris only; but hereafter it will be open to the pakeha. I myself will open it. Do not be in too great a hurry, lest we all [you and us] be tired out. Your friend, Tajsta to Wahaboa. To all the tribes."

Important Bush at the Buller. — An important rush has taken place to a terrace south of Westport, and a short distance from the Buller Eiver. The

prospects promise good wages, and the ground will probably carry a thousand men, as the lead has been tried for a considerable distance. — " Nelson Examiner."

The Long Drive. — The usual fortnightly retorting for the Long Drive took place on Saturday at the Kuranui Company's battery, and yielded 530 ozs. 11 dwts. of retorted gold. During the greater part of the last fortnight only ten head of stampers were employed on the stuff. — The Armstrong. — A crushing of sixteen tons for the Armstrong Claim, Karaka Hill, was finished on Saturday at the Hopo GoM Mining Company's battery, and yielded 15 d.vts. to the ton. The battery will start to work to day on stuff from the Royal Standard mine, and a parcel from the Flagstaff will also be put through at this machine. — " Auckland Evening Star." Important to Miners. — A new rockdriller, invented by Mr. F. H. Dcering is mentioned in a late number of the English " Mining Journal." The average time of an experienced miner in drilling a hole of eighteen inches in the hardest -white granite "would he about three hours, and the abovementioned driller would do the work in ten or fifteen minutes, calculating for stoppages. — " Nelson Examiner." It is rumoured in Hokitika that three fresh claims had struck gold on the Brighton Lead.

From a Nelson telegram in the " Daily Times " of the 14th, we learn that a prospector's application was made on the previous Monday for the new reef at Wangapeka, a mile distant from Culliford's, which it excels in richness. Great excitement prevails at the township, and the prospectors have been watched and shepherded all night by the miners. Reports received from trustwoi'thy sources regarding Culliford's claim, state that it is very rich. The prospects of the "Wangapeka field generally are greatly improved.

The Marlborough papers report that gold-bearing stone has been found near Farnall's Kaituna Valley, and near the Devil's Arm Chair, on the N.W. side of the Wairau River.

The quantity of gold forwarded to Westport from Charleston during the past week, namely, 5300 ozs. 12 dwts. 18 grs. (six weeks produce) shows T that the locality is still in a healthy condition ; were it otherwise, it is not likely that wages should still continue at the high rate of £4 per week. — " Grey River Argus," April 2.

Lordin and party, who some time ago washed away the ground from underneath a number of houses adjoining the " Charleston Herald " oflice have purchased the section on which the Royal Hotel stands, with the view of wresting the gold out of it. Their former speculation yielded them £12 a week per man, but they anticipate that their present purchase will pay them still more.