MINING NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 164, 30 March 1871, Page 7

MINING NEWS.

There have been several Kara men visitors at the Buller lately. They speak well of the prospects of that place, and indeed some go the length of saying that there will be a stir about the diggings in that locality before many months. A few fair parcels of gold have been sold to the banks from the Karainea since Christmas.

Continuous reporting on the Caledonian mine ir.ay perchance fall flatly on the ear of the reading public, but when such heavy interests are at stake, I think it only right to record passing events of importance. The mine has already become a marvel unto many, and, if it continues as it has begun, the yield of gold will have to be reckoned by hundredweights, or even tons, instead of ounces. The other day the upper levels of the mine were the most often quoted, but now we hear quite as much of the lower ones. To-day (3rd inst.) some astonishingly rich stone has been taken out of it, the band of gold in places being from five to six inches wide. I cannot give you the exact weight of specimen stone on hand, but it must be nearly 30cwt. There is to be another grand cleaning-up at the end of the month. I refrain fiom hazirding a conjecture as to the result. — Correspondent of " Weekly News."

From the quarterly returns of the Victorian Mining Department we learn that at the end of December, 1870, the miners employed in the colony were as follows : — Ballarat — Alluvial : Europeon, 8509 ; Chinese, 2760. Quartz : European, 3097. Beech worth — Alluvial : European, 3510 ; Chinese, 3604. Quartz — European, 2038 ; Chinese, 32. Sandhurst— Alluvial : European. 323 D; Chinese, 802. Quartz : European, 4893. Maryborough — Alluvial : European, 7207 ; Chinese, 3072. Quartz : European, 1885 ; Chinese, 32. Castlemaino — Allavi-al : European, 3480 ; Chinese, 2775. Quartz : European, 2540. Ararat — Alluvial : European, 1035; Chinese, 1020. Quartz: European, 653. Gipps Land — Alluvial : European, 1301 ; Chinese, 913. Quartz: European, 781. Total, employed in the colony -— Alluvial: European, 28,28 L; Chinese, 15,015. Quarts: European, 15,887; Chinese, 64. Total, 29,247. The approximate value of mining plant in the colony is given &t £2,198,896; the number of" square miles of ground worked, 938} ; and the number of auriferous reefs, 3037.

The Innngahua correspondent of tlie "Charleston Her aid," writing of the reefs, says : —The claims, like the population, are weekly on the increase. Of late we have had a good many visitors from Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika. All are on the search for specimens vi hen they come. Some of them, I presume, return elated with their success. One of the Hokitikians speculated to some extent. It is an eas} r matter to speculate here, but more ticklish to safely invest. We have already one or two sharebrokers, one doctor, lows of storekeepers, butchers, bakers, and bootmakers. What this part i# s most in need of is a few stampheads and batteries. Specimens may suit the flying visitor with " quartz on the brain," but commend an old reefer to see a dozen tons crushed before forming an opinion. I have not the least hesitation in saying that many of the claims here will yet pay well, though most of the original shareholders will be compelled to part with them before that time. There is little money changing hands. Many miners arc at work, and many more shepherding. New stores are going up, aud a large credit business could already be done by any one so disposed. New lines of reefs are being traced eveiy week, and the establishing of a crushing machine in the district would, I feel certain, enliven the interest taken in many of them, and pay anyone handsomely who would undertake it. Tho way to set about such an enterprise would be to get a guarantee for crushing so many tons from each of the claims, and many, 1 feel sure, would prove remunerative. To choose a cential site for the erection of tho machine would be a question of some difficulty, the claims are so far apart, and separated by somo ugly gullies. Tho boating carriage to tho landing is exorbitant. The chief portion of provisions here is cheap enough. Good board can be had at £2 per week. Drinks are high, but are reduced enough in quality in many instances.

xlccording to the " Cromwell Argus" the Colclough Company's reef, Bcndigo Gully, is likely to yield satisfactory returns. A trial crushing of four tons from Mitchinson and Co. 'a prsopecting claim, Thompson's Gully, was put through the Cromwell Company's machine a few days ago, and the result was an averago of loz. lHdwts. to the ton. The Cromwell Company have reduced the rate of wa^es for reefing hands, from £4* to £3 10s. per week. The Colclough Company have also given notice of a reduction ; they will probably offer 10s. for eight hours' work. The reefs on the Garrick Ranges are nearly all m full work, the re-start-ing of the Royal Standard Company's battery having given a great impetus to quartz mining in that locality. Some of the richest stone yet found on the Garrick Ranges is being taken out of the Heart of Oak claim.

The machinery for the Otea^iki Reef (Mavewhcnua district) ie now all on tha ground. There will be ten heads of stamps in all, worked by an overshot water-wheel with a plentiful supply of water, brought by a race frora the Otekaiki river,