BLUE SPUR MINING NOTES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 390, 12 September 1874, Page 2

BLUE SPUR MINING NOTES.

(By our Mining Reporter.)

Miring at the Blue Spur is now assuming a new phase. Tunnelling and driving, preparatory to pulverising with machinery, is now the order of tho day, although all the claims which have sufiicient fall for their dirt are still employed sluicing, there now being an ample supply of water for that purpose. On the Munros side, Messrs. White and party fired a shot recently, which brought down as much cement as will keep them employed sluicing for some months. They are alao driving a main tunnel to work the bottom of their claim, Close to the mouth of the drive they are clearing a machine site on. which to erect the battery recently purchased from the Gabriels Gully Co. This company will ÜBe two turbine water wheels for their power — one to drive the stampers, and another to haul the trucks of cement up the drive, which will hare a steep descent into the hill. Very little time will be lost in getting the machinery for this claim to work. The contract for removing the machine shed from its present site to tho claim, has been let to Mr. T. Anderson, and Messrs. Eincaid, M'Queen, and Co. will immediately proceed with the removal and re-erection of the machinery ; consequently the shareholders anticipate starting to crush their dirt in about six weeks. It is rumored that another sixteenth share in this claim was disposed of lately at a high figure. Shares in this claim have rapidly risen in value since the prospecting shaft was sunk in deep ground. The Nelson Co.-, on the Gabriels side, are employed erecting their machinery, which will be ready for work in a few weeks. They are also driving a tunnel from which to work the claim, but they have yet some distance to go before they open out.

Driving has also been resorted to by the present owners of the Rip and Tear claim. The dirt thus raised will be sluiced down to the Nelson Co.'s battery, and the tailings stacked, should a trial prove that they will pay for putting through the mill. The Otago Co are still raising stuff from their shaft showing good gold, which they are stacking until the arrival of their machinery from Messrs. Kincaid, M'Queon, and Co.'s foundry. The Great Extended, the Perseverance, Morrison and Co., and Hales and Hinde, are employed sluicing. The latter have just finished washing-up, the result of which was not made public by the proprietors.

Many enquiries are being made as to the result of the crushing of the Blue Spur tailings, but the exact result has not been made public. Speculation, as may be imagined, is very rife as to the result, which is believed to very indifferent, but it was generally stated the stuff was not taken from the proper place, and therefore cannot be looked upon as a true test of the great bulk of the tailings. The reason the manager of the Gabriels Grully Co. gives for his reticence in the matter is that the trial was made by a private company for their own information, which information might be of use to them at a future time ; hovrcver, if anyone is very anxions to know, he may ascertain by paying the cost of the crushing. Certainly, seeing this company went to considerable expense to gain the knowledge they now possess, it is only fair they should be recouped by the public in some way for their labor if the information is to become public property. Probably the Channel Committee will, for the benefit of the public make some overtures to the manager of the G-abriels G-ully Co. in this matter.