OTAGO.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 358, 23 September 1868, Page 2

OTAGO.

Our late files of Otago papers are chiefly lull of speculations and discussions on the impending dissolution of Provincialism, buc we extract few items of general interest. The Dunedin Fire-Brigade has disbanded themselves in consequence of a misunderstanding—only with the Corporation, and all the property of the Bridgade is to be sold off" by auction.

The notorious Mr J. G\ S. Grant is giving " Select Readings Irom Queen Victoria's Journal" throughout the various townships of the province. There is no fresh mining news, hut accounts from the Lakes mention that a very promising quartz reef has been found near the Arrow River, about two miles from Arrowtown. The specimens obtained were remarkably good, and contained very rough gold. Mr J. W. Robertson, has offered the use of the machinery to test the stone. The Queenstown Corporation have presented Mr R. Millett, Assistant Mining Surveyor, who is leaving the Provincial Government Service, with a very handsomely executed address, accompanied with a purse of sovereigns, upon the occasion of his departure from the Lakes District. The address was signed by Mr J. W. Robertson, the Mayor, and by the members of the Council.

The steamer building at the head of the Lake, by Messrs Robertson and Co., is almost finished, and will be ready for launching as soon as the machinery arrives from thought that the steamer will be able to make its first trip upon the waters of Lake Wakatipu about Christmas. Messrs Kobertson and Co., are about building a tow-boat, so as to convey timber and grain between the Morven Ferry, and the falls at Frankton. This will obviate the necessity of crossing the Shotover, and will be a great boon to the teamsters, that river being, even at the best of times, highly dangerous.

Nothing is said in the papers as to the talked of occupation of Millford Sound and neighboring country, by the migration of miners from the Lake Districts.

The Tuapeka Press gives tho following description of a model of a drilling machine, to be used for boring holes in rock and cement for blasting purposes, recently invented by Mr William Ward, late of Teviot, and now of Weatherstones. The machine is driven or worked by an overshot wheel, five feet in diameter, which is keyed to the centre of the horizontal shaft, ten feet long and two inches in diameter, each end of the shaft resting on bearings bolted to an upright frame. Near each end of the shait, are keyed two cams, with two lifts to each, for working two sets of jumpers. The cams are similar to those used in lifting revolving stamper, and give a ro-ta-tory motion to the jumpers. The jumpers are made in lengths of four feet six inches each, and are screwed together with flush joints ; the working, or upper length, which carries the disc whereby the cams lift the jumper, is six feet long, and works in the guides, 1 he shorter lengths being screwed to it as required, or every four feet sixinches, asthe jumper penetrates the material operated upon. The disk is so adjusted by a simple contrivance, that as the jumper sinks tne disk slides up the shaft, thereby rendering it self-feeding. The bite are what are termed diamond bitß, and can be made to jump holes of any size up to six innhes in diameter, and to thirty feet or more in depth. The machine can be worked at any angle from perpendicular to half horizontal, and is portable. The principal object

is the working of cement witb economy by the use of nitro-glycerine, and for greater speed in boring holes for its reception. Even with the use of powder a very great saving would be effected by the use of such or similar machine's. We understand that the inventor and his partners have taken up a cement claim at Wetherstones, and speak with considerable confidence of its payable nature. In about a month the drilling machine, which Mr Ward is about to proceed to Dunedin to get made in accordence with his model, will be at work, and we sincerely trust that the speculation will prove a remunerative one.