MINING ITEMS.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 992, 2 August 1872, Page 3

MINING ITEMS.

The ' Duns'tati Times' says the hopes of the miners of being able to resume mining operations are again knocked in the head, by a repetition of bard frosts, which have again rendered ironbound their water races. This compulsory idleness on the part of the miners is materially affecting every branch of business, and nothing but complaints are heard from every quarter. The trial of the new explosive termed the -Rock Render' at Glenore, Otago, proved a perfect success. The drive prepared for the shot was 3x2 feet, running 117 feet into the hill. with a 7 feet Tat the end. In this T, at least 25 feet below the surface, was placed a cask containing 3001bs of the Rock Render, and tampered with stones, &c, in the usual manner. In nine minutes after the fuse was lighted the charge exploded, 20 or 30 yards of the ground's surface was seen to be heaved up about a foot, and smoke to issue from craoks in the hill over the back of the drive. To judge from appearances, the quantity of cement and stuff displaced will probable prove something like 5000 tons. Altogetht r the test was a very severe one, as will be seen from the figures given, and although the proprietors of the invention have determined, before laying claim to absolute success, to wait ten days, until the water has been laid on and has found its way into the fissures of the blast, and so tested its result in the most thorough manner. The miners who had charge of the shot seemed to have no hesitation in at once pronouncing a favorable opinion. While the large blast was being tamped, an experiment ou a smaller tcale was tried with a two-ton boulder in the centre of the claim. In this stone a small drill was made and a charge of 1£ inch placed. Although the quantity of the compound used could not have greatly exceeded an ounce, the result of this test proved that the title was at least no misnomer. The Sock Render behaved like a giant, calm in the consciousness of his strength. There was no loud report, and no hurling of excited fragments high in air. With & dull thud, like a sigh of resignation to its fate, the stone opened up into many pieces, each of which quietly rolled a few feet from the centre ; and although the shot was most satisfactory in its results, any one might have remained within a few yards of the explosion without real danger. Tuhua Golbfield. —A. writer in tire * Cross* states :—Respecting the «uceess of Messrs Barry aud mission, sufficient has transpired to convince the moat sceptical that a rich goldfield lies to the southward of us. The natives, after the meeting which was held, afforded the prospectors every facility to examine the district, and I have heard that it was the annoyance which they received from private prospectors that caused them to return on the present occason. I believe they have found gold in several

places—gold of a quality which indicates that both alluvial and reef gold will he yet got out of the district in no stinted quantity. The result of proepecting as yet shows that, as the eastern side of the province is approached the traces of gold disappear, a nd it is believed that they are altogether wanting in the Province of

Napier. All around Tuhua traces of «old were got freely, and it is believed that tbe goldfield, when opened up, will be divided between this province and a portion of Taranaki, and poss'bly a small portion of the corner of fie Province of Wellington. It was those private prospecting parties that caused Barry and Nolan's return, for wherever they went it appears their footsteps were followed, and their modes of examination copied. From what I can hear, a large area of country has been found to be gold-bearing to a greater or less extent, and had Messrs Barry and Nolan not been thus molested in their efforts to disclose the hidden wealth of the province their labors might have soon resulted in opening up to us another great source of wealth. Everywhere the natives received them most kindly, and evinced the most lively anxiety for the success of their labors.