MINING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8362, 10 December 1888, Page 2

MINING.

NOTES FROM REEFTON. (Fbom Oub Own Cobeespondent.)

Reefton, December 8. The following are the battery returns for the past week:—Globe, 2120z of amalgam from 190 tons ; Keep-ifc-Dark, 2870z amalgam from 185 tons; Fiery Cross Extended, 107oz amalgam from 53 tons (three and a half days' crushing); Sir Francis Drake, 520z of amalgam (four days).

The following calls have been made payable during the present month:—United Devonshire, Id; Rig River Extended, 4d; Sir Francis Drake 6d; Golden Treasure, 2d; Pandora, Id; Multum in Parvo, Id; Caledonian, Id; Inkerman 3d; South Hopeful, Jd; Gallant, M; Homeward Bound, Id; Happy Valley, Id; Supreme, 2d; Reform, Id; Lonehand.ld; Hard-to-Find Id; South Wealth of Nations, 2d; Scotia Id • No. 2 South Keep-it-Dark, Id. ' Scotia.—The low-level tunnel is being pushed ahead, and about 130 ft has been driven, leaving about 250 ft still to go. Nil Desperandum.—The battery was idle during the week, but a fresh start was made yesterday morning, and crushing will be kept going up to Christmas Eve, With reference to the proposal for floating the company on the Melbourne market, Mr W. Irvine while in the sister colony realised that it was quite out of the question to get the matter taken in hand by Victorian capitalists. People were so deeply engaged in land speculation that attention was for the time being completely off mining investments, and nobody could be got to talk of anything but Jand. The business was, however left in the hands of some residents still in Melbourne, and with the first return to miuing speculation there the stock exchange will be sounded on the subject.

, _ December 9. Golden Treasure.—The mine manager reports :—" Since my last report to you we have finished the bridge and coal tramway. We are fixing the battery up, and expect to be ready' to crush some time on Monday Eext We started two men on Thursday to fix and clear out the old Baud of Hope tunnel. We have been pushing on the stopes above No. 5, breaking out stone There is no change to note in the reef since last reported on. We have started two men to rise about 30ft north of the present face with a view of gettiug tho block of stone at this' point.

Sir Francis Drake.-During this week the directors have been conducting some experiments at the battery with the view of, if possible, increasing the efficiency of the gold-saving appliances, out so far their efforts have notS successful. The battery will, however keen running up to Christmas. In the meanS frT^ST weT °f aU s—in5 —in the yield frn ßlS*; iTCr Extended.-Thera is no report in trom the mine manager for the past week, but it is expected to come to haud on Monday ~ Jnst-'n-Timo.—The mine manager reports — bince my last sinking in the winze in the low level with two men has been carried on, the distance done for the week being 6ft. We carried the stone down 14ft, when it pinched, and since then np to the present it is broken into boulders, but I think will make again i v the stopes. In this reet there is nothing uew to report.." Homeward Bound.—The only work in progress here is the extension of the Little Boatmans low level, and the driving is rather slow Nothing further has yet been done relatire to the projected amalgamation with the Welcome Company, and matters will no doubt be allowed to take their course till the end of the year.. Reform.—Prospecting is being carriedout on the make of stone recently met with, but up to

the present time it does not promise any great •hinge.

Lone Star.—Crass cutting is still being carried out ou the low level, but has not yet revealed anything of great importance. Inglewood.—The battery has been running du"njf tne week, but the returns are not given, ana tne general opinion is that the result will be below expectations. South Wealth of Nations.—The southern portion of the mine is being prospected, and occasionally some promising quartz leaders are met with, but nothing of a solid character. The Sc7of hn"f. riißVerypromis^ the ex-

Inkerman.-The only work in progress is the « n ? On fet£ f the. mineman3gerß,with the excepthis k 6 gITCU ' h&Ve SeDt in re Por *s

The depression in mining matters is very nronounced, and there seems no chance of a revival this side of Christmas.