Notes from Wakatipu.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2280, 11 November 1897, Page 21

Notes from Wakatipu.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Arrowtown, November 6. — The crushing for October at the Glenrock Company's battery was 370 tons, which yielded 43ioz of smelted gold, or nearly 23Jdwt to the ton. It must be borne in mind that the cold and unseasonable weather affe cted the quantity of stone treated \ t had this not "been the case the cake would have been■larger., aud there 18 no dearth of quartz of the same quality in the mine. A large quantity is now lying .at grassland the present staff of men will be able to raise more stone thah*the crushing plant can deal with. Under these circumstancesit is said to be contemplated to shift the Sunrise battery of 10 heads to the site of the present plant, where there is ample power to drive the whole complement of 30 bf>ads of stamps. Mining uyon the Shotover lliver is in a healthy condition, which is chiefly owing to the introduction of the jet pump elevator, thanks to Mersrs Smith and Sons' exertions. There aro several -parties at work with this appliance, and quite a number axe preparing to follow suit. At' the Sandhill Scbustedt and Gemniel are now busy getting th«-ir hydraulic plant ready to start work in tbe Shotover, their intention being to start at the Sandhill • Creek. The .next party below them is Rogers and Tripp, who have now been in Jail working order for- about 12 months, and are understood to liava met with very fair success. .Next follow Smith and Sons', the fathers' of the new appliance, lteport has it that they are doing very well, evi-n .with the drawback of a high river. It ivS pleasing forepart that they are meeting with Tvell- deserved .success. "Tljeir claim exrendißg tb the' site^ of^ the present _ Skippers bridge (below whicli^tlie river has "been -filled to a considerable depth with tailings and Stones fro^the teriactn), there is a blank till we come to Maori Point, where activity again begins. The stretch of the river between M aori Point and Deep Creek has bceu applied for, and preparations for an active start ore in progress. Mr J Bourdeau, a very early resident at Skippern Point, has taken up the Criteiion Creek, about a ■mile below Long Gully, for hydraulic purposes, and has already star-ted to make the pipe?, for which exceptional facilities are offered him. This is a very promising spec, and uuder ordinary circumstances should pay handsomely.

Between Bourdeau's and Johnson andTtf'Corran's claim come Collins and Son and Copper and Wood, who have amalgamated in one company. This promises to be one of the best properties in this line on the Shotover. The facilities for working it are favourable, and the prospects of the ground are very good indeed. There is a large beach, which co far as isltuown has never been worked. Erqm the workings in the neighbourhood it is estimated not to exceed 9ft or 10ft in depth. Old stagers upon the river hold that Collins's find, Cooper's claim, comprises the largest extent of maiden ground in this part of the river ; and as for quality, that may be seen from the gettings of Messrs Jolinsou and M'Corran, in [the adjoining claim, who for a long run averaged from j£lo to £50 per man per week.

Other parties on the river who are working on a smaller scale are also doing well, although in some instances they are hindered by the high state of the .river. As to quartz, there is also a revival to be noticed. In the fir*t place it should be reassuring news that the Gallant Tipperaryhas passed into the possession of Mr W. L. Davis, which is a guarantee tKat whatever work may be undertaken will be carried out with-energy and in a complete and thorough' manner. This is one of the beat quartz properties in the island, and has in addi- ' tion all the elements of success/such as a splendid water eupply and physical facilities Jor tapping the lode at any level with very little expense or ' labour upon a hill slope of nearly 2000 ft in vertical height, upon the whole length of which the lode can be clearly traced in its dip. It is not too much

1o prophesy that the Gallant 'lipperary will be favourably heard of iv due course of time. The Alpine Company at Skippers Point have let v contract for driving a tunnel for the lode at a low level, Messrs Dunlop and Flynn being the successful tenderers. They succeeded in striking stone last week about lft wide, showing a f»ir proportions gold. Some very good returns have been taken out from this lode, and there is reason to hope that the present strike will come up to what has been obtained. - '

In the Achilles mine the water has now been mastered, and general work has been resumed, so that returns may now again be expected. A party from down country has made an inspection of the Leviathan miue, Skippers Point, for the purpose of taking it on tribute. The Crystal Coiupapy, joining the _above, have suspended operations for a while, but it is understood they will soon make a start again.