Mining News.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 653, 9 December 1908, Page 5

Mining News.

The Molyoetix Hydraulic is working on improved ground, and washed up last week for 29ozs.

The Earnscleugh No. 2 started I work at the beginning of the week afteW undergoing a three weeks'overhaul

Messrs Everitt and Terry are engaged in erecting a one head battery, or chilling mill, at their quartz claim at Cooroy's Gully. This par ty recently forwarded ten tons of quartz to Mi R. Byrnes' battery on White's reef, at Bald Hill Flat, for crushing in order to ascertain the value of the stone. Mr J. Robeitsou is crushing some Stone taken out of his quinz claim near Conroys Gully, and the prospects are most encouraging. We were shown a sample of the quu-tz List week, and it contained a splendid sample of gold, being strewn all ovei with the golieo metal. Conroys wwt yet be the scene of active quartz mining operations. The Chicago resumed work on Monday ia?t after uudergoicg some necessary repairs. The Manor burn Company's dredge commenced operations to-day. Fending the appointment of dredgemaster, Mr J. M*C£ueen will act as manager. We understand that the directors of the company will shortly pay a visit of inspection to the property. The following resolution will be : submitted to a meeting of shareholders in the New Fourteen-mile Beach Company, which the directors have decided to call:—"That the company be wound up voluntarily, and that Mr David Crawford be, and is hereby appointed, liquidator for the purpose of such wioding up." We take the following horn a circular accompanying the notice:— u As is already known to you, we' have bad a succession of nonproduccive years necessitating recently the calling up of the unpaid capital. The directors cannot see their way to recommend the shareholders .to further continue the work of the company. Last year when the financial position of the company justified it the Board, with a view of lengthening the life of the old claim, a considerable portion of which has been worked out, took up about a mile of the river immediately below and adjoining our lower boundary. That the new ground contains gold there is no doubt whatever, as splendid prospects were obtaiued, but unfortunately the extreme roughness of that part of the river was altogether adverse to successful dredging. The whole claim held by tho company has now been practically worked out, and the funds being almost exhausted, your directors have decided to submit to shareholders a resolution in the direction of liquidation." The Last Oaar.ce Company, at Bald \ Hill Flat is working three shifts with a plentiful supply of water and operating on highly payable ground. For three weeks' sluicing the boxes were washed up for a return of 117ozs.

GOLD MINING EMPLOYERS' UNION.

Tno eighth annual meeting of the Otago and Southland Gold Miniug Industrial Union of employers was held in Duoedin last week.

The annual leport presented to the meeting and adopted was as follows: "Nine companies have been struck off the registrar during the year owing to liquidation, leaving 40 companies, as against 49 last yetr. The finances have been well maintained, notwithstanding the falling off in membership. The year opened with a credit balance of £328 Us 10J, and closed with a credit balance oi £370 4s 10 J. Your executive is pleased to report that it has succeeded in getting the regulations under the Gold Buyers' Act gazetted. All gold buyers have now to be licensed, and under the act shall keep a correct copy of all gold transactions in a special book, which must be open for inspection by authorised persons. It is anticipated that this portion of the act will prove beneficial to all gold mining companies. ' The Mining Act Amendment Act, 1908,' received consideration at the hands of your executive. Whilst it contained several beneficial clauses granted in response to our requests, it also contained one or two clauses of a somewhat drastic nature, which the executive strongly opposed. The increase in the area of dredging claims, bo long advocated by this union, is a move in the right direction, and is to be commenced. The clause, however, giving power to the warden to impose any conditions he may think fit in obviating the destruction of the surface of pastoral and agricultvral lands, is far too drastic Owing to the opposition of those interested, the bill did not pass. It will be re-committed, however, next session, when your executive hopes to deal with it that it will be made a useful and beneficial measure. The question of taxation has also received the attention of your executive. Towards the end of the session a very strong deputation, representing coat mine owners, quarry owners, and those connected with gold mining, waited upon the Prime Minister and the Minister of Liuds and strongly protested against the double taxation now existing in connection with the winning of met tls. The Prime Minister, in reply to the deputation, stated that the acs in this direction was being interpreted in a way that was never intended, and undertook to bring down an amending bill early n9Xfc year to relieve the extra burden which has been imposed. Your executive is pleased to report that the gold mining industry has been particularly free from any disturbing elements during the year. Tue only case before the court was that of the Round Hill and Aurawera Sluicing Companies at Riverton. Iu these cases the cturt

siratit« J minimum wages as follows : Claim bands and race men, Is per hour ; blacksmiths, Is 1£ 1 per hour. Eight hours to constitute a shift The executive trusts that the work done .luring the past year and the years preceding will so commend itself to members that they will see it to be in their best interests to support the union by every means within their power. With the present trend of things, and the burdens that are being imposed on industries, organisations of employers are becoming more and more a necessity, and the gold mining industry is no exception." The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year :—President, Mr J. C. Thomson ; vice-presi-dent, Mr J. 0. Bhort; committee— Messrs G. M. Gregg, H. F. Noes, A. James, W T. Talboys, H. North, Joseph M'George and Captain Sund.strum.

DREDGING RETURNS.

oz dwi «r YIys:ery Flat, Waikaia ... 54 3 0 Kiseani shine No I. romweil 54 3 0 Bi-ine San Upper Ciutha 45 13 0 Rifey's Revival, Ciutha River .. 42 0 0 Waikaka United No 1. Waikaka 40 2 0 New Roxburgh Jubilee, Roxburgh 37 13 0 Waikaka United No 2. Waikaka 37 6 0 Koputai, Waikaia 33 11 0 Muddy Creek, Waikaia 33 3 0 M.H-terton. Waikaia 32 0 0 Electric No. 2, Cromwell 26 10 0 Golden Bed, Millers Fiat 24 17 0 Central Charlton, near Gore 22 10 0 Punt, Ciutha River 20 11 0 Molyneux Hydraulic. Alexandra 20 0 0 Otago No 2. Millers Flat 19 0 0 Enterprise. Alexandra ... 18 0 0 Rise and Shine No. 2. Cromwell 17 17 0 Charlton Creek, Gore '17 10 0 0 rig, Manuberikia .. .. 10 13 0 Kara, Waikaia ... ,, 9 0 0 South Waikaia, Waikaia 8 15 0 Alexandra Eureka Alexandra ... .8 1 0 Total • 632 18 0