Mining News

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 661, 10 February 1909, Page 5

Mining News

Soma 15 or 20 claims have recently been pegged off in the locality of the t alluvial rush reported in these columns lately and situate in the gorge about tire miles below Alexandra. Iu several places prospecting parties have discovered traces of an old river bed, and as the lay of the wash is some 600 feet above the present river level hundreds of years muse have el since the river flowed at such an altitude. During the past couple of weeks quite a lush has set in, and several parties are on the ground searching for the yellow metal Last week two different parties were successful in striking good psospects, and we understand that on one claim the prospects varied from Idwt to 4dwts to the dish. Kit to and party, who first, discovered the field, are engaged in stopiug their ground, and the rich prospects in this claim still continue. Areas have been pegged off down as fur as the Sixteen-mile Gully, and all along on the same altitude may be found water-worn rocks, maori stones and river deposits, proving the existence at one time of a swift-flowing stream. The field gives every promise of proving remunerative for some time to come, and this week several new parties have left to try their luck at digging. A party of Alexandra miners have pegged off an alluvial claim of about 19 acres iu the Clyde-Cromwell gorge, near Gibraltar. We understand that good prospects have been obtained from the ground, which is situtte about 300 ft above river level. Sales of water from the Mouut Ida Water-race, Otago, during the month of November amounted to £124 4s 101. Forty-two miners who were supplied with water obtained 150oz of gold. From the Alexandra Water-race the sales of water amounted to £l6 10s; nine men were supplied. During the month of December sales from the Mount Ida race amounted to £137 6s; forty-three miners who were supplied with water obtained 200ozs of gold. The total quantity of gold exported from Otago during the year 1908 was 97,8440z5, valued at £395,809. In the year 1907 the quantity exported was H8,3530za, valued at £478,982. Last year's export from Otago is the lowest since 1898, when only 55,3430z, valued at £223,231, was exported. Up to the last year of the past decade the export varied from 129,0750zs (the lowest) in 1900 to 181,1160zs (the highest), in 1902. Otago's total export- of gold to the 31st December, 1908, was 6,892,5820z5, valued at

£27,393,851. \ A firm of manufacturers' agents and iv importers in Dunedin, which lately made an inquiry as to the area of dredging claims, has been informed that claims may be taken up for an are t not exceeding 100 acres, if such area does not exceed one mile of the course of the stream; but if a dredging claim extends for three miles along the course of a stream, then the area granted must not exceed 75 acres. The Molyneux Hydraulic dredge washed up on Saturday 13|ozs. The ground remains about the same, with an improvement on the inside of the cut. The following are the principal items in the annual statement of afiairs issued by the Sandy Point Gold Dredging Company: Nominal capital, £8000; number of men employed, 11; gold produced last year, 5210z 16dwt, valued at £2052 8* 8d ; total quantity of gold produced, 79620z 7dwt I2grs, valued at £31,083 5s 6d ; last year's expenses, £3946 0s 5d ; total expenditure, £33,528 6s 8d; total dividends paid, £7200. The annual statement of afiairs issued by the Alexandra Lead Company shows that it has a nominal capital of £IB,OOO. The number of men employed is 10, and the gold produced last year was 3620z I3dwt lOgrs, valued at £1403 9s lid. The total quantity produced amounts to 89060z sdwt 9grs, valued at £34,385 12s 2d. Last year's expenses were £3231 Is sd, and the total expenditure has been £38,071 12s 4d. A sum of £14,033 12s has been declared in dividends. The annual statement issued by the New Perseverance Dredging Company shows that the nominal capital is £17,000. There are at present nine men in the employ of the company, which has produced since last year's statement 230z sdwt of gold, valued at £B7 10s 3d. The total value of gold produced since registration is 7,3550z Bdwt lOgr, valued at £28,520 9s 3d. Last year's expenses amounted to £5,377 7s 2d, and the total expenditure has been £37,487 Is sd. A sum of £3,500 has been declared in dividends.

IMPORTANT SLUICING VENTURE. Mr P. M. Fink, of Alexandra South, u at [iret-out completing tbo details of

a scheme by which be hopps to secure a sufficient supply of water to enable successful sluicing operations to be carried on at an old and extensive claim near Hyde. In conversation with a Duly Times reporter, Mr Fink gave some interesting information about the history and prospects of the claim. Records o! early workings at this particular spot, he says, are somewhat uncertain aud unreliable, but it is known that a company of miners some 30 or 40 1 yens ago, with a capital believed to amount to £90,000, commenced deep-sinking at Hyde. They spent anything between £20,000 aud £40,000 in bringing in a race from the head of the Shag River. It was a splendid piece of work, and the greater part of it is ibere still, but, unfortunately, a serious error had been made in calculating the levels, aud it was found that the water would not run. The same company also spent about £30,000 in putting in a drive in the wash, but this was immediately abandoned when they saw that the water could not be brought in, and they subsequently drove above the wash. Mr Fink believes that about eight or ten years ago the property was again taken up aud a company with a large capital was actually formed in London, but Mr Robert Hay condemned the proposal to obtain water from the Shag River, on the ground that even if the race could be successfully constructed, the loss by evaporation would be too great.

The claim, Mr Fink understands, was formerly known as the Scar of Otago, and consists of from 200 to 400 acres of land situated right opposite the old township of Hyde, across the river. When he came to the spot he saw that a supply of water could be obtained from the Taieri River, and it is now his intention to instal a large pumping plant some three miles distant, capable of raising the water to the necessary height of 850 ft. He is ot opinion that an engine of 185-h.p. would be able to lift two heads of water continuously, and by working it eight hours a day, and constructing a dam, the necessary supply could be obtained. In the meantime, he contemplates using steam power, bu' Mr F. J. Williams has gone to Hyde to investigate and report, and he may find it possible to utilise electricity. In any case only one powe>' and pumping plant will be required. The beauty of the claim, says Mr Fink, is that it carries, gold right through from top to bottom, and even in the very strippings. The average all through is about ldwt to the load. He has seen as much as ldwt washed up to the dish himself, and has known of an ounce, anJ even lOoz, having been obt lined in the same way. He is at present prospecting the claim for his own satisfaction, and finds a certain amount of pipeclay in the ground before the wash is reached. The ground, he says, is very easy for sluicing ; indeed, so easy that he believes there will be danger of loss resulting through the boxes getting choked. He hopes after Mr Williams's visit of inspection to be able to make a more complete statement of his plans.

OLRIG DREDGING COMPANY. The following is the directors' report to be submitted at the annual meeting cf shareholders in the Olrig Dredging Company:— " During the year the dredge has won 5060z 3dwts 16grs, valued at £1938 lis Id. The average weekly expenses of running the dredge have been about 9ioz, or £35 12s 9d sterling. Your directors have determined to reduce the expense of management, and with this end in view recommend that the secretary's salary be reduced from £72 to £52 per annum, and that the number of directors be reduced.from five to three, thus reducing the directors' fees from £63 to £37 16s per annum, making a total saving per annum of £45 ii. To reduce the number of directors to three it is recommended that no directors be appointed at the annual meeting, and if this is done there will then be two directors in Dunedin and one in Alexandra, aud these your directors consider ample to manage the company's affairs. The Alexandra directors intend to move in the direction of having the office of management removed to Alexaddra, but the majority of the board do not consider this would be a wise step. The retiring directors are Messrs S. J. Luke (Alexandra Sjuth), and .William Stevenson (Dunedin). The auditor, Mr E. R. Smith, also retires, but, being eligible, offers himself for reelection.

DREDGING RETURNS. oz dwt gr KLinc Snn, Upper Clutba 70 10 0 Mystery Flat, Waikaia ... 51 13 0 Bi.se and Shine No 1. fromweil 45 2 0 Muddy Creek, Waikaia 43 4 0 Rise and Shine No. 2. Cromwell 43 16 0 Masterton, Waikaia 33 7 0 Sandy Point, Alexandra 30 2 0 Koputai, Waikaia 28 4 0 Golden Treasure. Miller's Flat ... 26 10 0 Paterson's Freehold No. 2, Waikaka .. .. .. ,. 26 0 0 Central Charlton, near Core 22 1 o Hartley and Riley, Cromwell ... 21 0 0 Chicago. Alexandra 21 0 0 Golden Gem Millers Fiat 20 3 0 Otago No 1. Millers Flat 20 0 0 Waikaia, Waikaia 17 15 0 Alexandra Eureka Alexandra ... 16 12 0 Enterprise, Alexandra 15 5 0 Charlton Creek, Gore 15 0 0 Paterson's Freehold No. 1, Waikaka 14 10 0 Olrig, Mannberikia 11 W 3 isGati) Waikaia, Waikaia 10 8 0 Otago No 2. Millers Flat Total _ 7 0 0 609 11 3