MINING NEWS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7937, 10 August 1891, Page 6

MINING NEWS.

(press association telegrams.) REEFTON, August 8. The following is the Stock Exchange re?ort: —"To-day's weekly battery returns give 2210_ of amalgam from the Fiery Cross, Globe, Cumberland, No. 2 Dark, and Big River Companies. The United Alpine return for last month was 12650z of amalgam, and at the Inglewood battery the tribute party cleaned up 2290z of retorted gold for 172 tons. The Dark machine has not resumed crushing for that Company yet, and the Progress is not running full time. During the week dividends of sixpence and one -hilling were declared by the Alpine and Fiery Cross, representing an amount of £2412 for distribution. The much required change of weather, bringing a good fall of rain, has come, and the different batteries, so long idle for want of water, are in steady work again. Considerable attention and anxious interest are being directed towards the proposed new Mining Bill, and each succeeding day something or another is discovered making the desirability and necessity for shelving the measure until next session all the more pressing. The Bill aims at matters seriously affecting the industry, and in all fairness, before it passes, all mining districts should first be allowed an opportunity of expressing the views with which the enactment generally is regarded, and which should be capable of doing so much to foster the industry, and aid in the development of some of the country's mineral resources. The Bill, in its amended form, reached here to-day, but one glance is enough to show how essential it is that time for comparison and deliberation should be given, and to that end it is to be hoped the goldfields members may be able to prevail on the Minister to have ■ - shelved for the session. The share market remains in a comparatively unchanged condition. Business has been limited. Certain lines are firmer, others show slight advances, and a number are easier or stationary. A capital feeling exists in Big River, which have hardened. Steady returns from the Cumberland may be expected to also firm tbat stock. Durham are saleable,' low, and Exchange have been but little ■ dealt in. Crushing at the Fiery Cross has brought shares into slightly better request. . Golden Lead are enquired for. Homeward Bound have had a little business, and Hercules and Low Level a few transactions. Dark are a little better than last week, and Lofd Edward sold at 3s 8d to-day. Steady crushing and regular dividends are giving No. 2 Dark a more forward place, although the advance in value is of the gradual order. Specimen Hill are saleable, and new issue Welcome sold at lower rates."

Midday quotations:—Big River, 18s 9d to 19s 6d; Cumberland, 12s to 12s 3d; Durham, lOd to Is; Exchange, Is lOd to It 2d; Fiery Cross, 5s 9d to 6s 3d; Lead, 3s to 4s; Homeward, Ss 3d to 5s 6d ; Hercules, Is lid to 2s 2d; Low Level, 4d to 5d ; Dark, 15s 6d to 16s; Edward, 3s 6d to 3s 9d; No. 2 Dark, 5s 4d to 5s 6d ; Progress, 10s to lis; Specimen, 9d to Is; Alpine. 18s to 19s. GREYMOUTH. August 9. The Reefton gold returns for the week are as follows: —Globe, 1720z of amalgam from 90 tons; No. 2 Dark, 1340z of amalgam from 85 tons; Cumberland, 140oz of amalgam from 120 tons; Inglewood, 2590z of retorted gold from 172 tons ; Fiery, 3990z of amalgam from 85 tons. DUNEDIN, August 6. The Dunedin Gold Dredging Company obtained 16602 last week.