MINING NEWS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8093, 15 February 1892, Page 6

MINING NEWS.

(Dγ Telegraph.)

[rsOM OUS COP.UESPOXDEST.J

IIEEFTON, February 14. The following are the buttery returns for the past week ; —Globe, 4050z of amalgam from 180 tons ; Alpiue, 3230z from 370 tons; No. 2 Dark, Isooz from §0 tons ; Keep it Dark, 560z from 52 tons; Fiery Cross, 217 oz from 100 tons; Welcome, 185oz from 76 tons.

Golden Hill Mine—The mine manager reports: —" During the week the reef in the foot wall lias been somewhat broken, bat in the hanging wall stone continues to come as hist week, both as to size and quality. The di&Uince driven for the week was lzit, the tota.l since the start 130 ft."

13ig River—The mine manager reports for the week:—"The mine has been sunk Bft, the total depth being 85fC The winze has been sunk lUrt, the total depth being 48ft. The scone in the winze is about 2ft 6in in width, and curries very good gold. I have two men siuking -\ prospecting shaft, when we intend co make the tank. The s;iaiD ia being sunk to the reef, and. it the tii'uk will hold water when they are down the necessary depth I shall prepare the specifications for tiie work."

.National—i'he mine manager reports :— " Since commencing sinking on the sth instant the winze has been sunk 9ft. We have been wooing two shifts of ten hours each, six men in each shift. The water is stiii troublesome, but worse some days than others. 1 have been following tiie reef track whicu is fro:n 15 to 18in wide, with out; foot of stone. The stone is similar to that formerly obtained, and I can get a little gold in it. The hanging wall has not been visible for the past lour days, a soft black slate having come between it aud the stone. I intended to put a hole into it to-morrow as a great deal of water is coming from it. The country on the whole looks very promising. . Good timber is rather difficult to obtain."

Exchange—The mine manager reports for the week :—"The contractors for the low level have driven 20ft, total since the start 55ft. The ground is full of quartz leaders and pug. Tne contractor for the top level started on Wednesday and has driven Bft. There are 2ft of gold bearing stone iv the face and the ground very wet.' .

Cumberland—" The mine manager reports for the week : —" All hands have been engaged in the intermediate level, and the eastern end has been extended on the reef a distance of 12ft. I cannot say how large the reef is in the face, as we are taking , the hauging wall stone with us, bemg compelled, to leave it until more storage room is available. The eastern end has been extended 7ft. I think we are at the eastern end of the stone. The total distance driven on the reef is 40ft. I have commenced from No. 2 station from the winze to connect with the east end of the reef. I expect this work will be finished next week. The cro3B cut lias been driven south 22ft from the eastern end of the wiuzs., We got through the pug and are now in clean country. The reef is small. I filled the cross-cut up again and did not timber it. There are about 40 tons of stone in the mine."

. Gallant—The mine manager reports :— " During the week 65 tons of stone lias been taken to the paddock. I have seen good gold in the western reef. Two . men have been engaged easing the timber and cleaning out the main level preparatory to starting a crosscut. The total amount of stone taken out for the month is 135 tons."

General Gordon—The mine manager reports for the week:—"l have gob the bottom of the wiuze timbered up, and have now commenced to drive north. I have driven 6ft since the start. There are large boulders in the face of the drive at present, but I expect to have to drive a few feet further north before coining to more solid stone."

Venus—The mine manager reports for the week :—" I started to rise from the back of the drive last Monday. The rise ia now up 7ft Bin. The stone shows good gold freely. The ground is changing, and I think the stone will improve in size soon. The drive has been extended north 4ft."

Hercules—The mine manager reports for the week :—" I have risen 15ft, the total from the back and the level be ; ng 28ft. The stone we were rising on pinched, but the walls have strengthened up, and water is coming in at the back of the uprise." Owing to the inclemency of the weather, several mine managers' reports did not come to hand last night.

Fiery Cross is looking very welL at present.

Steps are being taken to raise the White Cliffs dredge, whijh was submerged some time ago. A gentleman arrived from Dunedin a few days ago to do the work. The Alexander dredge did not work more than five hours last week, owing to a broken tumbler. A return will probably come to hand to-morrow (Monday).

The following is the Stock Exchange report for the week: — '* The amalgam for the week from the Alpine, Globe, Welcome, Fiery, No. 2 Dark and Keep-it-Dark batteries totals J12360z from the top plates only. The crushing shows that material of an excellent average quality is being treated. Before long the Progress, Big River, Gallant and Cumberland should also become more regular producers, iThe' first-named battery is now running one shaft, and at the Gallant crushing had to be stopped on Thursday last through interference with the water supply. Next Saturday, however, will see returns from each. The share market has been far from brisk during the past week, and the gladful all round imptovement in mining is only affecting values at a very slow rate. A temporary stoppage of washing operations at the Alexandra dredge could not fail to limit business for the time, but work is now in full swiug again. Some Big River sold to 10s, and Cumberland at 12s 6d, both slight advances on last week's rates. Drake were enquired for at low prices, and Exchange at former prices. A little has been done in Fiery. Gallants have been quiet, the interruption to crushing doubtless limiting business whilst the stoppage lasted. The Globe mine. has had another excellent week's work, and shares are holding their usual forward position on the list. Some Edwards sold to 3s 6d, and No. 2 Dark to ss. Progress are firm at former prices, and Russell and Scotia are unchanged. Drake are saleable at Is, Alpine and Wealth at former rates, with no transactions. Midday quotations—Alexander Dredging, 5s to 6s ; Big River, 10s to 10s 6d ; Cumberland, 12s 6d to 133 ; Drake, Is to Is 2d ; Exchange, Is 6d to Is 9d; Fiery, 4s 3d to 4s 6d; Golden Hill, 4d to 6d ; Gallant, 2s 3d to 2a 6d ; Globe, 15s 3d to 16s; Hercules, Is 3d to Is 9d ; Dark, 14s 9d to 15s 3d; Edwards, 3s 3d to 3s 6d ; No. 2 Dark, 4s 9d to 5s 3d ; Progress, 16a to 17a; Russell and Scotia, 10d to Is ; Alpine, 16s to 17s; Wealth, 2s to 2s 6d.