MINING NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9446, 22 June 1891, Page 6

MINING NEWS.

[PEOM CUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.J RBEFTON, June 20,

The following is the Stock Exchange report : This week’s battery returns aggregate a total of 14550 z of amalgam, from top plates only, of the Big Kiver, United Alpine, Cumberland, No. 2 Keep-it-Dark, Fiery Cross, Globe and Keep-it-Dark Companies. The Fiery Cross return is below the average, but what appears a falling off is really attributable to the fact that the severe cold made a more complete cleaning up impossible. The yields show fair averages, aud in several instances a marked improvement. Operations inside the mine have hampered crushing at the Progress battery, but au early start is expected. Everything being up to expectation, the Golden Lead battery should make its first start daring the incoming week; and the beginning of permanent crashing in this promising part of the field, from which so much is looked for, marks the arrival at a stage of development when the wide importance of what it is expected to lead to only begins to make itself felt. A fairly steady business has been done for the week, and several lines show substantial rises in value. Others, again, have had to give way in a sense to new ventures which * invariably divide public attention, and have spread investment out over a wider area. The backward manner in which reliable information regarding new discoveries and developments in some of the operative mines and leases cornea to hand, and is made known to those best entitled to it, is again provoking some comment. It might not be altogether inopportune for the credit of she whole district and wellbeing of those most associated with mining, if some rigid hard and fast rule was made and insisted on, under which the office, and through it the shareholders, of course, should be first apprised of the very latest from the ground. Alston. —This is a lease in the Merrijiga district, in which shares moved from threepence to upwards of a shilling during the week. The Company is in course of registration. The first partial cleaning up at the Big Eiver battery since June 6 shows that the same splendid quality of quartz is being treated. Shares have been fairly well dealt in, though an easier tendency towards the close of the week was noticeable. Rumours of gold-hearing stone in the Blue Sky workings brought shares into notice, but authenticated information ia waited for. The Cumberland return maintains the usual average, and the mine looks as well as ever. The Low Level tunnel ia in about 200 ft, and the country is promising. The Durham is now registered, and the tunnel ia continuing in good ground. Shares have had good inquiry, and numerous transactions. Exchanges have improved up to business at 2a 3d. A largo body of quartz, the quality of which is unproved as yet, was met with in the uprise. The Golden Lead’s aerial tram works well, and atone was being sent forward to-day. The stamper should be in motion in a few days. Shares keep firm. The Gallant is still sinking on stone showing a little improvement ia quality. Hard to Find.—A flat tramway to the Drake battery is being laid off. Stone on the surface, reported to be near the Devonshire boundary, caused some inquiry, and business was dona in both lines. Kspai shares moved to sales up to la 9d. The Company ia registered, and work will start directly. A further improvement is anticipated. No work ia doing at the Lord Edwards lease yet. Shares sold to 3s 6d. Merrijiga and Hoi Polloi show no further advance yet, but have both had business at former rates. The same may be said of No. 2 Keep-it-Dark, from which mine stone of good quality is being sent to the mill, Bussells have had a better demand, shares selling at Is 6d. Tenders for the recommencement of active work inside the Drake mine close on Tuesday next. United Alpines remain without much business, but the crushing continues good. There has been an inquiry for Wealth shares, finding parcels hard to get in hand. A find of stone on the surface of the Parnell lease, Big Eiver district, is reported. In the Inkermann mine the chamber is complete, and a tunnel to strike the lode 40ft south of the winze has been started. The distance between ia roughly estimated at 75 ft, but a survey is being made. The unallotted shares in the Hudson Company were all disposed of, and work is to be resumed. Midday quotations : —Alston Is to Is 3d, Big River 19s 6d to 20s, Blue Sky 7d to Bd, Exchange la lid to 2s 2d, Fiery Cross 6s to 6a 9d, Golden Lead 10s 6d to 11s, Hercules 2a 8d to 3s, Kapai Is 9d to 2s, Lord Edward 3s 4d to 3a 9d, Merrijigs 2s 7d to 2a lOd, No. 2 Keep-it-Dark 5s 2d to 5s 4d, Hoi Polloi 8d to lOd, Success 6d to Bd, Drake la to la 2d, Ruaaell la Sd.to Is Bd, Wellington 2d to 3d. Sales—Alston Is Id, Cumberland 13s, Durham Is, Low Level sd. [Pbb Press Association.] GEEYMOUTH, June 21. The coal exports for the week amounted to 3558 tons. REEFTON, June 21. The following are the gold returns for the week:—Big River 3460 z c-f amalgam from 96 tons, Alpine 2830 z of amalgam from 183 tons. No. 2 Dark 189 oz of amalgam from 90 tons, Cumberland 2720 zof amalgam from 153 tons. Globe 148 oz of amalgam from 190 tons. Dark, 670 z of amalgam from 72 tons. Fiery Cross 150 oz of amalgam from 100 tons.