MINING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14169, 18 September 1906, Page 9

MINING.

• WEST COAST NOTES’. [From Our Correspondent.] ■GRBTMOUTH, September 16. Utere lag been some inquiry from Christchurch M to Blackwater Reef*, which ate attracting a great deal of attention from several parts of . the colony. Rich stone has been struck in. a number of places, while prospecting operations now going on prove that a tremendous body of payable or© is in eight. Every day brings to light something new and of an encouraging nature. Important developments are expected in the course ortho next lew - weeks; ' Some transactions have taken place at highly remunerative figures to vendors. . ~ In the course of the Big River weekly, report it is stated that in the eastern h.ock there is at present about six inches of stone in the bottom of tho winze. No. 8 mam leves south has been extended a further distance of seven feet. The atone reported on last week cut out, and another make of stone, two feet in thickness, has com© in. from the back of the level and has now reached halfway down the face of the drive. They had also driven back four feet in a north-easterly direction on this stone. The face shows four feot of reef formation, from which water is freely coming. The western block stoping has been continued on the south side of the uprise on an average of one foot of stone of 'fair quality. Intermediate level stringers of quarts are being met with, in which fine gold can be seen. No. 6 east level has been driven » distance ox fifteen feet. The face consist# of slate country, with occasional stringers which carry quartz. Thirty tons of atone have been raised for the week. Last week’s dredging returns are:—Pactolua ISOox ISdwt (of which No. 3 got £Ooz 9dwt), Nfftown Creek 660 x, Blackwater River 13ob Sdwi. Owing to a mishap to the bottom timber Slab Hut Creek had r.o wash-up. Old Diggings is putting in full time on a piece of beach, which is giving .very good yields. DREDGING RETURNS; [Feb Press Association,) DUNEDIN, September 16. Dredging Returns—New Fourteen-mil© Beach 790 z Bdwt, Waikaka United I. 420 z jadwt, Otago 11. 41oi, Sandy Point 330 z ISdwt, Golden Bed SOoz 9dwt, Rising Sun 270 z lldnrt, Alexandra Lead 31oz 3dwt, Punt dsoz 2dwt, Ota jo I, 220z t Waikaka *2ooz XOdwT, Riee and Shine I. 17oz Tdwt, Waikaka Queen 16oa lOdwt, Alpine IL 16oz Sdivt lOgr, Enterprise 9os lldwt. , DUNEDIN, September 17. Dredging returns: —Golden Treasure 48oz, Golden Gate SSoz. 'During the week ended to-day returns have been reported from thirty-four dredges, the total yield being 10250 z Odwt 16gr, or an average of SOoz per dredge. Ladysmith' Sluicing Company washed up Mow oI fold for three weeks.