MINING JOTTINGS

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2278, 15 September 1899, Page 7

MINING JOTTINGS

The Hartley and Riley Co.'s dredge is to be lit by electricity. This Company's return of 4700zs 7dwt of gold for 96 hours' work heads the list of 27 dredges for last week's wcrk—the total being 11470z lojdwts, or something over 420z of gold per dredge. In an application last week at Roxburgh for resumption of the Island Block Valley, Mr Warden M 'Carthy, after hearing evidence and argument, said (according to report io the 'Alexandra Herald,') that he thought the land was liable to be resumed, but yet he could not forget that the Island Block Co. had spent a large sum of money and had not won enough gold to pay. It was shown that the land was payably auriferous and that it probably could be worked by dredging. He thought the company should have a further chauce to recoup itself and woald therefore recommend the Minister of Mines not to grant the application foi resumption.—Mr Rawlins, M.H.R., who appeared for the Company, Btated in his evidence that he was negotiating with W. Milne and party to dredge the land leased by his company. There are now 39 dredges on the stocks in Otago, all intended for public companies, besides those being built for private or unregistered companies. Contracts have also been let for the building of three large dredges for the West Coast snd one for the Wakamariua River near Blenheim.

The Glen Dhu Coal Company have resolved to issue | not more than 2000 preferential shares, which are to receive the first profits in the ebape of dividends np to five per cent, and further profits to be distributed between original and preferential shareholders as the directors thinic fit. The circular issued states that the dredges working and being built on the Waitnumu stream have opened up a good market for the coal close to the mine and prices obtained leave a good margin of profit. The Company's tramline will also shortly tap four more dredges each of which will require not less than 1000 tons of coal per annum. In event of insufficient shares being subscribed it is proposed to lease the workings.

The dimensions of the Fraaer Flat Co.'s dredge are Length, 125 f t; width of stern, 52ft; length of elevator, 145 f t; capacity of main buckets, 7 cubic feet; length of screen (driveu by friction rollers), 31ft; and exceptionally large gold-saving tables. This will be the " boss " dredge of New Zealand, if not of the Southern Hemisphere. The output of gold from the Kalgoorlie •nines since the opening up to 31at July wa9 1,282,2980z from 682,159 tons of stone. Small quantities of stone iu formation were struck last week in the machine level of the Shotover Q. M. Co.

The 'Cromwell Argus' states that Mr Geo Partridge's farm has bean pegged out as a dredgiug claim by a local syndicate which intends to prospect the ground with a spoon dredge and if results are favorable to place the property on the market. The holders have great hopes of success, as the ground is supposed to contain the Quartz Reef Deep Lead.

At the Warden's Court Lawrence, en Monday, Mr Stratford refused the application of D. Fraser for a dredging claim at Tuapeka Mouth, objected to by the Clutha River Board on the ground that it would interfere with the navigation of the river, announcing that he would be governed by the decision of his predecessor, Mr Hawkins, in the matter. Other applications for claims below the Mouth were similarly dealt with, with the exception of that of a Balelutha syndicate for a claim at the mouth of the YVaitahuna, which was adjourned for survey. A rather amusing state of affairs has cropped up over the question of river pollution by mininf, says the ' Bruce Herald.' Two cases will come before the Supreme Court this month, i.e., the pollution of the Tokomairirn and Waikaka rivers. In the Toko, case Mr Sim appears for the miners and Mr Macgregor for the farmers. But in the Waikaka case both legal gentlemen take a wonderful mental somersault, for Mr Macgregor appears for the miners and Mr Sim for the farmers. It will be interesting to note the pros and cons of these gentlemen in their dual position as counsel for opposite sides in turn respectively.