MINING JOTTINGS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2786, 27 September 1910, Page 5

MINING JOTTINGS.

The secretary of the Nokoraai Hydraulic Sluicing Company reports that sluicing at No 1 was expected to be resumed on Monday last. The weather lias been very stormy, with rain and snow showers. No. 2 made very good time. The ground is rougher and tighter than that nearer the creek, and work is carried an at a disadvantage, the overburden having to be removed a long distance. A run of nine boxes, with all fittings, is in readiness, and elevating is expected to be resumed by the end of the week. A fall of snow kept back the work of cleaning the Lion race. Given good weather it was thought the water would be into No. 3 by last night. The mild winter is now telling its tale on the gold mining industry (says the Oamaru 'Mail'), at least that branch that depends on water as a means of production. Usually the August and September sun creates a thaw on the ranges, with the result that abundant water is available. This season, however, the snow has been comparatively light, and there has been a consequent reduction in the water supply. The miners at Maerewhenua find their of water.

work much hampered owing to the scarcity Commenting on the Waihi return, which was .£70,162, won from 35,61g town of ore, the Auckland 'Herald' says:—"This represents a decrease of .£3,408 upon the return for. the preceding four weeks, when bullion of an estimated value of .£73,570 was won from 34,852 tons, and also a decrease of .£5,329 upon the return for the corresponding period of last year, when 33,741 tons gave bullion of an estimated value of £75,491. The actual amount realised on the August-Sspteinber return, 1909, was .£76,944 but this can hardly be taken for purposes of comparison, seeing that the bullion just won has yet to be sold in London, and will probably realise more than the estimated value, as has been the experience in the past. The estimated returns reported from the mine during the present year give a grand total of .£635,259. The estimated returns for the corresponding period of last year totalling .£645,346 — the actual realisation was £656,868 —it will be seen that, compared with the former total, the estimated returns reported from the mine during the present year show a falling off of £10,087. The value of the bullion won from the mine to date is £8,815,477."

The Department of Agriculture, Commerce and Tourists, Wellington, is in receipt of advice from the High Commissioner, London, that,on the 2nd August last, the prices for wolfram, scheelite and antimony ore were as follows : —Wolfram, 30s to 32s per unit; scheelite, 28s to 30s per unit; antimony £7 10s to £8 per ton for 50 per cent. ore.