MINING NOTES.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 1064, 26 April 1890, Page 3

MINING NOTES.

We are indebted to the legal managers of the various companies named for the following information:— GOLDEN GULLY CO., SERPENTINE. The contracts for the erection of dam bank and cutting of water rf.ee in Long Valley to supply the machinery with water for crushing purposes have just been completed, and reflect very great credit on the contractor (Mr. John Hore) for the substantial and workmanlike manner in which he has performed his work. The dam bank is a splendid job, and the resen.iir will hold an enormous quantity of water, covering an area when full of about 30 acres. As there is a constant supply of water running in eveu iu this particularly dry season, there seems no reason to doubt that.the plant will be enabled thereby to crush steadily during ail the months in which Jack Frost does not hold sway. The re-erection of the battery in Long Valley is nearly completed, Messrs. Neale and Moyle, the contractors, having used every endeavour to push on the work? The incline tramway is also approaching completion, and everything should be iu thorough working order in a few weeks from now. The mine manager, Mr. W. Betmetts, has recently left tho service of the compauy and returned to Arrow from whence he J came, and no doubt applications to fill his I place will be shortly invited. The compauy i have built a compact and comfortable cot- j tage for the use of their manager, and as the i prospects of the mine are particularly promising, no difficulty should be experienced in securing the services of a first-class man. It will depend largely upon the weather whether or not crushing operations will be commenced before winter. If the frost sets iu early it will not be possible to crush until after it breaks up ; but, ou the other hand, if the weather continues mild and open, it will be quite practicable to put through a considerable number of tons before the worst months. MT. HIGHLAT CO., MAREBURN.

There has been no crushing done at this miue for some time past, owing to the scarcity of water. The mine manager (Mr. Thomson) is, however, busily engaged in opening it out and getting the drive timbered. The reef at the present face is 6ft wide, and there are a great number of blue veins running through it, from which prospects equalling a yield of lOoz. to the ton have been obtained. A reservoir for the purposo of storing water for motive power for the battery is now in course of construcion and will be finished in about a fortnight. This, when completed, will conserve a large quantity of water, and it is estimated, will enable the compauy to crush pretty constantly. ofh.tr. The Ophir corrrespoudent- of the " Otago Witness " says : —We had a visit a week ago from Mr. Durward, of Christchurch, and Mr. Browne, mining expert, who has recently come from America, and has also been all over the South African gold and diamond fields. The object of their visit, it transpires, was to procure six; tons of washdirt from the Ophir Company's claim and Green's reef, three tons from each, for the purpose of havingit tested at the Exhibition battery, in view of the anticipated amalgamation of both companies. Both Mr. Durward and Mi-. Browne expressed themselves as highly satisfied with the nature of the two properties, and more so with the Ophir Company, although they surmised that Green's would be equally good if opened out as much as the former. Splendid prospects were obtained in every dish of dirt washed, and every corner and nook ot the Ophir Company was thoroughly sampled with good results. On inspecting the battery they remarked that the pitch of the tables for saving the gold was far too much, and that most of the gold was simply washed away down the race. In other respects the battery was a very substantial and suitable one.

The Ida Valley Deep Lead Company the other day bottomed their big shaft No. 2, at 290 ft, but did not strike gold. The manager is now busily engaged withdrawing the timber, and I understand it is his intention to sink another shaft on a different part of the claim.

Mr. Ewing's new race at Matakanui is progressing steadily, and it is expected will be finished in a month or so.