MINING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 14 December 1932, Page 2

MINING

KAWARAU CLAIMS WASH SHOWING IMPROVEMENT DUNEDIN, 12th December. So fax' approximately 150 oz of gold has been won from Messrs Bell and Kilgour’s claim on the Kawarau. The return last week totalled 18oz,, those for the previous two weeks being lOoz. and 30oz. respectively. The wash (in this claim and also in that being wprked by Messrs R. Bell and Hooper B r ° sis said to be showing improvement (reports the “Christchurch Press”). Though an option has been given by Messrs Bell and Kilgour over their claim no steps have yet been taken to exercise it, as the holder is understood to we waiting until the Minister for Mines, through the warden at Cromwell formally grants the claim. Should the claim be granted and the option exercised, it is believed that the holder proposes to float a company and develop the claim by means of up-to-date machinery. The purchase price of the option, which is held by Mr J. Roche, is £15.000, and the vendors are to receive 15 per cent, of the gold won. OKARITO RETURN The Okarito Five Mile Beach Gold Dredging Co., Ltd., reports a return for the week ended 12th December of 560 z 18dwt for 124 hours’ work. WILUNA PROFITS The report of the Wilunn. (Western Australia) Gold Corporation shows' that during the 10 months ended oil 31st October last, the mines treated 275,131 tons. Gold produced was worth, including gold exchange premiums, £599,918. The working costs amounted to £268,301, and exploration and development, £54,386, leaving a working surplus of £277,321. The mines manager reports that the net overall recovery can be increased, to not less than 84 per cent., and working costs, including normal development, reduced to 18s a ton, Australian currency. The scale of operations will be increased to 40,000 tons monthly by the middle of 1933, while a considerably larger production will be warranted later. WEST COAST GOLD Since mining commenced in 1857 75 years ago—to 31st December, 1931, the total quantity of gold exported front the West Coast was 6,664,3080 z., valued at £26,543,887. The four counties on the West Coast each contributed the following quotas during the year ending 31st December, 1931; Grev, 6140 z, valued at £2457; Buller, 11690 z, valued at £4652; Inangahua, 26,4770 z, valued at £103,896; Westland, 12,5110 z, valued at £51,581. The West Coast output for the previous year ending 1930 was 32,6930 z valued at £128,820.