WESTPORT MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 858, 10 August 1888, Page 32

WESTPORT MINING NEWS.

[By Telegraph.]

(PKOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Westport, August 7. At the Westport Coal Company 20 extra men have been put on at night to push oa the headings, and the output shows an increase. Several inquiries for shares havo lately been made. South Pacific (Ngakawau leases). —Young Bros, have completed the survey of the connecting lines of the railway, but nothing has yet transpired as to the completion of the purchase. Mokihinui Company.—Work is proceeding here in the usual manner. In Bayfields lease a contract has been let for prospecting this ground. A small staff of men are engaged in boring. As soon as the existence of coal in quantity is proved, the property will be placed in good hands for floating. Fair Down.—Owing to the water supply proving defective, washing can only proceed during and immediately after wet weather, and it is necessary to construct a dam. Fair Maid.—The contract is progressing favourably. Prospecting with good results still continue. New End. —This Company’s ground, near Ngakawau, is comprised in three areas held by not fewer than a dozen Dunedin people. The manager ha 3 been engaged since the 21st June preparing for the reception of the dredger and building a tramway to connect the washing site with the Ngakawau railway. This work has now been completed, and 51 tons of the dredger machinery arrived from Dunedin last week. The dredger has been constructed by Kincaid and McQueen, who hold an interest in the claim, and is the combination of several patents held by that firm, including their gold-saving machine. The dredger will be worked by water-power, which will be brought from Grauity Creeks iu pipes, 25 tons of which are to arrive from Dunedin. It is estimated that three months will elapse before the dredger will be ready for work, and when a start is made operations will go on night and day, a carbon light being used at night. It is stated that au estimate has been made which shows that while the washdirt will yield at the rate of Is 6d per yard, the cost of working will be3Jd per yard of quartz. M okihinui leases. —The Directors of the various companies interested have agreed to Hay Dickson’s amended proposal for the purchase of the various properties in London, and have informed him thereof by cable message. Great Republic.—There is nothing fresh. The Directors have decided to let the driving into Mount Frederick by contract, and to keep the manager and three or four men prospecting. The Beaconsfield shaft is down about 20ft, and the reef is perpendicular, about 2ft 6in in width, showing gold more in the centre of the stone than hitherto. The water is very hard to contend with. Six men are employed, and it is intended to go down another 30ft, and if the stone continues to that depth, it will be taken a 3 permanent, as the country is solid and the reef continues improving. A trial crushing will shortly take place. Denniston. Several rich leaders have been cut, varying from 2in to 6in. They are now sinking for the reef, and will shortly be driving on the leaders. General prospecting. Areas for coal and leases for beach claims and alluvial areas continue to be made daily.