Mining News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 999, 24 April 1891, Page 27

Mining News.

OUR REEFTON REPORT.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Reefton, April 17. The Fiery Cross have cleaned up for of amalgam, from 74 tons. Big Biver.—Yesterday, the Directors and the Progress Company’s Engineer, Mr McGregor, visited the Big Biver Battery, in consequence of the inefficient working of the turbine. The Engineer reports that the defect may be easily . remedied. The report from the mine is most satisfactory. Both the reefs cut in rhe low level are developing fine bodies of stone of a high class quality. The now reef is five and a half feet wide in the face, and a small parcel cf stone from this place, when crushod in a mortar, gave at the rate of lOJoz to the ton. Reefton, April 20. Quotations —Big River, 83 6d to 9s 3d ; Exchange, 51 to 6d ; Fiery Cross, cum div., 6s 9d to 7s 3d ; Hercules, Is 9d to 2s 2d ; Lord Edward, 8d to lOd. Buyers Golden Treasure, Is lOd ; Menijigs, lid ; No. 2 Keep-it-Dark, 5s 91 ; Scotia. 9d. Sellers —Blue Sky, 7d : Golden Lead, 5s 8d ; Globe, 19s; Keep-it-Dark, 12s; Alpine, 20s. Returns —Alpine, 4930 z amalgam from top plates ; Progress, 355" Z amalgam for the week ; Keep-it-dark, 930 z amalgam from 95 tons ; No. 2 Keep-it-Dark, 140 oz amalgam from 90 tons. Reports.—Cumberland —The mine manager reports for the week that the bottom level haa been-extended 15ft, making a total on the line of reef of*l7sft, and it is now conneoted with the main crosscut. Fifteen fathoms of stoping has been done in the upper workings, the .reef averaging 2ft thick and showing the usual quantity of gold. The total taken to the battery is 600 tons. The general clean up takes place on Monday. . , Inkerman. —The mine manager reports for the week that the main shaft has been sunk 10ft, making a total below No. 2 level of 80ft. The contractors are cutting the ground for opening a sot shaft, which will be down the required depth in about a fortnight if the ground remains as good as at present. The south lease prospecting is still going on, but there is no change. Tenders for the chamber and driving to the lode will be invited on Monday , Venus. —The miae manager reports that duriug the week 7ft haa been risen on the reef in the back of the rise. The reef is 3ft thiok, and the distance driven on the stone is now sft, bat the end, both north and Bouth, has not yet been reached. Twenty tons of quartz was taken from the mine during the week. Hercules.—The mine manager reports having risen 18ft for the week. A small block of good stone coming in from the north end of tho uprise has been met with. It is ISin wide, aud shows good gold. Big River. —The mine manager reports that the contractors will finish timbering up on Monday, after which driving will be started ou 'the reef. They also expect to have the cross-cut timbered up next week. Scotia.—Work has been discontinued in the main level, and also in the cross cut. The deep winza ia now being bailed out preparatory to prospecting, Tho stone found in the cro3s-cut formerly has been driven on east 40ft below the level. Tbe Low Level Tunnel Company’s bonuß prospectors have driven 40ft, and on Saturday got the corner of the stone they were driving for coming into the face. It wll take two or three days to determine the size of the stone. This find brightens the prospects of the United Devonshire as well, as the stone is running in the direction of that Company’s ground. Merrijiga.—The mine manager reports driving Bft for the week and passing through the leaders that were got last week. They have now got two others, which appear to be running east with nioe gold showing. He has started to open out north from the fi>-3t level, and has got some rich stone, which appears to be going ahead where the surface rise to the north is giving more back. Both levels look well, and can get gold in stone 6 or 7ft wide. Of thia formation the manager sent some stone to the offico. It ia of the same quality and nature as tho lode worked in the A 1 lease, which gavo recently over 20oz to the ton,

It is reported that two tons of antimony ore sent Home by the Golden Treasure Company realised £2210s per ton. It is rumoured that steps will be taken to resuscitate the Reefton Stock and Mining Exchange, which started opposition to the Brokers’ Exehauge when the spurt was on 12 months’ ago. The Fiery Cross has declared a dividend of 6d. The Cumberland clean up is 871cz amalgam from 170 tons. A dividend will probably be declared. The Argus lease, sold to-day by the bailiff at the suit of Wife versus Ballantyne and others, realised fifteen pounds, At the start of the sale the bailiff was handed a notice from two solicitors notifying the c’airns of several other persons as holders of shares in the lease. This strongly affected the sale. Reefton, April 22. Cumberland pays a one shilling dividend on Thursday. News from the Golden Treasure states that the small antimony reef going north in the battery level has cut out, and a small quartz reef carrying very rich gold come in. The manager has brought in specimens shewing the heaviest gold yet obtained in that district. Both reßfs in the Big River mine are looking very well. Westport, April 18. Developments in the Beaconsfield quartz mins are very promising. The reef continues to improve iu width, carrying excellent gold.