Mining News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1032, 11 December 1891, Page 21

Mining News.

A oable baa been received from Hobart, Tasmania, by Mr Harrison from Mr Mace (uot late of New Zealand), stating that '•Silver Crown floated England one hundred and seventy thousand pounds (£170,000).” This property adjoins the Great Eastern, and Mr Wisoh, the manager of the Western, states that two of the Crown lodes go direct into it. By a private lettor Mr Harrison has also learnt that “the mines never looked so well. The Queen have struck another new kaolin lode, 2£ft wide, assaying from 90 to 500 ounces per ton, and there is over 50ft of this proved in depth, so that vre shall get some good dividends next year. The Sylvester have struck rioh chlorides ; an assay has gone 7661 ounces of silver per ton.” The depression caused by the bank failure is beiDg severely felt, though there are now signs of renewed vigour consequent upon the exceptional development of the mines. The assay of 76610 zto the ton taken from the Sylvester was not a picked piece. Small veins of this rioh ore run right through the lode stuff, which is sft wide. A solid p : eoe of silver x was also taken from this lode. We understand that there are still a few shares in the Great Eastern Silver Mine, which can be applied for whilst Mr Harrison is in New Zealand, although the necessary number to float the company are already placed. The number of persons employed last year in the diamond mines of Griqualand West is officially returned at 7249, as compared with 8102 in 18S9. The number of lives lost last year was 38, as compared with 105 iu 1889, and 303 in ISSB. The value of the diamonds raised in 18S9 was £4,089,765, as compared with £3,607,542 in ISSB. The value of the - output in IS9O has not yet been officially returned. OUR REEFTON REPORT. (by telegraph.—own correspondent'.) Keefton, December 6. " Quotations —Alexander Dredging, contributing, 53 4d to 5s 6d, paid up 6s 9d to 7s 3d ; Big River, 13s to 139 6d ; Dillon, 5d to 61 ; Exchange, Is to Is 3d ; Eureka, 4d to 6 I ; Fiery Cross, 4s 9d to 5s ; Gallant, Is 3d to la 6d; Globe, 15s to 15s 6d; Homeward Bound, 2s to 2s 3d ; Keep-it-Dark, 10s to 11s ; Lord Edward, 2s 4d to 2s 7d ; No. Keep-it-Dark, sellers 6* 7d ; Pandora, 9d to Is; Russell, Is to Is 2d : Scotia, 9d to lOd ; Drake, lid to Is Id ; Alpine, 16s 34 to 163 91 ; Wealth of Nations, 2a 3d to 2s lid. Returns.—Hercules, 180-z amalgam from 160 tons ; lukerman, 169-Z from 148 tons ; Globe, 2450 z from ISO ton 3 ; No. 2 Keep-it-Dark, 670 z from 70 tonß ; Cumberland, 330 z 14dwt retorted gold from 90 tons. The value of the above returns is about £IO3O. Rf PORTS. The Big River reef still continues small and very much broken ; consequently crushing had to be stopped until the paddocks are replenished. A rise is being put up to pick up the stone that was first met with In sinking the main shaft. It is now down 21ft. Sir Charles Russell.—Yesterday a change came in the nature of the country boing driven through, and the driving is now In very favourable ground. Tbs brokers are doing very little business just now. Calls are heavy this month but anticipations are high as regards the Alexander Dredge, Upper Bailer. She is now afloat with Alfred Smith, who thoroughly understands the nature of the river, in charge. Operations are expeoted to commence in a'mut ten days’ time. Mr Joseph Kilgour is superintending the prelimioary work on behalf of the company. (press association.) Auckland, December 4. The Sylvia Gold and Silver Company report last month’s returns as follows : Retorted gold from plates, 114 oz, valued at £422. Forty-two tons of concentrates treated by Cassel’s cyanide process gave 14760 zof bullion, valued at £IBO. This is the first treatment of concentrates by this process at those works. Blenheim, December 4. The Express special wires at 3 p.m. that the Hibernian Company have struck a rich cement crevice yesterday. The men have so far taken out about 41b weight of gold, aud the crevice is still running into the face. Blenheim, December 5. The Cullenville correspondent of the Marlborough Express wires that the Hibernian have got 70oz in the last two days and expect to increase their total considerably to-day.