THE GOLDFIELDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3863, 4 July 1874, Page 2

THE GOLDFIELDS.

Several matters of considerable importance to our Goldiields came up for discussion during the late session of the Provincial Council. One of the most important was a proposition to place a sum on the Estimates for the repayment at the rate of sixpence per ounce of the duty paid by the exporters of gold the produce of the Province during the carrent year. The Government opposed the proposition, which was, however, carried by a majority of five votes. Another matter that came before the Council was the appointment of a member of the Provincial Executive to represent the Goldfields. The office is now held by Mr M'Kellar, tlie honourable member for Kawarau. The news from the different GoldfieMs has been satisfactory daring the month, and at the Blue Spur matters' appear to be in a particularly prosperous condition, new discoveries having been made. The Tuapelca Times says, during the last week two sixteenth shares in the North of Ireland claim, Blue Spur, were sold for the sum. of £600. Shares are in great demand, owing to the recent discoveries. With reference to mining operations at the Slipover, the following telegram was received from the Manager of the Skot-

over Terrace G. M. Co., on June Bth :— " Well for draining deep-sinking and syphon completed. Drive on bottom, nine feet long, produced 3 ozs. gold out of 40 trucks. This week will give good trial." On June 23rd, the following telegram was received from Mr Grant, the Manager :— | " Malaghan and M'Bride (late directors) and myself visited mine, and conclude that it is not properly worked at present. Grace and party, consisting of nine, have offered to work claim for six weeks, to" prospect deep ground, and guarantee to give an idea of what deep ground really is. Directors here approve of this offer, and expect good results." From Cromwell our correspondent telegraphs on June 30th :—" The Star of the East Co.'s crushing of 10G tons yielded 185oz. Gdwt. The stuff was mostly from the hew tunnel." An important addition is to be made to the mining machinery of the Tuapeka district. The Nelson Gold Mining Co., Blue Spur, are having made to their order, at Messrs Kincaid, M'Queen, and Co.'s Vulcan Foundry, a ten-head battery of stampers, a shaking-table, amalgam-barrel, and ripple-tables ; also a turbine water-wheel The machinery is now in course of construction. The half-yearly meeting of the Lucknow Quartz Mining Company, Limited, was held on June 10th. In their report, the Directors regretted that they were not yet in a position to state thatths reef had been struck. The rock through which the tunnel has been driven has proved so hard that at times the drills have made no impression, and powder has been almost useless. The Mining Manager advises that up to the 4th June he had driven 13 feet In a letter dated 9th June, he states that he expects the reef may be struck at any moment, the estimated distance having been driven. From the statement of expenditure it appears that the total cost of the tunnel to 20th May has been £1531 4s Bd. The cost of driving the last GO feet has been over £12 per foot. .