MINING,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7875, 18 May 1887, Page 3

MINING,

« NOTES FROM REEFTON. (From Oub Own Correspondent.)

;' . * Reefton, May 17. ! '■" Lone Star.—The resumption of operations in • the mine under new auspices has had the effect of causing an inquiry, for these shares, which have been unquotable for some time past. Two shillingswas offered for them to-day, but there is no news as yet accounting for the inquiry. Big River Extended.—News was received to-day that shortly after starting a smash happened to the machinery. Duplicates of the fractured parts have been telegraphed for, and will be delivered here in the course of a week or 10 days. Crushing will be started by this company at the .close of the present week. Fiery Cross Extended.—The incline shaft from the 450 ft level is now down 100 ft, and is reported to carry a strong reef, the quality of the stone being better than any yet obtained from the mine. .The south winze also shows a strong body of stone. It is expected that the new level will be opened in about three weeks.

Matters out the Globe and Progress way are quiet.

Pandora, —The reef shows signs of. turning over to the opposite side of the shaft, but is reI ported to still hold to its usual form and quality. j Mr Priuce, electrician, has reached here, and the first portion of the plant for the Electric Light Company will be landed here to-morrow. He expresses himself thoroughly satisfied with the water race,,and considers ifc quite equal to all the requirements of the company. He has brought with him an eight-horse-power motor which he lends to the company as a means of demonstrating the utility and practicability of the transmission of power. This will probably be used to run one of the batteries as an experiment. It is proposed to charge £20 per horsepower for the power, which is under half the cost of steam power.

Just-in-Time.—The crushing for the tributers was concluded to-night, and gave 480oz of amalgam from 82 tons of stono. This pays the party handsomely. Nothing has yet transpired with regard to the floating of the Welcome and other companies on the London market, but definite information is hourly expected from London. .-'..-

United Alpine £Lyell).—The new electrical plant for the company will be in working order in about two months' time.

The share market continues inactive, and a good deal of uncertainty of feeling seems to prevail all round.

Mr W. Watson received the following telegram last night: — " Just-iu-Time tributers crushed 82 tons of stone; result, 480oz of amal-gam.-They started crushing for the company on Sunday at midnight." It will be remembered that Mr Shelmerdine, one of the proprietors of the Harbour Cone gold mine, recently took to Victoria a quantity of stone for the purpose of having it tested for gold. The weight of the stone taken over was 2 tons BCwt lib, and the yield therefrom was.l2dwt lOgr, equal to sdwt 4gr per ton. The stone was taken from the shaft which is 45ft down, and is the poorest stone in the lease. This return is at anyrate'satisfactory as proving the undoubted auriferous character of the stone. The stone was crushed under the supervision of the School of Mines at Bailarat. Professor Ulrich has recommended that a further crushing of 25 tons from the deepest part of the shaft take place at the Saddle Hill battery for the purpose •.of testing the stone in quantity. Should it not show** any better return, it is confidently believed; from the natural facilities for getting quantities, that it will pay for crushing oa a large scale.; From the position it can be taken out and worked as a quarry.