MINING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8496, 17 May 1889, Page 2

MINING.

NOTES FROM REEFTON. (Fbon Our Own Cobbespondent.) Reetton, May 16. Scotia.—There has been a considerable fall in these shares.during the day, and from having risen to 7s they have now declined to about 5s 9d. The fall is attributed to local plunging, as it is claimed the reef looks as well as ever.

Progress.—There is not much business in these shares, though it is said offers of £2 are made. The reef is reported to be 31ft thick at the point where the low level has connected with the winze. Though it is admitted that 10ft of the stone is poor, the remainder is considered to be payable. The company will be ready to crush in a month or six weeks. Big River Extended.—There is no report in from the manager, though it is understood the battery is crushing. In the meantime shares have declined slightly. The first snow of the season fell yesterday afternoon, and the weather continues very wet and cold.

WAKATIPU MINING NOTES. (Fhom Our Own Coerespondent.) Abbott, May 13. TJPPEB SBOTOVEB.

The Gallant Tip for the past fortnight put through 121 tons of quartz, the tables alone yielding loloz of amalgam. Thus it will be seen that this mine maintains its yield with wonderful regularity. The lode in the mine also keeps up its character for permanence, continuing of a uniform width and richness.

Washings up at alluvial workings are now going on or finishing off, but the yields are kept strict secrets. .

MACETOWN.

The Premier stone recently struck in No. 1 level holds on, and promises to lead td something good. Driving on it is continued. The Sunrise Company are now busy hauling and crushing, as the time draws near when the weather may put a stop to it any day. However, it is likely that they will be able to put through the anticipated quantity of 100 tons.

XOWEH SgOTOYERI

The Big Beach Gold" Dredging Company's dredge at Arthur's Point continues to do very well, averaging half an ounce per hour, and working day and night, putting through about 60 tons per hour, through a gold saving apparatus of the most primitive description. It should, however, be mentioned that the present manager is not accountable for the plant. The Last Chance Company is in liquidation. It is, however, understood that a fresh company is being formed to work the ground upon an entirely new plan.

NOTES FROM NENTHORN; (Fbom Oira Own Coreespondent.) The Crcesus Company have commenced stoping operations at a depth of 50ft. The Saxon company have struck the lode in the cross-drive They put in from the shaft, and the reef is from 2ft to 3ft wide.

The Ould Ireland party have cut a trench across the line of reef, and are now engaged in puttiDg down a shaft. The stone in this reef promises to be rich, and some very fair specimens can be obtained from the shaft.

Ashby and party have struck a very rich leader in their claim at some little distance from the main reef, and the stone is surprisingly rich, though not of a great width. The Eureka continues to turn out good. stoDe. The Premier is being prospected systematically, but with what results I am unable to state. All the other claims on Nenthorn are up to expectations; only waiting for a battery to be put upon the field, when the owners will go ahead with stoping operations. '

Mr Norman has a scheme in hand for the erection of an electric quartz-crushing battery at Nenthorn, and he is meeting with very generous support from the miners on the field.

NOTES FROM WAITAHUNA GULLY.

(FBOJt OUK OWN COBBESPOXDBNT.!)

The water supply at Waitahuna Gully was slightly improved by the damp weathey last week, but is still far below requirements. The past four months have been so dry that sluicing was very much hindered, and other gold-wash-ing also. There is nothing new transpiring. Work at Havelock Flat goes on as usual. The water supply in the Waifcahuna Gully neighbourhood is a matter worthy of consideration, as a permanent supply would cause extension to the industry. Where water is available suitable nrocesses are generally found to work ground, "the working of which otherwise is out of the question. By the construction of reservoirs, for which the contour of the country is adapted, the water supply could be considerably improved through collecting storm waters which we see now and then flowing past and on to the ocean., But means are required to do this, and until' there arises confidence in the auriferous and other resources of this district the subject will remain in abeyance, and no surveys, plans, or estimates by skill in the form of C.B. M.B. will occupy the minds of any, either for mental pastime or definite purpose. The Nenthorn reef discoveries, and also the Stewart's Island dawnings, show what mining fields yet remain to be found. Perhaps the reefs in this neighbourhood may prove worth working when skill and means are available. The reef under Table Hill tried, or rather nailcanned, some 26 years ago by Jenkins and Schmidt, is of the same texture as the old O.P.Q. at Waipori—a mixture of dark blue slate and quartz, and the prospects then got indicate it as worth looking at, but not without ample means, the water being present in quantity. Many other reefs are known of, but the surface show is not attractive. The successful working of many quartz lodes would likely be followed could the stone be kilnburned before milling. Mention was made in the Victorian Mining Report for ISS6 of a case at Maldon, -where stone burned yielded from 8s to 123 per ton more than unburned stone, and that the owner of the mill intended to continue the process. A more perfect mode seems to have been patented in South Australia by David Hutfcon and another, who propose to use a kiln capable of burning 25 tons at a time. After the mass is heated to the required extent steam is forced through the kiln.. I merely make note of it, and await to hear further of the process. Possibly if there was a furnace at Lawrence, Waipori, or in this district capable of roasting up to 2cwt or 3cwt heavy sand, sulphides, quartz, or such like, it would be reproductive. I have often thought that the poorer cement seams here and at Wetherstones are worth such a trial as burning before otherwise reducing, and mayhap the South Australian patent alluded to above may be suitable. Golden drifts, &c, we have, but the right process to work them is yet to be thought out.

NOTES FROM CROMWELL.

The Cromwell Argus reports:—The Star of the Bast, or Wade and party, as it is now called, about a month ago struck a small leader when digging out the machine site. This leader gradually widened out to lft, and now it is from 18iu to 2ft wide. It extends across the road into quite new country, where gold has never previously been found. A few tons of stone for a trial crushing are at grass, and the Star machine is beiug put in order for a test crushing —Mr Edward Lawrence's party crushed lately about 10 tons of quartz, getting 40oz therefrom The crushing was done by a " dolly." The party expect to have the machine which they purchased lately erected at no distant date — On the other side of the hill from E. Lawrence's party, Mr James Lawrence has struck a reef on the spur between the two branches of Smith's creek. The reef is 2ft thick, and estimated to go lOdwt.

The Cromwell Company, Bendigo, are at a standstill, the miners having refused to adopt the propased uew method of working viz,, six hours' work and 12 hours' spell, equivalent to 48 hours per week. For this they were offered £3 ss, with a bonus per foot sunk over a given amount per week. Working in the shaft is very wet.—The Jubilee crushing did not come up to expectations by a long way, and for the present work is at a standstill.

Mr E. H. Hill, of Dunedin, has just made an assay of stone from the Nelson district, which did not show a particle of gold or silver, the metals being contained in the stone as sulphides, and yet which gave the following results:—No. 1 sample—Gold, 17oz 19dwt Bgr; silver, 1520z 13dwt 22gr, No. 2-Goid, 15oz Odwt 12grsilver, 1330z 14dwt 12gr. No. 3—Gold, 14oz t)dwt22gr; silver,'l44ozldwt2gr.