MINING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8863, 22 July 1890, Page 2

MINING.

The Fair Maldi Gold Mining Company (Limited) report for the week ending ;16th inst. a return of 740z of amalgam. ' ■> ■•.'-'

Mr L. O. Deal, jun., 0.H.. and Mr T. M. Wilkinson have accepted seats on the board of direotoru of the Frankton Beach Dredging Company. ' Keforring to the reported discovery of rich quartz on Crayfish Island, Preservation Inlet, a correspondent Informs us that the formation of the country in that neighbourhood precludes the possibility of quartz reef 3 existing. The whole country between Chalky Inlet and the Waiau river is composed of glicial drift, sandstone, coarse gravel, and boulders, and aB the whole region has uudergone considerable submergence since the drift was deposited, lihe bed rock in which quartz reefs might occur is far below tha sea level. That' phenomenally rich quartz boulders may occasionally be found Is nothing more than might be expected In a region whe;o Buoh coarse gold is known to exist; but the parent reef is either far inland, or has been destroyed altogether when tbe country wbb under ice. Intending prospectors are warned, therefore, not to be carried away with the reported discovery, which has been wrongly interpreted, although 6he recent discoveries should give an impetus to fuller exploration of that terra incognita in the ensuing summer. There must be rioh alluvial leads on the mainland, but quartz roefa will only be found far in the back country, whence tha alluvißl drift has been derived.

The Upper Waipori Alluvial Gold Dredging Company obtained 28oz sdwt of gold for five days six noun' dredging last week. Thedireotors of the White Cliffs Dredging Com pany are calling for tenders in another column of this issue for a new and very complete dredge, designed by Mi H. M. Davey, engineer. This dredge and all details have been carefully worked out, so that contractors can see what Is required of them without leaving things to chance. There will be an extra powerful boiler of the marine type, the combustion chamb;r being surrounded with water-not stuck on outside, as is sometimes the case. The roaiu flue will also have several " galloway " tube.s in it. The tables are Qf a somewhat uowl construction, being divided into six or eight longitudinal compartments, so that one or more may be always washed ud without hindering the working of the rest, and advantage has baen taken of their being near the deck to make very commodious cabins for the staff on board in a place that would otherwise be of little or no use. This dredge Is also to be provided with an appendage in front resembling a man-of-war's ram to prevent floating bodies from jambing in the well. Thi« was designed from suggestions of one of the directors of the company.