MINING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11047, 26 February 1898, Page 8

MINING.

NOTES FROM LYELL.

■ (From Our Own Correspondent.) , • . Lyeix, February 25. The manager, of the Alpine reports :—" The extension' of No. 10 main level has been carried on, and a distance of Bft hag been driven, making the total extension 333ffc.: Thoreefis not quite so large al * when'last reported. In the lower slopes' above this level the reef maintains the same size, but is incfined to become slightly intermixed with mnllock; In. the incline uprise above' the top slopes the, reef is about 3ft in width, but up to the,,pr^Bn,t has haen :6f inferior quality.' The : Lydl Crook Company's old uprise lias been extended by two men for a'height of 4ft. The reef is between 9ft and 10ft in width, and a trial crushing from this portion of the mine will be put through at-the beginning of next week The chamber at the top of the main shaft is completed, but two days' work will yet be necessary to complete the timbering up uf th ß ropeway in No. 9 level. The uprise has been extended for a further height of 4ft. As the reef deteriorated- in size, the men engaged here have been removed to another portion of1 the mine for the present. The No. 4 level has been driven by the contractors fora further distance of I/ft, making the total extension 93ft. There is no change in the country passed through, and the track of reef remains as last reported The codwactors for the timber tramway completed the work in the early part of the week: TEe quantity of stone sent to the battery for the "week is 150 tons."- ;

THE NEW.ZEA.LA.ND ASBESTOS COM- ■...'. PaNY (LI&HTtCD). vr m

With reference to-this company, which was recsntlr floated:here and in Christchurch Mr Robert H. Jones, of London (the.asbestos expert) to whom a sample of the asbestos from this coinT>any s mine was sent, states : " The fibre appears to be^good, and in every caae where asbestos of siich a pvomißine character as your sample has been found it has- been the means of realising enormous wealth." Several offers to buy large quantities of asbestos from this mine 'have already been made from New York, London, and the Continent, up to £28 per ton for the raw material. An expert, a representative of an influential German firm, who was sent here to inspect the mine has done so and'made the directors an offer of £23 per ton for all the asbestos the mina can turn out. This amount leaves a very large profit, so the future outlook of the mine is considered to be more than satisfactory, especial y as the quantity of asbestos is reported to ba inexhaustible and its quality of a very superior character.

THE TATTPO -pTRT.-n

(Per United Press Association.) _ , . Auckland, February 25. S-iveral men, practical miners, who have been to the scene of the reported gold find at Taupo have returned from Tokaanu, and unhesitatingly declare the^ rush to be a dismal failure. Whilst undoubted traces ofgold exist, it is in such minute quantities as to make payable working an impos-' sibihty. . l

THE LAKE GEORGE MINES (LIMITED).

The general manager reports as follows for week ending February 12 •— Mining-Southern Section : Gold Tunnel-The various stopes and faces coutiuue to yield good fluxing material. New footwall tunnel securely timbered another 20ft; total, 150 ft. No. 1 tunnel extended 22ft; present end in massive gossan, Bnght's shaft-Stbpes in 60ft and 100 ft LeveU have been producing medium grade sulphides. Northern Section : Lowell's shaft—Nos in

and 4 levels have been producing hisK grade-.sul» pbides. and all faces looking well. Western Section—Main shaft, Copper Creek, sunk 12ft; total, 45rt. Bottom m high grade copper, carbonates, and red oxide?. Smelting—Three furnaces have been in blast working satisfactorily, and during the week a large quantity of matte has been sent forward for shipment. Our Cromwell correspondent wires that the Cromwell tributers obtained 3950z from 300 tons of stove, the outcome of three montli3F work by 10 men. At the close of the address delivered by 3lr W Fraser, M.H.R., to his constituents at Arrow the" follGwin-r motion was carried unanimously :— "That this meeting: fully endorses the views expressed to - night by Mr Fraser in regard to the Mining Bill, especially in reference to security- of tenure of mining titles; and that this meeting is strongly of opinion that any legislation weakening the security of tenure of mining or private property generally is highly detrimental to the interests of the colony; and that the chairman of this meeting, be asked to'kindly forward a copy of this resolution to the Minister for Mines."