MINING SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, 27 April 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

MINING SUMMARY.

, <>■■■■- Since the dale ol our last Summary ihe weekly cold dredging returns, as a result of a larger number of mar-hint's getting to work, lmw Iwu steadily increasing. The number <ii (loinpanv dredges reporting returns working in Otago'and Southland last, week'totalled 41. and the return from tliefo was 12(i50z. 'I'lie increase in the number of machines operating arose from the favourable cor.diiion of the Molyneux tor dredging, the river having gone down as low as 4ft sin at the, Alexandra bridge mark. Unfortunately, however, for the prospects of an early dredging season, some heavy rains- and snow fell on the '20th and 21st ot the month, and the river rose up rapidly io flood level, and registered 10ft mi Saturday at Alexandra, the effect of the rise being (list it number of working dredges have, been temporarily put out of commission, and these will not be able to resume yperations until the waters subside. At the date ol writing the river has gone down to the 7ft -in mark above normal at Alexandra, unci, as the weather is fine, there is a possibility of a continuous subsidence until the winter level is again rencKed. The immediate effect of the stoppage of a number of the dredges will necessarily diminish tho gold return from this source for tho present and incoming week or two. In the AVaikaka and AYaiknis, dredging fields, although some inconvenience has been caused by the heavy rains, dredging has not to any extent been interfered with, and the steady and consistent returns from these reliable fields will no doubt continue lo come in. As an indication of the valuo of the Waikaia. district as a dredging area, 'it is worthy of note that the Mustertou dredge won gold during the year amounting to 20550z, valued at £8192, and distributed in dividends £1750, equal to 18s per share.: The total yield of gold from this dredge since, September, 1001, has realised £14,111)0, and 34s peril, share has been returned to shareholders since operations were commenced. In hydraulic sluicing and quart?, mining there isciiotliiiig exceptional to note in the way of returns, but from paragraphic items published below it will bo observed that in these departments oi the mining industry some important developments are taking place in Otago, Southland, and on the West Coast. The banks have revised the assay charges on gold in transit to the Melbourne ilint. These charges for p. long period have been 2s per ounce, which included insurance, freight.-cost of assaying, etc., and the new scale pro-vides--(1) Where an advance is required pending assay outturn, Is 9d per ounce; (2) where nu advance is required pending melting and assay in Dnnedhi, Is Cd per ounce, (.1) where no advance is required pending receipt of mini outturn upon gold lodged wfih the bank at Dunedin, Is 3d per ounce. In the latici- case the local bank does not treat the gold in any way, and sends it forward as received.

An Auckland message says the gold mining returns for the month of 'March include the Talisman Consolidated, which produced 4190 tons of ore. of the value of £10,321, and the Crown mines 18.33 tons, valued it £4321.

The Mines Record says-—"The Government having decided to purchase three diamond drills and three sets of boring rods, the High Commissioner in London has been requested to cause inquiries to be made, in Great Britain, the United States, and on the Continent as '.o the most modern and successful diamond drills now being used for mining purposes. One drill is to have a boring capacity of 2500 ft, and two lighter drills, to be used in prospecting new country, arc to have a capacity oi 750 ft to 1000 ft. Inquiries- are also to be made as to whether it may bo necessary to engage an expert to take charge of the drilling operations." A. well-defined reef is reported to have been struck at Manuka Creek. Tokomairirt district, by Mr Pettigrew. who has been a resident in the distriot for many years. • The reef is on the hill at the back of the railway station, unci is on Mr Fettigrew'a property. Tlie syndicate which has taken up a claim at Tucker Hill, near Alexandra, has purchased f. crushing machine, and also a portable engine for driving the plant, and- tbeao have arrired on the claim. The material to be operated on is of a cementy nature, and it is anticipated that good results will accrue, as excellent propieis were obtained from a small sample crushing. Hundreds of tons of material are at the syndicate's disposal, and the success of the undertaking, which is ui-.iqno in Central Otajo, is awaited with interest.

the abridged prospectus of the Alpine Lake Hydraulic Sluicing Company is advertised. Tho ■ claim, which contains" 100 acres, is situated at Five-mile Beach, just south ot Oltarito (Westland).

The Wakatipu Mail states that good progress has been ;nade with the erection of the battery and driving machinery in connection with the scheelite mine at the head of the lake, and it is expected that a trial will he made within a week or so.

Our lleeftou correspondent slates that, for wine time past the authorities at the Globe mine have been endeavouring to locate a new reef, and have succeeded in doing so. The prospects are good. Development work is still going on at the new find at Blackwater. The reef has been traced a distance of 301 ft, and without running out. The stone will average an ounce to toe ton. Our Greyrumith correspondent, under dote April 11. states that as a result of prospecting bv the Blackwater Miners' Association a number of quartz reefs have been discovered, and a large number of areas have been pegged out and applied for in the vicinity of Snowy The Snowy Creek reefs are really a continuation oi the Blackwater reefs, crossing Snowy Creek about eight miles above the Main Grey road. Further prospecting indicates that the line of reefs extends to the Big Grey. Sluicing and Hydraulic Elevating lletuiixs. Or., dwl. S r. Ladysmiih. six weeks .. .. 156 0 11 Skipper* 40 0 0 Quartz Mixing. Mount Aurum 130 0 0 Last Chance 62 11 11 Eureka Syndicate (00 tons) .. 25 15 0

Dnr.noiMo. During {lie week ended Monday, April H. returns wero ropurtNl from, the fallciwinu 41 dredges, the total yield Mug 117-Jo?. Hldwt 8gr, or an average yield oi per dredge: — Oz. dwt. gr. Golden Bed, Miller's Fiat. lGlihrs 9t 11 0 Masterton, Waikaia. 131hrs .. ill 11 0 Otago No. 2, Miller's Flai. ISthrs 53 0 0 Waikaka United No. 1, Waikaka, 129liris 50 4 n P>i£e and Shine No. 1, Upper Ciutha, week 47, IS 0 Alexandra Eureka, Alexandra, week .. -13 13 0 New Alpine Consols, Cromwell, 76li ra 42 0 0 Lady Annie. Wsikaia, 1231ira .. 38 i 0 V.'aikal(a United No. 2, Waikaka, 123hr« 37 0 0 Otago No. 1, Millet's Flat, U6hra 35 0 0 Sandy Point, Alexandra, 120hrs 32 I) 0 Rising Sun, Upper Clntiia, lSJhrs 3i 1R 0 Mystery Fla.t, Waikaia. 13Ilirs.. 30 8 0 Muddy Creek, Waik?.i». 1301ns 29 2 B Chicago. Alexandra, 1261ir.s .. '29 2 0 Alexandra Lead, Alexandra, 12t>hrH 23 6 0 Punt, Upper Clutlia, 120hrs .. 25 '2 0 F.lectric No. 2. Cromwell, week '25 1 0 Central Chariton, near Gore, lSllirs 24 IS 0 Wiiikaia, TV a iksiia. ]Q2hrs 24 2 0 Revival, Clutlia River. 119hrs .. 23 11 0 Golden Treasure, Miller's Flat, 135ln'3 2-2 10 0 New Per?overance No. l, Alexandra, llOlira 21 35 0 Waikaka Queen, Waikaka, 159hrs 21 15 0 Waikaka, Waikaka. 222hra .. 21 10 0 Knterprise, Alexandra, !30hrF .. 20 11 0 Biffi and Shine No. 2 Upper Ciutha. 129lirs _ 20 i 0 Patorson's Freehold No. 1, Waikaka, week 20 ft 0 Olrig, Alexandra. lHOhrs .. IS 9 0 Clutlia Rivef, Ciutha River .. 18 8 8 Molynonx Hydraulic, Alexandra, week IS 0 0 Dcnstnn Lead, Alexandra, broken week 18 10 0 Hartley and Riley, Cromwell, lMlira .. f IS 0 ft Hcsscv's. Waikaia, 137hrs .. 13 14 0

Hoval Vfaimurmt, near Mataura, lllfilirs .. .. 15 li 0 Pulprson's Freehold No. 2. AVaikaka.. week It 10 0 Ettrick, Roxburgh, lWI'nrs .. It 0 () Charlton Creek, rv Gore, week 12 (I • n Electric Xo. 1, Cromwell, 134hrs 11 G 0 Wakatipu, Shotover, 24lirs .. 11 3 0 Alpine Xo. 2, Cromwell, SOiirs .. 10 6 0 Total 1172 1G 8 The West Coast. Paelo'iir, No. 2 70 !) 0 Pactolns No. 1. 132iirs .... 44 10 0 Bignell's No Town, 127hrs .. 29 13 0 No Town Creek, 132hrs .... 28 0 0 Three-mile Greenstone, 112hrs .. 20 0 0 Total 192 12 0 Dunns the week ended Monday, April 10, returns were reported from the lollowing 42 dredges, the total yield being lltKoz 3dwt, or au average yield of 28oz per dredge: — Or., dwt. gr. Otago No. Island Block 1114hr3 •• 9G ® 0 Golden Bed, Miller's Flat, 128hrs 12 0 AVaikaka United No. 1, AVaikaka, llPhrs 50 1" Alexandra. Er.rcka, Alexandra, week 43 14 I) Masterton, AVaikuin, 13thvs .. 47 0 0 Rise and Shine No. 1, "Upper Clntha, lOahrs 43 0 0 Ladv Annie. Waikaia, lUGhrs .. 41 2 0 AVaikaka United Xo. 2, AVaikaka, laalns ' 40 14 0 Chicago, Alexandra, 119hrs .. 39 5 0 RisB and Shine No. 2, Upper Clntha. 5 days 34 10 0 Lady Roxburgh, Roxburgh, wk.. 3i 0 0 AVaikaia. Waikaia, ISfilirs .. .. 31 7 0 Sandy Point, Alexandra, llohra 30 5 0 Muddy Creek. Waikaia, UOhrs 27 » 0 lining Sun, Up. Clntha, 4. 1 ,dys 20 IS 0 Garden Gully, AWuaka, 9 days 28 11 0 Mystery Flat. Waikaia, 13-2hrs 20 4 0 Revival, Ciutha, itiver. 103hrs.. 2G 0 0 Central Charlton, nr Gore, llllirs 25 17 0 Now Perseverance No. 1, Alexandra, n days 25 10 0 Kleclric No. 2, Cromwell, 5 days 25 10 0 Hartley and Riley, Cromwell, 134l»s 25 0 0 New Pmewranoe No, 2, Alexandra, 114hi'H 24 8 0 Golden Run. Miller's Flat; Gllira 22 10 0 Punt, Upper Cluthn. 70hrs .. 21 2 O Of ago No. 1. Miller's Flat. l.Hlirs 21 0 0 Paterson's Freehold No. 1, AVaikaka. week 20 10 0 Dunstan Lead, Alexandra, 4, 1 .dys 20 5 0 AVaikaka CJueen, AVaikaka, inolira 10 5 0 Hessey's, Waikaia, WRlirs .. 19 0 0 New Alpine Consols, Cronnvell, lOOhrs IS 14 0 Golden Treasure, Miller's Flat, 13Shrs .. IS 10 O Ettrick, Miller's Flat, 132hrs.. 18 0 0 Ciutha Piivcr. Clntha liiver, 87hrs 17 16 0 Alexandra, Lead, Alexandra, lOOhrs 17 8 0 AVaikaka, AVaikaka, l.Tlhrs .. .. 17 8 0 Pateison's Freeliolil No. 2, Wnikaka, week 1G 17 0 Enterprise, Alexandra, week .. 15 O O Alpine No. 2, Cromwell .. .. 13 8 0 Chariton Creek, nr Gore, ntlys .. K! 0 0 J'oval AVaimumu, nr- Mataura, lOOhrs 11 14 0 Electric No. 1, Cromwell, 5dys 11 8 0 Total 1199 3 0 Tnv. AVf.st Coast. Blackwater River, l?0hrs .. 50 2 0 Bignell's No Town. liM.hrs .. 33 5 0 Three-mile Greenstone, llohrs .. 27 7 0 New Trafalgar, !S2hrs 28 0 0 No Town Creek, week .... 29 0 0 Total 177 14 0 During the week ended Monday, April 23, returns were reported from the following 4G dredges, the total yield being 1300uz 13dwt 9gr, or an average ot 28oz per dredge:— Oz dwt. gr. Electric No. 2. Cromwell, Tiivs T'> 15 O Golden Bed. Miller's Flat. 129hrs 71 17 0 AVaikaka United No. 1, AVaikaka, 119lirs 5C 16 0 Kiss and Shine No. 1, Upper Clntha, 122hrs 52 0 0 Alexandra Eureka, Alexandra, wk 51 14 0 ,1 unction Electric, Cromwell .. 46 13 0 New Alpine Consols, Cromwell, 136hrs 45 13 0 Lady Annie,- Waikaia, 130hrs .. 40 1 0 Chicago, Alexandra. lOOhrs .. 37 2 9 Otago No. 2, Island Block, 13jiirs 36 0 u AVaikaka United No. 2. AVaikaka, UOhrs 34 II) 0 Rising Sun, Up. Ciutha, 12Shrs 34 9 0 Sandy Poiiit, Alexandra, 122hrs 32 0 0 Muddy Creek, Waikaia, 14<hrs 31 9 0 Central Charlton, nr Clore, l.?Ghrs 31 2 0 Hartley and Riley. Cromwell, 131hrs .. .. '. 31 0 0 Alexandra Lead, Alexandra, 149lir3 _ 30 15 0 New Perseverance No. 1, Alexandra, week 27 G 0 Punt, Upper Ciutha, llGhrs .. 25 1G 0 Otago No. 1, Miller's Flat, 139hrs 24 0 0 Hessey's.-Waikaia, 134hrs .. .. 23 16 0 AVaimumu Queen, near Mataura, lOOlira 23 15 0 Electric No. 1, Cromwell, loGhrs 23 13 0 Masterton. Waikaia, 134hrs .. 23 7 0 Ciutha. River, Ciutha River, 130hrs 22 G 0 Paterson's Freehold Xo. 1, AVaikaka. week 23 0 O Dunstan Lead, Alexandra, 7dys 21 15 0 AVaikaka Queen, near Mataura, lSlhrs .: 21 1< 8 New Perseverance No. 2, Alexandra, UOhrs 21 2 0 1 Matau, Clyde, 10 days 21 0 0 i Garden Gully. AVaikaka, G days 20 17 0 ■ Charlton Creek, nr Gore, days 20 10 0 ! Waikaia, AVaikaia, 132hrs .. .. 20 9 0 I Golden Treasure, Miller's Flat, 1 1355hrs 19 !0 0 1 Rise and Shine No. 2, Upper Ciutha, llOhrs ,, ;J .. 18 13 0

Mystery Flat, Waikaia, 126hrs ..18 10 Waikaka, Waikaka, 132hra ,17 14 0 Fir3t Chance, below Alexandra 17 0 0 Kttrick, Roxburgh, 131hrs .. 17 0 0 Alpine Xo. 2, Cromwell. 122hra 15 2 0 Roya! Wainnmni, near Ifataura, 131hrs _ 13 15 0 Peterson's Freehold No. 1, Waikaka, week 13 10 0 I<ady 'Roxburgh, Roxburgh, 3dys 12 11 0 Wakatipu, Shotover, llGhrs .. 12 5 0 Golden Run, Miller's Flat, week 12 0 0 Sew Fourteen-mile Beaeh, Alexandra, Ollhro „ 10 10 0 Total .. 1300 13 0 The West Coast. PactoliH No. 2. 107hrs .... G9 G. 0 Blackwater Rirer. 120hrs .... 35 0 0 Xo Town Creek, llWhrs .... 34 0 ft Pactolus No. 1, ISOlirs ... .. 31 S 0 Xrw Trafalgar, lOOhrs .. .. IS O 0 Three-mile Greenstone, 75hrs 17 0 0 Total 204 14 0 COMPARATIVE iJltEDGING- RETURNS. The following table shows the weekly returns reported trom the Otago and Southland <".redge» lor lOOfl, together with ihe figures tor tho corresponding periods of .1905, 1901, and 1903. Pennyweights and grains lire emitted in each instance: — lams j so5 loot. ms. S 251 It iai 7 17B 4 133 30 Ml 41 1103 41 894 39 ?10 39 1087 52 1357 53 1282 50 J2G2 11 1U9G ■■ 51 llflG 57 1390 53 131G SS 1072 51 H2!l 5'1 2047 59 HG0 34 9G9 52 1425 G1 2932 Gl 1639 ■10 1179 51 1337 Gil 2194 ' 57 1481 11 1189 15 1211 G7 2457 55 1357 41 11 in 40 1278 fit 2135 G3 145G 38 1027 53 13G3 51 1431 Gl 1415 37 921 52 13S9 51 1030 50 1131 34 9 00 51 1319 55 12'GS G2 1391 37 1017 49 1351 59 1410 CJ 1450 11 1172 57 NVtS 52 IMG GO 1835 42 1109 Gl 1732 59 1G8-1 03 1599 40 1300 r,2 1444 57 1730 CG 1GB", 1G,495 20,781. 25,915 21.449 The following table shows the weekly returns reported from the West C-uist dredges •luring 190G, together with '.lie figures for i'lie currc.-pondir;; rcskiy period of 1905 and 3901:1900. 190,). 1901. 2 2K ifi 0 2 21 4 fl 13 37:1 2 0 G 251 IS 0 13 408 3 0 14 39G 1 0 8 373 13 I) 12 319 17 12 17 5G7 8 0 S til 15 0 17 472 3 0 21 792 10 II 7 2- s 2 10 0 18 412 GO 23 GG4 9 2 8 2 9 20 510 3 0 24 73G 3 0 10 303 B 0 15 461 8 0 22 G15 12 0 9 271 1G 0 15 473 15 0 2G 769 8 0 9 2CS 3 0 14 507 15 0 21 510 10 0 9 273 IS 0 13 . 359 3 0 23 703 14 12 4 125 15 0 10 301 2 0 24 055 18 II 8 3-55 13 I) 12 393 8 0 11 373 11 0 8 2P5 10 0 13 453 0 0 20 768 13 12 5 192 12 0 11 110 ft II 2G 752 II 0 5 177 14 0 17 332 18 0 18 503 10 0 G 204 14 0 11 341 G 0 15 521 S 0 4,136 0 9 0,313 11 12 9,709 15 8 DIVIDENDS. The following dividends have been declared since the issue of our last Summary:—Centra! Charlton, Is; Enterprise. Is: Waikaia., Is: Masterton, 4s; Bigncli's No Town, Is.