MINING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15788, 12 June 1913, Page 9

MINING.

All the sluicing claims in the Nevis district have closed down for the season. The Rise and Shine No. 1 dredge worked under tho usual conditions'last week. There was no change to report in tho character of the eround. 'Die manager of the Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company advises a return of 82oz 17d\vt for a month's work.

On the Masterton claim the bottom is rising slightly across tho greater part of the cut, with the exception of a deep gutter west of the centre, which is now 31ft deep. Tho wash is looking poorer, and above it there is a heavy layer of false bottom com-

posed of clay. j " Gold received at the Melbourne branch of the Roval Mint during the week ended May 24 amounted to 2893.960z. The gold and bullion issued \va6 valued at £43,504 13s Sd. Reporting on the 9th inst. the master of tho Electric No, 1 dredge stated that the dredge worked 130 hours last woek for a distance ahead of 45ft. The depth has slightly docroased, and fclic deep ground is widening towards tho Bannockbum sido of the river. During the past few days the ground has bocomo very rough, The gold is of a much finer nature than that obtained during the previous week. The bottom consists of granite reef on the Cromwell sido and of pipeclay and boulders on the Bannockbum side. Tho master of the Golden Bed dredge reports that there was a slight improvement in t.ho ground towards the latter part of last week, but as the creek was still high, thus raising the water in the paddock, lie thought it better to suspend operations until the creek goes down eo as to enable him to get 011 the bottom. The crew has been paid off in the meantime. It is some considerable time since shareholders in ,1 Thames mining company had tho pleasure of receiving a dividend. One was, however, declared in Auckland lost Saturday by the directors of the Occidental Consolidated Company. The last crashing yielded £2400, and there was still close 011 £500 in hand from the previous return. Tho directors therefore decided to pay a dividend of 3d upon a stock selling at' Is Id. 'which is an excellent percentage.

Tho manager of the New Sylvia mine, Thames, reports that during last week the No. 2 level hanging wall has been driven in 24ft, but no quartz has yet been cut On the southern end Bft has been driven northwards, and a rib of quartz 2ft wjde was discovered running into the hanging wall. In respcct to No. 3 level, the hanging wall is of payable value. Gold is frequently seen in tho ore which is being produced from the stopes.