MINING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15820, 19 July 1913, Page 12

MINING.

A memorandum drawn up by the directors has been issued to the shareholders in the Muddy Terrace Sluicing Company, containing part of tho report of tho chairman of directors to the board after a recent visit. Tho memorandum states that there arc 10 faees or sources from which returns can be got on tho claims, and to which the plant has been laid. Of these 10, eight are already opened up and proved, and seven of them are ready to yield gold immediately the water is brought on to them. The whole of tho faces already opened up, and which are now virtually being operated on, so far as the water conditions will allow, show good gold-bearing wash, and Long Gu'ly, whioh has not yet been opened up, shows excellent prospects for development. The returns have so far been intermittent and under average, but considering all things have been consoling at a time when much discouragement might havo reasonably been entertained. Commenting upon this the manager has stated that but for the flood disaster he would have 6ent forward returns for the first half of tho year exceeding these of any previous corresponding period. When tho full supply of water is again brought in, the first duty will be to get all this wash swept in. and tho Long Gully field opened up and a big endeavour mado to pull up tho leeway caused by the temporary set-back, and normal conditions resumed under what is firmly believed to be developments and auspices better than ever. Everything has been *kept up totne best working standard, and constant vigilance observed at all points. Tho rains at the end of March and onwards would have enabled the management to sweep in such a large body of wash in April and May that by that time the records of previous years would likely have been topped. Tho temporary loss of the main supply of water, however, left them with a shortage of gold equal to 5140z as compared with last year at the end of Juns

The returns since the end of the last financial year are:—l9l2—November, 85oz 1-klwt 22gr £336 10s lid; Decembor, 530z. 6dwt 14gr, £209 6s 3d;-«urplus, £29 ss. 1913-January-February, 440z lßdwt 12gr, £176 6s 6d; March, 90oz Odwt 6gr, £353 5s lid; April, 530z Odwt 22gr, £212 5s 7d; May, 970z 17dwt, £384 is 2d; June, 40oz 6dwt 19gr, £158 6s 7tl.

The manager of the Watchman mine reports that a contract has been let to contine No 4 ri6C, which is now up 29ft. The reef is about 3ft wide. The ore is heavily charged with zinc blend and sulphides. It occasionally shows a little free gold. In the crosecut on No. 1 leader at the mine very little quartz was broken, as the men were timbering last week. No. 2 leader, in the rise, when broken down, showed nice dabs of gold and ■ telluridc. About six pounds of picked stone were selected. A start was made in the No. 4 Beach level to drive west on a 2ft 6in reef, whicli was cut at a point 2500 ft from the mouth of the drive. This is a likely-looking body of ore, and carries first-class minerals, but it happened to be cut at the junction of a break; therefore, a good deal of pug exists in the wall. The manager is in hopes that when firmer country is met with there will be a chance of getting gold. The reef in the face is now about 3ft wide and shows nice minerals

The manager of the Occidental Consoli- , dated Company's mine reports that in the top slope over No. 5 level, No. 2 reef is still split up nnd mixed with country, but is looking a little better, as gold can beseen in most of the ore broken. Both reef and country in the south stope are very , promising. Good dabs of gold can be seen in the ore, and a few pieces of picked stone , were secured. A little more ground will ' have to be broken out at No. 5 level to , get the right position to start the rise. The chamber at No. 4 level is about finished, but will have to be taken higher after the ■ shaft is through. At No. 3 level, New Sylvia mine, Thames, the drive on the reef was 390 ft from the | south rise last week. A break had come across the face, and disturbed it somewhat. ] All the stopes were manned, and produced a fair amount of ore. in which gold was ; occasionally seen. The intermediate level was extended a further 15ft. with 4ft of quartz showing. One stope was coing above , the level, and the reef was 4ft wide. Above I the battery level, on No. 1 reef, a stope was going on good ore. The shaft had ; drained to the bottom. The low level had advanced 16ft, and more water was coming out of the face. DREDGING RETURNS. Oz. divt. gr. Karaunui, Alexandra, week... 27 11 0 Masterton, Waikaia, 119hrs ... 3 12 0 The West Coast. Success, 118hre 36 5 0 CROMWELL NOTES. (Fhom Odr Own- Cohbespondent.) CROMWELL, July 18. The weather during the lasc lew days has been very mild for this time of the year. A lot oi snow has shifted otf the high country, but the river is still at a low level. Tho Klcctric No. 1 dredge struck a nice patch of rich wash and secured lOOoz in a little over a day. The local director (Mi J. Horn) has been expecting the dredgo to strike this, lead as the diviner located it going in there. The claim pegged out by the Uhura Syndicato begins here, and it is expected that a rich run starts here and makes into the flat. Boring operations ca the Ohura claim will be started next week, the boring plant being now on the ground. It is intended to put down several bores oil the supposed lead to prove it. Rise and Shine No. 1 dredge is still on the coal bottom over a portion of the cut, and it will probab'ly be a while yet before the returns will get much better. It is safe to predict good returns in any ease, and something considerably better when the coal bottom cuts out. The Punt dredgo had a stoppage last week through a break. It is rumoured that they are now on fairly good payable ground working away from the river. The Hartley and Riley dredge is stopped, waiting for a new top tumbler. Tho ground where it is at present is very rough, but there is a fair prospect in parte. WAIHI MINE. {Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 18. The return from the Waihi mine for the period ended Julv 5 was £252,790 lis, from 14,568 tons, mating the total output to date £10,236,295.