MINING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15858, 2 September 1913, Page 7

MINING.

The Karaunui dredge washed up on Saturday for a return of 16oz 18dwt for a week's work. A return of 420z 7dwt for 6£ days'.work is reported from tlio Electrio No. 2 dredge. The postmaster at Alexandra telegraphed yostorday morning that the Molyneux River was at tho 6ft mark. The weather was fine. It is satisfactory to learn (6ays our Greymouth correspondent) that tho past month's operations at the Keep-it-Dark mine have shown a considerable improvement upon recent returns.

In No, 4 rise at tho Watchman mine tho reef is 3ft wide, but the ore is of low grade. A start has been made to lay the tram lines. Tlw ground tram should bo oomp.eted within the next fortnight. The half-yearly report of the directors of the New Sylvia mine 6tatcs that tho past six months were the most profitable in tho history of the company. For tho half-year 5042 tons of stone were mined, of which 4840 tons wero crushed and treated for a total net' return (including value, received for concentrateis shipped to Australia) of £8802 4s 7d, If on to this be -added the value of concentrates and pioked stone on hand, and extra valuo of gold in solution and in zino bozee, since last balancc, of a total estimated value of £1417 odd, total yalue won for the half-year was approximately. £10,219, less'only some £612 worth of ooneentrates that were on hand last balance, but not taken into account then, The actual cost of mining and treating for tho period totalled about £6400, inclusive of all mino development, save that of the low level extension only. This must bo considered very satisfactory. Owing to . the exceptionally dry weather whien prevailed during nearly the whole period under review steam power had to be used instead of water, which considerably increased the oost of treatment. The No. 1 reef was still being stoped up to No. 3 level, and producing payable stone. The No, 2 reef was carried along for over 200 ft in Nos. ?. and 3 levels south on good stono, but a fault recently came in both levels cutting it out. Indications, however, in both levels pointed to the reef being picked' up. again within a few foot of driving past the break. So much water was making and getting into tho 9topes from both levels that driving had boon suspended, ponding the completion of a new r«o to take tho water to No. 4 lpy6l. Tho f.tatemont of receipts and expenditure showed a credit balanco of £'i4!'2 m 6d.