The Mines.

Otago Witness, Issue 1517, 11 December 1880, Page 10

The Mines.

NOTES FOR THE WJEiEK. The LiviDgstonecorrespondent of the Oamaru Mail writes :— " I have nothing worthy of note to report of mining, though I hear that the tunneliers are, on the whole, getting mere satisfactory returns than was the case^oine mouths since, arising possibly f'rem a better mode of working, as well as an improved knowledge of the ground." Mr Peter Grant has been appointed receiver of gjld revenue and mining registrar under " Tne Miues Act, 1877," for Eiverton m the Oiaso Gjldfields, as from the 25th October, 1880. Mr J. F. Watson received a telegram from Keefton on Friday stating that the return from the United Alpine Company was 4340z of amalgam from 163 tons of Btone. The cleaningup will take place to-day. Somefewweeks back (saystheDunstan Times) we|recorded that a nugget weighing 41b had been unearthed by some Chinese at the head of Butcher c Gully. Duriug our rambles last week we came across the party, who informed us tuatjthe welcome stranger only weighed 2Joz but that they got L 32 10a worth of gold m a pocket about the biz? of the crown of a hat close to where the nugget was found, Thoy al-o saiu they were continuing to do well. In Butcher's Gully, as also in Conroy's, a large i^atuber of the Jtttathen are now located, and by all accounts they are doirg remarkably well Altogoth-.r in the Alexandra division of the Uunstan district there are nearly 200 Chinese CrrK)d news h received from the miners on the Du'-stau Commonage (Wia Keri Keri Valley). Una of the elsnn.sbas just washed up, after a long o peil of sluicing, with most satibfaefcorv results. Wo dfd not hear the amount of gold obtaimd. Another party the, Golden Gaie Company &re nowtagagedin the plfa-ing operation and from what w 0 hear they will have no cause to complain. The Cambrian correspondent of the Dunstan Times writes :— "lu mining in this place we are going along quietly. From Vinegar Hill and vicinity— which is the newest workings about hert — I understand something good is expected at Christmas, exceeding eveu tfce previous big w--abinga which bavo come from that quarter. One or two parties have commenced tunnelling, believing that will pay better than aluifiog, the great depth of clay overlying the w&ahdirs being very difficult to run away. The price of water is L 3 pur week per Government head ior day water, and Ll for night— a, very reasonable figure I think. Ot-e party sold a cUim a few days ago (ground only), the price I hear being L9OO. This may give" readers pome idea of the qualiiy of the ground. Some rtc^nl buyers into smaller claims, tha gold in ■wbich flubs-: quentiy rau oui, have lost a little but nothing heavy, and a liUfe more experience mi a 'htnavo saved them." Mr Geifow, legal manager of the Mount Aurum (Nugget) Company, Upper Shotovec, uas shown us (Lake Wakatip Mail) a fine specimen of stone promiscuously taken, and it is anticipated that equally as good will bo r ionV lode up to tUe surface— a distance o. 120 feoc. The gold, which ruLS through the stone in a seam, is fine, but it should nevcrthelepa produce a handsome return. Other mining news in the district ia unimportant. We hear that the trial crushing of a ton of top Htone from the Invincible Company, Head of Lakp, yielded, at Kincaid, M'Queen, and Co.'s b?.ttery, half an ounce roughly crushed j but it a intended to test the tailings. The result of from a lower level has not yet transpired. Current reports of the Phoenix claim, Skippers, ar f. fc fav 'wable, but w« must await more reliable information before expressing an opinion. Operations at the Wsip-ri Deep Lsad Association's shaft (says the Taapeka Times) are again at a standstill owing to the quantity of water met with bbing greater tban could be overcome with the present appliances. A meeting of the Aesociatiwn was held la<1; Monday eveniDg, whin it was resolved to procure boring-rods with she view of taating tha strata pud ascertaining the depth of the main bottom. By thia operation an idea will be obtained of the kind of machinery required to successfully work the ground. Prior to the recent suspension of work a coarse layer of white granite, of tho Biz? ot pigeon-eggs, was met with in the shaff-. A few nuggets bave been taken from Clark'a Gully, Hicdon, the largest of which weighed lcz. 2dwt. At the general meeting of tha shareholders in the Longwoodß ofing Company M^srsPrintz M'Naughton, Ellis, G. Ho? ell, Young, and Cu r ,cbf,rtbon vv-re elected direstcra, but as tha two 1-a 1 , i&ev.tiujfl'i gentlemen do no", posatss vhr reqa.siio qurlifioation-i thb Board will couc'st of^tlie S»-et five peatlemf a. Mv Uuzt -waa elcC(.v.d ch;.iim^n. Very littU) wcik will be d-'ueia thu claim ut,tii tho coxnpleliou of tho 200 feat shaft, i

Mr J, F. Watson received a telegram from Reefton on Monday staling that the return of the Golden Fleece Company was347oz amalgam from 138 tons of stone. The yield from tha United Alpine Company was GOloz retorted gold for the month. A dividend is declared of ls'jper 32,000fch share. The following motion waa brought up by Mr Shannon at the last meeting of the of the Maniototo County Council, but lapsed for want of a seconder: — "Inasmuch as the Council is re presented by two of its body upon the Mount Ida _ Water Race Trust, this Council is of opinion that the time has long passed when the so calied public works should be diveated of the puffed up importance attached to them, and reduced to what they are, simply a water-race, and should be managed as such ; and that this Council in no wise lend's itself to the extravagant expenditure of the management now taking place, bus that the members of this Council be requested in their place on the Trust to urge that the expenditure be reduced-by at least one half, such reduction to be taken off the price of water for the furtherance and encouragement of mining." — The water sold by the Trust last month amounted to £260 ; cash received up to date, £262 14s 2d ; and expenditure for the month, £122 6s Bd. The Mount Benger Mail says that Messrs Haughton and party (Roxburgh East) have contributed to the Tnapeka County Council f nnds duriog this season alone £70 in gold revenue from their claim. On Saturday (aays the Tuapeka Times) we referred to the fact that the contractors fjr sinking the Waitahu'na deep lead shaft had met with a severe check. The particulars as furnished by ©ur Waitahuna corresponded! are aa follows :— Messrs Henry and Moggath pushed on their work vigorously, and had got down about 50ft or 60ft through at first a tough, dry, pug clay, and through a softer and whiter clay, mixed with grit and me'allic substances. On Wednesday afternoon Henry, who was below, obseived something like a crack, and on driving Mb spade down the water burst up with such force that he had to beat a precipitate retreat. In a few minutes the shaft was full within a few feet of the mouth On Thursday they made an attempt to bail with two large barrels, but could make no impression on the water. Could the water be overcome, it is the opinion of old miners that this is a very favourable iadication of success, as is plainly points to an extensive wash underneath. The Southland Times says:— lt appears a party of miners have bean prospecting for some weeks on the beaches at Port William, aDd were getting a little gold. The character of the gold betokened a quar.z reef in the vicinity, and every care was taken to note any indication of quartz. Ultimately the face of a clearly de tined reef wag laid bare on the beach, and samples taken therefrom in which gold was plainly perceptible. The prospectors at once visited the Warden at Riverton, and obtained a grant of land, which they have pegged off, on the supposed line of reef right over to Pateraon Inlet. On Wednesday night two cutters, specially chartered for the purpose, came over with the miners, and immediataly on their arrival at the Blaff one of the prospectors started to walk to Invercargill, en route lor Riverton, to obtain minors' rights. Describing Port William, Mr Deverill wrote as follows in the Weekly Times of April 19th, 1880 :— " This fine harbour is situated about six miles from Horse Shoe Bay, and may be reached from thence by a boat in fine weather, or b g the track near the sawmill ; the latter route termiuatea at Lee Bay, near a fine fruit garden, with houses, &c much dilapidated The fruit trees here we found loaded with ripe fruit, as also the strawberry beds. The road now leads along the beach and around the poiuts for a few miles till the port is reached. Mr Grei?, R. M., resides here with a few other Europeans. The harbour has certainly a fine appearance, and is one of easy access, without any obstructions. It is said that a vessel could make this port from the Strait with a wind from any point of the compass. There is a track from here to Paterson Inlet, as well as one over the headland." The Stewart's Island Discovery. Our townsman, Mr R. Cisave, seedsman desirous to sao and judge for himself of the " prcspact" a-, the nawly-discovered veef at Port William (cays Saturday's SouthlaadNews), took passage yesterday as 4 a.m. by the cutter Ariel, irom the Bluff, arriving at her destination i about 9 a m.— a quick passage, considering that I it was " beatir.tf " nearly all the way. Anchoring off Maori Eeach, oq the south side of the bay, tue parly leaded and proceeded along the beach, about five minuted walk, to a bluff bearing due south, and two miles from the residence of Captain J. B. Qreig. Hero the prospector, Mr Jamea Roper, was met with and in reply to questions said, "It ia a mistake for people to come hera at present." He appeared much excited at the probability of a "rush," which he aaid would be caused by the gossip of two or three new-chums and coma old wumen at Paterson'a Inlet. He offered to show the party where gold" could be got on the beach, between the boulders and didsso, the party washiug out several shovels! ful in the orthodox fashion, each one showing a " strong colour," with some rough specks, such as Mr Cleave, who has bad mining experience, considers might properly be classed as "reef gold." None of it was in the Isasb waterworn — some specka having a little blackened quariz adhering. '* The reef " was of cour ie the principal object of the visit, and Mr Roper was pressed to diaclse the locality. He said, "I have co reef— simply a 'leader' fioma reef, only visible at low water spring tides, and which is even then two or three feet under water." He showed the place, but the water was so much discoloured by the ground swell as to prevent thn party from seeing tbo reef. The "leader," Mr Roper explained, iiad bean all washed away by himself — being among rotten rock— but it bad, he stated, a well-defined c&Bing, with a thickness of about a foot. The quartz, however, showed no gold — what he got being in the " mullock," a kind of rotten slate. The formation of the country is granitic, with occasional bouldars of sandstone. He had w&ahed away the leader from lowwater mark to_ the terrace, where he got indication b sufficient to induce him to put in a drive with the expectation of finding, as the hill waa pierced, a continuation of the lod below tide - mark. Before doing this h thought it would be prudent to apply to to. Warden for protection ; accordingly went to Riverton, where he obtained a protection order for five men's ground up to the 22nd D^cemhsr, when the Warden's Court fits. It was not however, until aftor his return to the island and duly posting his application that the newa was bruited ab',itf, }>y the means already indicaied. In the courso of further conversation, Mr Roper repealed ompnaticjlly tbat he had not found any quartz with gold iv it— !.ba!. the gold he had got, was fr..m t'^ "mullock leader." lhe facewh^re he leffc off work clcsj up to the _ terrace he had covered by undermining the ten-oca and bunging down a ht\,vy fall of earth, He v.onla not allow the i p-.ity zo opoL. ic or t- • <Jh. t!.e «',im in auy ■' v.vy,at.fl (I'd n.jfc ir,t._nd to opeu it ap until ' Mou<j.,y, -when he expo^e^l his i>arw.ei3t> ba i tlrfre. flia v-'&^on fir ov .ri,.. : the " f \co," he ; ; said, waa to pieveut people iWm "mulluckiag

up the leader, and leaving the ground open to the wash of the tide, which would cause extra work in opening up the tunnel. He was very desirous that his visitors should, on their return, state distinctly that " he had not struck any reef to warrant any ruBh, and that as soon as the ground was opened up. which would take two or three weeks, it would be a great pleasure to him to show all and sundry what was there." After strolling about for a few ?i? U m « p ? rfcy weat on board » arriving at the the Bluff about 11 p.m. the same day— an factor I " US trip> although not " h fe hly satia ' It should be added that the bush is marked ott lor about two miles to the southward of the c aim-yery broken, hilly ground, rising in places aoout 500 feet from the ana level. There were several men from the sawmills about, who " appeared very sanguine of something- good turning up-their bright expectations being accountable chiefly on the supposition that taay don't know much about reefing. ' Kawarau. We are indebted to the Cromwell Argua for the following items of mining news in this district : — The first of the crushings completed on the Carrick Range this season has bean a great disappointment to the shareholders, Messrs Lawrence and Edwarda. Over 100 tons were put through, and the yield was only 4dwt per ton. The stone was crushed at Mr W. Eadford'a mill, and graafc disappointment is said to be felt at the way it was done. As anyone acquainted with quartz-crushing knows, even with care and the best appliances a large percentage of the gold is lost ; but in this case it appears that no blankets were used on the tables, the plates were not properly clean and the atone was hurriedly put through' Lawrence and Edwards anticipated a yield of 15dwt per ton at least. Green Bros, hay© & large quantity of sfcone at grass for crtujhiDjf but we hear they are so dissatisfied with the way Mr Radford manages his mill. that they are making efforts to get it crushed elsewhere. They offered Mr Radford LlO per week for the mill (five heads) and pay all wages and expenses so as to oe a 1 J<j to put their stone through thei* own way, but it was refused. This aopears am unwise proceeding on Mr Rad ford's part, and ' SWri Tth* c Vr£ BCtiDg on the Carrick* *he bfcar of the East Company's mill being shut up there is no other place to crush without carting the stone to Quartzville at great expense. The Last Chance party (Edwards and Wil' hams) are getting their mill ready preparatory tocrusbmg This party has been unfortunate £ S^Ph % gFeat aan * ifc y of dead work to do. rhe reef appears to have split up into two or three leaders, and has been very difficult to follow. They have about 150 tons ready for crushing, which they estimate to yield an ounce to the ton. The Carrick race has been bringing in a good supply of water lately, so that sluicing has been earned on wifchoat any delays, and the Christmas washings are likely to Bhow up well. The Perseverance Company (Griffiths and trranfell) and Stephens and party are all getfang over a good deal of ground, and it ia known to be good by the quantity weekly •yKKre SS&J?* "* "** "**"* On the Bannockburn, too, the good suddlv of water is materially helping the miners. The Schoolhouae Terrace claims (O'Neil and party) are getting away a great quantity of stuff, and if the ground ia as good as reported they should have a handsome washing-up. The claims of Bruce and Hogau and Tippet.t and Hitchens wo reports to be looking P Kceedingly we ll. Taken allngethop, it may be -a d that Bannockbum is looking befceer tha^ m has done for * long while past At Bentfgo, the Come i x Time party are busily engaged reducing w oe, and will wash up ChmtmM week. T ,\- mill is working splendidly, and the entering shareholders anticipate a satisfactory return for their outlay The Cromwell Company's 'mine still maintains its reputation as one of the most constant dividend-paying concerns in the Colony ihe working and machinery are all in the most perfect order under the management of Mr Todd, who h%s couddence in the old mine surpassing in the fature even the handsome yie!d3 that have bsea maintained for years p a 'S.°« ¥ A^ Ay . P* monthly cake was longed in the Colonial Bank here. It weighed 343 ounces, and was the outcome of 404 tons milled. This must have an assuring effect upon shareholders and increase the value of stock The Thames. The Te Avoha goldfield (writes our Auck- - land correspondent) is now open to the enterprise of the digger, the Government ' having successfully arranged with the Native owners. A considerable number of men are now on the field, and as the fine season baa aefc in, there should be no difficulty on that score in thoroughly testing the grcund, though the workings will be quartz and noli alluvial. One of the firat results has been to drain the Waikato settlements of their surplus labour. The new goldfield has . many advantages in its favour. It is within easy «ommunication with Grahamstown, Auckland, and the Waikato by steam or rail— -the latter as fir as Hamilton— so that provisions and other supplies can be obtained in abundance, and a1;a 1 ; reasonable rates. Whether the Te Aroha field will realise the high hopes entertained, time alone will show. Other districts in the Thames peninsula have been opened with as Banguine expectations, . only tr> bring loss and sorrow to many* Already the formation of mining companies ' is going on, with the inevitable litigation sharebrokmg, and gambling ; and the well- . known faces whicu of old were wont to haunt the Corner and the Mining Exchange are again taming up with "specimens " in their pockets, having "struck it heavy." Mauy rumours are current of various parties having got en reefs carrying goid, but beyond the psospectors' claim little or no work has been done, and these statements have yet to ba substantiated. Thero is a spLndid show of gold in M'lntyre and Prater's claim, next to the prospectors', at Te Aroha. A resf showing gold has been discovered on the north- west side of the mountain. Tae Te Aroha prospectors' crushing of two tonti of quaris a f . the Albnrnia jbattery (Thamep) shows that many stones were richly impregnated with gold. The Te Aroha Miner Bays that gold has been found in claims on both sides of the prospectors, and they are systeaiiitiuftlly working all over the field. Warden Kenrick is gaining popularity daily.' He has ufcltled neaily ull the disputes about claims wiihor.c taking them before the Warden's Court. A petition with 600 signatures, praying for Mr D Gaunsiou's removal from the Chairmanship of Committees, was bent to Melbourne from Sandhurst on the 2>th. Air Leriy, m the Assembly, declined to "ivo fat-ilines, ami the motion of censiue, it is expected, will lapse in consequence.