NOTES FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1518, 18 December 1880, Page 10

NOTES FOR THE WEEK.

Mr J. F. Watson received a telegram from Reefton on the 10th, stating ts)j.t the yield from *ho United Aipine Company's mine tor five day 3 was 3360z amalgam from 150 tona of quartz.

The Hyda correspondent of the Palmerston and Waikouaiti Times writes :—": — " I need not say that mining operations, or at least sluicing, are &t a standstill ; no one could expect anything else tlm Reason. Our miners are now eiijoying a spell — at least they are having a spell (mining term) whether they are enjoying it or not. I have no doubt they would much rather be np to their waists in water sluicing awayjmother earth and laying bare the golden pand-s tcan lying idle all this fine weather ; but every ttapnrtraent of life has its troubles, ho miners, Jike others, wsil have to exorcise patience and endurance, and hope for betttr times. In the Hamilton district tLere is still a little water, dry as the season his been, but the miners there, as at Hyde, will soon be idle unless the weather changes."

On behalf of Dunedin capitalists, Mr Reeves, M.H.R., haa arranged for tb.e supply of machinery for the Victory Company's mine, New Creek. The mine is looking remarkably well

One cwt. of picked specimens and 35 cwt. of quarfz from a leader in ths prospectors' claim at Te Aroha yielded 19£cz of gold. It is rumoured that other claims ara getsinggold, but none of them show any quantity of the golden stone. The prospectors are putting in a drive to cut the leaders at a lower depth, and intend sinking a wir.za on their special leader. Many business places have been erected on the field, but comparatively little mining has been done as yet. The Warden's opinion is that the goldfield will extend over a large area, reaching even to tha blocks included in the Patetere. Several claims have been formed into limited companies, and their scrip has been issued.

Tfao reeulfc of the cleaning-up of the top plates of the Golden Fleece Quartz-mining Company, Reefton, for the we&k ending Saturday, 11th instant, was 2630z cf amalgam from 130 toi>s of stone.

Messrs KincaJd, M'Queen, and Co. supply the Daily Times with the following particulars of the crushing at their works o c the Invinc \1 • Company's (head of Lake Wakatipu) trial lot of stone. The quantity crushed was two tons of quartz in all : — 1 ton from top level yielded! 12dwt 7gr ; 1 ton from bottom level, at least 150 feet below top level, yielded loz 3dwt 12^t ; and from the blanket tables we obtained ldwt O^gr from the two tons.

The Long Valley (Haw6a) correspondent of the Cromwell Argus writes : — " There is not much fresh to report from hero, but aa a description of the various claimsmay be interesting to some of your readers, I will try to give some idea of the poeition. To commenca from the bottom of the creek, a party of eight men took up some ground, and obtained very fair prospects in two or three boles. Finding then that they could not keap down the water by bailing, they were obliged to bring up a tail-race about 150 feet long. Since then they have taken out a few paddocks, but without dropping upon anything payable. Next come Day and party, who have done a lot of work in their claim, and were for a short time fairly recouped, but ap pear to have got off the gold again. They could not drain the lower part of their claim with the short tail-race they had, so they bought out the lower party, and intend taking the tail-race through to their claim. Nothing payable has been found between this and Anderson's claim, although a few parties tried it. The sinking is so wet one cannot bottom a hole for water, and there is no chance of prospecting the ground without a tail-race. Anderson's claim is just above the prospectors' lower claim (protected), and has paid fair wages. Next is Werner's claim, which is also protected, for they cannot sluice into the creek till Anderson is worked out. Adjoining this is the prospectors' upper claim, and I hear they get a patch of gold now and then. Fox Bros., whose claim borders on that of the prospectors, have done well as any party in the creek. Burrows and party come next, and they too have done very well. Above them are Taylor, Barr, and King and party, all of whom have made fair wages. About this part the best gold has been got, although a few small patches have been obtained a little higher up. The head of the creek has received very little attention. There are now altogether only about 50 people in the Valley. There is a party of four bringing in a water- race to work some of the terraces. They are said to have got very good prospects, and are in hopes of getting well repaid for tbeir outlay. A good number left for the shearing, but most of them intend to return after the bufly season is over. I know some of them left payable gold. I verily believe if they were making L 4 a week they would leave it for the excitement during tbe shearing. A few parties have gone up the Lakes prospecting, but I hear of nothing payable being found. We are well off for stores, there being no less than five of these establishments, including bakery and butchery. Mr Marsh has lately bought out the former butcher, and it is to be hoped that he will stick to his old motto — ' value for money.' However, we cannot grumble at present, for get meat, bread, and stores brought to our doors at very reasonable prices."

The Arrowtown correspondent of the Cromwell Argus writes : — " The late rains have supplied the batteries at Macetown and the miners in other parts of the district with an abundant supply of water, and the machines are now busy reducing stone in great quantities to prepare cakes for Christmas. The Ladye Fayre Company is putting out some grand stone, a sample of which, 31b lOoz in weight, taken at random from the paddock, produced 18gr of gold roughly crushed. The reef is about two feet thick, and looks likely to continue at the present good yield. The Tipperary is now fairly into the shoot from which the pre vious cakes have been obtained, and will surprise the shareholders with a monster cake at Christmas. The Gladstone, which has a fair quantity of stone at grass, is busily engaged in reducing it, and will also shine at Christmas with a good dividend. The Homeward-Bound is the only other company busy crushing at present, and to judge by the stone lately raised it also will fully vindicate the highly-payable nature of the reef by Christmas, The Premier still continues to sink the shaft j and the Main I Lode, Advance Peak, is following in the reef into the mountain. These companies comprise all that are at present at work."

The Southland Times says :— " By the arrival of the Dolly Varden at Bluff from Stewart'd Island, we hear that there is little doubt but that the Stewart's Island ' reef,' if in existence at all, is certainly not a gold-bearing one. On Monday the impatience with which the miners congregated at Port William have awaited the opening of the prospector's claim could not be controlled any longer, and about 30 men interviewed Roper, tbe prospector, in such a forcible manner that he was obliged to open op the tunnel where the leaders were buried. All hands set to work, and speedily uncovered the mullock pointed out by Roper as the leaders, andafewßhovelaful o f gold were

washed on the spot. After about 20 had been washed one solitary speck was found, but, although the supposed leaders were followed a considerable distance mio the hill no reef could be found. The specimens shown by Ropar are pronounced by experienced diggers to be nothing but mundlc, the same as is found in almost any part of the Island. Roper, however, holds persistently to hia idea that at the junction of the loaders a redf will be struck, but the evidences at present are all to the contrary. A number of diggers returned to the Bluff by the Dolly, disgusted with the prospects, one look at tna specimens being enough. It was feared on Sunday night that there would be a serious row before Roper would open up his claim, knives being in hig tent, and. threats freely indulged in. Nothing serious eventuated, however. For the present nothing definite has been discovered to warrant a rush to the Island, and although, there is no doubt payable gold to be got on several of the beeches, no gold-bearing quartz rstf has been brought to light."

The Mount Ida Chronicle says :— " This season has been a good one at the Serpentine, more gold than during any previous season having been obtained. Before the last rains the water was becoming very scarce, but at present thnre is a good supply. In the early days of mining here the quartz drift, or " Maori bottom" as it was termed, was considered the bottom, but now it has been found that the best of the gold was deposited in this quartz gravel, and several of the claims have been doing remark ably well in working it. Tho quartz-reefs are again looking up, and lately a mining lease has been applied for in Bones Creek. (Jogan and party have carted several tonß of good-looking stone from their claim at Bones Creek for the purpose of beiDg tested at the Serpentine Company's battery. Several tonß of quartz ara also awaiting to be crushed, taken from the reef known as the Scandinavian, owned by the Messrs Turnbull The stone loooks remarkably good, and it is believed the result will be most satisfactory. We have before alluded to the large extent of reefing country in this district which awaits the advent of energetic prospectors to develop it. An excellent battery is now in the locality, and .every inducement is held out for small parties to test the stone in limited quantities. Were this country and its richness in reefs within several hundred miles of some of the mining centres of Victoria or New South Wales, or in the Maori country in the neighbourhood of the Thames, it would lie so long undeveloped. Aa it is, we feel sure that its known auriferous character will before long give reefing an impetus in the Serpentine. Prospecting for gold is at present being carried on in all likely places within the county. The results are not yet known, but it is whispered that gold in payable quantities has been found in more than one locality."

The Hyde correspondent of the same journal writes : — "Nine miners are at work at Eggers' claim, and the prospecta continue to be encouraging. There is very little doing juat now in our immediate neighbourhood."

There is no mining news of any interest (says the Riverton correspondent of the Southland News). Calls ara the only things we hear of now in connection with cliims. It is a pity the public have not shown a little more confidence in Port's line of reef, so as to give that line a fair test. It is rather hard that the prospects of this part of the field Bhould be prejudiced by the over-3peculation in quite another part of the Longwood, and yet it ia so. There is another claim in that direction that I should like to Bee doing something, and that is the InvercargilliCompany. They have got what other less fortunate claims are spending money to find, viz., a reef with gold on it. "Why don't the shareholders, who are nearly all Invercargill men, show a little pluck and work it ?

The Bannockburn correspondent of the Dunatan Times writes : — "In mining things are very quiet, as all the miners are preparing for a wash-up for the Christmas. The water-races are keeping a very good supply considering the dry season. Some of the reefers are crushing here, and I am sorry to aay that the yield from the stone just put through by Messrs Lawrence and Edwardg was very poor, but it is anticipated their next crushing will prove very much better. Mr S. William* and party are also going to start this week, and in my next I trust I shall be able to give you a good account."

The Luke County correspondent of the Dunatan Times supplies the following information : — " In mining matters there is but little to report. In the shape of quartz-crushing, three out of the five mills are busy reducing stone, and everything promises improved yields, more especially with the Homeward-Bound Company, who are now busily erecting a 4ft 6in Berdan, with all the latest improved contrivances for grinding, and which will doubtless effect the saving of a large proportion of the gold hitherto escaping with the tailings. The machines idle are the All Nations and the public battery. The former it is thought will make a start ere the season closes, and possibly the latter, if water becomes so short that seme of the companies now crushing are unable to employ their full complement of stampers. The Ladye Fayre Company have struck a promising run of stone ;3it is 18 inches wide, well defined, and shows gold in highly payable quantities. The Invincible Company, head of Lake Wakatipu, have had a trial crushing at Kincaid and Company's battery, Dunedin. The result was half an ounce to the ton. The Invincible should not, however, be cast down, as with their fine body of stone and facilities for working, they should be able to do very welL The Phoenix, Skippers, have discharged all hands and stopped the works. This mine, after the most elaborate trials and lavish expenditure, cannot be made remunerative. The proprietors and manager have done all that was possible, and it is a subject for universal regret that their efforts, so well devoted, have proved unsuccessful. The Otago (Sonthberg and Co.), Skippers, are upon very good stone in their new reaf, having traced it down 50 feet from the surface. The prospects of this mine are really excellent, and should yield something like two ounces to the ton. The Mount Aurum, Shotover, are working away upon payable stone, and have plenty of it. Their Christmas washing should give a good account of itself. The Gallant Tipperary, on the Mount Aurum line, looks as well aa ever ; and Mr Tom Hall is really in luck's way this time. A company is starting to work the Butcher's Creek reef, Shotover, and with every prospect of success. This reef has been several times tried, and there appears to be a welldefined body of gold-bearing stone. A systematic method of working will doubtless prove the ground to be payable, especially as there is plenty of timber and water-power easily available."

Prospecting operations at Waipori", on the flat, are steadily proceeding (says the Tuapeka Times). Messrs Barclay and party, whose prospect from the ground underneath the false bottom was so encouraging, and which discovery set all Waipori by tbe ears, are steadily persevering with the working of their claim. It will be remembered they had some miles of a water-race to construct before they could use appliances to keep their claim dry. That having been accomplished, they are now opening up their claim. In the course of a month or six weeks they expect to be down to the Jerei from which tbey obtained the pros.

pect. Meanwhile they are putting all the stuff through th c sluice. The inhabitants are looking forward with considerable solicitude to the result of Messrs Barclay's prospecting, as their nuccess will demonstrate the existence of a deep lead on Waipori Flat, which means a revival of mining there on a large scale. Work at the Maiden City Company's claim, situated some distance down the Flat, has been suspended for a short time, owing to the water difficulty. In sinking a prospecting shaft, this Company found the water coming 1 in upon them to such an extent as would involve powerful pumping machinery to keep it down, so they determined upon trying the boring-rods if thsy could be got. The kind services of Mr J. C. Brown were called into requisition, and he managed to obtain the rods, after using some persuasive influence with the two parties who had been previously promised them. We are informed that the rods are now on the ground, and in the course of a few days the Company will have them in use. Later information has been supplied to ns respecting the_ boring-rods in use in the Maiden City claim, The rods they received were found to be incomplete and unworkable, and Mr J. C. Brown, who is in Dunedin this week, secured another but complete set, capable of boring 140 feet, which are to be sent over in tha course of a few days. Af t6r finishing with them at Waipori, they are to be forwarded for the use of the Havelock Deep Lead Company. Work at the Waitahuna deep shaft has been discontinued pending preparations for pumping out the water. The last attempt made to bail out the water was by six men in shifts, but little or no headway could be made. The Company have ordered a pump, and we believe it is their intention to procure the other appliances in the shape of a portable steam-engine for the purpose of working the pump. This looks like business. The contract for sinking the Golden Gate shaft, Wetherstones cement, has been taken up by Messrs Foreman and party, who are bringing up a race to drain the upper portion of the shaft, which could not be sunk owing to the rapid accumulation of water. They are making good progress with the work, and in the course of a week will no doubt overcome the water difficulty. Messrs Cunningham and Herd, in their claim adjoining the Wethtretones Company, bottomed on the reef at a considerable depth, and obtained satisfactory prospects. Tbey are now driving from the bottom. The various sluicing companies at Wetherstones and on the points of the spurs are doing fairly. Messrs Gilliard and party, whose claim ha 3 been steadily worked for the last 16 years, are still pushing ahead. Their claim has a very wide face, and a good deposit of washdirt is met with where they are now at work. Meaßrs Gilmore and party are tunnelling in the old Derry Walls claim. They bring the stuff to grass by trucks. Messrs Hunter, Taylor, and party, whose claim is well up to the Wetherstones Company's boundary, are very hopeful of the cement in their claim. Hitherto they have only been sluicing the alluvial, but we understand it is their intention after "the Naw Year to sink a^ shaft in the cement. There is every probability of the run of gold in the Wetherstenes Company's claim continuing through their ground. The Wetherstones Company's battery has not been in full swing for some time past. Owing to the driving of the new tunnel, the machine has only been kept crushing 16 hours instead of 24. The new tunnel is now down 330 feet. Another 70 feet will bring them to the lower corner peg j of the claim, but they have two acres below that again which this new tunnel will enable them to work. Drives 3 and 4 from the old tunnel have been intersected. No. 5 drive is being opened up on either side in the new tunnel, and in a very short time the battery will be put on full time. Gold can be seen in Nos. 4 and 5 drives, and the washing on Saturday, although not up to the average, showed a specimen of splendid coarse gold, giving promise of good returns from the newly opened grouud. The manager (Mr Johns) is pushing on with the main tunnel. It is now being driven in threa shifts of two men each ; the last 60 or 80-feet dip at a very acute angle — something like 45 degrees. Aa air-tunnel is being carried down simultaneously with the main tunnel, thus supplying a fino current of air. The new winding-gear, which was supplied on Thursday with a new rope (1J inch), 600 feet in length, works admirably. These ropes only last eight or ten months. We have to thank Mr Johns, the manager, for his courtesy in showing uh through the mine and furnishing all the information asked for.