THE NEW SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOLDFIELD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1823, 29 October 1886, Page 11

THE NEW SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOLDFIELD.

(Reutkr's Telegrams.) Adelaide, October 21. Hundreds of persons are leaving here for the new goldfields. The Government geologist reports that gold is distributed generally over the field. Great excitement is being caused in this city by the encouraging reports which have been received from the Wankaringa goldfields. Several diggers on the field have telegraphed to their friends telling them to come at once. Already 800 diggers are on the fielfi. By dry fossicking one person succeeded in getting 16oz of gold for one week's work Hundreds of men are leaving the agricultural districts and provincial towns for Wankaringa goldfields.

Adelaide, October 22. The Mining Warden at Teetupla telegraphs that there are 1000 men on the fields at Waukaringa. He asserts that only one gully is giving gold in payable quantities, and that any great rush is quite unjustified. Adelaide, October 25. Two thousand persons are now on the Waukaringa goldfields, where provisions are running short. The reports received from the field are less favourable than hitherto. Melbourne, October 21. Several persons have left Melbourne for Wankaringa goldfields.

DISCOURAGING REPORTS. Adelaide, October 25. Reports from Waukaringa continue less encouraging. One hundred persons have returned from the field to-day disappointed.

An Adelaide resident informs us that the new goldfield is about 50 miles due north of Kooringa, better known as Burra, where the celebrated Burra Burra Coppermine is situated. The name of the place is Waukaringa. As Burra is only 101 miles N.E. of Adelaide, the new goldfield will only be about 150 miles distant from that city. Burra is in direct communication by rail with Adelaide. The district is rich in minerals. The fame of its copper mine has been spread throughout the colonies, and although operations have been suspended of recent years owing to the fall in price, the mine during 31 years produced 215,000 tons of ore, valued at £4,000,000. Silver, lead, and other minerals have been found in the district. A large portion of the country is under wheat cultivation. (From Melbourne papers.; Brady and Smith, the discoverers of a goldfield in the neighborhood of Waukaringa, have forwarded a letter to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, under date of October 9. They write: — " Without doubt the goldfield will be a great success. We have been camped on the field since we found it, and at every place we have tried we have found better prospects than ever we saw on the Bendigo diggings, and one of us was there in the best of times. The first man who put down a hole out from us got a nugget a good ounce weight at a depth of 3ft. There was only one man bhere beside us until this afternoon, when there was a rush, and there are now 36 claims pegged out. We feel certain that these diggings will equal any ever found in Victoria. The want of water is the only drawback. The sinking will be from 3ft to 12ft."

There was considerable excitement in Adelaide on the 16th over the discovery of gold on the Teetulpa run. The directors of the Alma Gold Mining Company were interviewed and stated that there were 200 men working at Waukaringa. They had seen a soz nugget and several others. The country in the neighbourhood consists of a number of gullies. The gold is being found at Long creek. The whole place is covered with white quartz. They saw a dozen ounces which had been obtained in one day. The gold is being taken out of crevices in the slaty rocks with knives and old shear blades. The sinking varies in depth from 3in to 7ft. The nuggets were of splendid quality. One man was seen, in 10 minutes, to get a handful of small nuggets. The majority of the prospectors at present on the ground are from the Manna Hill reefs, and others are quickly arriving. There is every reason to believe from the appearance of the smaller gullies for miles round that more gold will be discovered. So far as the particular creek is concerned, they think it will soon be worked out. Gold is not being found at a great depth.

The Commissioner of Lands has received confirmatory telegrams from the warden of the goldfields and the local Crown lands ranger.

Mr A. H. Smith, the well-known surveyer, of Adelaide, says that, having surveyed 'the land on the Teetulpa run, he knows the locality intimately. He states tha,t at the very least there is a thousand square miles of alluvial land interspersed with reefy localities, which are bounded by granite walls similar to those of Bendigo and Castlemaine. He has proved that water can be obtained at almostany plp.ee by sinkingfov ashorfc distance. He himself has discovered traces of gold over the whole of the country extending from Boolcamatta and Maidorky hills on th 9 east to the Great Northern line. He

is satisfied that if energy is displayed a rich field will be opened up, and that shortly a population of thousands will be settled there. He himself found gold there several years ago, and has expected the present discovery for a long time past. On the 19th the Commissioner of Lands received a telegram from the warden at the new goldfield at Teetulpa, stating that nice coarse gold is still being found at Brady's Gully. People are arriving on the field in numbers. The diggers are just beginning to spread and try other gullies. By the mid-day train Mr Brown, the Government geologist, arrived in Adelaide. He brought several nice nuggets from the field. Before he left a man named Frederick Mills got a nice nugget a few feet from the surface, in a gully running into Brady's Gully. On his way to Manna Hill he met a large number of men going to the diggings. The warden had issued a number of miners' rights. Mr Brown is well pleased with the character of the gullies. He believes that gold will be found in many of them. He estimates that there must be several hundred men now on the field.

One hundred and ten men left by the morning train en route for the diggings, and 200 left by the afternoon train.

Mr Wade, the lessee of the Teetulpa run, arrived in Adelaide. He says he found gold there years ago. He has great hopes that the field will prove a good one, yet he thinks it unwise to encourage a rush. More gold is being discovered than is revealed. He is surprised that so many inexperienced men are getting gold. All hands have left his station.

In the Legislative Assembly there was a long discussion about the new field, and the necessity of providing every facility for reaching the ground was fully recognised. Messrs Downer and Bray announced their intention of visiting the field on Saturday to ascertain the prospects and the probable wants of the population. They declared themselves most anxious, whilst they had every reason to hope for good results from the field, not to be unduly sanguine. NOTES FROM REEFTON. - (From Our Own Correspondent.) Rebfton, October 21. Globe. — Excitement has been if anything more* intense to-day than before. Shares opened this morning at 16s, and numerous sales are reported during the day at 17s 6d. The appearance of the reef is as good as ever, and the plates at the battery are considered by many to show equal to 3oz per ton. The bad weather unfortunately continues, and greatly increases the difficulty of conveying the stone from the mine to the head of the tramway. The supply at the machine paddock ran out for a short time, but additional horse trollies being put on, stone is now coming down in sufficient quantity, and the stampers are being kept fully going, 10 heads only being used. Sixty-seven tons had been put through the battery up to last report, and every effort will be made to get 100 tons through • and the cleaning up over by Saturday night. It is reported that the drill holes put into the face of the stone, to a depth of two feet, give a prospect of from three to, eight grains of gold. If this is correct it stands equal to over five ounces per ton. It is this news which caused the sudden run upon the shares at mid-day. It is astonishing how most of the quidnuncs have been deceived by the stone. Many of those who visited the mine on Sunday and Monday put it down at one ounce ; since then some of our best mining experts have bought in at the top price. At a meeting of directors the mine manager received instructions to carry on the construction of the tramway with utmost despatch, also to prepare a site for sinking a main shaft and to commence a winze on the stone. The whole of the works are to be carried out night and day, and the total cost will be under £900. It is expected that the tramway from the mine to the top of the tramway will be finished and stone passing over it within a month from date. Great business has been done in the* shares during the last 24 hours, but still almost exclusively amongst local people. Very few transactions are recorded outside, the disposition abroad evidently being to neither buy nor sell. It is quite amusing to hear the reports current of persons who burnt their fingers during the last spurt by holding on too long, having now sold on the first flutter at ss, 6s, and 7s, only to buy in again during yesterday and to-day at more than double the figure. Those who for years Jpast have been loudest in their advice as to the prudence of being satisfied with a fair profit and realising, are now amongst the firmest stickers. It is a case of "When the devil was sick."

Several new mining leases have been applied for on the Globe line. Mr James Thornburn, one of the directors of the Keep-it-Darlc, to-day lodged aii application for a lease of 16| acres east and adjoining the Globe. The grouDd formerly held by the Advance Company on the same line has also been reapplied for. The streets are again crowded to-night with excited shareholders, and an incessant hum of conversation upon the one absorbing topic everywhere prevails. Great numbers of those who bought early sold again at from 9s to 12s, and in this way dozens of people in small parcels have netted £100, £200, and £300 in solid cash, and the accession and distribution of this sum amongst the community has given a tone of elation to everything, which contrasts strongly with the condition of things before. It would be a species of profanation to mention any other items of mining news just now, and it is therefore fortunate that there is none worth mentioning.

Reefton, October 22. J Globe. — The furore has not been quite so pronounced to-day, but still the public mind continues in a state of great bustle, and exciting reports are as rife as ever as to the appearance of the plates and mine. Some scores of persons visted the reef to-day, many reaching there as early as 3 a.m. All bring the most satisfactory accounts, reporting the reef to- hold strong at from 9ft to 10ft thick, with the same good show of gold right across the face. Parcels of the stone picked from different places in the body of the reef have been brought in and tested at the banks, and show splendid prospects. The work of conveying the quartz to the battery is being kept going under very great difficulty, owing to the terrible state the track is now in ; but it will be continued until to-morrow, when" the work of streaming down will be commenced preparatory to the general cleaning up. Th£ show of amalgam on the plates is wonderfully good, and opinions as to the probable yield still vary between two and three ounces per ton. There will be great anxiety to learn tho result to-morrow afternoon, and in order to give all outside shareholders an equal chance it has been decided by the directors that the information shall be wired immediately on its receipt in Reefton to Mr Hallenstein. in Dunedin, Mr Sidey in Wellington, and Mr Ashton in Greymoufcb. As further security to outsiders, I have been asked by the

directors to state that the cleaning up will be finished between 4 and 5 p.m. to-morrow, so that if the manager should be forestalled, in tho transmission of the information shareholder* abroad may be put on their guard. Business to-day has not been so brisk as it was during Wednesday and Thursday, but there have been numerous sales at 17s 6d, that being the selling price tonight. I cannot hear that a single transaction has as yet been effected by wire from here, all the business being confined to local hands. The rush for mining leases still continues* seven fresh leases having been applied for to* day. Reefton, October 23. The following are the battery returns for last week :— Globe, 5040z of amalgam from 86 tons ; United Alpine, 2910z amalgam from 188 tons of stone; Fiery Cross Extended, 2050z of amalgam from 90 tons ; Venus Extended, 148oz amalgam for the week. , ' Lone Star. — The hands in this mine have been busy during the past week making the necessary provision for setting in to work. Driving in the low level will be started on Monday morning. Globe. — The manager reports having sent; down 93 tons of stone, of which 86 tons has been crushed, 7 tons remaining in the paddock. The quantity of amalgam is as stated above, which has since been retorted and given 17262 of smelted gold, or an average of 2oz per ton, witb a few ounces additional to come, left behind durjng the hurry to get the returns in by the appointed hour. The manager reports that the reef is fully lift thick, and has now been driven on for a length of 33ft, presenting throughout '» solid body of quartz, the prospect at the face to-day being as good as ever. The directors have instructed the manager to put on a large number of hands on Monday to construct the tramway (15 chains in length!) to connect the mine with the aerial tramway. There will be some trestling to be done on the line, but the directors are confident that a very few weeks will enable them to start permanently with 10 heads. The main shaft will also be started at once, and when connected with the winze, to be pushed on simultaneously, permanent crushing with 20 heads will be commenced. It is estimated that the making of the shaft and winze will be completed inside of three months. October 24. Just-in-Time. — The battery was kept going •until 12 o'clock last night, and the general cleaning up will be commenced first thing to-morrow morning. The plates look well for a satisfactory yield, and in anticipation of these a strong demand for the shares set in last night at from 7s 6d to Bs. The reef is reported to be very strong, and everything looks well for a prosper* ous time for the company. South Hopeful. — Still carrying on prospecting works, but with nothing fresh to report. Reform. — The sinking of the north winze Is being pushed on, the reef continuing at about the same size as last report. Orlando. — This ground was reapplied for on Saturday last, and owing to its being no great distance away from the Lone Star level, mil no doubt come in for some attention as soon as the', latter company cut the reef on the new low level.

October 24.

Nil Desperandum. — The contractors for the straightening of the shaft having failed' owing to the share excitement to proceed with the work, John M'Master has been appointed mine manager, and the work will be carried on witb wages hands. '

Occidental. — This ground , formed the subject, of an application for cancellation some time ago, the result of which was that the Government, in lieu of decreeing cancellation, gave the company the option of retaining the ground provided they paid up £50 arrear of rent and gave applicant? his costs. This was to have been done within seven days, but somehow the company did not tender the money until one hour after the. lapse of the period allowed. The applicant then had seven days within which he had tp lodge, application for the ground, arid he has now availed himself of the right by lodging the necessary money. The Occidental Company, however, have also lodged an application for the ground, so that the matter will have to come before the warden again for settlement. Many leases still continue to be applied for on the Globe line, and all the avail* able land is now once more under occupation. THE GLOBE EXCITEMENT. Later. The market during the early part of 1 yesterday was very active. The opening price for ' shares was 18s 6d, and a steady demand set in at that figure. Quotations soon advanced to 19s 66, and thence steadily on to 23s 6d, the highest limit reached. At this figure a very large business was done, all classes of persons going in for small lots in the confidence that when the returns came there would be another rush asd a possibility (of the shares going up to 30s. At about noon business began to slacken off, almost everybody who could raise the wind at all having loaded themselves in anticipation of the impending rise. The next important event of the day was the arrival of the meflsener with the returns, and for about two hours the street was crowded with excited people all watching wistfully for the coming of, the returns. At about 4 o'clock it was announced that, the bearer of the glad newß was' in 'sight. Then there was an eager rush for the legal manager's office, but the messenger merely handed in his letter and rode away, without opening his lips, much to the disgust of everybody. The legal manager despatched a message to the telegraph office as arranged, and the returns were posted and were received with three cheers. It was like the announcement of an election. The people then separated to discuss the result. Many people had bet upon three ounces, while others had backed the* return to be over 2oz ; the latter won the day, as there are several ounces still to come. In the evening • the streets were again crowded and there was much excitement, but owing to the number of small holders all anxious to turn over their money, this effectually checked the rise of the shares. Some having over-bought and being unable to hold, forced sales took place, which had the effect later of causing a decline,, prices finally settling down to 20s. The battery was crushing just four days, and the result, though not so high as some expected, is nevertheless a magnificent one. Taking into account the 1 size of the lode and the fact that the stone can be brought to the stampers in less than a month at a comparatively small outlay, the property, as far as one can see, is one of the best, if not really the best, that the field has yet produced. It is reckoned that even if the stone were worth only 15dwt per ton it would still be hardly second to the Keep-it-Davk. Of course everything now depends upon the circumstance as to Whether the reef lives down. If it does, then it would be a hard matter to guess what the shares will go to ; but even assuming that it is only a surface blow, the greatlength already proved must ensure crushing for a good length of time. The appearanceSof the country, however, is altogether in favotfr of the opinion that the lode is a, true ami permanent one, ar.d it is this ctowftaslbh which

has lqd all the most experienced men here to become shareholders.

■ ' Reefton, October 25. . • All is excitement and activity again to-night. During the day a steady demand set in for one • Stars, whioh on Saturday stood at 2s, at 2 6d, and then at 3s. Much business was done, and the figure now offering is 4s, with few sellers. The, company is almost wholly in local hands, a comparatively few holders being in Dunedin. The company started work this morning, and as they have only 100 ft to drive to cut the survey line of the reef, the demand for shares has set infin anticipation of the reef being met with. A -party of ("English tourists, who have been successful in Globe investments, have taken large interests in the Lone Star. ;' .Prince of Wales. — A great flutter was caused .this afternoon by the receipt of the news that a good permanent lode had been met with tinder , the recently discovered outcrop of stone on the .lease. The report states that the reef has been driven into three feet without any appearance of the opposite wall. The stone is reported to show nice gold. There was a good deal of business done in the shares to-night at the rate of £25 per share. The company is not yet registered, but steps to that end are now being taken. The discovery is ' rendered all the more important from the fact .that the stone is within easy dis.tance.of the Venus battery and can be quickly and cheaply connected. The ground is situate south of aqd at no great distance from the reserve of the Inangahua Low Level Tunnel Company. . c Just-in-Time.— ln these shares there has also , been a strong movement daring the day, sales having been effected at 8s 9d. , The pegging-off of mining leases is still going on right and left, amongst the areas applied for being the, old Morning Star ground, upon which some remarkably good stone was found five years ago, but -could not be traced. A more systematic searoh is to be made over the lease. . Just-in-Time.— The following are the full returns: — 23520z of amalgam from 600 tons of stone. These figures, which reached me just as the office doors are closing, need no comment. [Mr Watson, of Dunedin, received a telegram giving the same figures and stating that the yield is equal to 800oz of retorted gold.] . . • Rkefton, October 26.

Juat-in-Time. — The excellent return yesterday took everybody by surprise. When it became known last night it caused an immediate movement in the shares, and considerable business* was done up to 10s. Quotations here, however, ramained stationary to-day. The directors meet to-night, when a dividend of li per share at least is expected by shareholders. The mine is reported to be looking remarkably well. . Nil Desperandum. — There has been a spurt on these shares during to-day, prices running a£ high as 3s 3d. It is reported that a new make of stone, has been met with in the company's ground near the boundary of the Keep-it-Dark, bui nothing is yet known about it. Lone Star. — Further business has been done in, these shares to-day, but buyers do not go above 4s, at which rate many sales have been effected this afternoon; but no outside transactions are reported in either this or any other lines. '■ Globe.— The mine manager writes to the directors saying that the winze is now down Bft, •nd the reef still holds the same as on the surface. Sales are reported to-day at from 18s to 30b. , The ; rush for mining leases still continues, five or six fresh ones having been lodged to-day. Prince of Wales. — Reports from the mine say the Stone has made into an undoubtedly permanent lode' about 3ft thick and carrying very good gold. - There was quite a buzz in the shares last night, quarters selling at £12 10s. Last night and to-day the town has been very lively, and almost everybody here is dabbling in stocks to a greater or lesser extent, and hatsf al of money have been made by many. Stocks all round have been beneficially effected by the rise in Globes, and everyone now predicts a con» tinuatioh of the present good times. The Inangahua paper publishes the report of the recent Dnnedin meeting of Globe shareholders, and it baa caused a good deal of amusement here, particularly when read in the light of subsequent events. A letter is also published from a Dunedin shareholder in the company commenting rather severely upon the construction of the meeting and the conclusion arrived at. NOTES FROM HOKITIKA. ■ (Feom a Correspondent.) . Hokitika, October 22. ■ Ross United. — Work at the faces was resumed.onthe 15th inst., and has been steadily continued, with a result of 108oz for the week, -with an average of 35 picks on the wash. Humphrey's Gully.— Sluicing is now being carried on steadily in both faces, the late rains having given a fair water supply. Hokitika, October 25. A email rush has taken place on the Town Belt north, on some black sand, which is bad sinking.- After, going down 17ft prospects of 10 grains to the dish were obtained. The depth of the dirt is not ascertained. Twenty claims have been pegged out, ROUGH RIDGE. The Progress Goldmining Company has for some time past been prospecting the HomewardBound andLoyds' reeef on the Rough Ridge, and has taken from the reef at a lower level than the old workings about 100 tons of stone. The reef is about two feet wide and shows gold freely. Mr W. M. Glass, from Dunedin, is now engaged by the company reducing the stone at the Rough' Ridge Company's battery, and the result is anxiously awaited. It is some 16 or 18 years since this reef was worked, and its reputation as the best reef in the neighbourhood at that time will doubtless make many old residents feel an interest in the present crushing. The mining venture advertised as the Golden Gully United Goldmining Company, Serpentine, the prospectus of which has for some time past appeareq in this paper, appears to meet with publio approval, We understand that shares are being rapidly taken up, particularly in the Mount Ida district. The share list closes on the 13th November. THE PROGRESS COMPANY, ROUGH RIDGE. Crushing is now in full swing at the mine, and the stone appears to be fully equal to the anticipations which were formed of it. The men are now engaged in putting in a crosscut in the adit level to cut the reef known as Lloyd's, which is "not far distant and from which the stone will be trucked out, a much cheaper and quicker way than that hitherto adopted. When this reef is struck the company will have no less than three reefs within the boundary of its claim, two qf which have been proved to have been very .rich, and the other of great width carrying fair gold. The Btone, moreover, is very easily crushed, enabling a large quantity to be put through the. mill in a short time. Th» company expect to be able to I^eepthe battery going for a conwJpr^p^iod. 6tt»e eeles of shares have

already been made at a substantial premium, but there are not many offering for sale, shareholders being inclined to hold pending the result of the crushing, WAKATIPU MINING NOTES. (Feom Oub Own Cobbespondent.) Abbow, October 26. BEAD OF LAKE WAKATIPU. The Scheelite mine is now again in full working order with a new set of apparatus for reducing the ore. It will be remembered that the rollers used for the purpose formerly proved too ' soft for the wear and tear. They are now replaced by one of Carr's disintegrators, which grind up the stone by centrifugal force. From present trials it would appear to act very well, and as there is but little wear and tear of the machine it seems to be admirably' adapted for the reduction of scheelite ore, which is very refractory. The quantity reduced by the new machine with the present water-power is about four tons per hour after the stone has been passed through the stonebreaker. The mine continues to look well, the lode running at a very uniform width and richness in ore. The Invincible Company have been delayed with a break in the machine level, where some old timber gave way suddenly, the repairs of which delayed the output of stone for a week, during which the machine had to be stopped. However, the damage has now been repaired, and the machine set going. The mishap will have a diminishing effect upon tbe next cake, which may be expected in a few days. The stone in the mine fully maintains its character for yield Daly, Johnston, and party have gone up the Dart river some 40 miles with four months' provisions, and are determined to prospect the head waters of the Dart, and if possible to winter on the spot. For this purpose they have built a substantial hut and laid out a garden to grow as far as possible their own supplies, to save packing. The men, four in number, are of the right stamp of hardy pioneers, and it is to be hoped that they will be able to give a good account of themselves ■ before long. MACETOWN. The noise of the stampers is about to be heard I once more in this locality, the Premier being about to start crushing. There has_ been a rumour that several of the claims which have been allowed to lie idle for a length of time are shortly to be taken in hand again. THE SHOTOVEE BEEFS. Good reports are again circulated about the Maori Point reef, and some stone of great richness is, according to report, got out of the mine. AT SKIPPEES things are progressing satisfactorily, without anything have occurred for special mention. DISCOURAGING NEWS FROM BIG BAY. INVERCABGILL, October 25. Half-a-dozen of the men forming the Big Bay prospecting party who left here about five weeks ago have returned via Queenstown and report that nothing encouraging has been discovered. One of those still at Big Bay writes to the mayor of Invercargill to the same effect, and says |the ground must have been worked many years ago by at least 500 men, judging by the extent of workings. The party had prospected the beach north to the Gorge i river and found nothing of note. The river itself for six miles up was found to be already held on mining lease, although few men were at work. A large number of the men are dissatisfied, being sure that all the payable ground has been worked out years ago. One of those who has returned has been commissioned to send a cutter round to bring the prospectors back. GOLD-DREDGING. Mr Pyke, M.H.H., introduced to the Minister of Mines on Tuesday last Mr Louis Gards, of Clutha, who presented Mr Larnaca with a copy of a memorial to the Government. The facts set forth in the memorial briefly were : — That the Dunedin Gold-dredging Company had obtained two mining grants ou the river, each one mile in extent ; that one of these had not been occupied ; and the memorialists applied to the warden to inquire into this matter with a view of cancelling the license. The case came before the warden, and the point was raised by counsel for the company that the warden had no power to make the inquiry. This contention was upheld, and the petitioners now craved that the warden should be directed to take evidence in the matter, with a view to the cancellation of the grant dated December 26, 1884, the conditions of the grant not having been complied with. They also asked that the ground I be thrown open for occupation by other I dredgers. ' j Mr Pyke explained that in his opinion the claim had been forfeited, and that the warden had certainly the power to inquire into the matter — though not to forfeit the claim — simply for the purpose of making a recommendation. An inquiry should have been made and the evidence forwarded to the Government, probably through the Mines department. Hon. Mr Laenach expressed the opinion that Warden Hickson appeared not to have read the act correctly, and it seemed to him a question whether the warden or someone else should not be direoted to hold an inquiry. Mr Pike replied that all that was desired by the memorialists was that an inquiry should be held without delay. The Hon. Mr Labnach promised to communicate with the Justice department and put the matter in motion. MISCELLANEOUS. The gold escort arrived in Dunedin by the 7.15 p.m. train on Thursday in charge of Ser-geant-major Bevin and bank officers Vigors and Halliwell, and brought down eight boxes and one bag of gold of the value of £20,000. The .Merrivale correspondent of the Southland Times reports that a splendid specimen of quartz, thickly studded with gold, has been found on the Merrivale diggings. Miners are anxiously awaiting the track cutting to get into the interior of the bush. The Mines department have received three small diamond rock drills from Boston by the brigantine Hansa ("says the correspondent of a contemporary), and one is to be fitted up in the course of a few days for the inspection of the public. The drills have a boring capacity of 500 ft, and are worked by a windlass. The department intends to lend them to proI specting parties. One will probably be sent to Big Bay. The prospecbing spirit is abroad (remarks the Southland News). The latest place at which it has broken out is the Bluff. There an enterprising party of four men have fitted out a large boat, specially equipped, for the purpose of making a prolonged trip to the Wetrt Coast Sounds

Among other places, they will call at Big Bay. They leave the port at an early date. Their craft haß been decked over, and is a thoroughly good, weatherly boat. Going in this way, the men will be able to explore the various inlets round the coast more exhaustively and conveniently than if landed from a steamer. The party consists of Messrs S. M'Olements, Young Bros., and M. Burnett.

The legal manager reports the return from the Alpine Company to be 2910z amalgam from 188 tons of stone ; plates only.

The excitement which has prevailed at Reef ton and elsewhere with regard to the Globe mine culminated to a certain extent on Saturday when the result of the crushing, a little over two ounces to the ton, became known. Our own correspondent informs us that scrip which were sold about a fortnight ago at 3s 3d settled down after touching 23s 6d to 20s. The Wellington Post states that a gentleman occupying a nigh position in the legal profession in that city recently parted with a parcel of about 1250 shares for the small sum of £1. A little more faith, and he would have been richer to-day by £1249.

The Mount Ida Chronicle states that Mr Mason sank a hole about 12ft deep in the reserve in Spec Gully, but found that without going to heavy expense he could not cope with the water. He, however, obtained colours of gold right through the whole of the washdirt, and this would seem to justify him in incurring the proposed outlay of £1500. It is reported that Gee Wee and party have got on to a good run of gold in the same gully.

The Dunstan Times states that the applicants to have the special claim of the Dunedin Dredge Company cancelled intend taking steps to have the question tried upon its merits. The warden hearing the case at Alexandra dismissed the case on the point raised by Mr Denniston of want of jurisdiction. He said it appeared that certain telegrams on the subject had passed between the clerk of the court and the under-secretary of Mines department, but that no formal appointment by the Governor to the warden had been made

The mine manager of the White's Reef Company's claim, for the week ending October 14, states : — I have got the drive in 14ft ; the quartz is a foot thick — very hard glassy quartz — in which there is gold to be seen occasionally. I have 6ft further to drive, and then sink down to the rise, whioh will take about 10 days ; then I will go on a little faster, as the quartz will then go down itself, whereas now I have to haul it up in the bucket. I have not got any gold with the sluicing as yet, only carrying the line of reef with both walls well defined. I purpose following then up a little further to see if there is any change ; if not, I will shift further up the hill and cut again.

All the accounts to hand from the Kimberley goldfield when the mail left Melbourne speak of terrible suffering, disappointment, and starvation, and of hundreds leaving daily. We elsewhere give some further particulars regarding the new rush in South Australia, which, if it has no other advantage, is not so far removed from civilisation as that at Kimberley. The Western Star understands that a proposal is on foot to form a company to purchase a diamond drill, the use of which could be given to the Prospecting Association on much better terms than those offered by the Springfield Coal Company. The terms offered by that company are so high as altogether to preclude their acceptance by the association. Mr Selig, an old Waikaia resident, has presented 52 speoimens of different ores to the local museum.

The yield of the Gympie (Queensland) diggings for the past year was 64,0450z.

The dividends paid by the Charters Towers (Northern Territory) diggings for the past year amounted to £14,595. The crushings for the month of September yielded 11,0430z, the average per ton being loz 12dwdt sgr.