WAKATIPU MINING NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1855, 10 June 1887, Page 12

WAKATIPU MINING NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Akroav, June 2,

The Premier Company, Macetown.—According to promise, I supply the following information concerning the Premier Company, and the result of recent surveys of claims in the neighbourhood. These surveys, it would appear, were made to ascertain the course of the gold-bear-ing shoots, aud disclosed the fact that they are dipping into the adjoining claims, the Orient and the Amante in a very sW- distance ; and as these leases are held by Mr Wm. J. Farrell, who also owns newly one-half of the Premier shares, it is proposed to amalgamate all the claims or »ny two, as the sU&rebolders may deem desirable, and for this objjeet the meeting advertised in your columns is called. £or the sake of the district it is to fee hoped that a satisfactory arrangement between the parties may be arrived at sad a financially strong company formed, po that the mine may be worked upon n more comprehensive plan than the means of the present company has permitted. Nothing but a good system and welldesigned plans caa i^gke quart? fining

pay, and. to carry these out with profit to the company a large scope of ground to operate upon is required. The bulldog tenacity with which Mr Farrell has backed his opinion in the prospects of the Premier, and stuck to it through all its vicissitudes, is certainly deserving of success, and recent developments in the mine prove that his judgment was a correct one, as its prospects have never been brighter than they are at present. It is therefore to be hoped that the shareholders will meet him in a fair spirit, as they may rest assured that their interests are identical with Mr FarrelPs, and that the sooner a new order of things is instituted, the better for themselves and the district. The proposed amalgamation will have an immediate effect upon the value of the property, and with the present prosperous state of the mine, make the scrip more sought after than ever. Mr John Brown, of Arrowtown, is the successful tenderer for sinking 110 ft in the Tipperary mine at Macetown, and will commence operations at once. Severe frost has set in, and will probably put a stop to further crushing operations.

June 4.

A cake weighing 427|0z from 349 tons of stone came down from the Premier Company, Macetown. The silver will have to be retorted yet, which will add to this already satisfactory cake.

From the Phowiix, Skippers, 1740z of smelted gold came to hand for a month's crushing. The electric battery ana other machinery is working well.

It is also reported that Dunlop Brothers have obtained a very satisfactory return from a trial crushing, but the exact amount is not known. It is stated that the party are making overtures for selling their claim to a Melbourne company.

June 7.

The last handsome cake from the Premier Macetown, was supplemented by an addition of 3oz 4dwt, obtained from the silver scrapings, &c. ; making a total of 4300z 14dwt of retorted gold from 349 tons, or nearly 25dwt per ton. The stone in the mine promises to hold out for a long time. The Sunrise party, Macetown, have let another contract for driving an additional 30ft, in which distance it is calculated they will striket the reef.

The Tipperary Company are pushing ahead with the opening of moro ground for next season's operations. •The Arrow River Tunnel Company are coming into some solid ground, which is supposed to be exceptionally rich ; and so well pleased are the working members of this party with their present prospects, that they have taken up another valuable and extensive claim upon the Arrow river adjoining their present one. In the Shotover division mining matters generally look healthy, and reports of some good returns from alluvial claims continue to come to hand.