WAKATIPU MINING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1866, 26 August 1887, Page 13

WAKATIPU MINING NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Arrow, August 23. There are many signs prognosticating an increased iuterest being taken in mining, and applications for claims continue numerous and brisk. At the present rate of marking out, x nearly the whole auriferous portion of this district which may reasonably be considered as payable will soon bo all pegged out ; and when tbis has been done, probably a certain proportion of the claims may make a start. Already there is some talk of private freehold property in the neighbourhood of Arrowtown being coveted for mining purposes, and the owners have been tempted with offers which are not unlikely to lead to an agreement between the parties. Hitherto there has been only talk and pegs, with a lavish display of application notices, and it is high time that work followed, and that in real earnest.

At Skippers the Phcenix is now busy raising stone, and crushing will before long begin. The Gallant Tip, Upper Shotover, has now rather better than 200 tons of stone at grass. The stopes towards the south look very well, and the reef is improving very much. The walls are remarkably well defined, and the stone, which is about 3ft wide, is showing gold of a coarse nature in very satisfactory quantities.

The Maori Point Reefing Company are now driving on the lode, and although they have not yet met with the shoot the indications are very good.

M'Grath, Sanderson, and party, who were flooded out recently at Maori Point, have made another attempt to reach the gold known to be in their claim. In spite of all the difficulties— and

they, are of no mean' order— shef hfcve 1 made a 1 start with turning the river once more, aSS it is" J to Ufl' hoped that they may 1 succeed this tinte/ 1 The party is displaying some of that indomi- I table pluck which disfrngftlßhes the geriuino gold digger from the counterfeit dii&. At Ma'cetown Mr John Brown has finished his , contract for sinking thw shaft in the Tip^ftar^ mine, and opening out on the feet has begun, flo that stone will before long be raised in quantity. The Premier are following down their of stone with very satisfactory returns. Mr John Williams is making very good headway with his tailrace, which is intended to drain his claitn near Arrowtown. The Arrow Tunnel Company are now in regular work* find with a good supply of water fdr their hydraulic elevator jsfe afe making good headway. A gootf fall of Snow occurred mi , n!gbt>bfct> the weather ii now again fine and mild.NdTES FRdM REEFTON. {tidbti Or/it Own Conk&st'tisfi&tf't.) Rebfton,' August #1. The following' are the battery returns for the paot week : — Globe, 2520z of amalgam from 190 tons of stone ; Progress, 84oz 17dwt amalgam for the week. Globe. — The mine manager" fcpo.?ta for the week ended 20th inst. that the winze is dtwn 83ft, 9ft of which was sunk during .the' week. The stone is much better in quality, gold being seen very freely ; and thero seems to be a grand body of stone, of which about 4ft is being taken out. Three feet from the footvvall the stone is softer than [on the footwall. The stopes are looking very well, the contractors having driven the, required distance,' and the chamber will now be open preparatory to rising and sinking the main shaft., , Nil Desperandum. — A contract has" been let for sinking the main shaft lOOt'b deeper, the price being £4 per foot. Keep-it-Dark. — The big face of stone going north has become much reduced in bulk, but is still above the average of the levels above. The south reef is fully 9ft thick. It is expected that the battery will be in constant work in about 10 days' time.

The past week has been one of the quietest in mining affairs generally ever experienced in the district. There has been absolutely ntfthiug doing in the share market, but people are hopeful, however, that a revival will begin with the resuming of the Keep-it-Dark and Fiery Cross ventures and other batteries shortly.