WAKATIPU MINING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1890, 10 February 1888, Page 12

WAKATIPU MINING NOTES.

(From Oub Own Correspondent.) Akeow, February 7. The wet weather becomes too much for the miners even, and many cases of damages on a small scale to mining works are heard of. The ground is thoroughly saturated, and slips are, of course, inevitable. Although it is still too early to speak of the close of the season, it is pretty plain that the coming winter will be a generally dull one,«nd more miners than has been the rule will hibernate for some time, and in some cases it may bo difficult to predict when thoy will be revivified Upper Shotovcr. Under this heading will be treated in the future all that part of the Shotover Valley extending from Deep Creek to the branches, both inclusive, and comprising Skippers, Pleasant and Stony creeks, and other tributaries of the Shotoyer. This will prevent splitting up these articles under too many headings. The Maori Point Reef too has resumed work on the tribute system, and the mill has been set going again. It is to be hoped that the result of the crushings will be much more satisfactory than has hitherto been the case. There has been a change effected in the supervision of the mines in this district held by Melbourne men. Mr Miller, a Victorian certificated mining enginer, ha 3 superseded Mr T. G. Pearce, who has betaken himself to the African Cape goldfields. The change seems to give general satisfaction here as well as in Melbourne. Messrs Robert Neil, M'Shane, and party, it would seem, are about making a start with their river claim, extending from Deep creek to Maori point. Preliminary surveys aud measurements have now been niado, aud it is supposed that work will be begun at once, as the time for building protective works iv our rivers is approaching. For the next sis months or so they will be at their lowest, that is, if the comiug winter be uot a .mild one. The claim is to be worked by a, new dredging machine, invented and patented by Mr Andrew M'Shane, of Saddle Hill, near Dunedin, and the company is to be called after tho machine — the Atmospheric Company — which also explains the principle of the machine. The dredger is to be mounted upon pontoons, and resembles Wellman's dredger In some of its points, Mr M'ghane estimates that }t will be

able to raise and treat 1400 tons of stuff in the day of 24 hours. Water power is to be used as the prime motor, and the power available is calculated to be equal to 100-horße power. Many advantages are claimed for the new invention. Other parties also are turning their attention to river workings ; so that there is likely to be a revival of this kind of mining, which has been totally neglected for many years past. Itlacetonn. The Sunrise party, Advance Peak, are raising some very promising stone, which in appearance resembles that obtained from the most permanent mines in the district. Mr W. Fox continues to do exceedingly well on his high level claim at Bush creek. The gold is found in regular runs, and is not merely patchy, as it has been described, but, strange to say, the discovery has so far led to but little prospecting. Mr Fox, it is reported, bagged as much as soz of nuggetty gold the other week. Lake Wakatipn, Mr M'Donald and party are doing very well in their new spec at the Twelve-mile creek, and have a long spell of work before them. Their success has given a mild impetus to mining in the streams falling into the lake from the Richardson mountains (east shore of the lake). The Invincible Company has come to arrangements with Messrs John Jones, Griffiths, and party to let their mine on tribute for a terra of three years. The tributers are experienced miners, and should make a good thing out of the spec.