(From Our Own Correspondent.

Otago Witness, Issue 1928, 2 November 1888, Page 12

(From Our Own Correspondent.

Arrow, October 29. TJPPEH SHOTOVER. Ib iB reported thab Messrs Davis Bros, are obtain* ing highly satisfactory results from their washing up, and though nothing as to the nctual amount liited has transpired, there is teason to- believe that the quantity of gold taken out of the tail race so far promises a return that will rank with the most successful washings-up upon record in Otago. Ib will take till Christmas to clean up all the ground stripped. Messrs Sorenson and Henderson, who have taken up the ground of the old Otago Company at Pleasant Creek terrace, are also meeting with almost sensational success. If I mistake not the ground now being worked was part of the Big Terrace Gold Mining Company which created so much excitement and eonbroversy about eight years ago, and ended in one of the most miserable fiscoes, causing widespread disappointment. Another illustration of company mongering. Mr J. Aepinaii, Mr Robert Johnson, and several other sluicing parties are reported to bo on very good paying ground. The prospects in the Phamix mine are improving, and atone ot first-class quality is now being raised. The Londonderry bluicing Company are making good progress wibh their different works. MACETOWN. The Premier Company have now nearly everything ready for making a starb with crushing. Ai there are upwards of 300 tons of quarbz ab grass and a good supply in sight in the mine, the mill will be fully occupied so long" as the water lasts, which ii likely to hold out till frost sets in again. The Tipperary Company are now applying for a special claim, of 70 acres preparatory to the driving of an expensive drainage tunnel, so that the last has not yet been heard of the Tipperary. The Sunrise Company lias nob yet been able to make a start with work in the mine on account" ol the depth of snow upon Advance Peak, where tha mine is situated. - ARROW RIVER. The Arrow Falls Company's contractors are Rbout to open the tunnel, all the outside and preliminary work being nearlyflnished. This spec, which is la the hands of a Melbourne Company, ranks as one of bhe mosb expansive now in progress in this district. Generally speaking mining in this part of the district is at' a very low ebb, there being only one party, Messrs Shehan and Presbon, on gold «t present. THE DART VALLEY. Ib is to be feared that bhe prospect of the Dart turning up trumps by ranking as a paying gold district is indefinitely postponed. The European prospectors have now all returned, and do notbr any means speak hopefully of the locality. AJ I have already upon more occasions than one stafcedi the parties which engaged in the work of prospect ing were singularly weli fitted for the work, and it may be stated bhab the valley has never been more systematically or more energetically tried than by tbe last-returned party of prospectors. Gold w«| found on nearly all the beaches, bub 1!; is so fine and scarce as not to pay for working. The aide streami and branches all head from glaciers, and are filled with immense blocks of rocks, the number of which is being constantly Increased by new additions, so bhab these creeks cannot be worked unbil they art cleared of their presenb incumbrances. All the gold got by the prospectors during a tour of nearly three raonthß' duration, amounts to about l?oz, and onfortunately in no case were they able to reich m main bottom, the false bottom only having wen tried so far. The Chinese party, seven in number. h<we been in the valley for six months, and the tow quanbiby obtained by them Is said to be £65 wortn. all proving thab there is gold in the valley, if ooij in small quantities. Monnt Benger Mining Notes. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) Roxburgh. October % The dredge industry is going' ahead just no*. three dredges having lately come here from A|e**?-dra-makiig eighb vow working on the river m in» district. There was- considerable excitement nereo« the 24th and ;25th inst. in 'tbe Warden's Coun. mainly over Mr Pyke's application for a large \<m ab the Dismal Swamp. The mabter ii ay be put » ? nutshell . Mr Pyke seeks to be allowed to Java M» the whole of the supply from the Dismal Swamp >«/ pnbting an embankment; across the gully-a *« estimated to cost some £1200. The majority* uw local miners oppose the applicabion on the grw^ , bhafc Mr Pyke would bhereby secure a monopoly the water" avoilable, and that their present t»* would then be so' much dead capital. Wt ■ n replifij that, on the contrary, be is bound ' ot w terfere with exi«tiDg rights. But it seems that .ma the Mining Act the possessor of a dam can (lea 1 1*^ the water coming out of it as absolutely as n» with the coat on his back, and bhab consequent^ could dictate h» own terms to bhe men *t a/ *Z?ffa East. Again, he and his agenbs are »PP Wg °U« acres of the reserve, bo thab here also he JJ» v'u '° deter . the whip hand. Naturally he has met witli sue mined opposition. Tbe objectors empß**, Denniston, of Dunedin, and several heated pajw at arms took place batween him and the iw rf which greatly enlivened the usual *»» "Turing judicial business. Of cou.se each side > had in j» points to urge, and the matter remains in aoej fi next court day. The question U An {gjgj 011 to b9.suomifcted to the Minister at Wellington^ • The Hercules Company .appliedforalargew^ •of extra water supply, but the i «^ i J5i«. amount eioeesive, and only ***£, ">*£. tb* This company will soon have their plant w

ground, and we ought' to hear whether or not it will be a paying concern. A large claim of 30 acres at Roxburgh Ea6t was also applied for by Mr John White, of Pomahaka, •ffho proved a tough aubjeot in the witness box. His application ie, however, adjourned for survey.

Reefton Mining Notes. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) Reefton, October 25. Kcep-it-Dark.— Tho crushing looks well for a booming cleaning up at the end of the current week, when it is expected tho returns will approach closely to 800oz of amalgam. In view of this improvement the shares have been very active to-day, and quotations now stand at 41s 6d, being a rise of about 2s since Friday last ff cek. October 28. The following are the battery returns for the past week :— Keep-it-Dark (monthly cleaning), 9020z amalgam from 185 tons ; Globe (monthly cleaning up), 4040z amalgam from 190 tons; Fiery Cross Extended, 1440z amalgam from 80 tons ; Nil Desperandum, 2270z amalgam for the week; Venus Extended, 1630z amalgam for four aud a-half days' crushing ; luglewood Extended, 450z amalgam from 95 tons. Keep-it-Dark. — The prediction of a booming return has been verified, and the result of today's scraping up is the heaviest for years. The directors meet on Monday to declare the usual dividend, which will not; bo less than Is 6d per share, while some shareholders are hopeful of 2s. October 30. Keep-it-Dark.— A dividend of la 6d was declared last night. MOUNT HYDE MINING COMPANY. (From Our Hindon Correspondent.) An order to temporarily suspend operations in connection with this company was received with something akin to dismay by the large number of men employed. About 50 men will be thrown out of work, which is a serious matter in view of the dearth of employment at present. The company, I am told, are about to sink two shafts 10ft by sft to a depth of 500 ft. This will certainly prove the value of our quartz lodes. I have not heard tho reason of the stoppage of operations. The greater part of the machinery, including a 42 horse-power engine, is on the ground, and the boilers are fixed. The elevation of Hindon renders it a matter of great difficulty to obtain an efficient supply of water. There can be no doubt that there is plenty of gold obtainable were this drawback surmounted, but this can only he done by capping tho Deep Stream, which would entail an expenditure of from £10,000 to £15,000.