Mining at Roxburgh and Ophir.

Otago Witness, Issue 972, 5 September 1889, Page 12

Mining at Roxburgh and Ophir.

A correspondent who has just returned from a visit to Hoxburgh and Ophir has kindly supplied the following notes : — The Hercules Company a»e now under full swing, putting through between 70 and 80 tons per hour. The Btuff they are at present working paid, well by the o'd system of trucking with horses, so that the shareholders may look for something good considering there is about 20 times the amount of stuff goiDg through the boxes with about half the expense. 1 hear another company is about to be floated, and Commissioner's Flat is to be worked under the same system. 1 his claim is looked upon as being an exceptionally good property; the chief difficulty is to get a good supply of water on to the ground. This beinj; rather an expensive item for a private party, the holders intend putting the claim on the market for public subscription. A good number of snares will be taken up locally, and from what I know of the ground the speculation ehould furnish a good return to investors

Green's reef and seam workings are situated close to the township of Ophir. The present shaft is about 20ft deep, at the bottom of which the reef Is about sft wide. A piece of stone which we crushed with a hammer and panned off in a dish went at the rate of sjoz to the ton. That of course does not mean that the reef would crush at that rate. Higher up the hill again another party have struck the same reef. Their shaft is about 20ft deep, the reef showing at the bottom about 14ft wide. One of our party had been fortunate enough to buy in an eighth share for £27 about a monf h previously, for which he was offered £150. I have heard since that £500 had been refused for an eighth share in the company's property. We took several prospects from the claim, all of which were very satisfactory. Another party have got the reef higher up the hill again, from which we obtained good prospects. It is also reported that the reef has been struck on the opposite side of the hill again. In fact the reef is reported to be almost one mass of quartz, from which gopd prospects can be obtained almost anywhere it is tried. A private party are making good wages by crushing the quartz with hammers and running it through a sluice. With proper appliances, I do not see why this property should not return very handsome dividends to investors.