Notes from Nenthorn. (By Our Special Reporter.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 12

Notes from Nenthorn. (By Our Special Reporter.)

Nenthorn, September 17.

The Victoria Company.— Mr A. Cameron reports that the shaft is now down 34ft, of which 16f'c follow the reef in its underlie. When first struck the reef was 18in wide, and haa oow iu-~ creased to over 2ft, measuring fully 2ft 4in in the bottom of the hhaffc. The stone is of a solid nature, and upon being crushed yields very fair prospects. The Prospectors' Company have suffered considerable loss trom a misadventure, to which new machines aro particularly subject. In some manner some i)f the oil found itsjway into the ] ba^in of the maohine, with the result that may easily be imagined by all who understand the action of grease upon the gold and the quicksilver. More unfortunate still, this state of affairs was not at once discovered, so that the loss cf gold must have been great before remedies to check it could be adopted. . The tables and silver have now been cleaned, and crushing has been resumed, and for the short time that the mill bag been going the tables

look very well indeed. This mishap is much to be regretted, as the company have gone to work in a very spirited manner, sparing no .outlay in the working of the mine and introducing new machinery for the treatment of quartz which is likely to prove sf much benefit to mining. A public crashing company has at last been projected, and there can be no doubt that such a company would meet with ample support, and such a machine must become very valuable property upon a field like' Nenthorn, where' there are a number of leaders which, if followed up, may prove very rich, and yefc are not extensive enough to warrant the erection of machinery for their exclusive use.'

The Justice and Mountain Bell shareholders are about tb consider the advisability of registering' under the Mining Companies Act, and tenders are called for sinking a shaft upon each of these properties.

The Eureka Company's contractors are making good headway with the shaft now sinking, and a depth of upwards of 20ft has been reashed. The ground is soft, and favourable to the existence of a good body of stone. The Zealandia Company held an extraordinary meeting on the 13th inst., at Malonoy'e Hotel. The appointments of Mr J. J. Ramsay -as legal,' and Mr J. .Oats as mine manager were confirmed. The mine manager's report showed that the last shaft sunk in No. 1 reef is now down 29ft, showing the reef to be 2ft 6in wide in the bottom of the shaft. In No. 2 reef the shaft is down 30ft, the width of stone being 2ft, carrying excellent gold throughout. Rules for the company's guidance were adopted, and the following gentlemen elected as directors : — Messrs D. Barton, F. Abelsted, J. Sinclair, L. Matheson, J. Cogan. A meeting of directors was held immediately afterwards, when Mr D. Barron was elected chairman, and Messrs F. Abelsted and J. Cogan advisers to the board of directors. It was also agreed to sink the shaft upon., No. 2 reef to a depth of 56ft and drive 50ft either bide of the shaft along the lode, and when the reef was thus opened out and proved to sink a main working shaft.

The Homeward Bound Company are down 12ft with their new shaft, from which a piece of stone weighing 9oz yielded llgrof gold upon being crushed, or at the rateof 91oz to the ton. A discovery of what appears to be antimony was also made in the 6ame, shaft. The specimen I saw certainly has some resemblance to antimony, and is, an exceedingly rich one.

The Eawarau Company are down 16ft, aud have a solid body of stone which has a very promising appearance. It is intended, I believe, to Bink the shaft to a depth of 60ft.

The Nenthorn Consolidated Company have appointed Mr J. Donald mine manager, and work has been commenced on the face abutting upon Deighton's Creek, where an adit ia to be driven upon the course of the lode. The Daddy Company are continuing sinking away, and good prospects are met with as the shaft goes down.. The Crcesus'* Company.— Although there is nothing fresh to report from this mine, an account of the field would not be complete without some mention of the work going on in it. Hands have been reduced to a minimum in the mine itself, as there is a superabundance of quartz at grass for the present crushing power at the command of the company, ' Tho contractors are now nearly 35ft down with the new shaft, and nearly all the machinery and material for the winding and pumping gear and poppet beads are now upon the ground. The battery has now been working about a month, and shareholders in the mine, as well as those interested in tho field generally, are beginning to feel anxious as to the result of the crushing, : especially as no return of the accumulation of 'amalgam has been made public, and to make matters worse, the intention of the directors when to clean np is kept secret if the matter is decided at all, thus surrounding the crushing with an air of mystery which gives rise to the most damaging reports. This state of things should not be allowed to continue, and it is trusted the hint will be taken in the spirit in which it is given.

Several patties are now trying to develop alluvial mining in some of the creeks, and though the colour is met with in many instances, nothing that may be called payable has 6O far been found.

(From Oub Own Cokbbspondkht.)

Nasbby. September 13.

The directors of the Nenthorn Consolidated Quartz Mining Company (Mr S J. Evans, manager) have appointed Mr James Donald as mine manager. He holds a certificate of competency from the Mines department, Wellington. The company will accept tenders for the construction of a water race next week, and also a main drive, giving about 150 ft of backs. With known good prospects and experienced management, this claim on being developed should prove one of the best properties on the Held. The public battery advertised in your columns is meeting with the approval of shareholders on the field and district, and a large number of shares have been applied for, and support promised. A public battery is a necessity, and will do more to develop the field and sustain a population than half a^dozen "private batteries.