Notes from Macraes.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 12

Notes from Macraes.

I Apbil 29.— Two miners are at present engßged in ! taking out quartz at the Maritaua claim near Deep [ Doll creek, and the prospects are said to be most encouraging. It is thought that the Golden Point Company will have their first general cleaning up to-morrow. The araouut already crushed i»ab,ut 200 tons, and the pates were looking remarkably well during last week's crushing. It is to be hoped that the yield will be satisfactory to the shareholders, for they certainly deserve to be repaid for their energy and enterprise. A deal of prospecting is to be done on the Golden Quarry Company's claim in the near future. The shareholders in this property intend opening up the mine to a considerable extent, in order to ascertain the true position of tlie lode and the best possible way to commence the general working of the mine. Ib is said that Mr P. Phelan, of Macraes, has purchased a five-head stamper battery, which he intends having erected on the Tip claim in a short time fr^m now. Alluvial mining is ab a standstill owing to the great scarcity of water to sluice with, and judging by present atmospherical appearances it will be some time before a sufficient supply is available. How, when 60 much is dono by capitalists to procure an extent of pa-< able amiferous country for sluicing purposes, ib ib strange that no attempt !b made to do Bornething with the extensive alluvial deposits in Horie Flnt. There ate hundreds of acres of payable auriferous country in tho vicinity of Horse Plat, and the nature of the deposit is such as to warrant the belief bhat- it would not be a difficult matter to treat it by means of hydraulic sluicing. It is possible to procure a permanent supply oi water from the Shag rher.butthe cost of constructing a water race v. ould be considerable. However, tho extent of ground available for sluicing purposes, and the auriferous nature of tho deposit should justify the expenditure of capital. To some such venture as thlß Kngliah capitalists should turn their attention instead of putting capital into old worked out

mines, from whioh it is scarcely reasonable to expect fair interest on the expenditure.