Invincible Quartz Mine.

Otago Witness, Issue 1897, 12 June 1890, Page 14

Invincible Quartz Mine.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Referring to the local which appeared in your issue of 29th May in respect of the pale of the Invincible mine, you do not give the full reason why the contributing shareholders refuse to supply the funds for further carrying on this mine, which is this : That while providing the whole of the means, they only receive one-third of the profits, the dividend on paid-up and contributing shares being the same. — I am, &c, Contributing Shareholder. Queeustown, June 2. Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our own Correspondent.) Akrimv, June 9. The Gallant Tip is keeping the mill going con Btnntly, though during the past fortnight some d.iya weie lost in repairing the nice, owing to the rather heavy shower of lust week. 'Iho quantity put through is therefore nomewhat le s than usual, beini; 80 tons, yielding 920z ot amalgam off the platus mid blanket,* only. Tho Phoenix Mine continues to be well spoken of, though nothing delinite as to the nature of the stone h b transpired beyond the inhumation that Mr Pred Evans, the manager, intends to exhibit some of it nt the forthcoming London Mining Kxhibitio .. Dredging matters, except at the Upper and Lower Shotover, eeem to bo In a comatose »t<ite. Amongst the rumours about the hfMira <.f the Wakatipu dredge is one that the conce. n is likely to be dragged into the law courts. This v, ould certaiuly be a queer way of making the dredge pay dividends except to the lawyere. Far better for the shareholders to spend the money upon the dredge directly, aud provide the power required to work the Kawarau During the past week or so directors and experts, amongst the latter of whom was Oaptaln Q-o!d!ng, of the Dunedin harbour dredge, have be,-n np lonkiog nt the local dredge, but, all to uo avail. After (In; efforts made to wo k tho dredge <tnd the experience gained, the directori and 6hareho)deri miy now rest assured that there is no other remedy bu f . yen ni'ioh luereaseii steam power, for whereaa the dreiJge has now to lift the stuff, aay 10ft or 12ft in the spring, for tlie greater part of the year it will have to lift double that distance. Notes from Bald Hill Flat. (From Our Own Cokruspondknt.; Junk 9. —Mr Eckberg ia loaiug no time in pushing ahead with the construction of t ( ie race whicti ii to convey water to thn -.'aid Hill. This hill has been for some years the theme of considerable ngitatioa and talk among 6orne of the miners who have roeiiied here for a great number of years. However, the party who have undertaken to work it are highly satisfied with their prospeots, and as work is being

vigorously gone on with its true value should not long remain a matter of doubt. Unfortunately the manager of White's reoeived word last week to dote up the mine, all hands being knocked off. This will be a great blow to the district, for although there has not been a great number of hands employed for some time atlll it added materially to the life of the place. There is still a possibility, however, of this reef getting another trial at some future date, for although the present shareholder* have not for some time back had any encouragement to go on prospecting, it does not go to say that the mine is completely exhausted, for it is well kuowu that good atone was left underfoot which, 'however, will require a good deal of outlay before it cau be worked to advantage. The range is, generally speaking, pretty well deserted. However, the froit has broken up again, and the weather we are now enjoying is limply •plendld, bo that we are likely to get some sluicing weather during the winter months. The Excelsior still keeps up her reputation as a gold-producing claim, over £300 worth of gold being taken from this lease in about Beven weeks by two men, and there ia every probability that there will be much more next season. This Is a quartz olaim, the quartz being of so friable a nature that it oan be crushed to powder between the fingers, the gold 1b also bo fine that considerable difficulty is experienced in the saving of it, and it is averred by the owners that at least one-third of it is lost. Although it is a simple matter to write or speak of saving flue gold, in the olais of ground spoken of it Is a matter of sheer impossibility to cave all the finer particles. Iv fact, in the vicinity of White's leef, wherd countless leaders have been sluiced, It is well known that there has been far more gold tluiced away than haß beeu saved, foseickers in some cases having made a good living several miles from the workings proper by Bluioing the old debris over and over again. The best gold caving apparatus yet used in this particular looality is scrub and grass, the scrub in particular always keeping lively, this being a matter of considerable moment iv allowing the gold to settle The grass, however, requires a good deal of attention, as after the sand and dirty water rune over it for a day or two, it becomes baked and requires renewing. I notice that Mr Mouat's letter, published some time ago, has met with the scathing which it surely merited, for, leaving Waipori out of the question, his remarks anent the Wetherstones aud Tuapeka Flats are, to aay the least, misleading in the extreme, both the flats in question being worked clean out of a face almost from end to end, and from side to side. Probably, however, there may have been leads of gold somewhat richer than the average ground running through the flats. Wages, however, at the time that Mr Mouat rocked his cradle were considerably higher than they are at present ; and ground which has paid fair wages since may at that time have been considered v.orthless. Probably this may have beun the foundation on which he based his remarks. Before writing as he did, however, he should have troubled himself to find out the truth of his statement. My experience of ilats is that gold is generally BCifttered, and although there are often rich* r leads, still it does not always follow that payable jjold is ouly found on the lead. Bald Hill Flat for instance, an area of several hundreds of aores in extent, has gold scattered over it from end to end, aud would be payable for any improved method of working. Work on the river is almost at a standstill owing to the water having risen a good many feet during the last week or two. Some of tbe miners are trying to organise a party to place a nmall dredge on tbe the river at the Nine-mile Beach. As this has been one of the richest spots on the Molyneux, It is surprising that something has not beeu done iv this direction long ago < but as the ground is of a rocky and bouldery nature there is a probability of there being a difbculty iv dredging it. Notes from Nenthorn. The following Items are abridged from the Nenthorn Recorder : — On all Bides, this week, we hear of a deoided improvement in the prospects of the field, and there is more actual work beiug done on many of the olaims than has ever been before. It seems as if claimholders had made up their miuds to the fact that now the outside capital, which had been keeping the field going previously is exhausted, they must get out atone and have it arushed. Croesus. — The stone in the 100 ft level is now being put in the paddock. It is steadily improving as it is beiug driven upon. The Binking of the winze to conneot with the 100 ft level is producing some good stone in whioh gold is seen f reely. Shareholders are not willing to part at late quotations and are asking an advance oi 3d. Jacobs — Forty tons are being crushed at the Croesus battery, and the plates indioate tbat the return will be good. Break-o'-Oay.— Rich atone is reported to have been struck, quite equal to the best yet turned out on the field. Gladstone.— Some 40 tons are at grass to be shortly crushed. The mine has been let on tribute. Surprise.— Stoping stone of good quality is being carried on, and a start at crushing will be made this week. Prospectors.— The tributers are reported to be gettiug nice stone in the drive on No. 2 reef. Blue Slate.— Work has been stopped, the capital being exhausted. This company has spent between £3000 and £4000, and has crushed 600 tons of stone, which has averaged Bdwt, but owing to the haulage and smallness of the reef in places have not been able to make it pay. The public battery will start crushing on Monday. Some tour or five tons from the tributers of the Homeward Bound will be first operated upou, and then 40 tons from the Surprise olaim.