THE AMALGAMATED DEEP LEAD GOLD MINING COMPANY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1957, 27 August 1891, Page 14

THE AMALGAMATED DEEP LEAD GOLD MINING COMPANY.

TO THE EDITOE

Sib, — What has become of the management of tbe Amalgamated Deep Lead Gold Mining

Teviot creek, and by the appearance of the wash I do not think it will warrant me going any further just now. I now intend to work right up the centre of the run, whiob, in my opinion, will give muoh better returns. The washdlrt in No. 1 paddook it very much improving in appearance, where you saw the prospect taken from ; In faot, I have never seen a heavier and better looking wash sinoe I have been in the district, apparently making right in the Flat. It is tbe opinion of everyone who has seen it that if we are not on good gold we are not far off it. Mr Fostlethwalte arrived here on Monday evening and comxnenoed to erect the light on Tuesday, whioh I believe will be completed by Monday evening. I may state that I believe Mr Postlethwaite thoroughly understands his business, and that he will give us a light that will give every satisfaction. This we are very badly in -want of as one night last week the boxes blooked, and before the man In charge had

MISCELLANEOUS.

At a meeting held at Zeehan, Tasmania, on the Ist inst., Mr Cufcten, late of the Otago School of Mines, gave those present information with regard to a school of mines. It was agreed that the establishment of a school of mines or technical school giving facilities for study of mineralogy, geology, and blowpipe assaying was very much needed. After further diaoussion, a large number handed ia their names as members.

Mr J. Gow, mining inspector for Otago, has been instructed on his next visit to Nasebv to report on the subject of constructing a reservoir for the purpose of increasing the present water supply for the Nasebyaod surrounding disfcriots, " and upon the feasibility or otherwise of obtaining an artesian supply. Our (Tuapeka Times) reporter made a personal Inspection of the Boxburgh Amalgamated Company's workings at the beginning of the week, and was very favourably impressed with everything he saw. Two elevators, known as No. 1 and No. 2, ware running at the claim, both working very smoothly and getting through a lot of stuff. The depth of the dirt varies from 7ft to 12ft, lying on a rook bottom, and giving all the usual indications of the preoious metal. At the same time it also carries a plentiful stock of boulders which, as a matter of course, very much increases the expense of working the ground. Tbe stones have all to be removed by hand, which must have the effect of considerably retarding the work. The No. 2 elevator is working into the terrace at the east end of the company'! ground, and has at present a good face of wash to work on down to a depth of 25ft, and resting on a false bottom. This wash is not quite so expensive to deal with on account of the comparative absence of so many large stones. For ten days' work of No. 2 elevator the yield of gold amounted to 590z 3dwt ; while the value of the gold from both elevators in that time totalled the respeotable sum of £473 17s 3d. Shonld this continue, and from all appearances ■it is very likely to do so, the property will become a most valuable one, and shareholders will have reason to congratulate themselves on their good fortune. The plant and material of all kinds on the ground are of flrst-olass quality ; and te make things still more perfect and taoilitote operations, it is intended in a little time to light the workings up with electrioity by night. The length of each run of boxes is 216ffc,'and the number of men employed by the company at present is 25. The labour entailed turning back the stones is said to be enormous; and were it not for this drawbaok, the value of the property would be muoh enhanced. But possibly enough if there wasn't this to complain of there would be something that would interfere still more seriously with the circulation of the dividends. The general impression among those who know the claim well is that the shareholders have got a real good thing on hand, and may safely calculate, as the near future will prove, on being the possessors of a valuable property. In their manager, Mr W. Peters, they have a thoroughly competent man who takes a real live interest in the work, and may be relied on to watch oarefally over the fortunes of his employers. The new pump for the Waipapa dredge will arrive next week, and Mr Welman proceeded to Fortrose on Wednesday in order to arrange for its " fixing and for the resumption of work. Excellent returns were got from this claim even with primitive appliances, and no doubt improved results will follow improved facilities for raising the sand and extracting from it the fine gold known to exist la large quantities.— Mataura Ensign. Before the recent break in the weather the Livingstone correspondent of the North Otago Times wrote : — " Among miners, as well as others, the, one engrossing topic of conversation is the weather. This is not in the least to be wondered at when we consider that the miner as well as the farmer depends on the rainfall to a large extent as a means of living. During tho past winter the severe frost prevailing caused mining to be ai; a standstill. The water in the races was frozen to that it would not flow. Not only has King Frost been working against mining, but the severe. and lengthened duration of the dry weather is telling terribly on the finances of the miner*. With warm spring weather wa will look for more prosperous times. Several races are now running full, and work In some instances is going on merrily, and that, tco, with good results. I hear that a party of two ia the Eureka Gully, adjacent to Livingstone, is making an ounoe a day a man. Another party adjoining this one are turning out lldwb a day a man. I also hear that others are doing well. There can be no two opinions regarding the fact that the continued prosperity of Maerewhenua depends on a permanent water supply, and the opening up of new auriferous ground. The water supply will follow the favourable consideration by the Minister of Mines of the petition lately forwarded to him praying for the opening of the Oamaru Municipal Council and Hospital endowments for mining. It has been amply proved that these endowments are auriferous, and being so, there should be no bar allowed to interfere with their legitimate and free occupation by miners. In the matter of these reserves the miners are decidedly in earnest, as by far the greater part of the auriferous ground commanded by the present water raoes is worked out, consequently they must either work old ground that will not pay wages, or they must be permitted to occupy ground that will pay for working." The Cromwell correspondent of the Lake County Press writes on the 18th :— " The river Is lower now than has ever been known by the oldest resident and gives good facilities for beach working. A couple of Europeans tried a piece of ground, and for two hours' cradling got £6 12s worth of gold. Next day, hardly getting a colour, they abandoned their claim, which some Chinese at once set Into, and have since been getting 2oz per day. The same two found an anchor with 40ft of chain attached. It must have been lost by those early-day dredgers Schultz or Siedeberg. The county ought to raise some revenue for miners' rights from the many at work on the beaches. It might be worth the while of the authorities to see that all mining have licenses." The Alexandra correspondent of the Dunstan Times writes :— " The Molyneux Hydraulio'.Company have got tbe water through the race, and it will carry an ample supply of water for all purposes.

The directori are waiting for Mr Swing's report before arranging for the supply of pipes.— The Mcl- ,. bourne Company are puihing on the construction of their punti. The frames are nearly completed, and they »hould be ready for launching in the course of . two or three weeks." Mr John Pryde hat sent to the Gromwdl Argus a»iay report! from Melbourne of twa samples (2}owt ; each) of antimony from the Oarriok Bange and Alexandra. The former sample assayed 45 per oent. metallic antimony with no gold or silver; the latter 35 per cent, metafllo antimony ; gold. I9d wt 14gr per ton ; silver, nil. As the Alexandra reef is a wide one • It should, if it oarries the same quantity of gold between wall and wall, be highly remunerative on aooount of the gold lb contains, altogether irrespective of the antimony. The Bound HIU Syndicate have reoelved the first instalment of pipes for the working of their special olalm— 2oo pipes each 20ft in length, and of 13in bora, welshing 25 tons in all, having passed through this week. These were manufactured by Messrs Sparrow : and Co , Dunedin, from steel plates imported by the syndicate. They are hydraulic rivetted. The channel for the reception of tbe pipes is already out, so that but little time will elapse ere the hydraulic work oommenaes.—Western Star. • Tbe secretary of the Dunedin Gold Dredging Company (Limited) reoelved the following telegram from the dredgemaster on Saturday:— "Dredging five days for HOoz gold." ooaia t Mr Hiooll, the manager of the Hercules Ho. 2 Gold Mining Company (Limited), telegraphs that he washed up with the remit of 86oz of gold for 9 days 18 hours' sluicing ; value, £331 it. The Upper Waiporl Alluvial Gold Dredging Company (Limited) obtained 21oz lOdwb of gold for five days six hours' dredging laifc week. The secretary of the Sandhills Company reports ' I4oz of gold for last week's dredging. Mr Oallender, seoretary of the Sew Hoy Big Beach Gold Mining Company (Limited) has received a telegram intimating that llOoz 16dwt retorted gold has been lodged for the week's work of two dredges. . The third dredge w»s not at work last week. The new rush to Mount Beetbam, Crown Terrace (says the Wakatip Mail), is progressing. A great many shafts have bottomed, and others are being •unk. Several have struck payable gold, we are led to believe. The run of gold appears to be the continuation of a channel from the old Hew uhum Gully. The sinking is about 35ffc, but the waahdlrt 'Is not very thick in places. Some olaimt ■ will be In £ position to shiioe directly water is available. Walker c and M'Whlrter have brought their water race on the around. There is a large area of ground untried in the neighbourhood, but most of it is private land, . belonging to Mr W. Paterson, who offers very liberal . terms to the miners. . ' We (Inangahua Herald) learn on gooc authority tMt dredging ■* the White Cliffs Is now proceeding uninterruptedly. The utmost retioenee is observed " as to what gold is being obtained, but there is good reason to believe that operations so *« been • attended with very f wourable results. The MataWtaki dredge is not yet launohed owieg to the low •tate of the river, and it will have to remain high and dry nntil a flood comes. This is all the more to be regretted at the dredge is quite ready for work. Astarbhai been made to pub the Alexandra Company's dredge together, and it will be ready for work In above 10 weel»" time. .