Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 15

Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Arrow, August 20.— During the past week some mining reports concerning some of the most important mines in North Otago have found their way into publicity, and are worthy of notice from a public point of view. The first and most important of these is that referring to the Cromwell Company's mine at Bendigo Gully. It is made up of a number of reports by several mining engineers and experts, amongst which those of Professor Ulrich, of the Duueain School of Mines, and of Mr G. F. Hosking, the mine manager of the Cromwell Company, arc of the greatest importance. As, however, Professor Ulrich's report was written nearly 20 years ago, when the concern was in its, prime, it scarcely applies to the present conditions of the mine.

It appears that work at the mine has been suspended, pending a change in the manner of prosecuting prospecting operations, for which additional funds are required, the capital of the present company being exhausted — and Mr Hosking's leport, as well as some others bound up with it, lias been compiled with the object of placing different schemes before the directors and shareholders. Of all these reports, thatofMrHoskings is at once the most cxhaustiveand masterly, entitling it to the most serious consideration of the interested parties. The report is accompanied by plans showing ground or base plan, and several longitudinal and^transverse section's, making the woi kings and schemes of exploitation followed perfectly clear to any shareholder who will take the simple trouble of making himself familiar with them. Mr Hosking wisely reconimends the continuation of sinking the new main shaft, which was designed to reach a depth of 1000 ft, and upon which a very great amount of money has already been spent, to such a depth as would prove the lode, if it lives down, to warrant the erection of plant competent to deal with the sulphides the lode is known to contain, and without which plant the stone cannot be made to pay. It is clear that when the existence of the lode in depth has been ascertained and the necessary plant erected, very much improved returns may be looked for from the stone which has up to recently been treated by th« ordinary battery appliances, which are estimated to save only 50 per cent, of the gold. This statement, after all, does not mean much more or less than that the loss has been very great. If the company intends carrying on operations, the sinking of the shaft should under all circumstances be the first consideration, as it gives access, at levels that cannot be reached by any other mean-^, to about half a dozen lodes kuowri to contain payable stone. With regard to the proposed low level, it would be of only temporary use, and it is open to question whether it would be worth the cost of construction. People who have no practical knowledge of mining attach too iauch importance to

adits entered from the surface, and though for prospecting purposes they recommend themselves on account of economy, they aid very little in the permanent opening of mines. Besides we have the example of Victoria, where mines are worked by shafts to a depth of 2000 ft, and so low a j icld as sdwt per ton is made to pay dividends. The other report spoken of is by Mr Travenor, chairman of the Glenrock Company, London, and has reference to the Premier Mine, Macetown. It will bo remembered that about eight months ago Mr Travenor paid the mine a genuine surprise visit, in company with Mr G. Hall, the mining expert of the Glenrook Company, and made a thorough inspection, extending over a weok, of the company's property. His report is a very favourable one, recommending the continuation of the low level adit, and holding out no great hopes of any permanent success until the adit has tapped the lode from which the bulk of the payable stone the mine has j ielded has been obtained. It is most likely that Mr Travenor's visit, and the information it has yielded the company, will inspire the shareholders with renewed confidence. In the meantime the low level is being pushed ahead with all possible speed. Both reports spoken of convey clearly the general tardiness with which directors undertake extensive and expensive prospecting operations without which they cannot hope to make their ventures successful, and of which they could have obtained, at least approximately, the necessary amount of cost and the duration in time required for the completion of the work.