Notes from Nenthorn.

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

Notes from Nenthorn.

Mr D. M. Spedding, who returned from Nenthorn at the end of last week, states tbat Mr Wicks has got the Croesus battery and water race in thorough repair. The battery has been working splendidly for the last 10 days, putting through stone for the Crcesus mine. A wash-up took place on Thursday, resulting iv a return of about 60oz retorted gold. The battery is now under engagement to start crushing (50 or 70 tons of stone from the Surprise mine. The stone is being carted to the battery and is spoken very highly of as to quality. Good results arc fully anticipated. Several other parcels of quartz are being taken out from various claims on the field to be crushed and treated as soon as the Surprise stone has been put through. The batteiy is capable of putting through fully 70 tons weekly, and as the charge for crushing is low there is* now every inducement for prospectors to take out stone, which can easily be had in every direction for miles around. The great difficulty in the past has been the uncertainty, or almost impissibility, of getting quartz crushed after being brought to grass The Bonanza s putting on extra hands, and are taking out very promising stone The Jacob aud Daddy mines have also been taken up again and are being tested. The Eureka struck the old No. 2 eight days ago about 180 ft from the main shaft, but was immediately fiooded out by an inbreak of water. Since then all labour has been employed in reducing the water, and it is expected that by Monday next everything will be in readiness for raising stone. At present five hands arc employed, but three more are engaged to start work to-day. The weather during the last few days has been very cold, with heavy showers of rain and snow. This has kept mining matters back somewhat, as the ground is very sloppy and cartage difficult. With abundance of water in this district and ci ushing certain and cheap, there is a good opening for parties of persevering men— not men who will go from place to place aud try a few shovelfuls here aud there, but who will settle down to work and are willing that if at first they don't succeed to try again. There is every chance of their ultimately coining across stone that will pay them very well for any early disappointment.

ZEEIIAN.

A correspondent of the Southland Times writes : " There is not much new in mining. Everything connected with it continues at a very low ebb. Shares in the Silver Queen mine, which 12 months ago were worth L 9 12s, are now down to 9d ; Sylvesters, that were 12s, are now dow nto lid. I happen to know that several shares in

this mine are held in Invercargill, and I am sorry to say the prospects are not bright, notwithstanding the reported find some months ago of ore assaying 3000oz to the ton. The manager's report, dated 30th ult., simply states what has been done during the last half-year, but not a word of encouragement as regards the future. The Silver Bell S.M. Company, which has been highly spoken of, is defunct, and efforts are being made to form a new company, but the proposals in this direction are being strongly objected to by a number of the old shareholders. The lot of the working miner on this field at present is not a happy one. What with levies made upon them in support of the Broken Hill strikers as well as the local ones, coupled with tho fact that many companies are several weeks in arrears with wages, makes it quite hard enough for many of us to live. So much for the 'no liability' system in force here. These penurious or bankrupt companies keep stringing their men on from week to week until they, finding they arc being worked upon, refuse to do any more work until their arrears of wages are paid. I fear if this sort of thing goc3 on much lopcer many of the butchers, bakers, and grocers will have a sorry tale to tell. Already bankruptcies are much in evidence, and although the field is as yet very young, it is quite common to see men trading their wages orders and offering them for considerably less than the sum they represent. Unfortunately, a good many of them are not considered worth the paper they are written on."