MISCELLANEOUS

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

MISCELLANEOUS

There appears to be an improvement inminiDg matters at the Thames goldfields, and in consequence mining speculation on the Auckland Mining Exchange is much brisker. Theoutlockis decidedly more hopeful, owing to the increased yield of gold in some of the mines. In the Upper Thames some of the mines at Waihi, notably the Waihi Gold and Silver Mining Company, are doing well, the company getting L 3940 worth of gold from 1500 tons of ore. During the past month the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand alone has purchased gold on the various goldfields on the Thames Peninsula to the extent of 74500z, which speaks well for the industry of tho miners and the auriferous resources of that tract of country. — Own correspondent.

An independent mining association has been formed at Alexandra with Mr Forrest as secretary. The annual subscription is 2s o'd, and the abscciation commences with 21 members.

The freeholders at Lauder and Tiger Hill have lodged a protest against the miners at Tinkero depositing tailings from their claims into the Tinkers Sludge Channel at the north end of block 111 without making sufficient provision for keeping the tailings where deposited.

We (Tuapeka Times) understand that Mr David Weir, manager of the Island Block Extended Gold Mining Company's claim, has decided on severing his connection with the company, and towaida that end has forwarded his resignation to the directors. He is leaving at the end of the present month, or as soon after as possible, and intends going into a mining spec, at Waikaia. which promises to turn out a most successful undertaking. Mr Weir has now been in charge of the Extended Company's property for about two years, and during that period he has given repeated proofs of his ability as a practical miner v.ad has leuuered signal and valuable service to

his employers in his unusually successful treatment and development of their property. At the time of Mr Weir's .appointment everything depended on the management of the mine ; and had it fallen into less experienced as well as less conscientious and energetic hands, it is hard to say what turn the fortunes of the property might have taken. But Mr Weir amply justified the confidence of the directors, and in the face of many difficulties and much uphill work, sufficiently depressing at times to daunt a man of less resource and weaker fibre, he has succeeded in overcoming every obstacle, and in bringing the property to a point of development as gratifying and creditable to himself as it must be proft table to nil interested in its success. Needless to say, under such circumstances, that Mr Weir leaves much to tho regret of the directors and shareholders, by whom, it is satisfactory to chronicle, in these ungrateful days, his services and his character arc understood and gratefully appreciated.

The Orepuki correspondent of the Southland Times writing an the llth inst., reports as follows : — "A public mooting was held here th evening to take into consideration Clause 3 of the new Mining Bill, a copy of which has already appeared in the Southland Times. Mr Cassels occupied the chair, and after reading the clause and a telegram from the member for Wallace, asked the meeting to consider the matter and ascertain how that clause would effect mining in this district. I may mention that a copy of tho clause wns sent to Mr Port, of llivcrton, by Mr Girdon, of the Mines Department, asking for any suggestion that might occur to the miners of tho district, on the cl-iuse, and to forward same to the Minibter for Mines, not later than the llth inst. Several miners spoke on the subject, and all concurred in saying that the passing into law of Clause 3 would simply put an end to mining in Orepuki ; the principal reason being that the races, which have been constructed at preat cost, were never meant to carry sludge or tailings, but had fall for clean water only, and as all waterright holders were compelled to use dams, without which the water would be too light, these dams would in a short time become useless by being filled up with debrti from other claims. It was eventually resolved to adopt the same resolutions as those forwarded by the Round Hill Mining Association which read as follows '-^iX) That the Mining Bill be dropped for this session to enable all mining communities to fully consider the matter. (2) To appoint a Royal Commission to report on the injurious effect the bill would have in the majority of cases, and (3) if the Government persist in passing the bill with the obnoxious clause, that the said clause be made nonretrospectivc. It was resolved that the Minister for Mines be wired to, informing him that the suggestions already before him from the Rpund Hill have been endorsed by an influential meeting of miners at Orepuki. A vote of thanks to Mr Port for -the trouble he had taken to bring the matter before the Orepuki miners, and a similar compliment to the chairman brought tho meeting to a close." The manager of the Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company reports for the week ending August 20 :— " Both elevators have been working full time all tho week, only stopping

MB— m^l^»M»!«««i»Mi«i«»i.i.mii.ii.. for necet>sary repairs. No. 1 elevator worked 122 hours, No. 2 138 hours."

The manager of the Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company reports for the week ending August 13 as follows :— " No. 1 elevator has been working all the weok, only stopping for the usual repairs. After working dpwn No. 2 run of boxes I started to remove the paddock lift closer up to the face, wh eh I got completed by Thursday, and started sluicing as usual. I kept stripping with the spare water Tuesday and Wednesday. I do not consider it wise to wadh, down No. 1 run of boxes before the end of the month, as I have only the top layers of wash through yet. I shall wash |both runs down then. Washed down No. 2on Monday; 61oz ldwt 18^r for 263 hours." The Dunbtin Times reports :— " The old Ophir Company's batteiy, now owned by Mr Gallagher, is likely to bo soon in work again. A party ha 3 been formed to work Ryan's reef, wh:ch has always been supposed to contain payable stone. Tho battery is to be driven by steam, Mr Harrington's engine being employed, and whether the reef turns out well or not, it is at any rate likely to have a thorough trial if the party can only make .'lTrangcments to get water enough for the tables."

Work at Endeavour Inlet is once more proceeding, and the first shipment of antimony ore under the new proprietary arrived in Wellington last week. It consisted of 23 tons of first-class ore, w"bich will be shipped to England to be smelted. Messrs R. S. Sparrow & Co. are the successful tenderer* for th« alterations, in accordance with Mr W. H. Cutteti's designs, in the machinery of the Matakitaki Company's dredge.