Mining in St. Bathans District.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 16

Mining in St. Bathans District.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The weather is all that could be desirod for the miners, giving a plentiful supply of water without causing any serious damage to head races. At Vinegar Hill Messrs Hughes and Morgan have finished their washing, and, I hear, with excellent results. Watson and party, whose claim adjoins that of Hughes and Morgan, have their gold in hand. A splendid washing was anticipated by this party, and this has been fully realised.

Mr Bwing, at Cambrians, is getting costly plant put upon his claim preparatory to future operations upon a sideling at the lower end of Welshman's Gully. In the St. Bathans basin, the M. and E. Company (Limited) have had a very satisfactory washing up. No doubt the result from the washing has ameliorated the affairs of the company. The same cannot be said of the St. Bathans Channel Company (Limited). Shareholders in this company have become dissatisfied at the system of management that haß existed in the past, and have gone in for a much-required reformation. But as this business now stands mb judice I refrain from making more than a passing remark, but I may on a* future occasion give a sketch how this company have carried on operations for a number of years Messrs Eagle and Gray, a party of two, holding an ordinary claim— or, I should say, an extraordinary claim, as the two gentlemen have been operating on the same ground for the past 30 years, and, to all appearance, operations may be carried on for a similar period, and it then not be worked out — have not peen able to -finish what they began — viz , washing-up — some two months back, through the copious supply of water. I may add that they are not grumbling at thair fate.

Mr Evving, in his Kildare claim, has been doing some stripping, preparatory to going deeper into the lead, which proves to be very rich as he goes down. This is also an extraordinary claim, being down to a depth of 300 ft from the surface, the wash being very rich from the grass down to the present level. Surface Hill. — Things are rather quiet on this part of the mines. The M. and E. Company (Limited) have just finished a washing with fair results. The St. Bathans Company (Limited), under the management of Mr H. Stewart, are busy putting in a deep cut to test virgin soil lately taken up by the company. It is the earnest wish and hope of many of their friends that the undertaking may be crowned with success.

The companies running their tailings into Muddy creek have abandoned the idea of putting in tables to save fine gold. They find by putting down tables it would deprive them of getting something like Oft deeper in their claims, and this is considered to be of greater value than the saving of the fine gold that runs out of their tail races.

Messrs Gallagher and party have also a claim in this locality of extreme richness, but surrounding circumstances make it very difficult to extract the gold. The enterprising spirit of the men keeps them pegging away against all difficulties that crop up from time to time. It is to be hoped their perseverance will meet with a rich reward.