MISCELLANEOUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2103, 14 June 1894, Page 16

MISCELLANEOUS.

A Launceston telegram to the Ago states that a miner named A. Conliffe is reported by a letter from his mate, wbo is well known in Hobart, to have made a wonderful gold discovery in West Australia. He is said to have gob bands of solid gold ten thick through the centre of a reef for 50ft, and to have refused £95,000 for the property. The letter also states that there is £200,000 worth of gold in sight, and that the proprietor is sleeping on the claim to prevent theft. The locality is not divulged. Mr Conliffe is probably the prospector of that name who is well known in Southland, • . It may be remembered (says the Queenslander) bhab aboub bwo years ago some little excitement was caused in Queensland in consequence of the arresb of a Russian named M. Leon Perret, who ib was alleged was a spy baking note of bhe colony's fortifications. M. Leon Perret, it was proved, was no spy, bub merely a mining experb, and he was soon set at liberty. A communication has now been received by the Mines department from the Director-General of the Russian Department of Mines, dated from St. Petersburg on March 18 last. In the communication it is stated that in 1892 M. Leon Perret, mining engineer^ was sent to the Australian colonies at the instance of the Russian Mines department to inquire [ into and report on the methods of working gold mines and treating auriferous ores. Since his return to Russia he has presented a detailed and interesting report on the newest methods used in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand for working gold mines and treating auriferous ores, mentioning at the same time the kindly assistance of both the central and local mining authorities, which aided him a great deal in successfully accomplishing his mission. The department therefore considers ifc its pleasant duty to thank the Mines department of Queenslapd for the facilities accorded M. Leon Perret, and begs to convey an expression of its thanks to the representatives of the mining authorities and to the managers of the mines visited by hip, from whom he obtained valuable information. The following mining association items are from the Cromwell Argus :— The secretary of the Confederate Miners' Association, Lowburn, has received application from the miners of Hamilton and Sowburn for rules and further information, as ib is intended to form a branch cf the confederation, to be called the Hamilton and Sowburn Miners' Association. The chairman of the public meeting convened for the above purpose, Mr J. H. M 'Alpine, writes to state that he thinks nearly all the miners in the district will join, as the time seems to have arrived when miners should stand united for mutual protection. The miners' association at

Preservation Inlet, Fiord County, has also applied to the secretary of the confederacy for rules and further information ia connection with joining the confederacy. — At a meeting of the Cardrona Miners' Association held on Saturday, the 19fch inst., the motion to affiliate with the Confederate Miners' Association of Otago was confirmed by a unanimous vote, and the secretary was instructed to communicate with the central association re different matters in connection therewith. Of mining prospects in the Riverton district the Western Star says .— " We have been assured that there is good ground at Round Hill sufficiently rich to make it worth any man's while to work ifc. All that is required is~ an initial expenditure on machinery to overcome the difficulty of want of fall, andfurther, wehavebeen advised thafc it is contemplated to start work there. But what we want specially to mention just now is the rone wed activity thafc is being shown in connection with the quartz reef that has long been known to exist at South Riverton, to thoroughly prospect which a syndicate is to be formed. Bearing on this subject we received the following communication from a well-known gentleman, which will give some idea of what •is in the air.' — • lam in treaty to secure a lease ofi the ground that was slightly prospected some years ago in South Riverton. Gold in payable quantities was obtained from it, and it is a mystery why the venture was not continued. Nowadays less than half the returns that were obtained from the working are regarded as highly satisfactory. I have had two assays made of the outcrop of a very promising reef, one was made by Mr Wilkinson, of the Dunedin University, the other by Mr Power, one of the most prominent metallurgists in Victoria, the result being so satisfactory that I am encouraged to do my best to form a syndicate to thoroughly prospect the lands adjoining. Ifc would be a curious thing if the good folk of South Riverton have had a fortune at their { doors for so many years and have not availed themselves of it, but there is strong reason to believe that this is a fact.' Some experienced miners, we hear, have promised to take shares in the proposed syndicate, whose object will be the development of the reef, and we might congratulate the owners of the land on the prospect before them." The following items are from tho Dunstan Times :— "Hyde and Party's dredge obtained 270z for last week's wash up.— The Enterprise dredge has now started to work.— The claim at Springvale (late Mr John Allan's) now held by Messrs Gartley Bros., is being worked with a full supply of water and with payable results.— Messrs Gards and Hyde having tendered their resignation as directors of the Molyneux Hydraulic Company, Messrs H. Crossan and James Lythgoe, of Bald Hill Flat, have been appointed to fill the vacancies. — There is every probability of another dredge being put on the river shortly. One of the gentlemen interested in the Enterprise dredge is so well satisfied with the prospects that ho is desirous of going into another." Says the Lake County Press :— " Ifc is reported that a discovery of asbestos has been made near the Gentle Annie." A Lyell correspondent telegraphs :—" Lyell Creek Company.— o wing to Mr Butler again beinc; laid up, the contractors report having driven 9ft since starting to turn the tunnel agaia, and they consider the ground being driven through of a much more favourable nature than any hitherto driven through." The voting for the election of three directors of the Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company was declared onThursday to have resulted as follows :— R. Cockburn 1052 votes, H. North 957. 11. Rose 752, Hon. W. J. M. Larnach 300. Mr Watson and Mr Cormack, late of the Blue Spur, are in charge of an experiment being made in North Tasmania by the Salisbury and Beaconsfield Company to test the deposits in their mine by hydraulic sluicing. An Albury telegram in the Argus states that a young man named Carkeek has struck a now reef ac a place about five miles from Tallangata, which is estimated by experienced miners to go 20oz to the ton.