MISCELLANEOUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 13

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Dunstan Times's Alexandra correspondent writes : - " The attempt to pump the water out of the sunken dredge has proved a failure, owing to the water coming in as fast as it could be pumped out. It is thought that there is a hole in the dredge. The shareholders are to have a meeting this week to consider the advisability of building new portions which are likely to cost about £500."

It is reported that an expert chemist at Denver, U.S., is now successfully taking out 90 per cent, of the assay value of gold from the various ores of Colorado and elsewhere. Capitalists and mineowners are showing a deep interest in the practical development of his process, and the mining world at large will gladly nail any new chemical means of extraction from base or low-grade ore pulps which can be accomplished econouiicallv. A ftw years hence it is possible that the supply of gold will far exceed silver, and that chemistry will solve the great problem, mechanism having reached its ultimatum of extraction. — Virgin : a Enterprise. The Australian Mining Standard says: — "A rumour has been gaining ground to the effect that very shortly an automatic coalcutter will be introduced into several collieries in the Newcastle district, which will revolutionise the whole i-ystem of mining in that district After the fullest inquiries it has been found that a trial is shortly to be given to an American patent, which is said to be working well in the Pittsburg min^s. The motive power is comprised air and electricity, and each machine is worked by four men. Further than this yerv little appears to be known of the machine."

The Mines department of New South Wales, with commendable promptitude, has issued the regulations under which raining on private Droperty can be conducted. There is little that is fresh in them save that those who are now mining on private land and wish to come within the ecope of the act must do so before two months have elapsed, or they will hive no preferential con« Section S3 of the aot ia the one which will most benefit mining freeholds. Mines of this type at once obtain a "special lease," covering the whole of their present area, and are exempt from all further payment of royalty to the Ctowd. From the moment this is obtained, the following mines in New South Wales ceaße from paying royalty :— The_Mitchell's Creek Freehold Gold Estate, the Sunlight G.M Company, the Wentworth Goldfields Proprietary Company) the Aladdin's Lamp G.M Company, the Amana G.M. Company, and the West Sunlight Reef G.M. Company — Australian Mining Standard.

Tho c who take an interest in West Australian matters can see the latest map of the Murchison, Yilgarn, and Coolgardie districts issued by the Mines department of Western Australia, which sinws the runs taken up tc date, their area, and the names of the occupiers, in the upper room of Messrs Park, Reynolds, and Co., auctioneers, Manse street.

The Cromwell tributers are busy taking stone from a reef located in an ea terly direction in the old workings, and anticipate that they will crush in about three months' time. We understand that neither they nor the company will have any reason to complain of the result. — Cromwell Argus.