Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 24

Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Arrow-town, July 10.— The weather for tbe ' time of the year continues mild and fair, although, there have been a few break«, during which a thin • sprinkle of snow fell at high levels. This addition does not help on much the summer water supply, and altogether there is a woeful want of snow that doea not promise favourably for mining. The June returns from the Glenrock fall slightly helowth<- average of previous months, the amounts being 265 tons crushed, giving 2550z 17dwt 6gr. This is a little short of loz per ton, the shortage being accounted for by the fact that at the present time a number of opening worka are in progress, casting more mullock than ore ; and the froit also accounts for something, as thereby the whole morning shift is lost, it being found advisable to turn the water out of the pressure pipes and stop the woik rather than run the risk of having the pipes blocked with ice, a* the frozen pipes cannot be cleared except by taking them up and breaking out the ice. In the mine everything looks very promising. The lode continues of a good width, carrying with it every promise of permanence and richness, and, \ what is more, shows indications of going down ] underfoot iv a more decided manner than has ever before been noticed in this mine. This fact is of considerable importance, aud especially so to the shareholders, for the stone hitherto ob ained was fiom a chute in the lode dipping into the hill at a low angle. Now it appears that the stone is going down underfoot, indicatirg a feubstantial lode, and the anticipation for many years entertained by some local mining magnates that the chute heretofore worked is merely a feeder to a great main lode may probably be verified. Exploitations have not yet sufficiently advanced in the mine to pronounce with any degree of reliability upon a consummation so devoutely to be wished, and all that can be said is that present indications are in favour of this anticipation being rea'ised. Apart from this, attention must he called to Mr Stanford's (the manager o f the mine) observation that the stone is improving as greater depths are reached, the country at the same time getting ' more solid and regular — facts thac are reassuring ' in the greatest degree. , ' The Westralia bas been impeded in a similar manner as the Gienrcck mine— that is, by frost and other causes. During June 236 tons of stoce ; were passed through the mill, yielding 12Soz j 13dwt. This is over lOdwt per ton, and with j ample crushing power would pay handsomely. la j this uaiue a block of stove calculated to contain j 1000 tons is now available to be taken out, but as i it has not yet been tested except by sampling it ' would be premature to say auything as to its ' value. Stone from thi3 block is now going through the mill, and the yield will soon be ascertained. In this mine the lode is also going down underfoot from the lowest level— that is to say, the main adit levfl— but a3 there 13 a considerable amount of water to contend with pumping appliances are required to ( xploit the loda below the maiu adit UveJ. Roasting and cyarnding the concentrates are progressing, aad during June

30 tons were tieated, yielding £108 worth of tha precious metal. It may bo added for ihe information of piu-'ies interested that both of these ruines are yielding a surplus over and above workiDg expenses.