LATE MINING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 34

LATE MINING.

(Continued from Page 21.)

BALD HILL FLAT AND OLD MAN RANGE MINING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) July 12. — So little has been doing in mining here during the past few months that it has been hardly worth recording. Very little water is comiug down the creeks on account of the frost on the high country, and all the sluice 3 are closed down. On the ranije reefing matters are fiivly brisk. ' Mr R Symes just finished cleaning up his battery \ the other day after several mouths' crushing. At the Excelsior reef the owner is shifting the battery to a more convenient site. There is a large quantity of ttone in sight and at grass at this mine, and a fair season is looked forward to when summer corner. The sensation of the hour is the scheme to remove by blasting the falls in the river at the Nine-mile Beach on the * lutha. The party who j have the matter in hand are entering intothe . work with all necessary energy, but opinions j differ greatly as to the depth tlie river can be lowered should the rocks causing the obstruction j be succassfully removed. Tha preparing of the m'ne for blasting is a work of great difficulty and danger, as the divided rapids bave to be negotiated frequently for the purpose of reaching the spot where the work is carried on. The p«ty deserve every success for their pluck in venturing on a spec in which, to say the least, success is exceedingly doubtful. WAIKAIA MINING NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) July 12 —The dredge at the landslip is now approaching completion, it having passed from the han'is of the carpenters to the engineers, who aro bmy fitting up the machinery, which is to be J quite up-to-date. As anticipated, the wash-up at Scrubby Terraces was very satisfactory, the returns affording a good surplus after payment of current expenses. The Argyle Sluicing Conapany'a hydraulic claim continues to pay handsomely. The last cleaning up on the 10th inst. showed that the ground is j increasing in richness Undoubtedly this is one of the best mining properties in Otago. i Tenders for the Break 'etn All race closed a ' foi'tnight ago, 'but as yet there i} no word of the work being proceeded with. It will be disappointing if after all the syndicate who have this pro- ' perfcy under offer do not complete the purchase j and commence operations. 1 The recent fall of snow has put a temporary | check to several projected works, and it will probably be spring before they are taken actively in ) hand. 1