Notes from Reefton (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 18

Notes from Reefton (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Rr.F.i-To.v, June 4. j Mid-day quoUfciMi I:.—1 :.— Alpine Kx: tainted, (5s oil to 7s (ii ; VAII River, 7s M to ßs fid ; D-iHec Dredge, 10-3 to ISs ; BoaMuaus IWplotation, 6-1 to 9J ; Cumberland ij'xfcendad, 2s ,3>t to 2s !M ; Dillon Ex- ' tended, 9d to is ; Giolden Lead, fid bt Sd ; Hereiilps, Gd to 9d ; Kpep-it-Dark, 2m to 26s ; No. 2 ' LArk, (id io I'd ; K.irwAo'g Reward, is to fc ;

Progreeß Mines (paid up), £2$ 6d to 255 ; Welcome (paid up), 2s 9d to 3s ; Electric Light, 9d to Is. \

Returns.— Progiesp Mines of New Zealand. lOSSoz sdwt ?gi cf melted gold from 26J5 tons ot stone (clean up) ; Keep-it-Dark, 550z 18d wt. of gold from 160 tons (clean up) ; Buller JPresSpe. 290z 17dwt of gold for eight days' dredging. The official opening of tbe Pcopc-css Mines' new mill took place on Thursday last A large number wore present, including visitors from all parts of the Coast. Tbe luncheon shed was decorated with flag?, amongst which were the Union Jack, tho New Zealand flig, and the Stars and Stripes Mr Foster, engineer to thn company, was in the chair, aud Mi Fel'x Campbell (Greymouth), director of the company, was vice-chair-man After the first toast, "The Queeu," which was drunk with musical honouis and great enthusiasm, that of "The Mining Industry" was proposed, coupled with the names of and responded to by Sir Dixon (manager of the Inkerman Company). Captain Richardson, Mr Scott (manager of the Blackbsvll Coal Company), and Mr Nftiil (couDty chairman), ifr Dixon said he hoperf tbe opening of tbe mill was only the cojnmspcement of tlie introduction of many English companies on the West Ceast. Between 2 and 3 o'clock tbe whole pasty adjourned to the mill. Mr P. L Foster p-oveti himself an excellent guide, philosopher, and friend, and owing to bis careful aad lucid explanations the visitors were enabled to thoroughly understand the parts played by the respective pieces of machinevy in the reduction process, and io obtain an intelligent grasp of the method adopted in reducing virgin ore to the precious metal. The visitors were taken to the top storey of the building. From this spot can be seen the Otto aerial line in full work delivering ore at the rate of 30 tons per hour, the brickett ore emptied over grizzlies, and the finer stuff dropped into the ore bin below. The coarser sniff drops thiough shoots on to the floor, and i 3 thnu shovelled into vock-breakera. The crushed meia! drops into a bin which will hold 1000 tons, and thexs parses through shoots into automatic feeders. From fche lowei positioD the visitors could see the process of self- feeding and crushing with 40 hsad of stamps. Tbe first gold is saved in mortar boxes and pulp. The stuff then passes through the gratings and flovk s over fdlver-plated copper tables, which save the remainder of the fine gold. The tailings are then cowveyed through pipes to vanneiv, or ''shaking tables," whero sulphurites and th» valueless tailings part co'.npany. The tailings then rur. into the river, and the sulphurites or concentrates are stacked pending the completion of the culorination works. The motive power is water conveyed in a race for a distance of 10$ miles, and delivered at the mill on to Pelton wheels, of which there are three— one 6ft in diameter to drive the stamp,?, and two of 3ft for driving the rock-breakera and vAnners. After expressing wonder a»(i delight at seeing the smooth aad' easy manner in which the machinery did its work, the visitors were asked to " refresh."