THE OTAGO SCHOOL OF MINES. THE ACHILLES GOLD MINES. Notes from Lyell. THE PROGRESS MINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 18

THE OTAGO SCHOOL OF MINES.

THE ACHILLES GOLD MINES.

Notes from Lyell.

THE PROGRESS MINES.

THE DIRECTOR'S ANNUAL REPORT. I The following are the main portions of. the* | annual report of Professor Ulrich, director of 1 the Otago School of Mines : — ! With thi3 I have the honour to submit my ' j annual report regarding the .attendance, work, '. results of the annual examinations of the School of Mines during the past session (1890) together with remarks on practical teaching > i facilities, requirements, and other points con- , . cerning the school. The attendance number of students during the past session was 48, comprising 43 regular l - students for the full course of the school; one | student from the Thames School of Mines | holding a Government scholarship and studyi ing for the B.Sc. degree, New Zealand .Univer- ! j sity, and four students who attended in special " subjects only — viz. : two in general geology, one ' in assaying, and one in assaying, metallurgy and general geology. | Of the -43 regular students 34 were previous ones returned for the finishing or further j prosecution of their studios, whilst tho remain- ■ ing nine comprised fresh men. One of. these ' latter attended for only the last half of tho session in subjects which he could follow and understand, but in which he did not sit for examination, intending to take tho subjects ' again next session. All these new students are desirous, bo far as I could ascertain, of j gaining the associateahip in raining and the • certificate of metallurgical chemist and as- ! sayer, baing prepared to attend the ■ school for four years, for the purpose if required. Owing to illness one of the older students , (not reckoned iv the before-given number) wan obliged, on medical advice, after a few weeks' 1 study to cease attendance at the classes; and towards the end of tho session other three ' students became ill, and lost a number of lee- j tures, causing two "to fail in the examinations in several subjects, whilst the third "was too • ill to attend the' examinations. His status | being, however, such as to require him to -pass j in only two more subjects for finishing his full j course of study at tho school, ho will be per- J mitted to sit for special examination in these I subjects as soon as he has sufficiently re- ! covered from his illness. With tho exception • of the cases just mentioned, tho attendance of | the various classes by the students has been j very satisfactory, and there have been much ; fewer failures in the examinations (26 against 49) than last year. In this connection I may . mention the gratifying fact that the 11 students who failed in mining last year all passed a second examination held during the past midwinter vacation. The eight new registered students passed f through the first yeax's course of the mining j division, except four who failed in mathematics, one who gave up this subject after a I short attendance, and two who failed in mining, j geology, and theoretical chemistry.. Of the other 34 students only a small number have ■ strictly followed tho curriculum prescribed in ! , the calendar, and I am therefore not in" the | position to state exactly how many have passed j respectively through the second and third year's I courses, as they are prescribed. However, so » much may be accepted as correct that seven have finished their studies during the past [ session and will not return, whilst of the re- ] maining 27 students 11 can be placed as having passed the second and another 11 the third year's coursei, leaving five, who comprise students of from three to five years' standing, two going in for more than one certificate, and the other three requiring still to pass in one or two subjects they hitherto failed in. Of the seven students who aro leaving the school, six have successfully passed the examinations in all the prescribed subjects of tho ! divisions they entered for. They are the following . — • Herbert Black.— This student gained in tho previous year the diploma of associate in I mining and the certificate of metallurgical chemist and assayer, but with praiseworthy ambition ho returned for the past session, and by taking the classes and passing the examinations in biology and palteontology he acquired the right to claim in addition, and Jxa

has already been granted, ,the diploma 6t> associate in geology. Andrew Campbell, M. A. — Having with distinction passed the examinations in all the prescribed subjects this student is entitled to claim the certificate of metallurgical chemist and aasayer, but he requires to do an additional short term of practical mining work before he can be awarded the diploma of associate in mining. Colin Campbell. — He passed the, cxaminationHn all the subjects of.the mining division and that of metallurgical chemist and assayer, ' tha certificate of which latter division hcis at present entitled to claim. For gaining the diploma of associate in mining he requires to engage for several months longer, in practical mining work to make up the 12 months pre- 1 '' scribed for'-this division. ' ' Edward A. de Lautour. — This student passed \ ths examinations in all fche subjects of tho

mining . division' and that -of metallurgical chemist and assayer, and is entitled to claim, ; and has, in fact, already, been granted, the cer- [ tificate for this latter division, but he has still for several months more to engage in practical mining work before he can be granted the ; diploma of associate in mining. Having passed well and done good work during the session of 1898 in petrography I was glad to be permitted by the council to engage him as my assistant in this. subject during the past session, a post ■ he filled to my entire satisfaction. I Robert M'lntosh. — Haying -passed the examinations in all the subjects of the mining division and that of metallurgical chemist and assayer, and having also done the required 12 montha' practical mining work, this student was entitled to claim, and has already been granted, tho diploma, of associate in mining and -the .- certificate of metallurgical chemist and as- • sayer. . ' t ~William G-. Royse.— He is entitled to claim I th 2 certificate of metallurgical chemist-, and . assayer, and after engagement • for several * lr.onths more in practical minhig work, * also 1 the diploma of associate' in mining, as he haa successfully passed the examinations in all ; the subjects prescribed for these two divisions. 1 All the new students who entered for -the first year's course and one older one; who had. not taken the class before, attended tho even-,, ' ing class for "first aid" established by^the" St. John Ambulance Association. " s The numerical attendance at'all tho classes and the results of the recent annual examinations arc shown in the following table: — Results of Examinations.

' Through'- the standstill of many, of the mines 1 in tho- ifaurnki. goldfields, North Island, a formerly- extensive field "for. practical' 1 mining work, has been, much narrowed for our students, and p. number have found it' rather difficult to Eecure working places during tho vacation. However, so far as Ii have learnt, , maay have been successful. on the West Coast ; of this island and at Reefton,- andthere' isonly a small number of them •at present > still unemployed, and these have- chances of soon getting work-. One has gone to a prearranged place at the -Great Western Silver Lea^ mine, Zeehan, Tasmania. The students' trftVellin^ expenses- by sea- irro tiiis year much inore.l3e.cl, | I 'am sorry to say, owing to the Union Steam I Ship Company having seen fit. to withdraw ; the formerly granted liberal .reduction in fare?. ' Regarding the numbsr of students likely to attend the school .next' year, it will in all probability not rearh •that of J previous years. As far as the register shows, there 3houkl bo ! 36 students returning for completion or further prosecution of their studies; but of these- ' 3 are doubtful, as, judging from repeated failures, they are apparentJy unable to pass, in some of the subjects. Beckoning therefore 33 as the returning number, this would bo increased ' by ' the uncertain number of new entries, .which very probably will not bo as largo as in former years, on account of the new regulation that "for tho future all new students entering for the object of gaining any of the diplomas or certificates of the school require to have passed the matriculation examination ,of the New Zealand University, There are. so far only 2 new students certain pf entry — vis., one from Canterbury, w,ho. applied for registration some time ago, and one from our Boys' High School, who is the winner of the scholarship recently established by the liberality of the Hon. A. Lee Smith. 'Going by pact experience, before the rush to the school s«;t in, the attendance number of regular students for next session may, I think, reach 40; whilsS in addition 3 or 4 occasional students can always be counted upon. I am thankful to mention that through the council grafting me tho assistance of two advanced' students — one for tho large class in mineralogy, tho other for that in petrography — I have been enable to get well tnroueh theso subjects, and the students have considerably benefited by the increased attention given .to them individually. And I may also state that the provision of more windows a'ortg one long wall of the small lecture room has served its purpose — i.e., of procuring more light for microscope work for the class in petrography — very satisfactorily, and there is now, with a decreasing number of students in prospect, no necessity for such an extension of the building towards the lawn tennis court, as I thought it advisable to recommend in my last year's report. Tho lecturer in general geology (Dr Don* made, with his students, during the session an extended field excursion, about which he re- " ports as follows : — " The excursion extended over four days. We did not find it convenient to make our usual trip south of Dunedin; but, instead, iho. Oaxoa.ru excursion was extended 60

aa^to take in the interesting Kakanui secies. The places of interest" visited were Sandymourit ; and *" Highcljff,", on Otago Peninsula^ the* miocene beds 6f Hampden, with the Moeraki series, and Katiki beds,, and the lower Kakanui River, with- the interesting altered limestone near the month;, ftir.ther, the bedded volcanic tuffs of Cape Wanbrow- and the limestone quarries of various points around Oamaru, including the diatomaceous deposits of Weston ,and other parts of the district. These excursions were well attended, and much enjoyed t>y the students." The highly instructive value of such geological field observations, as detailed by Dr Don, has been pointed out by me in previous reports; but it requires to be mentioned here that Dr Don liberally lightens the expense of tho excursions to the students by open hospitality at his home near Oamaru. The provision by the council of a second theodolite, which was urgently needed, for the large class in practical surveying (as pointed out in my last year's report), was highly appreciated by. the lecturer (Mr Begg) and the students. Mr Begg wrote to me 6n this head as follows: — "The acquisition of another theodolite for the school proved a greal boon, as it enabled the whole class of the second year's course of 14 to carry on field practice at the same .time. A considerable amount of useful work was. got. through during the midwinter vacation, .including .road, railway, and mining engineering.. The work done by 'the 9 students attending the lectures of the first year's course comprised the reduction of traverses, calculation of areas, keeping level books, calculating grades and quantities, and drawing of plans to scale." Regarding teaching facilities and requirements, I am sorry' to say that an order for certain mineral collections and small apparatus needed for the classes in mineralogy and petrography, and sanctioned by the council in the early part of the year, has even at present not come to hand; it it to be hoped that it may arrive before next session. The readjustment of the optical parts of the seven petrographic microscopes is again required, and may be set down as an annual necessity, tho expense of which would probably be under £2. As mentioned in my last year's report, the provision of new drawings of typical mining machinery, appliances, etc., for the mining classes becomes with every year more pressing. Those in use may with some repairing last through next session, but I am afraid not be^ yond that. On account of a new edition of Dana's "' Text Book of Mineralogy " (the one we use) having come out, in which the systematic arrangement of the minerals is considerably altered, it will be necessary to rearrango our teaching collection of minerals (over 1000 specimens) according to the new system — a task I ehall try to finish during the vacation. Following the custom of- previous years, I may, from information received during | the year, give the following short account of the careers of a number of our associates: — J. Chisholm is manager of cyanide works and assayer at ,Murrin Murrin, Western Australia,. -W. A. M'Leod has a well paid post as lecturer at the Technical School, Hobart, Tasmania. P. M'Leod is director of the Coromandel School of Mines. R. C. Boydell is general manager ofthe Sunlight Gpld Mining* Company at Metz, New South Wales. E. Graham and D. Mathieson have established themselves as publife assaycrs and cyanide experts at Charters Towers, Queensland. E. Bray is cyanide manager at -Charters Towers, Queensland. H. E. Stephens is battery ■ manager and cyanide manager at the Lachlan Gold Estates' Company, -New South Wales. A. Mo3ley is manager of cyanide works at Mount Allen, New South Wales. A. C. Street has a good post in the service of a Mining Syndicate in the Island of Borneo. Adam Hay is assayer at the Mount Lyell mine, Tasmania. D. V. Allen is battery manager's assistant at the Kauri Gold Estates mine, Opitonui. Those past students I mentioned in my last year's report are, so far as known, still in the x>ositions they occupied at that time. Particulars are given of the work done for the public during the year by Mr F. B. Stephens, the lecturer in metallurgy, in assays and analyses, and with the testing plant, and by the director in the determination of minerals' and rocks. From this it appears that over 80 aseays were made. Only three tests •were made by the testing plant. During tho year donations of spebimens, etc., have been made by Messrs J. M. Maclaren (director Coromandel School of Mines), D. V. Allen, F. B. Stephens, A. Hamilton, A. Sligo, J. Logan, W. Goodlet, W. H. Macadam, R. H. Walcott, W. A. M'Leod, W. Begg, Gf. B. Neale, and Dr Blaok.

(Fboh Our Owk Cobbespondent.) . LONDON, October 27. In their leport, the directors of the Achilles Gold mines, state that the company, which is a reconstruction of the Achilles Goldficlds, was incorporated on the 22nd April, so that the mining and general expenditure shown in the balance sheet covers a period of'rather more than 14 months. The authorised capital of the company is £92,000, divided into 736,000 shares at 2s 6d each. The issued capital is represented by 635,979 shares of 2s 6d each, of which amount Is 6d per share was credited as paid; the balance of Is per share, called up, providing a working capital of £31,298. To the 3th June last, the briefly, was: —ln liquidation- of debts of old company, including cost of reconstruction, £20,346; machinery purchased, £1366 8s; mining and general expenditure, less sales* of gold, etc., £9233; stores and materials on hand, 30th June, £755; leaving a balance of cash resources, inclusive of calls outstanding, and after deducting the liabilities, of £2517 9s;—total, £34,298 19s. The report goes on to state that the new engineers arrived on the property in August, 1898, and at once proceeded to make a thorough examination of the mines, machinery, and operations generally. The result of this investigation was to leave no room for doubt that the information previously supplied to the board was misleading. " The condition dl the shafts and levels," continues the report, " was most \tnsatisfactoiy; in the words of the superintendent, ' the mine we found to be in a most dilapidated state throughout, requiring extensive repairs anrl an immense amount of timbering.' The machinery, too, both at surface and underground, necessitated some considerable expenditure for renovations and additions. A new plunger and drawing lift had become essential before the sinking of the incline shaft could be properly proceeded with. The mill also demanded a thorough overhauling, and a further matter which caused tho superintendent great' anxiety was the condition of the electric motor, upon which the company has to rely for the requisite power when the •water .supply is insufficient. In order to prevent in future any delay through the possible breakdown of this motor, the superintendent requisitioned from this side two new 30-h.p. electric motors. The order for these was placed v;ith the British Electrical Engineering Com- ' pany, and the machines were shipped in May fast. On their arrival in New Zealand, owing to the bad state of the roads during the winter months, they could not be at once forwarded to their destination, but it is believed that they are now on the property. The serious difficulties to be overcome by the superintendent before lie coulcl commence active operations

underground were -a source of disappointment to the directors',' arid of great expense to the company. "At length, however^ these obstacles were ' surmounted; arid writing on the" Bth May last, Mr Morcom was' 'able to state that ' everything is now in good working order.' As soon as the .levels underground had been sufficiently cleared and secured, the superintendent made a systematic sampling and assay test of the lodes throughout the workings) v.'niuh ' demonstrated that the whole qt the richer portions of the reefs' had been extracted, leaving little, or ''no 'reserve of payable ore available.' From the most productive and richest parts of the workings on the north lode small crushings have since been made, and to the 30th June last the gold so obtained realised £1019 3s 4d. •; " In view of the obvious necessity to at once ', deepen the mine in order to open lip fresh 3 shoots of ore, the sinking of the incline shaft [ was commenced with as little delay as possible. From the close examination of the reefs made I by him,' the superintendent was emphatic in his opinion aa to the advisablaness of pushing on with his work. Writing on the 14th October, 1898, he stated : ' I have formed a favourable opinion of the property, and am inclined to believe that gopd bodies of ore wil ba discovered.' Again, on the Bth May last, he wrote : ' Unquestionably large returns of gold have been made in the past working of the prolperty. The lode is large, regular, and strong, and is not likely to become extinct . . . although we have no reserves on hand, except a small quantity between the sth and intermediate levels, it behoves all concerned to •'prosecute the mine in depth and at the point indicated. Although if. will/be a speculation, I strongly recomm«nd it.' The sinking of the shaft named progressed actively, and on the 25th ulta. the directors received the satisfactory intelligence from the superintendent that sbout 70ft below the fifth level, where the lode dipped iTito the shaft, he had cut through it and found it to .be 7ft wide, 3ft Gin of which/ gave au assay value, of. 19dwfc Mgr of gold per ton. Since that date the shaft lias been completed to the sixth level, and a cable message received on the 7th inst. reported the lode at that depth to bo no fess than 10ft wide. Driving on the lode at this point will be taken in hand as soon as possible, and it, is hoped that very shortly valuable ore-ground will be met with. " Unfortunately at this most interesting and most important stage of developments, when everything is at length in good working condition, the company's funds have become exhausted, and it is necessary to raise additional capital forthwith to prosecute vigorously the ledes at tho deeper workings. As has already been mentioned, the liquidation of the old company's affairs made a very serious inroad upon the'^funcls of the company. The exX^enditure on the mine, in view of the outlay for new machinery, the renovating of the old, tho repairing of the shaft and levels, and the amount of exploratory work and development work accomplished, as set forth in the superintendent's reports .periodically sent to the shareholders, has been moderate, and reflects great credit upon the capability and the power to economise exhibited by the superintendent." Reconstruction is recommended on the iollowing lines: — "A new company to be formed to be called the Achilles Gold Mines (Limited), with a nominal capital of £86,000, divided into 688,000 shares of 2s 6d each— share for share to be issued to the present holders credited with 2s as paid up, leaving a liability of 6d per share. This amount of 6d per share to be called i\p as to 2d per share" on application, and the balance in calls not exceeding 2d per share, and at intervals of not le3s than three months. T»he scheme should provide £17,149 of new capital, and, having regard to the fact that no further machinery ».will, be necessary for spme considerable time, the company will be placed in a position to carry out extensive developments both on the north and main lodes at the deeper levels, and at the same time to resume the sinking of the incline shaft to a seventh level, with the view of rapidly opening up reserves of payable ore. There is every confidence on the part of the board that the result of the work contemplated will be to lay open a productive and profitable mine. The directors strongly commend the above proposal to the favourable consideration of the shareholders. They and their immediate friends hold over 300,000 shares in the company, oi nearly onehnlf of the issued capital, and are prepared to take up at least that number in they proposed reconstructed company." The meeting at which the above report is to be presented will be held at the Cannon street Hotel at noon on Thursday next, the 2nd November.

Notes from Waltatiuii. (From Our Own Cobkbsi>okdext.)

Arrowtown, December 9. — Theie being 43 polling booths in this electorate, the interruption to work — mining, as well as any other kind — on account of the election was very slight. The flood in the Shotover on Monday and Tuesday last did iar more to retard work than the election. Au ancient experience here is that nearly every year there it a Christinas flood, coming either just at Christmas or a short time before, and though we can do with a good shower every week for our fields and gardena, it is to be hoped that the last flood will count for our Christmas flood.

Although there is a lull in dredging matters, which is extending to this district, it is not of such a nature as to cause a stoppage of work or prospecting. Both are going ahead, and though there is nothing transpiring falling tor special notice, dredging is slowly but surely going ahead: -As things are shapinsj it will be early in the next year when there will bo dredges at work upon tho Cardrona and Upper Clutha, and the Kawarau, near Gibbston, will piobubly not be very far behind.

In sluicing, too, things look healthy. The Moonlight No. 2 Company have made, or are about to make, a fresh start with work. All the large, sluicing claims upon the terraces in tho Shotover Valley are in full work, making uso of every available drop of water. The

Big Beach Hydraulic Company, Arrow River, are ready for laying the pipes, .which are daily expected to arrive. The Arrow Flat Hydraulic Company have now got so far that the end of the work of getting the water on to the claim is in sight. The heavy work of syphoning Bracken's and New Chum Gullies is nearly completed, and the water will be on the claim early in the new year.

It may be interesting to many readers of these notes to hear that the recent heavy finds made in the Carnage mine 3, 45 miles north of Ccolgardie, Western Australia, have been made by some Arrow lads. There are four men in the party — Albert Travefs and Samuel Hood, both natives of Macetown; Harry Parsons, working for some time at Arrowtown at his trade, blacksmithing ; the fourth mate being a man named Grant. They have sold one mine for £3000, and have dollied up to, last account 1800oz of gold. Besides this they have at grass between 6C and 70 tons of stone, estimated to go from lOoz to 15oz per ton, and calculate that there is stone in sight in the mine to the tune of £20,000. The find caused quite a sensation at Coolgardie, as the news of it did at Arrowtown, the general verdict here being: "'Serves them right!" with the rider added that it is to be hoped that the gold will continue at the same rate.

(Fbom Our Own Cohrespondent.) LYELL, December 8. Tho mine manager of the Alpine mine reports as follows: —Stoping has been steadily carried on at the back of No. 11 level, north extension. The reef is from 3ft to sft in widjih, and in quality is similar to what it previously has been. Stoping is also progressing above the south extension of No. 11 level. The reef is from 2ft to 3ft wide, and some of the stone is of fair quality. The stopes above the intermediate have been continued on a reef froni lft to 2ft wide. • A little stone is also being won from a branch reef in No. 10 level. t The width of atone is about 4ft. A start was made on Monday last to sink- a winze in the north end of No. 11 level, and a depth of 7ft has been made. The ree"f is about Bft wide in the north end and 4ft in width'in the south end. Fair prospects can he obtained from some of the stone. During the week 200 tons of stone have been sent to the battery.

(Fhom Oub Own Correspondent.)

REEFTON, December 8.

Progress Mines of New Zealand (Limited). — The following is the output for the month of November, 1899:— Milled, 1388oz Bdwt 6gr, from 3453 tons, of the value of -65778 9s 7d ; chlorinated 200oz 13dwt Bgr, from 80 tons, of the value of £818 5s lOd ; total value, £6618 15s sd. '■• •

A NICE NUGGET,

HOKITIKA, December. 11. A large nugget, weighing 31oz lOdwt, of the value of £120, was purchased by the local bank on Saturday. The nugget, which was rugged and worn , in appearance, is named the " Smiler." The locality of the discovery is being kept a secret.

THE DUNBACK DREDGING COMPANY.

We have been shown certain correspondence between subscribers of this company and the secretary, in which the former demand the return of their application money and the cancelling of their shares, on the ground of misrepresentation. The secretary replies that the money asked for ia the property of the company ; to which the applicants reply that they are advised that under the circumstances it is not so. They threaten to publish the correnpondence -unless their demand is agreed to. We understand t4iat further proceedings are pending to compel the return of the money.

THE DART RIVER GOLD .DREDGING

AND PROSPECTING CO. (LIMITED).

The directors of the above company have completed arrangements for the supply of a new and powerful dredge^ with all the latest improvements in gold-saving appliances — engine, boiler, pontoons, and everything complete, to be handec! over to _the company in working order by the 30th of June next. The builders undertake to place their engineer in charge of, and work the dredge for four weeks before the directors take delivery. One of the directors, who has just returned from visiting. thi» claim, reported very favourably as to the piobable future success of the company. The whole of the 400 acres he found to 1 be good dredgable ground- The wash is auriferous, and can De very easily worknd, there being no large stones or timber to contend with, 'i'he ground is of such an open nature that all attempt' to bottom have failed, Californian pumps and other methods tried being found inadequate, to beat the water, and, although the boring rods in all cases gave good prospects, it remains for the dredge to prove the actual value of the ground. Messrs Valpy Bros., of Glenorchy, recently struck some rich wash in tJie Dart River, about a mile abave the top claim. The company's .properties are in the heart of the auriferous country, and everything seems to indicate that they will prove valuable dredging claims. The County Council have granted : a subsidy of £300 foi the opening-up of a road i to the Dart River. Mr Alexandei Kyle has been appointed chairmai 1 of directors, the other j directors being Messrs Robert Lee, Allan S'Blackie, S. Crow, - J. N. Lawson, and George i Reid (of Queenstown).

'REPORTS FROM WORKING DREDGES.

The Secretary of the Manorburn Dredging Company reports a return of olioz for the week ended Saturday. The Magnetic dredgo was stopped during last week in consequence of the high floods, and opportunity v, r as taken to effect repairs.

The Secretary of the Chicago Dredging Company reports a return of 290z lfldwt Gsn for last week.

i ..The Secretary reports that the Matau dredge obtained' 7oz gold foi four'days' dredging." The -dredge is now stopped f or. ove.rb.aul., ; Mr "J. J. Gibson, Lawrence*, reports a return ~frora the Success dredge of 55o'z 4dwt for 139 J [ hours' dredging. - | The Dunedin Stock Exchange Teports- the following return for last week: — Golden Treasure Company, 50oz lOdwt for 72 days. -The Secretary reports that the return from the Golden Gate dredge was 490z 3dwt for five days' dredging. The Secretary of the Waimumu Gold Dredging Company reports a return of 15oz for 100 hours' dredging. The Secretary of the Dunedin Dredging Company" reports-* return of 9oz for two and a-half days' dredging. The Secretary reports a return of 16oz from. the Golden Point dredge for last week. ' The" Secretary of the Nevis Dredging Company reports a return of 15oz for, 117 hours' [ dredging.

The Secretary of the Enterprise Dredging Company reports a return of 15oz lldwt Jsgr for 96 hours' dredging. The Secretary reports a return of lOoz 6dwt from the Sunlight dredge for 142 hours' work. The secretary of the Ophir Dredging Company reports a return of 7oz 14dwt ,6gr for 104 hours' work.

The secretary of the Morning Star.Teports a, return of Boz for 127 hours' dredging; The dredgemaster reports that the ground is getting deeper. , , The secretary of the Tuapeka Dredging Company reports the following return for the week ended Friday: — 19oz 2dwt for 115 hours' dredging. - °

Mr L. Ryan, Alexandra South, wires the following returns.— Nil Desperandum 19oz, Molyneux Hydraulic 18oz 13dwt. The secretary of the Chatto Creek reports having advice to the effect that the ground is deepening again, which is regarded as an indication that the limit of theMreef has been reached. There is no wash-up to report this week.

The returns from the Buller dredge last week was 12oz goM for 132 hours. The secretary of the Golden Terrace Dredging Company reports a return of 16oz sdwt 7gr for week ended Thursday, 7th inst. The return from the Inch Valley dredge for last week was 21oz lOdwt for 109 hours. Mr J. D. Buchanan, Alexandra South, wires that the Unity return was 21oz for last week. . The secretary reports that the Empire Gold Dredging Company (Limited) obtained 220z of gold for last week. The flood at the beginning of the week hampered work somewhat. The Upper Waipori Alluvial Gold Dredging Company obtained last week 18oz of gold for 133 hours' dredging. • The Jutland Flat (Waipori) Gold Mining Company obtained last week 13oz sdwt of gold for 144 hours' wages' time — 132 hours' actual dredging. v N » The secretary of the Adams Flat Dredging Company reports a return of Boz 3dwt 4gr for the week ended December 9.

The secretary of the Evans Flat Dredging Company reports a return of 20oz Bdwt 9gr for the week ended Saturday, 9th inst. The secretary of • the Bengerburn Company reports a return of Boz 12dwt for five days, last w?ok. „ , „ The secretary reports that the return from tho' Junction Electric dredge was 112oz for four days' dredging. \ _____ THE WEEK'S DREDGING RETURNS. During the week ended Monday, 11th inst.J returns were reported from the following 27 dredges, the total yield being 6570z 7dwt 23gr, or an average of over 240z per dredge : — ~ ' Oz. dwt. ar.

DUNEDIN STOCK EXCHANGE. Sales were -made on the 6th at the following premiums: -'-•Alexandra Bonanza; Is 9d, Is 6d; and Is 9d ; Bendigo, 5s 6d ; Boundary Creek, 3s; Golden River, Is 6d ; Kelly and Casey, 2s 6d; Sailors' Bend, 193; Upper Magnetic, 3s 6d. Sales were also made at the following prices: — Hartlay and Riley, 1745, 1755, 174e, 1735, and 1745; Magnetic, 61s 6d and 625; Nevis, 245; Vincent, 445.

Sales were made yesterday at the following premiums: — Ahaura River, 4d ; Earnscleugh No. 3, 2s -3d ; Electric Extended, 5s 6d and 5s 9d, First Chance, 7s 9d; Gibbston, Is 6d; Halfway House, lls; Kelly and Casey, 2s 6d; Leaning Rock, 6d ; Meg and Annie, 8s ; Moa Flat, 3s Cd and 3s 4Jdj Rivei Molyneux, 5s 6d ; Sailors' Bend, 19s 3d and 19s 6d ; Upper Magnetic, 3s 6d. Sales were also made at the following prices: — Golden .Point, 39s and 39s 6d; Hartley and Riley, 17J.8, 170s, 1695, 170s, 1655, 1665, J,6Gs 6d, J,645, 164s 6ds 1555, 155s 6d, 1555, 154s 6d, and 1545; Macraes Flat, 10s; Vincent, 465. /

Sales were recorded on Friday at the following premiuais : — Alexandra Bonanza, 4Jd ; Alpine Consols, 13a; Central Electric, 44s and 435; Dunstan Lead, 15s 6d; Earriscleugh No.

3s, 18,93,-23, 2s 3d; and 2s 6d; 'Golden Gravel, .-.ls 6d ; Great ""Central," .'la' ?d ;"-L Morning ,. Star, - '4s; Orwell Croak, 25. -„ Sales .^were also -made «■ at the prices':— Golden Point, 88a 3d; Hartley and Riley, 1555, 157».6d, 1575, 156s < 6d, and 1575; Smith's Creek and Bannockburn; ■* Is discbunt.

Sales were made on Saturday at the follow- ' ing premiums:— Ahaura Biver 4d, Central Electric 425, Earnscleugh- No. 3 2s 6d and 2s 74d, Electric Extended 5s 6d, Erickson's Re- . ward Is 6d, Fraser Flat 2s 6d, Galvanic 4s 3d, I Golden Bed Is' 6d, Golden Link par, .Harris,. Beach par, Upper Magnetic 4s, Hartley and Kiley shares were sold at 1565, 1575, and 156s 6d. . Sales were made. on Monday., at, the- following * premiums r^Ahaura- River, 3d;,., -Alexandra " Lead, ,7s ? Central EleGtric, 44s 6d ; Dunstan - Pioneer, Is 6d ; Earnscleugh No. 3, 3s,^ 3s 3d, ■ and 3s 6d; Electric Extended, 5s 7Jd;" En- ■' , deavour, 4s ; First Chance, 8s and 7s 9d : Ford's Creek, 3d; Fraser Flat, 2s 6d, 2s 4jd, and 2g 6d, Gibb's Beach, par; Gibbston, 6d; Golden- - Bed, Is; Kelly and Casey, 2s and 2s 6d; Leaning Rock, 9d ; River "Molyneux, . ss : Royal Maori, Is 6d; Second Magnetic, 10s; Sixteenmile Beach, Is 6d; Upper Magnetic, 4s 6d; Waikaka Forks, Is. Sales \were also recorded at the following prices: — Golden Point, 38s; Hartley und Riley,-160s, 157s 6d) 1695, 157s 6d, 1 595," 157s 6d, and 158s; Macraes Flat, 10s 3dj Magnetic, 61s; Vincent, 435. i The following ai'e Monday's latest quota tions, subject to the usual brokerage:-:- ■ ' , Adam's Flat — Sellers par.' Ahaura River— Buyers 3d p. Alexandra Bonanza— Sellers 48. p. Alexandra Lead — Buyer 3. 6s 9d; sellers 7s 3d p. ' Alpine Consols— Buyers 12s 6d, sellers 13e 6d p. ' Alpine No. 2— Buyers 8s 6d p. Arrow Junction — Buyers Is 6d, sellers 2s p. Arthur "Point— Buyers par, sellers 3d p. Bendigo — Buyers ss, sellers. 7s p. ■ Boundary Creek — Buyers 2s, sellers 3s p. Gairnmuir— Buyers 7s 9d, sellers 8s 6d p." Central Electric — Buyers £2 4s 6d, sellers JBJ 7s p. Ciomwell— Sellers £3. Endeavour — Buyers 4s 4Jd, sellers 4s 9d p Enterprise — Buyers £4 ss. x Evans Flat— Sellers £1 16s. Excelsior — Sellers 2s 6d p. First Chance — Buyers 8s 6d, sellers 10s p. Fourteen-mile Beach — Sellers lls p. Fraser Flat — Buyers 2s 41d, sellers 2s 6d p Galtee More— Sellers JEI 25." Galvanic — Buyers 4s p. Gibbston — Buyers 3d, sellers 9d p. Gold Queen— Sellers 16s p. Golden Beach (contributing) — Buyers £1 5s 6d. sellers .61 10s. • Golden Gravels-Buyers Is, sellers Is 9d p. Golden Link — Buyers 3d dis, sellers 3d p. Golden Point— Buy era £1 14s, sellers £1 15 a Golden Reward — Sellers Is 3d p. Golden River — Buyers Is 3d, sellers 2s p. Golden Vein — Sellers par. Great Central — Buyers 3s, sellers 4s 6d p. Grey River Consolidated — Sellers 6d p. Halfway House — Buyers -lls, sellers 12s p. Harris Beach— Sellers 4Jd p. Hartley and Riley — Buyers £7 18s, sellers £8 ' 2s. '■ Inch Valley— Sellers £1 10s. Jutland Flat-Sellers 4s 6d., ' Kawarau Bridge — Sellers 3d p. Kelly and Casey — Buyers 2s 3d, sellers 2* ' 6d p. ..',-; Leaning Rook — Buyers 6d, sellers 9d p.' Macraes Flat — Buyers 9s 6d. , > • Magnetiic— Buyers £3 Is, sellers' £3 7s 6d, Meg and Annie — Buyers Bs, sellers 10s p Merrimac — Buyers 6s 6d, sellers 8s 6d p." Moa Flat — Buyers 3s 6d, sellers" 4s 3<TpV Monte Christo— Buyers 5s 9d, sellers 6s 3d p Morning Star — Sellers 4s p. . - Naumai-«-Buyers par, sellers Is p. Nelson Creek — Buyers 2s*9d, sellers ,3s p. Nevis — Buyers £1. sellers £1 ss. New Alexandra— Sellers £2 9s 9d. ,■ .' Nugget — Sellers 8s p. Old Dunstan — Buyers Is 9d, sellers 2s 3d p. Ophir— Sellers 9s. Orwell Creek— Buyers Is 9d. sellers 3s p. Remarkablfis— Buyers 2s, sellers 3d dis. Richafcte's Beach — Buyers Bs, sellers 8s 6d p River Molyncux — Buyers ss, sellers 5s 6d p. Royal Maori — Buyers la 9d p." Sailors' Beiid — Buyers 19s 6d, sellers £1 Is p.. Second Magnetic— Buyers 9s 6d, sellers lla 3d p. . Smith's Creek and Bannockburn — Sellers 1« dis. Springvale — Sellers 9d p. Sunlight— Sellers £1 15s. Tucon's Cardrona — Buyers 3d dis, sellers par. Upper Magnetic — Sellers 4s 9d p. Vincent Extended — Buyers 9s 3d, sellers 10a 6d p. / Waikaka Forks — Buyers 6d, sellers Is 6d p. "Waimumu — Sellers £1 7s. West Matau— Buyers 6d dis, sellers 4Jd p. ' OTAGO STOCK EXCHANGE. *• Sales were recorded on the 6th at the follow . ing premiums: — Electric Extended, ss. 6d; Gentle Annie, 3s 6d; Moa Flat, 4s 3d. Golden - Point shares were sold at 39s 6d.' Sales .were effected on Thursday at the following premiums :'— Bendigo 6s, Boundary Creek* 3s, Dunstan • Lead 14s 9d, Endeavour 4s, Great Central 4s 6A', Kelly~and Casey 3£ and 2s. Sales were also made on the follqwr ing prices: — Galtee More 225, Golden Point " 39s 6d, Hartley and Riley 168s and 1655. ( ■ . Sales were made ok Friday at the following premiums : —Ahaura River, 3d; Coal -Creek ' Flat, Is ; Dunstan Pioneer, Is 6d ; Electric Extended, 5s 6d; Metallic, Is; Old Dunstan, Is 4Jd. Hartley and Riley shares ' were , sold at153s and 1565. Sales were made'oVi Saturday at the following premiums : —Arrow . Junction, 7Jd ; Boundary, Creek, 2s 9d; Electric Extended, 6s 9d; # Old Dunstan, 2s. Seles were effected on Monday at the following premiums: — Bendigo, 5s 6d: Boundary Creek, 3s; Coal Creek Flat, Is; Electric Extended, . 5s 9d; Old Dunstan, Is 9d. Galtee Mor» shares were sold at 225.

There was a- .good deal of feeling at on* of Mr Colvin's -meetings, and in the excitement a lady and- gentleman came to blows. The incident caused a stir amongst the udience.

GENERAL SUBJECTS. § -a'a rf | J. 3 ■ Untveksity Classes. % §'g § g ° 3 Mathematics .. .. 10 10 11 4' 4 Theoretical mechanics 13. 13 — 4 7-2 Theoretical physics .. 21 21 1 6 12 2 Practical physics . . 16 16 1 7 " 7- 1 Theoretical chemistry.. 33 11 1 4 4 2 Practical chemistry . . 11 11 3 1.7 — Theoretical biology .. X 11 — — 1 — Practical biology \. 1 1 — — 1 — SPECIAL' SUBJECTS. ' - ' [ School of Mines. Mining (second* course) 2G 25 — 1G 7, 2 Mining geology . . . . 9 8 l f - 3 3* 2 General geology .. 12 12 "4_ 5 3,--Paleontology • .. ' '.. 1 i — 1" — , — Mineralogy 12' 11' — * 4~. 5 2 .Petrography " ..' '.'. 12 11 — 6 5;— ■,* Qnontitative chemicaf " _ ' ' analysis . . . . 13 — 6,3 5 ' — • General metallurgy *.. 16 16 4 45 4 2 Special metallurgy .. 18 18 5 5 4* 4~ Practical assaying (first course) 12-12 6 6 — — Practical assaying (second course) .. . . 11 11 1 5 B- — Blowpipe analysis . . - 10 10 6 5 Applied mechanics . . 9-9-2 3 22 Surveying (first course)' 10 10 ■ 2 2 5 1 Surveying (second course) 13 18 6 2 6 — Model drawing .. .. B>B '■ 8 — —"— Practical plane geometry, (drawing) . . 8 8 7 1 — — Soltd" geometry (drawing) 7 7 7 — -r: — Machine drawing .», 8 8 3 5 — — Totals .. .. — — 72 101 ' 97 .<26

Junction Electric, Cromwell (4 days) 112 0 0 Success, Waipori . (139J hours) . . 55 4 0 Manorbum, Manuherikia , . . 51 10 0 Golden Treasure, Miller's Flat (7f days) .. .. • .. .. 50 10 0 Golden Gate, Island Block (5 days) 49 3 0 Chicago, Alexandra .. . . 29 10 6 Empire, Waipori . . . . . . 22 0 0 -Inch Valley, nrkr Palmerston (109 hours) 21 10 0 Unity, .Clyde 21 0 0 Evans Flat, Tuapeka • .. . . 20 8 9 Tuapeka, Tuapeka Flai> ( (lls hours) 19 2 0 Nil Desperandum, Manuherikia. . 19 0 0 Molyneux Hydraulic, Alexandra.. 18 13 0 Upper "Waipori, Waipori (133, — hours) 18 0 0 Golden Terrace, Lower Shotover.. 16 5 7 Golden B Point, Alexandra ..16 0 0 Enterprise, Alexandra (96 hours) 15 11 15 Nevis, Nevis Eiver (117 hours) . . 15 0 0 Waimumu, near Gore (100 hours) 15 0 0 Jutland Flat, Waipori (132 hours) 13 5 0 Sunlight, Beaumont (142 hours) 10 6 0 Dunedin, Miller's Flat (2J days) 9 0 0 Bengerburn (5 days) . . . . 8 12 0 Adam's Flat, ■Tokomairiro '. . .. 8 3 4 Morning Star, Manuherikia (127 hours) ' .' ..80 0 Ophir, Blacks (104 hours) .. 7 14 6 Matau, Clyde 7 0 0 Total v. 657 7 23