MINING. THE WEEK'S MINING NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 19

MINING. THE WEEK'S MINING NEWS.

Mr Thomas Russell had reason to congratulate the shareholders of the Waitekauri Gold Mining Company at their annual meeting last Tuesday, for he had to speak of a profit' made up upward of £10,000 more than | in the previous year ; while £31,000 had been ; paid away in dividends. Much of this satis- ' factory progress was due to the change from dry to wet crushing. But it was also partly due to a better knowledge of the mode of ■treatment, as well as to the fact of richer ore i having „been obtained in the , mine. Even on this satisfactory position Mr j Russell expected an improvement in the cur- j rent year ; he, however, commented upon , ' the " injudicious character " of the Government gold duty, which he described as "an arbitrary impost and really a tax upon capital" ; ,it was a tax "especially hard upon mines that do not produce high results," and was "undoubtedly a check upon, mining jenterprises in New Zealand." The report was adopted, and Mr Bristow, of the New Zealand Insurance Company, was re-elected a director. The Miller's Flat correspondent of the Tuapeka Times states that while Mr H. F. Kitto was digging at the Welshman's, he came across some antiquated relics of the olden time in the shape of a whole kit of miner's tools buried • up in an old shaft. A hole in one of the shovels was riveted up with an old Melbourne j penny, dated 1858. * How long those tools [ have been lying there is only a matter of conjecture. ' A curious nugget of gold found on the surface after rain near Kimberley, West Australia, and valued at £108, was shaped exactly like Australia. The quantity of Victorian .gold received at the Melbourne Mint during the month of October was 66,4050z. The calls at Charters Towers for the month of October amounted to £3800, and the dividends to £38,000. We have been asked by the correspondent who supplied us with the notes regarding Waikaka to state that he omitted, when giving particulars regarding the Premier Waikaka, Waikaka United, and Paterson's Freehold, to state that Mr J. C. M'George was consulting engineer for those\companies, and he asks us now -to rectify that omission. "With regard to Mr Roberts's remarks about the Forks, he has no desire to enter into a controversy, although he thinks his description was justified. The Master of the Central Electric Company's dredge wired orf the 20th to the chairman of directors: — "Starting work this afternoon; had run yesterday; everything worked smoothly; river falling." ' Messrs Reeves and Co. on the 20th received a telegram from the dredgemaster of the Upper Magnetic stating that he started dredging that : morning. j At. a meeting of the Roxburgh Lead Gold j Dredging Company, held on the 20th inst.., and ; attended by 26 shareholders, a committee was appointed to acfi*with the chairman in collecting information as to the prospects of the company, and the meeting was adjourned till January next. • A wire received from Mr George Morison, contractor, states that the Kia-Ora Company's .pontoons were successfully launched on the 15th inst. The machinery for the dredge is now i on the ground. I • A wire received from the dredgemaster of the Leviathan Gold Dredging Company states that" the wet weather has caused delay, but he expects to get a run this week. ' A. meeting of the shareholders of the Arthur's Point Gold "Dredging Company was held on the 20th, when the following resolution was confirmed: — " That the action of the directors in entering into an agreement wi4fh Messrs Frederick Cuming, John Coventry, and J.. C. 'M'George to borrow from them the sum ■ of £3000, to be secured, with interest at 10 per cent, per annum, on the property present and future of the company., having been explained,

resolved that such action be ratified and confirmed." A portion of the letter received from the chairman of directors, who was on the j claim on Saturday last, was read, in which it was stated that the pontoons are a credit to the builders, Messrs Gordon and Sutherland, and that Mr Glendinning proceeds with the erection of machinery at once. The beach is now littered with machinery, the quality and size of which is an eye-opener to 'the Queenstown people. Mr Sutherland in ' his ' spare time has been prospecting the different portions of the claim with a tin dish, and got 3dwt in less than two hours. The dredge is expected to start about the beginning of February next. The secretary of the Alexandra Lead Gold Dredging Company has received the following report from the company's engineer: — Ladder, buckets, and machinery (A. and T. Burt) : The ladder is now finished, and ready for delivery ; buckets away, and grab-hooks "almost completed; the, machinery is practically finished, and some of ii has been despatched to the claim. Elevator and winch (J. M'Gregor and Co.) : The elevator is well on towards completion; all rollers for buckets in position; buckets all riveted and bored. Messrs J. McGregor and Co. were delayed in getting material for their steel casting, and, as a lot of \ the gearing is cast in steel, this has caused j loss of time. Now that the material ha 3 ar- | rived," they are pushing on with the portions required to complete elevator. Winch is getting ; fitted together. Boiler (Dunedin Engineeiing j Company) : The end plates have been bored ; . steel plates being Tolled, and .the casing is being made in their Castle street workshop. \ Pontoons should be ready for launching in a ' few days. The directors of the Golden Mile Dredging Company in their first annual report state that having decided to appoint Mr L. H. Reynolds, C.E., as consulting engineer to the company, I he was instructed to at ones prepare plans and | specifications for an up-to-date dredge suitable to work the claim, and to call for all necessary tenders. Shareholders were advised in July last that the contracts had been let, and also what progress had been made with them. The j pontoons were successfully launched towards i the end of September, and the carting of the I machinery to the company's claim will com- i rnence in- a few days, so that there is every prospect of the dre v dge being able to get to work early in February. Two of the directors, Messrs j James Robertson (Lawrence) and J. M. Camp- ' bell (Dunedin) retire, and, with Mr James ' Brown, auditor, offer themselves for re-election, j The directors visited the claim at the time of j launching the pontoons, and tried several prospects, which proved very satisfactory. The directors of the Ford's Creek Gold Dredging Company, in presenting the balance sheet for the past year, report that the preparing of plans and specifications- for the company's dredge was entrusted to Messrs Cutten Bros., consulting engineers, and on their recommendation the tender of the Despatch Foundry, Greymouth, was accepted for the machinery, and that of Mr MTiisky for the pontoons. In a letter dated 29th October the engineers report that the work of erecting the machinery has proceeded well, and the Despatch Foundry Company hope to finish in a fortnight's time.The outstanding calls total only £270 10s, which amount 1 has .been considerably reduced since the closing of the books. Messrs James Hislop and James Shiel are the retiring directors ; Mr Shiel only offering himself for re-election. Mr Chalnier, tlie auditor, also offers himself for re-election. The prospectus appeared in Wednesday's Daily Times, for public information only, of the Fairdown Gold Dredging Company. The claim, , which is bounded by the Island Creek and Wareatea dredging claims, and is about eight miles from Westport, was most favourably reported on by Messrs Thomas Powick (mining engineer), William Poppelwell, and D. T. Gibbard. The capital fs £6250, in £1 shares, of which 6100 shares were offered to the public. The Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company report the following gold return for the fortnight ended 17th November: 370z 18dwt 12gr. The remainder 1 of the month will be occtipied stripping and moving the elevator. Messrs Cutten Bros.' representative wires that he has engaged an excellent shipwright, and he expects to launch the Mokoia dredge within six^-weeks. He is now examining the pontoons and caulking them. The return from the Crossus (Paparoa) mine • is (says the Westport Times) 390z 17dwt for six men's work for the month. A gold-bearing reef that promises extremely well has been found (says the Southland Times) at Newton's Beach, Stewart Island, where. rich specimens have been occasionally found for 20 years. The present prospectors are R. Graham and party. A sample of the stone tested at the School of Mines, Dunechn, yielded at the rate of Boz 3dwt Bgr of coarse and, 2oz 3dwt 17gr of fine gold to. the ton, or lOoz 7dwt 19gr in all. Beach-combing has for years been a profitable occupation for miners at Orepuki, and occasionally specially handsome returns are heard of. Boisterous weather, with its concomitant rough seas, has a most favourable effect on results, and although the conditions under which the workers labour are not in these circumstances pleasant, they are encouraged by the prospect of compensatory reward. Lately their operations, combined with the conditions referred to, have been prodtictive of rich yields, and a visitor to the beach the j other day was amazed at the atiriferous character of a shovelful of sand tested in his presence. As demonstrating the remunerative nature of 1 the operations, recently a man who receives as ' wages a percentage of the yellow metal won, from the holder of the claim, obtained as his share of the gain £9 for the week, while two ' others, who have a claim of their own and I washed up on Friday, received from the bank in exchange for the gold £12, being the proi ceeds of four days' work. Of course, when a ; spell of fine weather comes on returns such as these are not obtainable. — Southland News. The Manager of the Mount Rex Tin Mining Company (Limited), Avoca, reports under date j November 10: — " Contractors commenced cross- j cut, and have driven sft ; started winding with the new whim, which is working satisfactorily; winze in chamber, have secured and timbered Bft of same, and fixed windlass ; sunk 6ft, total 10ft, from bottom of chamber; very rich, clean stone in the bottom, average value fully- 10 per cent, of tin. Battery : Finished roof over second jigger floor, and logged up front of same; making good progress with 'roof over hoppers, battery, and stone-crusher." ■' The secretary of the Metallic Gold Dredging Company has received the following report from the Dunedin Engineering Company, who have the contract for the ejection of the machinery : — " We beg to report progress made I with our contract for the Metallic dredge as i follows : The whole of the machinery, housing material, and sundries have been sent away, the last consignment of any consequence having been made on the 18th October. We have a full staff of hands on the work of erection,

and they are pushing this work through very speredily, and expect to finish in about two weeks. The ladder is hung, the lifting and lower tumbler in readiness to -put on the buckets. The top tumblei and main sj)ur wheel are in position. The main shaft is finished, with rope-driving gear and friction gear. The screen and screen-driving gear are finished. Condenser and centrifugal pump and pipe are all in position. The engine and boiler and superheater are all finished.. The winch is in position, and nearly finished. The housing is also being proceeded with. You will thus see that all the main poitions of the work are finished. The work would have been much further advanced if it had not been delayed by the Lake Wakatipu Steamship Company being unable to cope with the delivery of material over the lake, and thus causing the men erecting to be stopped." . The Upper Magnetic dredge started work oh the 20th inst, bu had to knock off next day owing to friction gear going wiong. Work will in all probability be resumed this week. Mr D. Larnach, secretary of the Electric Extended Gold Dredging Company, received the following wire on Thursday. — "Resumed dredging- this morning. Everything running well." The Secretary of the Dobson-No. 2 Gold Dredging Company (Limited) informs us that he has received a wire from the dredgemaster as follows: — " Started „ three shifts yesterday; everything working' well; ; iiot bottomed yet; am. satisfied with prospects.'' Messrs A. and T. Burt (Limited), contractors for the Happy Valley Gold Dredging Company's dredge, report that the whole of the timber necessary for the erection of the pontoons is now on the ground, and it is expected shortly that they will be m a positio,n'to send forward a greater number of their carpenters to speedily push on with the erection. The boilermakers' work is well in hand ; while the castings necessary are almost completed. In the blacksmiths' shop the wrought iron work is m hand. The boiler is already shipped from London, and is expected within the next month; but a little delay is being experienced m the shipment of the engine. The Secretary of the .Three-mile Greenstone Creek Gold Dredging Company (Limited), Mr W. Hoisted, informs us that the engineers (Messrs Cutten Bros.) have handed him the following report received from Mr Anderson, who is supplying the machinery, and erecting same — viz. : " The material is all away, and delivered on the claim, with the exception of boiler, buckets, elevator, and screen. The boiler goes by the next steamer at the end of the present week, thus enabling us to start the work of erecting. The other parts will go forward before they are actually required for erection, so that W6 hope no delay will occmr from the time of starting. We are arranging to get a good staff for starting on the erection," and the men for doing this work leave Christchurch for the coast on Friday next." Mr D. Leslie (Mitchell, Leslie, and Don), secretary of the Gabriel Gold Dredging Company (Limited), Tua-peka Flat, Lawrence, reports as follows: — '"Machinery: All in position, and geared up, and, with the exception of a few bolts required for bolting down top tumbler plummcr blocks, is complete. Pumps : Air, centrifugal, and feed pumps arc all placed in position, and as soon as the pipes arrive the connection will be finished with a few hours' work. Winches: Are completed with the exception of an extension of shafting, which will be to hand in a few days. Engine placed m position, and all ready for putting the belts on. Housing and sluice boxes : Should be . all finished early this week, and as the sluice boxes are all finished with stay ropes set up the save-all shoots should be completed this week also. It is therefore anticipated that the dredge will to working by the end of this month." . The Tapanui Courier m an article on tne Waikaka district as a dredging field, evidently based on the description given by a correspondent in our Saturday's issue, says: — ■• There is no doubt that the Waikaka goldfield extends in "this direction into Drowning Creek, and the greater part of the Waikoikoi Stream is also auriferous ; so that there is a possibility of payable gold being worked there. The Upper Pomahaka is proving fair dredging ground, and the ' Ardmore ' returns are quite sufficient to warrant putting up-to-date dredges on the river ; and our opinion is that the whole of the Pomahaka flats above the railway gorge will be ultimately worked for gold, and yield profitable returns." The Secretary of the Last Chance Hydraulic, Sluicing, Elevating, and Dredging Company reports a return of -260z for M days' sluicing. The Dredgemaster of the Gfold Queen. Dredging Company advises the secretary that there was no wash up this week, as the dredge is being shifted to the summer ground owing to the high river. The dredge started work again yesterday at 2 p.m. Mr E. Roberts, consulting engineer to file Golden Horseshoe Company, advises that a good start has been made with the pontoons. The 20 horse-power engine, which was ordered for the company from Messrs Marshall and Co. (Limited), of Gainsborough, through their agent, Mr F. R. Manning, has arrived by the Mamari. At the meeting of directors of the Wareatea Gold Dredging Company, held on Friday, it was announced that a contract had been accepted for buckets, ladder, and lifting gear, delivery at the end of December, 1900; also that plans and specification for elevator and for pontoons would be ready for tender next week."" The- directors evidently intend to lose no time in pushing on their new dredge. The Chairman of Directors of the Leviathan Gold Dredging Company telegraphed as follows on Saturday to the secretary of the company :— " Had short run yesterday ; tables working well; more delay fixing machinery; should start day shifts next week." The dredgemaster of the Central Charlton dredge reports that he had to stop to make some alterations in the winches, consequently there was no wash-up last week. At the annual meeting of shareholders "in <he Empire Gold Dredging Company, held at Lawrence on Wednesday, the report and balance sheet were received and adopted. The retiring directors — Messrs R. Pilling, sen., E. M. Wakefield, and A. M'Kinlay— weTe unanimously re"elected. The Buller Junction dredge is nearing completion, and should be ready to start work in about four weeks. The machinery of the Tacon's Cardrona had a trial run on the 20th inst., and every part went smoothly and gave every satisfaction. She now wants to be housed in, when she will be ready to make a start. The Secretary of the Ford's Cieek Gold Dredging Company reports having received a letter from the manager of the Despatch Foundry, Greymouth, stating that the dredge was almost completed, and should be ready to commence operations to-day. Tlie damage to the dam by the late floods caused a' week's delay. A 7dwt nugget and a capital prospect of gold, both of which were obtained from the Gold Chair Gold Dredging Company's claim, were recently exhibited in the window of Mr Jacobs, tobacconist, of this city. The nugget is tne second one found on the company's property. The directors, intend to let contracts directly satisfactory results are obtained from the Upper Magnetic claim, which adjoins that of the' Gold Chair. . . An extraordinary general meeting of the Mokoia Gold Dredging Company was held in the room of the Dimedin Stock Exchange on Friday evening last, when a fair number of shareholders were- present. The meeting was called in response to a notice frorfl the directors to consider the raising of additional capi-

tal. When the position was put before the shareholders, it was unanimously resolved to carry out the recommendation of the directors — viz., to issue 2500 additional shares, such j shares to have a first charge on the surplus i assets of the company, and to carry an over- I riding dividend. All present signified their intention of taking up their individual proportion, and. offers came from several to take up an additional number. The annual general meeting of the shareholders of the/ Premier No. 1 Gold Dredging Company was held at Oamaru on Friday evening in the secretary's office, Mr E. P. Burbury (chairman) presiding. The directors' report and balance sheet were adopted. The Chairman, in detailing the progress and position of the company, referred in laudatory terms to the manner in which the contractors were doing their work, and tlte energy displayed in pushing on the building of the dredge. It was resolved that a special vote of thanks be accorded to Messrs Morgan and Cable, the contractors, as in all probability the dredge would be at work at the end of the year, which would be considerably in advance of contract t time. Messrs Waddell and Oakden were re-elected directors, and a vo.te of thanks passed to the directors for the manner in which they had condiicted the business of the company in thn past.' Mr Cboke was appointed auditor. — Oamaru Mail. At a meeting of the Alexandra Lead- Gold Dredging Company, - held on Thursday, the resolutions increasing, the .capital to £18,000. were confirmed. ' , The Secretary of the Second Magnetic Gold Dredging Company reports having received the" following information from the dredgemaster, bearing date 23rd inst.: — "Just a few lines to let you know that there is a decided change for the better in the ground. There is not much gold in it yet, but I feel sure that I am not far away from gold. The wash is about 40ft deep, and the bottom is soft; in fact, it could be dug up with a shovel. I will wash up to-day, but return will be »small " (return was 4oz lOdwt): " Everything is working well." The Secretary of the Ford's Creek Gold Dredging Company now reports having received a wire from the dredgemaster stating that the dredge will not start for a fortnight. The pontoons of the Premier No. 1 Gold Dredging Company were successfully launched, ori Thiusday morning by Messrs Isbister and Co. Messrs Morgan, Cable, and Co. are" hurrying on with the erection, and the dredge is expected to start work at the end of the year. Mr F. W. Payne, consulting engineer, reports that the Clyde Engineering Company, Sydney, have .the ' contract for the machinery of the Gold Deposit Dredging Company well advanced. Ladder put together, riveted, and ready for rollers ; ' hanging gear nearly completed ; buckets bent, and being put together; bucket pnd connecting links forged and bored; screen finished, tables finished,- intake finished, drop' shoot finished; machinery gearing cast and shafts turned wp ; air and feed pump, top and bottom tumblers, condenser, heater, fair-lead all nearing completion ; winch gearing all 'cast, frames put up, and fitting winch' together. The whole of the work will be ready for shipment shortly. The quotation hall at the Dunedin Stock Exchange has, up to the present, been open to all and sundry who cared to look at the board. This state of affairs will be altered as from December 1, when admission will be by ticket only. The tickets, which are' not transferable, will be issued gratis, and may be obtained from members of the exchange. The following is from Saturday's Tuapeka Times: — Mr "Joe" Williams, who for many years had a team on the up-country road from Lawrence, and left this district (for Western Australia about. five years since, has just is,*, turned to the district for "a short spell. Mr Williams was mining during the greater part of his time in that red-hot colony, principally in the Kalgoorlie district, where the heat is at times intense, 105 m the shade being about the common temperature. He has with him some very nice specimens of rough alluvial gold, varying in weight from half an ounce to an ounce, got at a depth of 100 ft or thereabouts, and on one occasion he and his mate struck an Boz nugget. It is not, he considers, a white man's country, and as far as climate, food, a,nd the general conditions that determine the value of life or how far it is at all worth living it cannot be spoken of in the same breath with New Zealand. But notwithstanding all this it has a big mining population, and there is a great deal of gold being got. Yet it cannot be said that the results in the Westralian goldfields up to the present have justified the early anticipations they inspired, especially, with regard to the bigger and more costly ventures. However, Mr Williams thinks there is still enough alluvial gold in the country to employ 'a large population foi many years to come, and if it 3ould only command the splendid supplies of water at the disposal of miners everywhere in New Zealand there would be a great future before the country.