THE WEEK'S MINING- NEWS August 3.
The Shotover Quartz Mining Company notifies that a -call of 2d per share has been nvade on contributing shares, payable on Wednesday, 10th inst. 'The master of the Junction Electric No. 1 dredge wired the secretary on Tuesday as follows :— " Dredging resumed at 1 p.m. to-day ; machinery running satisfactorily." The "master of the Junction "Waikaka dredge, reporting -for the week endeoVJuly 30, stated that the ground he waa working still remained shallow, and had been scoured and disturbed. He has a face now opensed up 200 yards wide, and he expects "ai. improvement in the returns henceforth.
The Alpine Consols dredge is on very nich ground (says the Cromwell correspondent of the Dunstan Times), but is. considerably handicapped by an extremely hard cemented layer that is almost like solid rock, and 1 is yery cifficult to break down.
The 'master of the Rising Sun dredge reports that the actual time worked last week was 128fe hours, and the distance worked ahead lift. The ground was rough and the prospects fair. The depth of the ground was irom 40ft to 45ft in the centre of the cut, which is 135 yards wide. The dredge ran without the elevator last week, but started with it again a-s the tailings were getting too close to the dredge. The secretary of -the Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company reports that sluicing was continued during th-e week, and the manager expects to finish this paddock about the 6th August, unless prevented by the weather conditions. No. % elevator completed a paddock, whiich wa3 mainly on the high reef, and the a-eturns were poor. Now that it is demonstrated where the deep ground is the elevator is being shafted, and a start will probably be ansde by Saturday. The total gold for the month of July is 48oz lldwt 12gr. The master of •'he Alexandra Lead dredge seports that he had a good run last week, everything, working well. Ihe ground was etill very shallow and uneven on the bottom. The piece of soiid ground in the centre of the cut has been .worked out, and the ground treated last week had all been previously •worked. The river rose slightly on Friday, fcut fell again. - .Frosts -were still keeping very severe.
August 4.
, The secretary, of the New Fourteen-mile Beach Company received the following wire from the dredgomaster on Wednesday: — "Ground very rough ; hard reef bottom ; prosJpects poor; will stop for repairs Thursday." The manager of the Island Block sluicing cliam reports that the elevator was working steadily all la-st week. The secretary of the Cromwell Company received a wire from the master of the No. 2 dredge on Wednesday to the effecet that everything was working steadi'y> but that the ground was very rough. The New Roxburgh Jubilee dredge had a eteady run last week, all the machinery working well. The ground continues to be good. The master of the Duustan Lead dredge reports that he had a good run last week, but •the ground was very poor. The dredge was getting over a large amount of bottom, and was working nearly the width of the river. The distance worked ahead was a chain and a-half.
The machinery on the Point dOr dredge is nearly all taken down and on the road to Alexandra (says the Cromwell Argus). If not sold, the pontoons will be floated down to Alexandra.
The master of the Molynenx Kohinoor dredge, writing under date July 30, stated that since pulling ahead the prospects have improved. The ground was still deep, consequently there was a large amount of top dirt to lift, as the dredge was operating in behind the beach. Up to time of writing no bottom had been got, although solid wash was struck at a dppth of 42ft. The dredge was working steadily all last week, and at the close was shifted np-stream for a distance of 60ft. Says the Cromwell Argus : — " The New 1-loyal Maori dredge may have to suspend sperations pending certain arrangements. Unluckily the dredge started to work on ground that was very deep and contained no hard •wash, being a sort of a pothole. No doubt there is solid and payable ground close at Land, but the trouble is to get to it, as tie
depth of the ground makes a short journey a
matter of time Boring has shown that the claim is similar to other parts of the Clutha, but the company has struck a bit of bad luck at the start."
The actual time worked by the Electric No. 1 dredge last week was 103 hours, the distance worked ahead 12ft, ard the width of the cut SOft, with the depth of the ground varying up to about 40ft. The gold was still fine in character. The deep ground was making very rough, and during last week two grab-hooks ■were broken. On Thursday, at 3.30 p.m., the hanger twisted, and it took seven hours to get it off, straightened, and put in position again. Dredging was resumed at midnight the same day, but there was another stoppage on Saturday at 8 a.m. in order to put on the buckets and take off the broken grab hooks. It was expected to start dredging again at midnight on Sunday. I The distance worked ahead by the Rise and Shine No. 1 dredge last week was 6ft, and the width of the cut 450 ft, with the depth of the ground varying up to 44ft. The prospects continued about the same as in the previous week, with soft bottom right across the cut.
On the west corner the ground was very heavy. The distance worked ahead by the No. 2 diedge was 6ft, with the depth of the ground varying from 35ft to 40ft. The ground continued fairly rough, with the prospects much the same as in the previous week. The cut is j being gradually opened out to the west side, in the hope that better gold may be met with, j The master of the Junction Electric No. 1 j dredge, in his report for the week ended 30th i July, stated that a considerable amount of I time was lost in the early part of the week I through the roughness of the ground, which 1 caused many stoppages to effect repairs to the machinery. The drift was also very bad. The best gold was obtained where the ground was rougli, and the prospects were still fair. The depth and width of ihe cut was about the same as in the previous week. On Wednesday afternoon the bottom tumbler shaft broke, and it was Friday afternoon before the shaft was got out of the tumbler. In view of it being a considerable time before a new shaft aid bushes •would conic to hand, it was decided to fix up the old tumbler lying on the beach. It was put on board and put together and, as already notified by wire, dredging resumed on Tuesday at noon. The actua l time worked by the No. 2 dredge last week was 126 hours. On Wednesday the air pump
broke down, and caused a delay of about seven hours, and on Saturday the headline broke > and caused another stoppage of three hours. ! The ground treated last week was poor, the j greater portion of it having been worked before.
August o. 1 The master of the Three-mile Greenstone j Creek Company wired the secretary yesterj day that he resumed dredging on Wednesday ' night. The secretary of the Sullivan's Lead Go.d j Dredging Company received advice from the i dredgemaster yesterday to the effect that ' dredging was resumed on Wednesday ndght.
The master of the New Halfway House dredge wired! the secretary on Thursday that everything was working steadily, and that the "prospects were good.
Tlie contractors (Messrs M'G-regor and Co.) for the salvaging and re-erecting of the New Fairdown Company's dredge have now completed their contract. The 1 elevator has been lengthened by 10ft so as to allow the tailings to be stacked higher, thus facilitating future dredging operations. Work was to have been resumed on the 3rd inst., but the heavy snow which fell (interfered with the cartage of coal to the claim.
The master of the Upper Waipori dredge wired tihe secretary on Thursday cs follows: — " Snowing incessantly since Monday ; 3ft on flat ; half paddock full of snow ; dredge working."
The master of the Otago Company's No. 1 dredge, reporting for the week ended July 31, stated that he was still working into the bank, and was making preparations for affixing the larger elevator. The No. 2 dredge did not stuke anything last week, the ground being solid but very deep, in consequence of which a lot of stuff had to be treated.
With reference to a paragraph from the Cromwell Argus to theeffe ct that, the New Eoyal Maori lredge may have to suspend operations pending certain arrangements, tihe Secretary states that
financial arrangements haive been made which will permit of the dredge working for at least three months. A levy of Is per share has been struck, and is being satisfactcrily responded to.
The master of the Electric No. 2 dredge,
writing under date 2nd inst.. stated that dredging time was rather broken last week owing to a number of pins and links breaking. On Tuesday afternoon one of the ladder hangers broke, and there was a. narrow escape of losing the ladder, but fortunately one of the preventer chains held and enabed the ladder to be Idfted without very much trouble. A spare set of hangers was put on, also another crossbar, and dredging was resumed at midnight. Tlie following day the crossbar was bent, and five and a-half hours were occupied in
straightening it. The gold won last week was a coarse, heavy sample, and a cla=s characteristic of the upper part of the c'aim. It was also coarser than has been the case for some time past. On Monday last, owing to imI proved prospscts, the dredge was shifted over j to the big boulder and a start made to extend i the cut to the noith side, where good gold was obtained. Tlie dredgemaster expects that, provided the dredge has a good run, the return for this week will reach the century. • The foPowing items are from the Mount Benger Mail:— The King No. 2 washed up ?ooz last week for a broken week. The diedge is now running- steadily, and the prospects are very good.— The King No. 1 is making good progress with her overhauling. The elevator has been lengthened 30ft. and she will probably start died^ing agam in about three weeks. — Mr W. L. Dari=, of Stony Creek, ] brought down to Queenslown last Friday a
nice return of some 600oz of alluvial gold as the result of about 18 months' work. The manager of the Golden Crescent claim (writes our Wetherstones correspondent) had commenced to shift his p^ant and boxes, but was compelled to stop woik owing to the depth of snow. The men on the ranges looking after the water races must have had a trying time of it. One of the claim hands (A. Walker) went out 'ast Friday to take chaige of the Golden Crescent water race, one of the men (T. M'NttUy) having resigned his poation after 13 years on the ranges. A sudden thaw setting in or rain commencing to fall wou'd at the present tune cause considerable damage to the water race and the surrounding country. A press message from Thames states that a party of New Zealanders 3s proceeding under contract to the Egyptian Government to important mining positions near the Assouan dam. The wages are M 0 a month, and a lengthy vacation each year. All of places that were opened a short time back are now filled, I but there will likely have to be a further addition at some time, as m the case of the Gold Coast of West Africa and Sumatra Mining Companies. It is utterly useless for New Zealanders to go out unless under specific engagement. Some who made the journey in the expectation of employment faied very badly.
July 6. There will be no wash-up on the Gaiden Gully dredge this week. ' The Southern Standard states that the re1 turn from the Lady Anne dredge, which is working lower down than the Duke of Gordon dredge at Waikaia, for the week ended 23rd I ult., was 82oz. The Lady Ann is «, privatelyowned concern. The Lone Star dredge resumes work in a day or two (says the Lake County Press). The diedgeinaster has just returned iiorn Dunedm, and intends making a start with diedgmg operations immediately. The master of the Aldinga dredge, in his report for last week, stated that most of the . time was taken up in making a bridge over ths swanip so .as to get coal carted closer to the dredge. The wash got more solid last week, also more shallow in places. There was a lot of timber to contend with, one side of the face being all bush. The dredgemaster thought that he might have to stop any time this week, as the screen was completely worn out. but he intended trying to keep going till ths end of the week. ' The master of the Sandy Point dredge, writ- ' ing under date 30th u'.t., stated that he was repairing all last week. The screen was finished, and the lower tumbler of the elevator was taken out on deck. Some trouble was cx1 ptrienced in getting the keys in tlie cheeks j started, as a, lot of the timber work in connection with the silt elevator hr.di to be re- • moved. There was a heavy fall of snow on Sunday, while the frost the following day (Mondpy) was the severest this winter. The master of the New Wooclistock dredge, writing under date Ist inst., stated that there was no impioveinent to report m the ground. The dredge worked up to withm 100 ft of the foot of the tcirace last week, and on Monday last was turned and headed down the flat. It j was expected that the un worked ground in , part of the face would be reached within a j week. There will probably be some rough ground 1 on the side next to- the road for some time yet as the dredge wiil be pretty close to the line of rough boulders. Eveiythmg on board was working well. Tha ileonbght dredge had a good inn last week, the actual time worked being 111 hours. The ground was very hard and shallow on the eastern side of the cut, while in the western 1 corner theze was a lot of silt, which caused a great deal oi trouble. The buckets are getting in a pretty bad state, but some new lips ars en the claim, and these will be put on as scon as possible. The wash was looking a little better, and the dredgemaster expected a-uother good return for the current week. The master of the Gabriel No. 2 dredge, writing under date 31st nit., stated that the ladder line broke twice during last week, otherwise he had a fair run. The oldi ladder line broke first, and then a part of "the new one was put on, but it also broke when lifting a- big stump. This caused some delay, but cveiything was got going again. The whole of the face was worked on last week. Tlie ground was deepening on tne western side, where the gold is expected to improve. The master of the New Golden Eiver dredge, wiitmg under date 31st ult., stated that he started dredging again on the 25th ult. after shifting the dredge. Bottom was reached on one side on hard reef, and a. depth of 52ft was reached in the centre of the river, but without striking bottom. On the 27th ult. the ' diedge was shifted a length ahead, but again failed to bottom in the centre of the stream. The ground was rough on both sides of the 1 river, and the bottom was hard and the wash poor. The dredge was then pulled ahead on the 31st ult. to where the oldi^spoon diedge was working some years back, and a start made , close to where that dredge got her returns. I The following items are taken fiom the I Alexandra Herald: — "We aie informed, on I what we believe to be reliable authority, that 1 the Earnscleugh No. 3 dredge last week washed up the handsome return of 112Jnz for about 1 10 daya' dredging. We understand that lately j the returns h^ve been satisfactory, but the i above-mentioned leturn is a record return for I tha dredge. — The Earnscleugh Ne. 2 dredge is I at present undergoing a- general overhaul. It ia intended to alter the framing to allow of the top tumbler being raised, and the timber for this was landed at the dredge yesterday. I The No. 1 dredge is working steadily. — It is expected that the Davis's Bend dredge will commence drec-^ing before the end of the present week. — During the past week or two Messrs Eobertson and Paget have been engaged in" driving on the new line of reef recently discovered at Conroy's Gully, and, so j far the prospects are very encouraging. — The I next examination for dredgemasters' certificates will be held in January next. — The Moa, ManuI herikia, First Chance, SaiJoi's Bend, and Ben- ! digo dredges are working steadily. — Ihe Golden Beach dredge had 1 , to stop on Friday last to await the airiva.l ot new ladder rollers, which were ordered from Dunedin some time previously. It is expected that the rollers will arrive in time to allow of the dredge resuming operations on Saturday. An Auckland telegiam states that duiuig 1 July the Talisman Consolidated Gold Mining Company treated 3975 tons of ore for bullion valued at .£6886. The liquidator of the Golden Horseshoe Diedgiug Company publishes 111 S.ituiday's Daily Times a notification of interest to debtois and creditois ol the company.
Ausu<=t 8.
There was no wash-up on iho !Xe\v Bend go dredge last week. The master of the Golden Run Gold Died'*ing Company's dredge reports that he was eugaged fixing up the boiler tubes dimng Idst week; consequently there wai no wash-up. The &acie l ary of the Waimuniu Gold Dj edging Company icpoits that there was no wash-up List week, owmt, to the dredge being stopped thiough the v, inc'i gcl'mg out oi v erki 1 g
The niaslsT o: the Xpw Ttoyal ilaoi: drpc!«;e wheel the secretary on Saturday tiipt ho stopped dredging on Friday night. He v. .13 shifting up towards the cast last week, and latei ded washing up when he started again. The master oi the Bisnell'-s >*o Town dredge has wired the secretary that he had to &ti,p diedgmg as the large s>pui-wheel split. He has, however, purchased one fiom a sister
dredge. There was no time to wash up. but lit had 181oz of gold on hand and about the same on the mats.
The master of the Riley's Beach dreclgp reports that he washed up ior a return of 14os 14dwt for 96 hours' dredging. The dredge was stopped during the ve?k for a day and a-half repairing buckets.
The Junction Waikaka dredge has had ia stop work for a few days owing to the snow preventing the coal-caitcr (from getting to the dredge. A wash-up for last week is therefore improbab c.
The master of the Stafford TVaimea diedge has wired the seci etarv to Ihc effect that the l>ort pontoon is badly strained. The dredgs was kept afloat for li hours on Friday. Another trial to laise her will take place o,i Monday.
The secretaiy of the "Waikaka, AVaikaka Queen, and TVaimumu Queen Companies reXJorts that all these dreclge= have been closed down owing to the snow.
The secretary of ,the New Fomteen-mile Beach Gold Dredging Company reports a return of 40oz 4dwt for 115 hours' woik. Tho dredgemaster, writing tinder date 3id in»t., stated that the ground was improving and was carrying a sample of gold similar to that got on the boundary of the claim. He slso stated that during the two days previous to writing the bottom was rising, with better-looking wash, carrying fine god. The secretary of the Happy Valley Gold Dredging Company reports a return of lloz sdwt for last week. The dredgeinaster wiied that everything was working well, but the ground was poor.
The secretary of the Manuherikia Gold Dredging Company reports a return of 2890z 4dwt for 124 hours work. The dredgema&ter wired that the pro&pects were still good, but that the diift was a little tioublesoine. Hard (frosts wero also being experienced, and it was found difficult to get the coal to the dredge. At their rooms on Sa^ -.rday Messrs Sievwright Bros, and Co. offered for sale by auction the O.P.Q. gold mine at Waipori, together with all mining and water rights, tail races, residence area, etc. in connection therewith, a'so the whole of the mining and battery plant. Bidding for the concern started at £500, and advanced by two bids of £50 each to £600. At this stage, no further bid boing forthcoming, and as the reserve was not reached, the property was passed in for private treaty. During July the Talisman Consolidated Go.d Mining Company treated 3975 tons of ore for bullion valued at £6SS6.
August 9. The master of the Nelson Creek dredge reports that the lower pressure piston broke on Thursday last. Dredging was resumed on Fuday might, but there was no wash-up at the end of the week.
The master of the First Chance dredge wired the secretary on Mofiday that he lost the string of buckets at 4 o'clock on Sunday morning. He also stated that there was no hope of recovering them as they were 46ft down, and the drift was running bad. He fu'ther wired that there were about 320z on the mats as the result of operations carried on after the washup on Friday up till 4 o'clock on Sunday morning. The directors of the company notify that they have just purchased the River Molyneux dredge, the buckets on wliuch will be utilised to replace those lost by the First Chance dredge. It is therefore expected that the dredge will be got to work again very shortly.
The returns won by the Jlolyneux Kohinoor dredge during the "half-year ended Ju'.y 31 amounted to 208oz ldwt 12gr, valued at £807 10s 6d, in addition to which £27 14s 6d was leceived in interest, making the total revenue £835 os. The expenditure for the half-year was £1281 6s Id, so that there was a loss of £i4G Is Id on the work done. On July 30 tlie jompauy had cash aniountung to £700 on deposit, against which there was a sum of £23 •4s lOd owing to the Bank of New Zealand.
Notwithstanding the bad weather last week (writes our "Wetherstones correspondent) the manager of the Local Industry claim put m full time. He does not intend washing down before next Saturday. The manager of the Golden Crescent claim has just about finished electing his boxes and shifting the pipes. No work could be done during two days of last week owing to the snow. Owing to the race being frozen and snowed up it will piobably be a week or two before the manager gets the water in.
The directors of the Central Charlton Dredging Company r ave declared a dividend of Is per share, payable on Monday. A Wellington wire states that last month ]STew Zealand exported 48,0130z gold, of the value of £180,027, as compared with 55,9020z, of the value of £216,578, in July of last year. The quantity of silver exported last month was 130,6800z, valued at £16,440.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2630, 10 August 1904, Page 27
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3,987THE WEEK'S MINING- NEWS August 3. Otago Witness, Issue 2630, 10 August 1904, Page 27
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