THE WEEK'S MINING NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 32

THE WEEK'S MINING NEWS

December 14.

The Hessey's <lredgcmaster reports having on Sunday, lltb iart., and the ground continued to look well. The Junction Waikaka dredgemaster reports that he did not wash-up last "week owmgto repairs ana ' inspection of the boiler The ground worked was the deepest yet tvoraging about 16ft. The wash was also 3i*rder than -usual, which is a better sign. During the past two weeks the Masterton dredge' has been working along ,the southern, boundary . of - her -claim, where the ground . is Eood The dredgemaster reports- that he is now squaring up the face, and will soon extend rhe" workings ot\t into the river again. The around was deepening, but it is not known whether it will effect- the return or -not ~ r . n he Punt Gold Dredging Company's dredge, -which is being 'shifted down to lier claim, is a '-mile, down 4he river, where it .will Tie obliged to do a little dredging, as the river there is .low and shallow in one or two telacos. Once past this -spot, however, good headway will be made over the remaining one mile of river. The Lady Roxburgh dredge was hampered V^good deal last week through drift on th.3 untside- of the cut, the tailings ahead having somewhat altered the current. As soon as the liver get 3 steady the drift can be expected to "cease, but it rose 2ft on Saturday. The cut being v/ork&a was 130 ft wide, and three-fourths -of it was free from drift. The wash on the outside of' the cut was the best. . The "Alexandra Lead dredgemaster reports •under date 10th inst. that the dredge had a fair run for the week, everything working well. Hie' stated that aa there was every prospeot of Jrhe river rising he had everything in readiness jto drop down to the bottom boundary, which, -writh a suitable liver, will not take long to accomplish. - . , The master of the Rise and Shine Company s {No. 1 dredge reports that the ground improved 'considerably last week, especially towards the 3ast few days, 16oz of gold, being obtained for about 32 hours' work from Friday until Saturday morning. The wash was good and full of r Chinamen " and " Maoris." The bottom was ,«oft and in wie west corner was inclined to Ibe sticky. During the past 49 -weeks the dredge •has worked 5498 hours, which gives an average of 112 hours 'per week. Four weeks were spent trep'airing and overhauling, so that, deducting ithese, the average working week was 122- hours. The gold obtained totalled 18760z, equal to 38oz Edwt » week, for 49 weeks, or 41oz 13dwt for 44 An Auckland-telegram states that during the last three weeks gold returns totalling £66,959 have come to hand from the mines in the Auckland district. The total output for 11 months Df the present year is "valued at £824,477. The Garryowen dredge and claim of 100 acres it Muddy Creek, Waikaia, were submitted to Ruction at Gore on Saturday by the National Mortgage and Agency Company on behalf of

-the mortgagees. Only nine persons were present. "Bidding was commenced at £200, and raised' in £50 bids to £600. A further bid of £25 by Mr T2. It. Bowler not exceeded, and the dredge and claim fell to that gentleman at £625. It is understood that after the mortgagees are satisfied there will be little . left with which to pay ordinary liabilities. The shareholders, of course, get nothing. — Southern Standard. _„ £ The. secretary of the , Nokomai Hydreuilic Sluicing. Company reports a wash-up of four boxes "at ' No. 1 elevator for 107oz l'2dwt of gold. Cleaning up the bottom was to be completed to-day. At No. 2 elevator the pad-dock was completed on'lSriday, and a wash-up of all the boxes' on Saturday yielded 20oz 17dwt. There is more -rough" gold in this than in the former paddock. He; is of opinion that the deep grtfend is still further to the west, and he intends shifting his tTevator further up the flat, so as to oemmand the deep ground whicli he believes to be there. * The statutory half-yearly meeting of shareholders in the Phoenix Water Eaoe Company will be N ,-held"at the company's office, Queen's rooms, Crawford street, on Thursday, 22nd inst., at noon.

December 15.

It was expected that sluicing would be commenced at the Eoxburgh Amalgamated claim 'on Monday last. The interim secretary of the Punt Gold Dredging Company received a wire from Mr J. L. Scott (Cromwell) yesterday to the effect that good progress was being made with the work of getting the dredge down stream. The New Roxburgh Jubilee dredge had a good run last week, but. the return was not up to expectations. Everything on the dredge was working well. The Dunstan Lead dredgemaster- stated that the ground, continued shallow last week. He intended washing up on Saturday next.

The directors of the Island Block Company have decided to improve the pipe line in connection with the sluicing claim, and with this object in view have procured a quantity of new pipes. This will'-pldce the elevating plant in thorough working^ order, and so facilitate its working. '-

The Junction Electric No. 1 dredgemaster reports that good progress was made with repairs last. week, and nearly all the heavy work has now been completed. A few small jobs yet remain to be done. On the No. 2 dredge the buckets were being bushed and repaired. The links were completed on Wednesday night, and during Thursday, Friday, and Saturday general repairs were carried on. The boiler was blown down, cleaned out, and refilled.

The Waikaia dredgemaster reports that he had a steady run last week, and finished the protection of the freehold on Wednesday, after which a start was made to open down stream. The face worked on after Wednesday was 80 yards long, and the ground continued easy dredging, while there was an even bottom right across the face. All the machinery was running well. The dredgemaster now anticipates a gradual improvement in the returns, but it may be three weeks or a month before part of the good ground is reached. The Electric No. 1 dredge was still under repairs last week. The elevator was finished, and is now in good order. The fore-and-aft chute and the bottom tumbler were also completed, alflo the ladder and stays. The master of the No. 2 dredge reports that operations were carried on steadily last week, but owing to the time lost testing the deep ground, as already reported, there was no wash-up on Friday. After Tuesday the dr§dge was working into the beach again, the conditions being the same aa last week — viz., width of cut about 40ft, and depth of ground varying from 20ft to 40ft. The groiind still remained poor. Considerable attention has been given recently to mining matters round about Deep Dell and Mount Highlay district, owing principally to the success attending Messrs Donaldson Bros.' operations at Deep Dell. The Messrs Donaldson have been mining there for gold and scheelite for a number of years, and, their development .work being well forward, they have been in a position to benefit by the rise in the price of scheelite, and as they have had a number of difficulties to surmount, they are hilly deserving of the success

which has attended their results. The claim adjacent to theirs is owned by Mr M'G-ill, who has been working in a small way for some months, and has now a good show of scheelite. Another claim has been taken up on the Kighlay line of reef, and some of the cuts opened up show a good percentage of scheelitebearing ore, as well as carrying fair gold in places. It is reported that portion of this mine has been disposed of, and a crushing plant is being erected on the claim. Although very little development work has been done to prove ihe extent of this lode or blow of quartz, there is, however, sufficient ore showing on the surface to keep a small plant employed for some time. The supply of water for motive power is not good, but it is the intention of the owners to use coal, as there is a fair supply of lignite to be obtained at Matheson's pit, about two miles and a-half distant. Messrs Sligo Eros, have purchased the Mount Highlay crushing plant, together with the attendant rights, and will probab'.y start operations shortly. Messrs Fortescue and party are employed prospecting the old Maori Hen reef, v/ith promising results. Mount Highlay, where the old workings are situated, is about six iwiles by road from Hyde Railway Station, and the crushing plant about seven and a-half miles from there, and the same distance in a duect line from Macraes.

December 16.

The Matau dredge is at present stopped having her new screen put ir position. As soon as this work is completed the dredgemaster intends opening the cut into the river on the east side just above the junction of Muttontown Gully. The directors of the Enterprise Gold Dredging Company have declared a dividend (the seventy-first) of Is 6d per share, payable on Wednesday, 21st inst. Tie Secretary of the Vinegar Hill Sluicing Company a return of 141oz for 10 days' sluicing. W,e have been shown a sample of g&kl-bearing wash taken from this now famous sluicing c'aim. The wash, which was picked up from the surface, is very rich in quality, and gold can be seen running freely through it. The nature of the wash is a sandj'-oltiy and should be easily worked. The Otago No. 1 dredgemaster reports having had a steady run last week, but, considering the quantity of stuff put through the return was a small one. The No. 2 dredge was still working through old ground, while the silt was troublesome. The dredgemaster expected having to stop for a few days to put on the new tumbler.

The manager of the Ladysmjth sluicing claim, ■writing under date 13th inst., stated that after washing up on the 19th ult. he had to shift the elevator, etc., and resumed sluicing on the 24th lilt. The height of the river was still hampering operations considerably, but it was expected that there would be a wash-up towards the end of next week. It will be remembered that when the First Chance Company lost their dredge buckets they immediately purchased the River Molyreux dredge, and transferred the buckets from there on to the First Chance. It was- then decided" to shift their purchase up to - the Alexandra bridge and dispose of her. This work, although a very arduous task, has now been completed, and the, dredge is at present safely moored near the Alexandra bridge, and will be put up for sale by auction on Saturday, i The master of the New Halfway House dredge, writing under date Monday. 12th inst., stated that for three days he was waiting for a new winch, barrel, which on its arrival was put in position, and the work of shifting the dredge commenced sugam. The dredgemaster does not expect to be 'able to get quite up to the claim this week, but probably would have been were_ it not for the delay caused through the winch. The part of the river where '4he dredge was at time of writing was very difficult to negotiate, there being many corners to get round and nips and crosscurrents.

The directors of the Last Chance Hydraulic Sluicing, Elevating, and Dredging Company have declared a dividend (the third) of 6d per share, payable on Tuesday, 20th inst.

A dividend (the seventeenth) of 2s per share has been declared by the directors of the New Roxburgh Jubilee Dredging Company, and will be payable on Friday, 23rd inst. The directors of the Otago Gold Dredging Company have deolared a dividend (the thirtyfirst) ol Is per share, payable on Wednesday, 21st inst.

December 17. There will be no wash-up on the Mokoia dredge this week. Mr H. F. M. Mercer, liquidator of the Sullivan's Lead Gold Dredging Company (in liquidation), reported that the dredge was offered for sale by auction at Greymouth on Tirarsday last, but, the reserve not 1 being reached, the property was passed in. The dredge will now be disposed of in lots.

The dredgemaster of Gabriel No. 1 wired the secretary on Friday that the bottom tumbler gave out on Thursday night and that he had stopped dredging. A new one was despatched to the claim by Friday afternoon's train. The master of the North Beach dredge reports that he washed up for 420z amalgam for 106 hours' work, during half of which time the dredge was engaged on the back lead. Report-, ing for last week, he stated that the ground worked was just about the same as in the previous week. It was good dredging grounft, and consequently a lot of material was put tkroxign. One shift .was lost through having to straighten the hangers from the bottomtumbler. The weather was very rough. The actual time worked by the Sandy Point dredge during the week ended 10th inst. was 126 hours, the width of the cut 150 yards, the average depth of the ground 28ft, the distance worked about 7ft, and the average height of the face above water level 20ft. The prospects remained about the same as in the previous week.

The directors of the Pater son's Freehold Gold Dredging Company have declared a dividend (the fourth) of Is per share, payable on January 5, 1905. The directors of the Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company have declared a dividend (the twenty-third) of 5a per share, payable on the 23rd inst. The directors of the Lady Roxburgh Gold Dredging Company have declared a dividend (the fifth) of Is per share, payable on Wednesday next. The Golden United Company's dredge, claim, and water races will be offered for sale by auction by Messrs Alex. Harris and Co. on Monday, January 9, at 12.30. The liquidator of the Happy Valley Gold Dredging Company (in liquidation) reports that the dredge and claim have been disposed of for £350. A dividend of Is fid per share has been declared, which means a distribution of £526 2s Cd. A balance of close on £50 remains to adjust some contingent liabilities, after the settlement of which a final dividend will be made.

The Moonlight dredge had a good run last week. The ground was on the average about 12ft deep, and very hard and rough in the centre of tli» cut. Everything was working welL on the dredge, and the sample of gold obtained was a very good one, and may lead to Something good in the near future. The New Woodstock dredgemaster reports having had a fair run last week, but there was no improvement in the ground. The dredge was working well into the hill, about as far as it could get. The dredgemaster., in conoluding his report, said that he would keep on dredging. The repairs required were many, but v the gold was not there ho did

not intend repairing anything that would cost money. The Aldinga dredgexnaster, reporting for the week ended 12tla inst., stated that he only had a short run, owing to the crank-shaft breaking again. .It was, however, repaired sufficiently to enable the dredge to work long enough for a wash-up. A stoppage was made on Saturday morning to take the shaft to pieces and send it to the foundry. The ground treated during the week was very poor, but on Friday the dredge was shifted over to the left-hand side, where better ground was struck, and there was less timber to contend with. The depth of the ground ranged from 7ft to 12ft, the bottom being a mixture of pug and sandstone. The face was about eight chains wide. The secretary received the following wire from the dredgemaster on Friday •.—'•Started dredging midday ; running well at present.'

December 19.

A return of 21oz 6dwt is reported from tlie Golden Gate dredge for last week. The river was reported to be steady. The secretary of tne Royal Waimumu Company reports that the dredge was stopped for repairs last week. The master of the Gabriel No. 1 dredge reports that he washed up for a return of 14oz sdwt for four and a-half days' work, the balance of the time being lost through the tumbler bushes giving way. It ■was expected that the tumbler would be ready in position to make a start at the 4 o'clock shift on Saturday afternoon.

The secretary of the Three-mile (Greenstone Creek) Company reports a return of 14oz 14dwt for 112 hours' work. The dredgemaster "wired that the ground was very rough.- Reporting for the week ended 10th inst. he stated that the dredge had a very poor run, owing to the ground being so rough and containing so many boulders. Another result was that very little material was put through. The wash looked very well in places, and would give good results if enough of it could be put through. December 20.

The master of the Matau dredge wired the secretary on Monday that he resumed dredging p.t midnight on Sunday, everything working smoothly. The secretary of the Enfipld Company reports a return of 12oz for 128 hours' work. The dredgema&ter reported that the ground was about the same a3 in the previous week, but was not so deep on the south side of the cut. There was rock bottom all the way across except for one chain in the middle of the paddock. Says the Grey River Argus:— "The gold dredges have been turned to various uses throughout the colony, but we have never heard of one being wanted for lead mining. We are informed, however, that the Ahaura River dredge has been sold through Messrs Richardson and Blair to a New South Wales mining syndicate. Messrs Nees and Co. have received instructions to proceed immediately with the dismantling."