Notes from Greymouth. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 33

Notes from Greymouth. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

GREYMOUTH. Marcii 1.

Arthur M'lnroc returned to Ikamatna on Tuesday after a couple of months' prospecting at the he.ad of Lake Wakatipu, in Otago. M'lnroe and M'Kay, of Blackvrater, have been representing a local syndicate, who were led to believe that a payable quartz reef would! be fouiad at Mopc-ke Creek, Wakatipu. The prospectors found the reef, but an assay of the quartz did not come up to anticipations.

The removal of the Crcesus Company's battery to the Garden Gully site has commenced. The contract time is five month?. It ia reckoned, that the claim should crush about 1000 tons of quartz by Christmas.

The dredge and claim of the Mosquito No. 2 Company is up for sale. The claim, which is rncfstly owned in Hawera, never gave a single payable result.

The machinery of the Sullivr.n's Lead dredge is being carted to the Tctara Flat Railway. Station. I understand that after being overhauled in Duiieclin this machineiy is to be shipped for Melbourne.

On the application of the workmen tha warden has ordered the sale of the StonyMosquito diedge and claim.

The export of gold from the port of Greymouth for last mouth was the smallest for many years — namely, 829cz lldwt logr, valued at £3319.

Several Reeftnn and Hokitika residents are pending experienced quartz miners out to the Wilberforee country on a prospecting expedition. The pr.rty will lanve to-morrow, and! expects to be absent six weeks.

March 5.

The share market had sufficient transactions last week to prove that it existed. Bignell's No Towns changed hands at 16s 6d ; while a, like price was on offer for Blaekwaters. Jamieson's Rewardd had a decided advance. North Beach shares still maintain a much bigger piice than the past 12 months' operations would appear to warrant. This is owing to great expectations regarding a piece oi ground a little way ahead, which, by those who have worked in the vicinity, is regaided a3 very rich. A lead thereabouts was lost in the early days.

The dry weather continues, and sluicers are mostly at a standstill. Tlioss working ara doing so with about half a supply of water, and therefore at a great disadvantage. The Montgomery's Company, like the rest, is short of water. A marked improvement has occurred in the face, the old main bottom having been, again struck, and the wash getting closer, with, less grey silt. The colour is darker, and like the gravel in the Republic a".d adjoining claims. This is the best indio 'lon the com.-

oany has yet had, and prospects have, in the spinion of experts, much improved. M'Leod's Terrace Sluicing Company has at Length got to work, and, although affected by dry weather, is doing fairly well, and promising good returns. Mr M'Leod himself states that although there has not yet been much sluicing done, a very satisfactory quantity of gold is seen in the sluice-boxes ; while prospecting from the face gave excellent returns. Mr M'Kay, who some years ago purchased the Barrytown sluicing claim from the Ashburion holders, and ever since has done well, recently bought from Mr Bourke a piece of land at a good figure. This block will shortly be worked. Mr M'Kay has practically command of the whole land between the beach and the terraces for a distance of two miles. The property ,is possibly the best on the Coast. The Jamieson's Reward dredge heads the list this week with 740z. There was but little difference in the wash from that of the previous week. The directors last night declared a dividend. The company is clear of debt, and has real good prospects before it. The Blackwater River dredge had a full weeks fun last week for 640z 15dwt. The wash S steadily improving, while the gold is getting -much coarser and .nuggety, resembling the metal baing got in the Chinaman's claim higher •up." The prospects of this claim never looked "* brighter than at present. - - Bignell's No Town dredge got 620z for 181 hours. The previous week there was a stop* . -page to put in. a new tumbler. The machinery / .is liow .-working well, but timber is making its 'ippearance and becoming, troublesome. 1 -The Pactolus No.-l dredge is improving, last week's yield- being 270z. The larger dredge was repairing the greater part of the week. ■ --.-Cailaghan's Creek- dredge got 30oz. There is' no 'alteration to report. " --The .Mokoia dredge obtained 27ioz. The wash is getting more solid, appearances indicating an improvement. Ths llceves's Proprietary Company obtained BOoz sdwt for two dredges. As the machines are now working in the direction where good wash was indicated two years ago, it is thought -that the company is now on the right road for dividends. ' The Greenstone Creek dredge, privately held, is doing well — better than was expected. ■ The Maori King, Cornwall, and Shellback v dredges are all more "than paying good wages. ." The""Totara Shellback dredge is ready for a start, but is waiting for coal. Six weeks will bs required to test the ground. • x The -Kohinoor dredge had another break- . down, but should make a fresh start this week. A'otes from Reefton. - (From Oxjb Otts Correspondent.) '__ ■ HEEFTONj, M-arch 4. The Big River Company's mine manager reports for the week: — No. 8 level has been tfciven. -20ft, making the distance. from the sihaft - 176 ft. The country is changing for the better. The Ulster Company's mine majnager reports: — During the weak the^winze has been Bunk a further depth of 12ft, making a total of 100 ft. We have also put in two small cross- - cuts in the bottom of the winze into the hanging wall lift, and into the footwall 54ft, without any^ change, the country being the saone .•as last reports cL -„*; ' *F£te', Alpine Company's mine manager Teports: — The rise in No., 10 has been" v extended 15ft, making the total distance 89ft. * 'TTlie stons cut out in the rise during the week, ' . but made 'again yesterday. There is now 3ft "of 'stone, but th«»" quality is- poor. The stone is, wet", also'- footwaM. No. 12 winze i 3 down 3.oft. We .have not •cut the reef yet, but '.'-touched it on the- footwall side. I expect to have 'it- in the winze in about 3ft or 4ft more -sinking. *•