THE WEEK'S MINING NEWS March 22.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 26

THE WEEK 'S MINING NEWS March 22.

The Masterton dredgemaster reports that there is no perceptible change m the ground, and the show of gold is about the same as that of last week.

The dredgemaster of Hessey's reports that he is inpkmg fair progress through the tailings, and that it will be about three weeks before he gets through. The return from the Local Industry Company's claim for the week ended March 11 was 12oz, and for the week ended 18th inst. 23Joz. Th} manager expected to finish the paddock on Wednesday. In connection with a dividend of 2s per shaie payable on Wednesday by the Lady Annie Diedging Company, it may be mentioned that since resuming dredging on the 11th January, after stoppage for the Christmas holidays, the company has declared 5s per share in dividfnds, absorbing a sura of £1050, and a further sum of £100 has been set aside to meet the payment for land due next June.

A meeting of shareholders in the Junction Waikaka Gold Dredging Company was called for Monday, 20th, for the purpose of considering the financial position of the company. The call was not, however, responded to very well, a^ the meeting had to bo adjourned for want of a quorum.

A. balance sheet of the Junction Electric Gold Dredging Company for the half-year ended February 28 shows that during that period the gold yield was Go2oz lOdwt, of a value of £2329 16s 2d, to wfiich the No. 1 dredge contributed 189oz 19dwt 12gr, and the No. 2 dredge 4120z lldwt. Interest amounting to £20 and £5 in the way of sundries brought the total revenue for the six months up to £2354 16s 2d. The expenditure during this period was £2435 15s- 3d. On February 28 there was cash at the bank and on deposit to the amount of £1893 19s Sd, but out of this a sum of £550 has been paid for a third dredge. At the end of February last there were creditors to the amount of J8347 12s sd.

The secretary of the Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company lias received from the manager of fhe No. 1 elevator information that pipe flumes were put m in Diggers' Creek race, and everything in connection with it is now in a satisfactory condition, except the -water supply, which is short. The manager of No. 2 elevator was able to resume sluicing, and sunk to the reef. He also is troubled for want of water, as his dam does not give a week's supply during this warm, dry weather. 'Ihe secretary of the Rise and Shine Dredging Company reports :— No. 1 dredge. Worked ahead 7ft, depth to over 50ft, width over 450 ft. The bottom is now hard over more than half the cut, with little or no gold on that part. The whole of the gold is got on the west side, where the bottom is soft. The dredge is now on a bar, showing plainly on the shore. "When this is crossed good returns should be got. No. 2 dredge. Ahead 12ft. The ground is practically unchanged throughout the cut. With the exception of a few feet on the west side of the cut the wash looks better, and carries a good deal of " Maories " and black sand.

The secretary of the Chicago Company reports that the company's new dredge commenced operations on Monday night last. The Ngapara No.^3 dredgemaster washed up last week for a return of soz, aa the result of 115 hours' work. During the week he was engaged turning the dredge round on to the old cut.

The reported finding of payable wash' by a party of prospectors at a spot to the south of Falls Creek, Orepuki, last week had the effect of causing a rush to the locality (reports the Western Star). In a short time some 50 lines had been pegged out and shafts of varying depths were sunk, but not a sign of gold was found. The rush was on leasehold property — a dairy farm, — consequently all shafts had to be filled up again to prevent accidents.

The following items are from the Cromwell Argus . — Mr M. Murray is again taking command of the Riley Beach, and will be in search of a crew shortly. — Mr John Holden, ■winchman of the Rising Sun, has been appointed dredgemaster of Alpine No. 2. He has got his crew together, and made a start repairing on Wednesday morning. Dredging operations will probably be commenced in a fortnight. — Alpine Consols has got the first load of their buckets on the claim. In the course of a week they should all be up, as they are now lying at Ornakau. — Lafranchi's dredge is working steadily, and should be on good payable ground shortly. — Mr C. M'G-eorge (late of the Punt dredge) has been appointed engineer of the First Chance dredge. — The Love Star has got to work again after a thorough overhaul. — The once-famed Criffel Face is likely to come to the front again, a strong syndicate having taken up ground there and cleaned out the races preparatory to a clear start in spring. The secretary of the No Town Creek Gold Dredging Company reports that Messrs Anderson, the vendors of the No. 2 dredge, having complied with the terms of purchase and supplied free of cost to the comipany the material required to put the dredge in first-class order, the company has provided the labour necessary, and the repairs and additions were completed m time to start the dredge on March 1. The paddock had silted up, and four days were spent in cleaning it out, after which the dredge worked for a few days on the bottom, right across the face, sufficiently long to satisfy the dredgemaster that the gold said to have been won in the last two days' work by the defunct company did not continue. As two bores have been put down nine chains in front of the dredge, in one of which about 7ft of wash was struck, it has been decided to take a shallow cut up the claim to this place, and open out there. Both the No. 1 and No. 2 diedges are now in first-class order.

March 23

Tenders are invited for the construction of a water race about three miles in length at Lawrence.

The Manuherikia dredgemaater reports that he has started dredging, and that everything is working well.

The dredgemaster of the Clyde dredge reports that the centrifugal pump broke down on Monday, and that it vill be a difficult job t) e«t things in going order again.

The dredgemaster of No. 2 Junction Electric wires that No. 3 dredge has arrived where dredging will commence, but that some repairs will be necessary before starting.

The master of Electric No. 2 dredge expects to have repairs finished about Friday of this week, when a cut or two will be made across thu face of the deep ground just abieast of the dredge. The ground on which operations will be commenced is that which the dredge was unable to bottom before Christmas on account of the drift.

The directors 'of the Ladysmith Gold Dredging Company have declared a dividend (the fifths of one shilling per share, payable on Thursday, 23rd inst. Tliq secretary of the Vinegar Hill Sluicing Company reports that the manager pf the

claim has been engaged cleaning out tne races during the past nine days. There was hardly enough water for elevating, but it commence.! raining on Wednesday. The dredgemaster of the Alexandra Lead reports that the dredge has been working as usunl during the past week, and that the "round operated on has been patchy and uneven. He expects an improvement as the prospects at tlie end of the week were promising. The dredgemaster of Electric No. 1 reports that the dredge worked 137 hours last week, tlie distance covered being 24ft, width of cut OGft, and the depth of ground varied up to 39ft. There is no improvement in the prospects so far, but the ground is not quite so rough on the Cromwell side. Tho dredgemaster of the Waimumu Gold Dredging Company reports that the tumbler bush broke on Thursday night, and as a new one had to be obtained and altered a start was not made until Sunday night. Everything is now running well again March 24.

The secretary of the Hessey's Company j reports a return of 12oz 3dwt for 132 houis' work. , , The Lady Annie dredgemaster reports having washed up for a return of 220z 15dwt. This was for only 50 hours' dredging, the dredge being stopped the remainder of the time repairing. _ i The secretary of the Rising Sun Company reports that there will be no wash-up this we°k The bottom tumbler shaft has broken, and a new one is being forwarded to the claim. The annual meeting of the Southern Gold Miners' "industrial Union of Employers was held at the office of the secretary, Gore, on Tuesday, Mr T. Green (president) occupying thf> chair In the election of office-bearers MiGreen was reapcointed president and Dr Donaldson vice-pr&sident. Messrs F. Walks, J. Turn bull. W. H. Paterson, X. Ibbotson, J. MacNeil, and J. Brownlie were elected to the committee. The Riley's Beach Gold Dredging Company was even less successful in its operations last year than was the case during the previous year, one of the causes of this being the sinking of the dredge in the early part of the year. The refloating of the dredge entailed an expenditure of about £400, and the sinking at the time was unfortunate for the reason that the dredge had just been shifted on to some maiden ground, which was expected to give highly payable results. These expectations were ultimately realised, as when the dredge commenced work after being 1 refloated sho started off with some very gocd returns, her second yield after resuming being about 950z. For some time past, however, operations have been at a standstill owing to the unsuitability of the river. Consequently the total yield for the year does not reach very large figures, and is a shade under that for the previous year. The exact amount of gold won during the year just ended was 4290z 2dwt lOgr, of a value of £1644 11s 9d, and the amount expended over its production £2024 9s 4d. Since registration in February, ISOI, the gold output stands at Q7600z 12dwt 9gr, of a value of £10,642 10s Bd. The expenditure during the sameperiod was £18,030 6s 2d, and the amount of dividends declared £3460. On December 31 last there was cash in the bank to the amount of £57 10s 7d, and debts owing by the company totalling £16 15s 2d.

March 25.

Messrs James Samson and Co., under instructions from the registrar of the Supreme Court, will offer for sale at their rooms on Monday, April 10 the steam bucket dredge known as ihe Golden Beach, together with claim, water races, etc. The Rise and Shine Company's No. 2 dredge stopped on Thursday for repairs, which will occupy three days. The return for the part week is £3oz 13dwt.

The master of the Moonlight dredge, under date March 8, reports that the creek is very low at present, and the ground hard and shallow in the eastern corner, being about 7ft deep, but the wash seems to be improving. Everything on the dredge was working well at the time of writings

The secretary of the North Beach. Company reijorts that the dredge is still repairing.

The New Bendigo Gold Dredging Company requires the services of a^ dredgemaster. The same company invites tenders for the cartage of coal from the Molyneux Company's pits at Alexandra to their coaling stage on the Sailor's Bend Company's claim.

The Dunstan Lead dredgemaster reports that the dredge had a very satisfactory run all last week until Saturday morning, when the elevator string parted up at the top tumbler, and it took two days to get it back into position again. A stoppage was made this week to put in some liners in the deep end of the screen and to lift up the pathway. He states that he will move the dredge when he gets fixed up, if the river keeps right. Owing to the stoppage there will be no wash-up this week.

The master of the Otago Gold Dredging Company's No. 2 dredge reports a steady run, and that a shift was lost changing elevator buckets. The dredge is troubled with timber, and the ground is keeping about the same. The No. 1 dredge was to start work on Thursday morning.

The master of the Junction Electric No. 2 dredge states that he has been dredging fairly well all the week. One of tho crew on Friday of last week had the misfortune to have one of nis toes badly injured by a stone falling on it. A good deal of time was lost on Saturday last through the high-pressure piston breaking, and the dredge will consequently not put in as good time as last week. There was no wash-up this week.

A discovery of gold is reported in the New Hebrides. A correspondent in the Archipelago states that according to the information received *' fn various sources it would seem that the gold deposits were to be found in large quantities in the centre of the island of Aoba. No Euiopean, he adds, has yet penetrated to the mountainous regious of the island. Ciptain Gaspard, who has had a long experience in the islands, says he had thoroughly explored the 'island of Aoba, and that he had uo knowledge of any gold deposits. Did they exist he should certainly have known of them, as the natives would undoubtedly have informed him of the fact. March 27. There was no wash-up on the Junction Electric Ko. 2 dredge last week. The dredgeana-ster of the Electric No. 2 dredge reports that he resumed dredging on Friday evening

There was no v, ash-up on the Manuherikia dredge iast week, the paddock not being opened out yet.

Messrs Alexandra Hams and Co., auctioneers, on Saturday submitted to auction the dredge and claim of the Fairdown Gold Dredging Company at Waikuia on account of the trustees of the debentuie-holders. Aft^r spirited bidding Mr W. J. Love became Ihe purchaser at £1000.

The dredgemaster of the Gabriel reports a return of 6oz 7dwt for the we-ek. The ground is still very deep and the reef hard. The dredge will commence dredging in the creek, when it is hoped the returns will improve.

The Print diedgeinaster reports for the week ending March 18 as follows- — "Dredging 124 hour*, and worked ahead 12ft, v. ith width ot cut 100 yds. The bottom m places is changing

from claj to sandstone. The average depth ol the ground is 35ft, and very tight m places, with a frw large stones. The S&ndy Point dredgemaster reports as follows fcr the week ending March 18- — ■ "Started dredging at 2 o'clock on Tuesday; dre-d'ginc time 103 hours , width of cut 150 yds, with an average depth of 26ft. The distance, worked ahead was 6ft, and the average height of face above water level 22ft. Prospects remain about the same. The water supply irons the Fraser River is lighter than when tho dredge stopped for overhaul. The weather is 4. Wostport telegram states that the coal output last -week was 8714 tons llcwt, of whioh. 8071 tons 6cwt was from the Westport Coal Company's mines, and 643 tons scwt from the Seddonville State mine