THE WEEK'S MINING NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 24

THE WEEK'S MINING NEWS

April 12.

The dredgemnster of the Alexandra Lead dredge ie ports that he did not have a very good run last week owing to some necessary Tepairs having to be effected. Only 90 hours' dredging was done, and the return was small as compared with that for the previews week.

but tke dredgemaster is of opinion tkat if so muck old ground kad not to be worked '.h^ week y returns would be at least 40qz. Tke Lady Roxburgh dredgemaster, under date April 9, says ho is dredging very steadily. At tke beginning of last i\ eek ke prospeoted some gi cund on tke west side, and foimd it kad been worked befoie. On Thursday nigkt the ground became sft or Gft deeper, and the depth is now 40ft.

Tke dredgemaster of the Rise and. Shine No. 1 reports: — "Worked ahead fift, width over 450 ft, depth to over 50ft. There is now a soft bottom tkrougkout the cut, with a heavy wash, full of " maoris " and blacksand, carrying very fine gold. Tke better prospects aie got towards the west side, but the heavier go 1 1 (a few flat scaly samples) is obtained from tke centre to the east side. Tke ground is now full of fair-sized " Chinpmen," and is very tight to work." Tke dredge stopped on Monday morning to effect some repairs, but was to start again last night.

The directors of the Central diarlton Gold Dredging Company have declared a dividend (the tenth) of Is per share, payable forthwith. A general opinion has been expressed tkat the giound below the false bottom, to wkick tke company have been dredging, canoes payable gold, and to remove all doubt on this question the directors have had a shaft sunk in the centre of tke claim. This skaft lias been sunk io tke depth of 45ft, the work being carried <ut under tke direction of tke dredgernaster (Mr James M'Corkindale), with the le-sult that although tkere is a little fine gold right tkrougk the wash it is not rich "enougk to pay to dredge with suck overburden as would kave to be contended witk. Tke returns from tke dredge for several weeks past have not been up to the average, but tikis is accounted for by tke fact tkat tke dredge is going tkrough a very heavy bump of clay, which extends from section 2 and across section 3. The dredgemaster does uot expect tkis to continue, and believes he will be tkrougk tke worst of it - n the course of a few weeks.

Tke Waimumu dredgemaster, under date 11th mst., reports: — "We had. a steady run up till Saturday, when the tumbler bush broke, causing a stoppage until tke nerw one arrives from Dunedin. The dredge -was turned r< und on Thursday to work tke piece of ground in the centre of tke flat, wkick I consider will turn out well, as the mats show a great improvement."

T'iie secretary of the Nbkomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company has received reports from No. 1 elevator that work was suspended till the 10th, on which day rain commenced to fall at 4 a.m.. and it was steadily falling up to 8 a.m., Tv'hen tke report left. From No. 2: Skowers fell during tke week, and wore of some kelp. The report from the No. 2is uot so late, but doubtless the steady rain also extended to the Nokomai watershed.

Tke Christchurch Press, referring to the last week's return of tke Reeves' s Proprietary o. 1 dredge, says there was a loss of time caused through the rivets in the bulkheads and angle stag's of the ladder working loose, necessitating cutting out the whole of the old rivets and rerivetiug. This took two shifts to complete, (in Thursday night the bucket belt parted, carrying away the drop shoot, but tkis was repaired, and the dredge started again on Sunday night. The return from ihe No. 2 dredge was 17oz Kdwt for 115 hours. On the same shift that the belt on the No. 1 parted, the crown wheel of the No. 2 was cracked, but the dredgemaster expected to get her going again yesterday afternoon. Tenders are invited for boating coal on the Molyneux River from tke top er.d of Ike Sailor's Behd claim and New Bendigo dredges

April 13.

Mr S. E. Brent, secretary of <ke Last Chance Hydraulic, Sluicing. Elevating, and Dredging Company, reports a return of 320z for 12 days' sluicing. Tke directors of tke Rise and Shine Gold Dredging Company have declared a dividend of Is per skare, payable on Monday, 17tk inst. The directors of tke Paterson's Freekold Gold Mining Company have declared a dividend (tke sixth) of Is per skare, payable fortk■n ith.

The directors of the Golden Treasiire Gold Dredging Company have declared a dividend of 4s per share, payable on Saturday. The dredge is now undergoing necessary repairs, and, in addition, a new top tumbler is being put, on, and the screen is being renewed. It is hoped that work will be resumed on Monday.

The Punt dredgemaster rex^orts dredging 118 hours last week. The depth of the ground is 35ft, and the distance worked aliea<3 was 9ft. The ground was pretty tight, and severe on the bucket lips and rims. The short number oi hours worked was due to the engine breaking down

The dredgemaster of the Electric No. 1 dredge reports that tke dredge worked for 131 hours last week, the distances being: — Worked ahead 24ft, width of cut 91ft, depth of ground uo to 43ft. The prospects during the week varied, there was not much wash on a blue clay Lortoni.

The dredgemas>ter of the Junction Electric No. 1 dredge reports that he resumed dredging on Wednesday week at 4. p.m. The machinery was running wel', and giving every satisfaction. The dredge has not yet finished clearing the paddock, but will do so early this week. The No. 2 dredge worked for 126 hours last week. The prospects were poor, and towards tke end of tke week the drift became very keavy. The distance worked ahead was 20ft. Everything connected witk tke machinery was running well. The No. 3 dredge worked for 120 hours. The prospects on tke whole were only fair. The ground continued shallow towards the bank, so that the dredge kad not been able to work in as far as was expected.

The master of the Dunstan Lead dredge, under date 10th inst.. reported that tke dredge started work on Tuesday week, and that everything was working fairly satisfactorily. It took all Ike week to get over tke rut once, but tke dredge will be- able to get over the ground more quickly now. There was gold •showing, but tlio drift was very keavy. Tke master of the Waikaia dredge reported under date Aprii 8: " Tkore is very little change to report tkis week vi regard to working of tke ground. lam still opening directly downstream. The depth of tke face continues from 17ft, to 24ft. I expect to commence some alterations and renewals in about a fortnight, including save-all, new elevate tumbier. eleva-i-or iuxnh]er, shaft &tc. all g-aaj- for thus work being now to hand."

April 14. It iq expected tkat the Golden Treasure dredge, v kick has been undergoing repairs, will be fit work again on Monday.

The secretary <of the New Fourteen-mile E-each Company received information on tke 12tk inst tkat tke mats and everything wexe looking well.

Tke secretary of tke First Chance Gold Dredging Company received tke following wire on Thursday- — "Started inshort last night; bottomed tkis morning; working out to test; everything limning well." The weekly report received fram the New Roxburgh Jubilee dredgemaster stated that indications remained as good as tko&e for the preceding week. The dredge was \-ciking in a very strong current, and inconvenience arose fiom tke Ladvsmitk tailings. The machinery was uuming fairly well*.

Tho ui^steT of the Clyde diedge (Mr W. C. Nicko'sor) has designed a wire rope appliance, tho purpose of which is to prevent diedge buckets fiom falling into the river in the event of p, breakage of the pins which hold tho buckets m position. The directors of the company have given instructions to have tke appliance placed on tke chain of buckets on the Clyde dredge. A Roefton telegram states :— The Big River Mine Company's manager reports that during tko week No. 8 level has been driven 12ft, making tke distance from shaft 2S4ft. The master of tke Sandy Point dredge stated in his report for last weak tkat the prospects v ere tke same as those for tke previous week, and that the bottom was commencing to dip to tke ip side of tke cut. Tke ground against the Perseverance tailings war. very silty and very poor. The widtk of tke cut was 150 yards, with a depth of 26ft. and the distance worked ahead was Bft, while tke average heigkt of tke face above v. ater level was 22ft. Tko dredge worked 135 hours last week.

April 15,

Tlip dredgemaster of tke Manuheiikip dredge reports a return of 12oz for 128 hours' work.

The master of tke Lady Roxburgh Company's dredge wired on Friday as follows: — "Putting in new tumbler to-day ; will wash xi\> tomorrow."

The directors of tke Upper Waipori Alluvial Gold Dredging Company kf>ve declared a dividend of 6d per skare, payable on tke 2Pth inst.

There was no wash-up on the Electric No. 2 dredge this week. Tke Alpine No. 2 and First Chance dredges commenced dredging on Wednesday evening, and the New Aipine Consols dredge made a ,=tait on Thursday morning. The master of the Blackwater River dredge, untfer date April 3, reported that he was working across the face of the east corner, and koped to get a fair week's run. Tko master of tke Nvigent Wood dredge streamed down for the week on Thursday, and obtained 17oz 3dwt of gold. He reports that the clayey gTOiirid is still very troublesome, pnd that tke underlying; wash, wkick shows good prospects, is very tight and not easily broken up.

Tenders are invited for the purchase of the Aiding? dredge and claims on Nelson Creek, West Coast, subject to a tribute agreement entered into for a period of rot less than six months.

A Wellington wire says that on and after May 1 the price of water supplied from all Government water races will be 10s per sluice head per week of 48 hours, or 2id per sluice head per hour

The master of the Greenstone Creek dredge leports that he was working the full width of the face last week, and that the ground was heavy and Reemed to be getting deeper. Tke bottom, wkick was reached with difficulty at the south corner on Friday morning, was reported to be very uneven and rough, and there were some large boulders. Tne 'wash was patcky aaid drifty in places, but in the deep gTound it looked fair, and may widen as the dredge works ahead.

The return from tke Enterprise No. 1 dredge for tho week ended Bth April was 260z lodwt 9gr for eight days, not 15oz 9gr as previously stated.

The secretary of the Masterton Company reports a return of IGoz 4dwt for 135 hours' work. Dredging has been, stopped to enable the buckets to be half-lipped and busked.

The master of the Moonlight dredgfc, reporting for the week ended April 8, stated that the ground showed signs of improving, and that the return was got in a short week of 92 hours. Time was lost owing to the flooded state of the creek preventing coal being got to the dredge, but repaii-3 to buckets, etc., were effected while work was stopped. The time for tho present week will be short owing to the shortness of the coal supply, but ike master expects to be able to show an improvement in the returns this week, and a- decided improvement tke week following. Tke average depth of the ground was 10ft, and it was fairly hard in the centre of the cut. i^iter next week the dredgeinaster expects the full width of the cut will be better. Tke sample of gold obtained was very miirh better, and was expected to improve.

April 17,

A dredgemaiter with experience of dredging in rapid rivers is wanted for Ankobra, "West Africa.

Our Gore correspondent wires stating that there was no wash-up on the Royal Waimumu dredge last week, and that the Waikaka dredge was not working, but would make a start on Monday. The master of the New Roxburgh Jubilee dredge has received instructions to wash up on Friday instead of Saturday as heretofore. He reports a return of 28oz 3dwt up to Thursday night. The New Alpine Consols dredgernaster reports that he bottomed at noon on Friday at a depth of 48ft. The bottom is soft pug, and the prospects are reported to be fair. The dredge is at present opening out.

Mr R. A. Denniston has been appointed dredgernaster of the Clutha River dredge.

The secretary of the New Perseverance Company reports a return of 670z from the No. l v dredge. The tumbler of the dredge having broken, a new lower tumbler was put in on Saturday.

The directors of the Alexandra Lead Gold Dredging Company returned to town on Friday night They report that considerable difficulty ha 3 been experienced in -working thehigh bank owing to silt, but that when some authorised alterations have been made the bank will be worked to better advantage. A visit of inspection has been paid to the Sailor's Bend dredge by the directors, who report that the diedge is moored a little below where she will start dredging operations, and where good returns "were obtained last season. The dredgemasters working the gorge state that the drift is not nearly so bad this season as it was last winter, even when the river was at its lowest.

April 18. The Lady Annie return for last week was sioz ldwt.

The secretary of the Deep Stream Sluicing Ccmppny reports a return of 730z for two and a-half weeks' work.

The ciredgemaster of the Punt dredge wires that the dredge is stopped for repairs.

The dredgemaster of the Rising Sun dredge reports for the week ended April 15- — '" Dredged 127 hours, and worked ahead 9ft, crossing the paddock three times. A considerable portion of the bottom was hard clay, and the ground rough in parts of the cut. The avtiago depth is 40ft, and there is a gutter 30ft wide and 50ft deep in the centre of the cut. The machinery is running well." The secretary of the Moonlight Company reports a return of 7oz 2dwt for 85 hours' work. The dredge was kept waiting for coal, which cf ukl not be delivered owing to floods. Our Gore correspondent whes — The Royal "Wwinuimi last week vra&hed up for i2fcoz 9dwt. Messrq Sievwright Bros, and Co. ts ill offer ih© Shcddon's Waikaka Freehold dredge and claim for sale by auction on Thursday, 27th. mst.

T'ue secretary of the Enfield Gold Dredging Company leports a return of looz Odwt 12sr for 132 Louis' dredging and the dredge master sUites that the depth of giouud, f*i. 3 is the same as iceoiteU last week*""