Notes from Reefton. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2689, 27 September 1905, Page 28

Notes from Reefton. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

REEFTOX, September 23,

The Alpine Company's manages: reports.— Hie intermediate level south has been extended 2ft, making the total distance 22ft. I cut through to the footwall 2ft. The =lone is poor The intermediate north has been extondpd 12it. The hanging wall stone is payab'.e, 'Ift wide, but th© foot wall, 2ft is poor. The Big E.ivor Company's mine manager reports — The reef cut out m tke mam drive No. .8 lexel to-day (Saturday), and the level is now being extended along Hie track. Driving is also being commenced in the intermed'ite level on the east end of the winze. Ihe stone hero is 2ft wide. The battery started last Monday, and is running well.

THE WAIHI MINE.

AUCKLAND, September 22.

During the four weeks ending September 9 the Waihi GoM Mining Company treated 24,178 tons of ore, for bullion valued at £57,180. This i<; a record for the mine for a four-v» T eekly period-

MINING Arm AMENDMENT .'BILL.

The Otago and Southland Gold MiningIndustrial Union of Employers, in conjunction with those similarly interested on tha We^t Coast, has recently devoted a great deal of time to the Mining Act Amendment Bill now before Parliament, and has sent on to tho Mines Committee quite a number of proposed amendments, of which the following are the principal : — Area of Dredging Claims — In shallow ground or where the washes confined to one side of the river the ai&a allowed by the act is faa: too small. Suggest a stretch of three miles on one side of the river, but not more than 100 aores, or 200 acres in all.

Sluicing Claims. — The expenditure required in some cases to bring in trater is so great that the maximum a.rea of 100 acres is not sufficient to justify the expense. Two hundred acres should be substituted for 100 aorea.

Tributes. — Tho provision is inequitable in so far as it makes a contract enforceable by ono party but not enforceable against him, and is therefore wrong in principle. This clause should ba struck out as tributexs are quite capable of protecting themselves. Knowing a good deal more about fche mine than the proprietors, further, they might work the mine so as to take out the best part, damaging the proprietors' interest. Paying Men at Mines Mouth. — Strongly objected to. as it would prove a great inconvenience, involving the employment of several pay clerks, and would in many cases necessitate a police escort.

Alluvial Gold. — Cannot understand' how buyers of alluvial gold arc left out of registration clause. It is essential that they should bo included.

Certificated Deputies. — TUns provision wcuM necessitate every mine having two certificate mine managers. Amendments have also been suggested relating 10 section 8 (b and c), section 11, subsection 2, section 13 (b and c), section 33, and other minor sections.