Notes from Reefton. (From Our Own Correspondent.) REEFTON, July 6.

Otago Witness, Issue 2730, 11 July 1906, Page 30

Notes from Reef ton. (From Our Own Correspondent.) REEFTON, July 6.

TPfie wane manager of the Big River inine fcports * as follows : — " During the week «&e " operations in the mine were confined to 2sb. 8 east block, in the north side of tiparise No. 3. The slope has been advanced to ,/tb.e end of the block. During tite week the reef averaged 2ft wide, and was of good quality. Owing to the block pitching north •these etope3 are shortening, but on the south Bide, where the main portion of the stone is, *the etopes are lengthening. In No. 2 stopo on the south side of the uprise there has been «n average of 20in of sbone, which is broken land mullocky. I have also risen for No. 3 tstope on 3ft 6in of stone of good quality. In Ifche No. 8 intermediate I have recommenced liriving the level south. There were 15in of j etone during the week, but it haa now cut out, and » new leader has made on the hanging wall, but I cannot state what it will be until the level has been extended. Next week S shall extend sloping on the west block of «tone. The quantity of stone raised for the Veek was 47 tons."

July 9.

The dredge of the Pactolus Company did not 'Clean up last week, as No. 1 only started work on Monday and No. 2 on Wednesday evening.

The Caledonian Company, Larry's Creek, is at present sinking a prospecting shaft. It is generally anticipated that there will be two or three equally highly payable returns from the Big River mine as that recorded for the last month. ,» During the week ended Monday, July 9, returns were reported iroiu 34 dredges, the total being 831oz ldwt 18gr, or an average of Eioz per dredge. The secretary (Mr J. A. Yule) wires as follows: — Waikaka, 18oz 14dwt for 115 hours; Waikaka Queen, IGoz ldwt far 126 hours; Royal Waimumu, no wash-up; Waimumu Queen, no wash-up.

The Rising Suu <3r«dgeniaster wires as follows for last week: — Dredged 106 hours Rfter cleaning out the boiler, and worked •head 12ft. The River is still high with drift travelling. Having now dredged away the island, there is not much shelter from the drift. The ground, which is still deep, shows no decided improvement. Machinery funning well. The Secretary reports: — The E-ttrick dredge made a start again a.t noon on Wednesday to open up after th« flood. There will be no *f ash-up this week. The river keeps at a high level, receding slowly, a,nd does not give the dredge a chance of testing the ground in the centre of the river at the upper end of the claim, which has not yet been iredged.