MINER AND FARMER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 29

MINER AND FARMER.

In an article dealing with the relation of the miner to the farmer, the Australian Mining Standard says: — "Some land-owners consider thai their interests are so interfered with by mining operations that they do their best to kill that industry in their district. At times there is a certain amount of reason in their complaints;- at others their antagonism is doe to fancied injuries. Many of the objections raised against mining by farmers are due to the individual and his method of carrying out work rather than to the actual operation of mining itself. Some men are careless about closing gates when passing through private property, and their dogs may not nave 'been trained to leave sheep alone. The miner himself may have sufficient respect for the rights of the land-owner, but camp followers may not, while to the land-owner the results are equally irritating, and from his point of view the trouble would not have occurred had not the miner invaded hie property. Both mining and farming interests have certain rights, which shou d be xespeoted. For the good' of the country, if certain ground contains mineral of greater value than the surface, which would be spoilt hj winning it, then that mineral should be won and due compensation paid to the owner of the land for the ground disturbed and occupied. This is virtually what is done under the Mining on Private Property Act, -where land-owners do not also own the mineral rights. After all, the occupation of land for mining' operations is only temporary. The time eventually arrives when the miner abandons the ground to the farmer again. In some cases, it is true, the surface is not left in good condition, but in others it is rather improved than otherwise. Alluvial mining- is apt to affect alluvial flats, which is often the best land a farmer possesses. Either' the ground itself is turned over by the miner or alluvial from higher up a creek or river is carried down, and spread over the eurface. In some cases the added material may silt up the water courses so as to cause the water in flood time to spread over wid«T •reae of country than before hydraulic operations commenced. Sluicing adds material to s river but when the gravel gravitates towards the low land it may be held back and prevented from silting up a river by the Judicious building of dams. With dredging Ibis is different. Fresh material is not added to the water course. It ia simply turned over, and though disturbed) ground occupies somewhat more Space than settled ground, if the original surface is irregular, dredging can be made to level •it down. In some parts old alluvial diggings have been found Tery suitable for grape growing. In other places the silt brought down by rivers and ioreod over flats is found to enricu the soil. Ii mining arid farming one must be prepared to e ive and take, and to recognise the rights rf others. If more consideration were shown by those interested for others concerned less m-feeling and expense would be incurred on both sides. Notes from rroiinveH. (Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) CROMWELL. July 24. The weather is very fine, hard frosts prevailing at night and the days being bright and sunny. The Rise and Shine No. 2 and Rising Sun dredges are on good wash, and this proves that if large dredges are put on the Clutha River there is good payable ground there. There are a number of people prospecting for alluvial ground in several parts of the district just now. A public meeting will be

held here on Friday night -to consider the question of putting in a deep level tunnel at the Bendigo mine. If the railway comes on at once there will be a great revival in mining and everything else. Votes from Greymonth. (Fhom Our Own Correspondent.) GREYMOUTH, July 24. The special work of dismantling and removing the Merrimac dredge from its present site on the old Reeves Proprietary claim to a claim one and a-half miles distant has been completed, and the work of re-erection started. The pontoons are nearly completed, and will be ready for the water in a week or two. The Slab Hut dredge has a good deal of timber to contend with, but this should be got over in the course of a week or two. The Antonio's Flat Company has experienced a similar difficulty. Experience proves that the best gold is got where there is a great deal of submerged timber, though the latter, of course, retards operations. In the course of their report on the Blackwater reefs the directors say: — "It is our intention to bring this property to the producing stage as soon as possible, but it will be readily understood that the opening of a new mine in new country in the heart of the bush four and a-half miles from a dray road, necessitates a very considerable amount of work, and many vexatious delays will be caused largely by the inaccessibility of the property. As soon s& ;the necessary surveys are completed the construction of the water race will ba commenced and completed as soon as possible, so as to give the race formation a. chance of setting, and becoming solid before the race is required to carry water." July 27. The Pactolus No. 2 dredge got 530z 18dwt for 138 hours' work; No Town Creek, 30oz: Pactoius No. 1, 340z lldwt for 130 hours: JNew Trafalgar, 21oz 6dwt. Judging by appearances there is ample reason for expecting that the coming 12 months will be marked by very considerable industrial activity cm this coast, but more especially in the Grey district. As the result of the efforts of the Harbour Board deputations, Ministers have given an implied promise that the work of construction of docks in the Greymouth lagoon will be started within a month. This has become a. crying need, and every season it is increasing an intensity. Whatever developments the future mty bring in the matter of harbour accommodation it is most imperative that berthage for shipping should he provided with all the expedition possible. The report of Mr M'lntosh of his survey of the harbour site at Point Elizabeth ha* been sent to headquarters,' and ought to come to hand in the ordinary course in a few days. It is whispered that the terms of the report are not quite so favourable to Point Elizabeth being made a first-class harbour as some sanguine spirits have anticipated. Be this as it may, officers of the Admiralty have yet to pronounce their verdict on the question. A thorough examination will doubtless be made on behalf of the Imperial authorities of all the conditions and features of the site for the purposes of a deep-sea harbour. As considerable maritime strategic*! advantages are involved in view of the pending importance of the future commerce t)f the Pacific, there ia good reason to bslieve that the survey for the Admiralty will be put in hand without any undue delay. Incidental to the harbour project are the future operations of the State coal mine and the Pa pa re* Coal Company. At the former considerable outlay on new work must be incurred very shortly in order to connect the present workings with the valuable and extensive coal seams recently located on the property. As the newly-discovered coal deposits are a little over three miles distant, a railway must be laid down to connect the two sources of Bupply, besides providing other necessary mining facilities. Tie. Pftparoa Company recently increased its capital by £75 000. At least 200 men are constantly employed in carrying out the necessary surface work for the proper development of the mines, and that portion of the work promises to occupy another year, it is understood, before the output of any considerable quantity of coal can be accomplished. Besides these industrial prospects there *r« signs of activity in quartz mining. Negotiations are in progress with two syndicates regarding two mining propositions in the Wilberforce district. Wilson's Reward has been placed in the hands of a Melbourne mining syndicate. All that can be done by the parties interested in the property at this end has been done, and a reply from the parties at Melbourne who have been given the option ie expected any day, as it is now some time since the agents returned to Melbourne. The option that Mr Baucke has given to an Auckland combination is so recent that an answer cannot be expected for some little time." The result of boring for petroleum is one of this possibilities over which excitable imaginations may Toani as fancy dictates. It can only be eaid that indications are as •encouraging as ever, and that this work is being carried on unflaggingly, but as that portion of the earths crust now being perforated ia adamantine work is anything ■but rapid. A radical change for the .better may, however, set in any day. Only a few months ago Mr Smith, who has superintended the boring operations throughout, received a large consignment of piping from Brisbane. The bore has not yet reached 1000 ft. Notes from Re*fton. CFeom Oub Own Correspondent.) REEFTON, July 29. The manager of the Keep-it-Park reports for the past month as follows: — " Stoping has been carried on over No. 6 crosscut from ko. 6 branch inside block and No. 7 leve's. The quartz sent to the battery was 1146 tons, and 1120 tons were crushed, for a yield of 1740z 14dwt gold from the battery and 84oz lOdwt from the cyanide : —total 2590z 4dwt. We are now taking out the stope level with the floor of No. 5 over No. 6. but as the lode is in the hanging wall of No. 5 level it will live up to the intermediate level between Nos. 6 and 4. The lode over the branch level is still very much distorted. I have risen for a atope on the new block over the crosscut from No. 6. Gold can ba seen in the stone, but the block appears to be short inside. Block No. 6 is opening out well as to quantity, but the grade is low at present, but judging from samples got from the uprise at No. 5 it will improve as stoping proceeds. The contractors for the uprise from here to No. 5 level have completed their contract (Friday). The ventilation is very good throughout. In No. 7 the uprise to connect with the 87it winze from No. 6 has been completed, and a start has been made to follow the stone at the opposite side of the winze. The uprise from No. 7 level to tKp face of the stopes has also been completed. In consequeuce of working two uprises and the filling in of stopes no sreafc quantity of stone has been got from here. ' During tub month the work of the erection of the battery of the Phoenix Syndicate waa completed, and a trial crushing was held on Thursday. Everything is working gatisfacMr J. Rodden, formerly in charge of the

Ing!ewood mine -when the property -was worked by Mr Kingswell, is now manager of the Phoenix mine. The Old "Welcome ground, which has been held by the Consolidated G.F; Company for some years past, was abandoned by them on Friday last, and was immediately taken up and applied for by the syndicate at present engaged prospecting on the lease. The old Beeres Proprietary dredge is expected to be soon at- work again. Since she 1 was purchased by the Hessey Company several alterations have been effected, which greatly strengthen the dredge. CINNABAR. Several areas in the immediate vicinity of Alexandra have recently been pegged off and applied for with a view to prospecting for cinnabar in order to ascertain the extent of this mineral in the various areas. At all the places outcrops have been met with. We append some particulars relating to this mineral: — Cinnabar is a valuable, and indeed the only one from which quicksilver is obtained. It is known as the sulphide of mercury, and ocours in beds in slate rocks and shales, jarely in granite or porphyry. It is found, however, in rocks of all ages, but shows a preference fox sandstones, and in most cases is found along lines of country thsit have been affected by volcanic disturbancee. This mineral occurs in many parts of the wor.d — Spain, China, Japan, Hungary,' Bussio, California, Mexico. ! and Australasia. In New Zealand it is found in veins or beds at Ohaeauai. Hot Springs, Auckland, j.nd at Waitahuna heights, Ofcago. Grains in alluvial deposits are found at Waipoxi, Nevis, Waikaka, and Carrick. The following are its characteristics: — Sometimes massive, or forming coatings, not very hard but fairly heavy, having a greater specific gravity than lead. The colour is cochineal red, often inclining to brownish red and lead gray. The streak when cut with a knife is scarlet. The fracture is sub-eonchoidal and uneven. The mercury of commerce is obtaineed from this ore by simple .sublimation and condensation of vapours in cooling chambers. Quicksilver is used in the manufacture of vermilion, for rare medicinal purposes, and metallurgical processes for the recovery of gold from quartz. This is a valuable ore, and, occurring as it does in slate and schist racks, may be found in the Alexandra district. The discovery of samples j is reported, and there is a stoong probability of payable quantities being discovered in the locality referred to. __ GOLD AT MOUNT EGMONT. Prospecting has intermittently been going on for years for gold on the westerly bass of Mount Egmont, and from time to time indications of promising-looking quartz have been obtained, but no real success attended the work unitil quite recently. Samples of splendid quartz are, as already reported, now shown in New Plymouth with gold showing freely all through. The find was made by New Plymouth workmen, who were in the habit of putting in tfoeir spare hime fossicking. Assays show very high results, and it is stated that a large body of stone is showing. The locality has been kept a close secret, bu/t it is known to be within the Egmomt National Park Reserve, and the Government refuses permission to work therein. It is understood that efforts are now being made to induce the Government to allow the prospecting of the reef -to be carried on to prove the extend of the find. Regarding the discovery, it is stated (says the Auckland "Weekly News) tbat ths prospectors have splendid samples of gold quartz, iron ore, manganese, sulphur, and pottery clays. A meeting of the Egmonl Park Board will be held to' discuss the matter of authorising the prospectors to tackle work, on a larger scale. Th« quartz is off a welldefined reef. * DREDGING RETURNS. The following returns from dredges in Otago and Southland are reported for the week ended July 27: — Oz. dwt. gr. Masterton, "Waikaia, 223hTS ..124 3 0 Rise and Shine No. 2, Clutha River, 132hrs 89 1 0 Sailor's Bend, below Alexandra, UObrs 76 3 3 Muddy Creek, "Waikaia, 180hrs 71 10 0 Rising Sun, Clutba River, mhrs 70 10 0 Enterprise, Alexandra, week .. 63 2 6 Mystery Flat, 134hrs 45 12 0 Electric No. 2, Cromwell, 3£dys 44 15 0 Gold King, Roxburgh, 129hrs 44 0 0 Sandy Point, 165hrs 42 11 0 Matau, Clyde, 7 days .... 40 0 0 Chicago, Alexandra, 130hrg .. 37 4 0 Electric No. 1, Cromwell, 132hrs 35 2 0 Kura, "Waikaia, 131hrs .. .. 30 9 0 Manuhenkia, below Alexandra, 62hrs 30 0 0 Otago No. 2, Island Block, 133hre '.. 23 0 0 Lady Roxburgh, Roxburgh, wk 27 10 11 Rise and Shine No. 1, Clutha, River, 130hrs 26 11 0 Charlton Creek, nr Gore, week 20 4 0 Alexandra Lead, Alexandra, 120hx3 18 15 0 N-ew Perseverance 2vo. 1, Alexandra, week 18 7 0 Hessey'a, Waikaia, 136hrs .. .. 18 1 6 Central Charlton. Gore 134hrs 17 9 0 Waikaka United No. 1, Waikaka, 125hrs 17 6 0 Molyneux Hydraulic, Alexandra 17 2 0 Waikeka United No. 2, Waikaka, 133hxs 16 15 0 Garden Gully, Waikaia, week 16 3 0 Punt, Clutha River, I6Bhrs .. 15 13 0 Clutha River, Clutha River, 133hrs 14 17 0 Waikaia, Waikaia., 128hrs ... 14 0 0 Waikaka Queen, Waikaka 130hrs 13 10 0 Golden Treasure, Miller's Flat, 4 days 13 0 0 Lady Annie, Waikaia, 2 days 12 0 0 New Perseverance No. 2, Alexandra, 38hrs 12 0 0 Koputai, Waikaia, 137hrs •• 11 13 0 Golden Gate, Miller's Flat .. 11 5 0 Otago No. 1, Island Block, , 140hrs .. .. , _11 o_J> Total 1245 3 23 , Thk West Coast. . Pactolus Xo 2. 138hrs .. .. 53 18 0 j No Town Creek, 126hrs .... 30 0 0 Pactokw No. 1, 130hrs .... 24 11 0 New Trafalgar, 134 his .... 21 6 0 ) Total 129 15 0 J DUXEDIX STOCK EXCHANGE. ' The market opened very quietly on Monday, no sales taking p!°ace at either call-over on 'Change. In the morning Roxburgh Jubilees wore being quoted for by buyers at 11s, sellers valuing the stock a>t 13s 6d, and in the afternoon the prices dropped respectively to 10s and 13s. The following are Monday's latest quota- , tions, subject to the usual brokerage: — D»edgi:>g Stocks. Central Charlton — Buyers 7s. Electric — Buyers 15s, sellers £1. Enterprise — Buyers 5s 6d, sellers S3. Masterton — Sellers £2 15a.

M-amiberikia — Buyers 165,- se'lers £1 2s. New Fourteen-mile Beach— Buyers par, sellers' 7s 6d p._ . . -„-N-ew Roxburgh Jubilee — Buyers 10s, sellers 133. , Rising Sun — Buyers 16s 3dj seller 17s 6d. "Miking Stocks. - . Talisman Consolidated — Buyers £2 5s "fid, sellers £2 6s 9d. Hercules — Sellers 16s 9d. July 23. — Enterprise, ss ; Hartley and Riley, 20s. July 21. — Chicago, 9s 6d ; Enterprise, 5s 6d.