WEEK’S MINING NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2921, 9 March 1910, Page 28

WEEK’S MINING NEWS

March 2. The dredgemaster of Paterson’s Freehold No. 2 dredge reports a return of 15oz for 108 hours. The ground is improving. The master of the Mystery Flat dredge reports a slight improvement in the quality of the wash treated last week. The material was much heavier than usual, and the bottom was composed chiefly of red clay and red sand. The Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company reports that" owing to shortage of water no work was done at either of the claims. Rain fell on Friday, and work would be started on Saturday. The weather has set in fine again, arid it was expected that the water would not hold long No. 3 .has got the . paddock pumped out, and sluicing was started on Saturday. The master of the Masterton dredge reports a good run last week over the full length of the face. The second stripping is still very heavy on part of the present face, and the wash is very tight. The ground varies in depth from 14ft to 27ft. on a sandy clay bottom. The Rising Sun dredge worked anead 12ft last week on a cut 140 yards wide. The bottom was partly clay and partly sandstone. There was no change to report in the nature of the ground, and prospects continue fair. The machinery is working well.

During last week the crew of Electric No. 1 dredge was engaged chiefly with repairing the elevator* buckets, links, and rollers, this work being now nearly completed. Boiler cleaning and minor repairs will delay the resumption of. work, until about the end of this week.

The consulting engineer of the Karaunui dredge hopes to hand over the dredge about the 23rd to the dredgemaster. Owing to the heavy rain last week work had to be suspended, a number of the buckets still requiring to be put in. All the work under cover has been completed, and with the little still requiring to be done the master v -:- '•-. charge shortly.

March 3

- - .- .Tom Manila states that the latco. yield from the Stanley Paracale dredge is 46b;: for six days eight hours' work.

The Stock Exchange has received the following- wire from the secretary of the New Big River Company, Reefton :—" Return for January-February: Battery, 7itt£oz from 655 tons; 1560 z bullion from cyanide; estimated total value. £3200."

The master of the Olrig dredge reports heavy rain on Saturday, which flushed the water_ supply and enabled him to resume dredging on Monday. Continuance of operations will depend on ■further ,rain to augment present supplies. The South Waikaia dredge iyorked on a face ouririg last ; week. The depth of the ground was 24ft oh. a maori bottom. Owing to stoppages to " attend to the tumbler bars only 129 hours' dredging time was recorded. '.'; • ■:'■'■■■■' The master of .the Punt dredge reports a faiT run'for a poor return. The ground, is still dipping. The : depth; below water -is 39ft 6ih, and the bottom hard clay..'Trie return is very poor for the amount of ground worked, but it is expected there will be better prospects down to a depth of 42ft or 43ft. ' Dredging operations in the Electric No. 2 dredge were somewhat hampered by the hoivy drift last week. On Saturday, about midday, heavy rain*set in, and by midnight the river was in high flood, so it is doubtful whether the paddock will be opered out again in time to obtain a return for the week.

The Rise and Shine No. 1 dredge worked the usual cut last w*ek, making Bft ahead. The depth was from 42ft to 48ft, with about ■ 3ft of overburden above water level. •The bottom wa? of various clays and sandstone, with a fair prospect. No. 2 dredge made Bft ahead on a cut of 520 ft, with' a depth ranging from 38ft to 46ft, and bottom of clay and coal. The wash on the east side improved during the' week, and there was a fair prospect throughout the cut. ' -

The master of the Blackwater River dredge reports various delays during the past fortnight. A stoppage was made on February 17 to • put in new main top tumbler, and as new brasses had to be fitted to bearings and new keys to driving pinion, etc., some time was taken up. Shortly after resuming dredging the elevator trav carried away, involving further delay. "Three parts of the present face is worked ground, but at the date of writing eorae solid was making its appearance. The master of the Good Chance dredge reports that repairs to -the ladder were completed on Tuesday, evening, and« the d*edge resumed operations night. KneeT starting the dredge ha* been running Sadilv and well. Bailing out the paddock cTuplValKh* week till Saturday = gfc when heavy rain je t^^ & n Ln h ' a i tee* rtook over* the manage-

' ment of this dredge, but it has fallen rapidly again. The outside of the cut is about 45ft deep. A number of large stones are being met with, occupying considerable .time in breaking up. The drift has been exceedingly heavy all the week, and continues so at the time of writing. Owing to the high state cl the river, he is working on a narrow cut along the bank, so that he will be able to keep going, provided there is no further rise in the river. March 4.

Owing to the high state of the Molyneux River and consequent heavy drift, Electric No 2 dredge has been closed down, consequently there will be no wash-up this week. The secretary of the Stock Exchange received a telegram on the 3rd stating that the return from the Waihi Grand Junction mine was £10,021 10s, from 6479 tone of ore. equal to £1 lis per ton. The master of Otago No. 1 dredge reports a broken run last week owing to repairs. The No. 2 dredge had a satisfactory run, but a good deal of the time was occupied in opening out. and the remainder of the week will probably be taken up in the same it anner . . . A very large deposit of rich copper ore is reported to have been discovered recently a few miles from Mowark (Queensand). Few particulars are available, but it is stated that samples of the ore have been sent to the Government geologist for analysis and report. The master of the Waikain, dredge reports that dredging was carried down stream last week on the terrace side. The face was 210 ft wide, the depth varying from 13ft to 18ft, on • a red clay bottom. The best ground shows on the riverside of the cut, and that portion will be worked on the upcut. Prospects in present face are about the same as at last report, and no change of importance is expected until The breaks from the terrace leads are struck. Mr J Bruce, who has been working for some time on the Electric No. 2 dredge, has been engaged to work on the Stanley Paracale dredge, and has left for the Philippines to take up his duties. The Stanley dredge is under the management of Mr J. H. Jones; who was formerly engineer of the Rising Sun dredge. According to the Dunstan Times, the Earnscleugh Company was very short; of water during the past week, and sufficient power could only be obtained from the Fraser River to work one dredge, steam power being resorted to for the others. As a good downpour of rain has since been experienced there should be ver/ little trouble from a similar cause for some time. The Matakanui correspondent of the Dunstan Times states that mining in that district is very slack at present, and the Undaunted and Morgan are the only claims making any attempt at work. This is due to scarcity of water, and a good rainfall would greatly improve matters not only from a mining but also from an agricultural and pastoral point of view. The secretary of the Otago Company reports a short week's dredging tor the No. 1, being stopped for sundry repairs. The No. 2 had a good x week s run, but the time was taken up opening out and the dredgemaster reports that it will take all this week to get a face on as there is a long stretch of old ground before reaching The pontoons of Cameron's Freehold Dredging Syndicate were successfully launched at Glenore, on the south branch of the Tokomairiro River, on Wednesday afternoon, in the pesence of a large gathering of spectators. This dredge was formerly the Golden Vein dredge at Beaumont, and was purchased by the syndicate and transferred to Glenore, where 6he has been lengthened and rebuilt. The dredge is now 110 ft long, 26ft wide, and 7ft deep, with an 80-foot well-hole, and when completed the ladder will be BSft long. The syndicate is composed of practical dredgemen, and some of the old ground already dredged may be gone over, but instead of a 19-foot dredge, which was the limit of the former dredge's maximum, the new dredge will go down over 40ft. It is expected that the machinery will, be at work within the next six or eight weeks, when a formal opening will be held.

March 5

Reporting a . return of 220 z 15dwt for 106 hours' dredging, the master of the Roxburgh Jubilee dredge states that a good deal of time was lost in repairing the elevator. *

'At a meeting of the Thames Board of Management last week, the Chairman (Mr .E.* H. Taylor), who represents the Government on the board, said he had no personal interest in any of the mining companies, and he trusted that the result of setting up the board would be' the vigorous* prosecution of work at Thames. _ Now that the water was down to 1000 ft in the Queen of Beauty shaft there seemed to be' no reason why this great work should not" be undertaken with all possible despatch. However much they might talk about gold-getting, they must, if they wished to do anything practical, send the men below to put in this crosscut. He believed this crosscut, would either make or mar the Thames for many years to come. Each and all of them was prepared to formulate a scheme which was essential to the vigorous prosecution of this important work.

The Lake County Press states that at Skippers the various river claims are being ' thoroughly and systematically worked. In several instances highly payable returns are the order of things. The terrace claims are also in full swing, and full advantage is being taken of the favourable season. Messrs Johnson and Peat are taking out a crushing from their quartz claim, which is situated opposite Monk's terrace and near Ballarat Creek. A rope ts being erected across the river for the purpose of landing the stone at the* Nugget battery. The party is deserving of every success They have stuck manfully to the development of their reef, which, we understand, gives promise of being payable. Some time ago we saw a very fine specimen from this lode.

The Good Chance dredge stopped dredging at noon on the 3rd inst The secretary reports that if the present high level of the river keeps up the. probability is that the dredgemaster will float over the reef a.nd work into the bank proper. At this time of the year, with no snow" on the t ranges to keep the river up, there is an element of risk of the river receding fa«t.

The statement of affairs for the 12 months ending 31st December, 1909, of the Low-burn Dredging Company shows that the compar../ was registered on 16th January, 1909, with a capital of £2OOO, the amount paid up in cash being £650, and the paid-up value of scrip given to share-

holders on v/hich no cash has been paid was £1350. The number of shareholders at the time of registration was seven, and is .still the same. The quantity of gold produced during the year was 5730 z Bdwt, valued at £2189 ss, 3d, the amount expended during the year being £2469 18s 2d. The amount of cash at bank was £4O 19s 7d. and the debts owing by the company £782 13s 6d. The eleventh annual report of the directors of the Waikaka United Dredging Company states: —"We have had another profitable year, as the amount of £4480 has been distributed in dividends. No. 1 dredge has produced during the year 50 weekly returns of a value of £4986 14s lid, and No. 2 for 50 weekly returns produced gold to the value of £4869 5s lid. The dividends paid to the date of this balarrce sheet amount to £3 8s per share, making a total of £38,080, and since the closing of the books a further dividend of Is has been paid, making £38,640 to the shareholders. Your directors expect good results "for the coming year, and both dredges are in excellent repair. The retiring directors are Messrs John Turnbull and Robert Paterson. Both are eligible, and offer themselves for re-election. Mr George Blyth, the auditor, also retires and seeks re-election."

March 7

Reporting a return of Boz 16dwt for 111 hours' dredging, the master of the Punt dredge states that the prospects are poor. In consequence of the high state of the river the Alexandra Eureka dredge had to suspend operations on Thursday night. The master of the Manuherikia dredge reports having washed up for only two days' dredging. The river was on the 14ft mark on Thursday night, but was falling when he reported on Friday. According to a statement by Mr Lye, who returned, to Queensland recently from Papua, where he has been working on the new Lakekamn goldfield since its beginning, the whole area is only a narrow gully between two hills. Ten yards from the creek was thick jungle. Rain fell incessantly during his stay, and the sun wa6 almost always obscured. About five men were making a decent living. It cost £6 per head to recruit native labour, and £l_ per month for wages. A number of claims had been taken up, . but immediately abandoned. . Mr Lye advises wealthseekers to leave the Williams River severely alone.

Although the year ended in somewhat disappointing fashion with a reduced gold output for December, the record of the Rand mining industry for 1909 is, on the whole, quite satisfactory. Further progress has been made, and, if the rate of expansion shown -is less marked than in previous years, it is none the less substantial. The value of the output in 1907 was £27,403,738. In 1908 there was an advance to £29,957,610, being a gain of approximately two and a-half millions steri.gLi- L ln 1909 e furth or improvement established-was under a million, the value of the total output being £30,925,788

' mi ■ tvt " March 8. | ihe New Trafalgar dredge last week obtamed 13oz 13dwt for 125 hours' work. The return from the Worksop dredge last j week was 38oz ldwt for 115 hours work. | In reporting, a return of for 105 hours' work, the master 'of the Chicago dredge says:—" Owing to the poorness of the ground the dredge has been shifted back , down channel again. j The Molyneux River was 10ft 9in above ■he normal mark at Alexandra yesterday | morning. The weather was dull. I _ The return from the Nelson Creek dredge jis 20oz for 122. hours' i\;ork. The* dredge stopped on Saturday for putting on ■ tumblers. •

The mast* p£*the No Town-Creek dredge reports a return of 240 z for 134 hours' dredging. TVw master of the Blackwater River dredge reports a return of 230 z 15dwt for 106 fiours.

During the past year Tasmania produced 44,7770 z of gold, 80,278 tons of silver-lead ore, 8638 tons blister copper (from which a small average return of gold was obtained) ; 1587 tons of copper and copper ore; 4511 tons of tin ore; 66,161 tons of coal: 28 tons of wolfram; and two tons of bismuth.

The master of the Central Charlton dredge reports that last week's return was obtained from section 3, but two shifts were | lost owing to boiler inspection. The ' dredge was working fairly well all week. The master of the Good Chance dredge { has decided to take advantage of the i present high state of the Molyneux River. I and will float the dredge down to the bank j .just below Coleman's gutter. Advantage ! is also being taken to float the Electric No. | 2 da-edge from her present position to the i company's newly-acquirisd hlaim on the j Molyneux, adjoining the Hartley and Riley i claim.

j The February crushing? returns of the | Progress mines resulted in a yield valued { at £4935 from 3662 tons; cyanided 2655 i tons, yielding £1049. The smelter worked j 10 days, and treated 71 tons. Theoretical ! extraction lOOoz.. The. Wealth treated. 1750 | tons, yielding £2448; cvanided 1160 tons, 1 yielding £713. The Blackwater crushed j 2580 tons, yielding £5506; cyanided 1720 ■ tons, yielding £351. Referring to the Talisman Consolidated L mine, the Thames Advertiser' says it was ! recently reported that the make of ore on ! the main lode has been followed south for ! a length of 100 ft, of which 40ft was of j hia'h-.Qrade material. The actual position ] is that the chute bus proved very rich foi" I the full distance then driven (100 ft), the I first 60ft being richer than the last 40ft | mentioned as high grade, i The low-level crosscut of the Tairua Golden Hills mine has been advanced 17ft, the contractors at this point relinquishing their-jcontract. The total distance driven to date is 836 ft. Favourable country is being passed through, and it will doubtless continue to the intersection of the lode. Most of the quartz broken from the leading ; stopes of the No. 2 level has been cleared.

The manager of the New Sylvia mine rej ports that driving north on the reef has ! heen continued Bft additional having been | driven and timbered. The reef shows a i tendency to* vary in width, but is traversing a splendid channel of country, The centre I portion of the lode is composed of dark j ore, carrying a 'high percentage of zino I blende, and is assaying improved values. I This portion varies from 2ft to 3ft in width, j and is saved as first-class ore._ The footwall portion of lode at present is composed of silica and quartz veins, and is low <?rade. A body of valuable ore is carrying right through to tfhe south end of No. 2 , rise.

The master of the Rising Sun dredge reports:—"Dredged 134 hours and worked 10ft ahead on a cut 140yds wide. There is no change in the ground or bottom worked. Prospects continue fair, and the machinery is running well."