WEEK'S MINING NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2923, 23 March 1910, Page 28

WEEK'S MINING NEWS

March 16. The Mystery Flat dredge worked the full eut of nine chains last week. The eastern part of it was of poor quality, but the other side carried a fair prospect, and" the dredge is now working in that portion of the" cut. " The Waikaia dredge worked last week a face 220 ft wide, the depth varying from 16ft to 21ft on a red clay bottom The prospects were about the same as the previous week, but the terrace side of the face showed the wash making well. The reef has dipped towards the hill, and these factors make for better results. The Masterton dredge had a broken ran over" the full length of the face last the principal stoppages being due to changing buckets. There was no change in the nature-of the ground, except that some of it was very dry. and the second stripping was heavy in some parts of the cut. The master of Electric No. 2 dredge reports that he is making good progress in moving down to the new claim, and on Monday night he moored the dredge 2CG yards below the Bannoekburn Bridge. The Karaunui Company's dredge will probably be taken over by the dredgemastei on the 18th ir 19th inst., and Iredging,operations started n Monday, the 21st. The pumping plant is working most satisfactorily, sluicing off the top stuff having been carried on for the past fortnight. Messrs Park, Reynolds (Ltd.) submitted fco auction on the 15th the plant of a sluicing company that carried on operations r>t Upper Waikaia. -The property was net sold at auction, as the highest bid did nrt reach the liquidator's reserve, but the afcietioners made-* a satisfactory sale privately immediately after the auction* The master of the. Good Chance dredge •virod on, the- 15tr that he was opening out. '!'!..• bottom is soft, and a number of big -•o--es are being met with, but the ground ■nth the same,- the depth being' about if ~^h n dredge machinery is working

.i.tulajr oy rhe appearance of the ground fo«;,rds the end of last week the master "of the South Waikaia dredge expects a further improvement, and on Friday he cume across a sandy bottom on part of the face which has since turned out very well. The managei of the New Alpine mine I reports that, the crosscut in No. 7 has been extended a further distance' of 16ft south, making a total south from starting point ' of . 14lft. The ground during last week was very favourable for i-eef, and was quits Jj damp. At the present point the crosscut is in a bar of hard sandstone, and the ground is very dry, but there is generally .'a change every few feet'. ' At the Tairua Golden Hills mine the contractors in the low level crosscut, are making good headway, having driven 20ft dur- ' ing four days, making the total length r'-f the tunnel to date 856 ft. The nature of the country is very favourable and with its continuation to the lode the chances are favourable. Tenders-have been called for stoning 10,000 tons of ore. The OreDuki Advocate says that sixmonths ago a boom' was on in Orepuki. ' M'ners applied for strips and miles of Leach. A number of others, seeing them- . selves left out in the cold, objected to the . size of the claims. Now we have the nidicrous' sight of these self-same claims jriyen back to Nature; arid nobody wants them, not even the philanthropic people who objected on high moral grounds to the monopoly. At the last meeting of the Moanataiari. Company the chairman referred to the deep levels scheme. He said the company's contribution of £2400 had not yet been paid, as it was thpught -t would be wiser for the contributing' companies to sign an agreement, to subscribe pro rata what'might be required above the present estimate to complete the tunnel Practically the whole Of the 1 ' 180.000 shares in the Moanataiari Company had been anplied for, and the balance would be held by the company. Thev hoped to get gold very shortly, and .if that" proved to be correct then the remaining shores would first be offered to existing shareholders. , Th-" secretary of the Nokomai Hvdraulic • Sluicing Company reports that water was s'ack nt times during, the week before and since the rain on the 9th and 10th. bu+ is now sufficient. Sinking is going on. The ground is tiarht. as well as v ough, and the progress made Is satisfactory under the circumstances. At No. 3 nrepai-ations for sluicin"- have gone on. Nozzle lines have been laid and a run of six tressles has been erected. At No. 2 alu'icin? off ton material was commenced on the I.oth, and fhe progress made has been satisfactory. March 17. A return of 20oz is reported from the Paterson's Freehold No. 2 dredge for 153 hours' dredging. The Punt dredge had another broken run last week, the return -being very poor, but j judging by present prospects there should be I

T a better return this week. The gold" is" scaly. ■ •..... The manager of the Old Hauraki mine reports having secured 101 b of specimen stone from the face in the intermediate, drive. The reef was 9in wide and gold was sti'l showing. A., report from the manager of the Victoria mine (Thames) says M>at ho crushed 26 loads of general dirt and 301 b of stone, for "a return of 48oz melted iolcl In his weekly report to the 12th inst.. the master of the Golden CJed div.i'ge staves that the heavy rain, whicn caused a rise in the river last week, somewhat affected last j week's return. | The master of thei Olrig dredge reports that the grcund was "airly loose last week and there was a small portion of the cut showing fair wash. - Water was short, very .little rain having fallen in that locality tor a long time. The initial run of the Waihi Company's new gas suction plant at No. 5 .shaft was made last week. .The' plant vas put into commission without a hitch, and since, it, has been running smoothly, and with every satisfaction. Tii3 Keystone borer is now boring the 23th bore at five Mile Creek. Op to the present the prospects obtained have not proved very satisfactory, and it is probable that operationc will shortly be suspended indefinitely In consequence of the success which has attended the boring operations of the Keystone boring machine in various alluvial areas, a number of the companies operating i on the Waikaia field ire considering the advisability of procuring it to prosipect deep levels in various portions of the Waikaia Valley. The master of the Central Charlton dredge reports that last week's return was obtained from section 2 and portion of section 1. ' The bottom on this cu£ varied from 7ft in the shallowest part to 14ft in the deepest portion. In the deep places the wash is fair, but there is very little in the shallow. A good deal of trouble is caused by the stiff clay bottom. sticking to the buckets, -but with this exception everything I is working well. The Cromwell correspondent of the Dun- < stan Times reports that the immense volume of water still flowing down the Clutha and Kawarau Rivers has stopped all the dredges with the exception of the Rising Sun and i Punt. The -ainfall at the head of the lakes must have been exceptionally heavy. At Pembroke Lake Wanaka rose higher than ; the jetty there, and at Queenstown Lake I Wakatipu rose to within 9in of the wharf. ! These immense bodies of water, as also I Lake Hawea, will take a considerable time ' to subside to normal level, and it looks as if-the Gorge dredges will be idle for at least a couple of months. March 18. The .naster of the Waikaia dredge reports that boiler inspection was finishedlast Tuesday, and he has washed up for a return of 240 z 7dwt for 122 hours' dredging The master of the Sandy Point dredge 1 reports having dredged 140 hours last week over a cut four chains wide, and worked ahead 20ft since starting. The average height of-face above water level was 25ft, the deepest portion of the ground being on the river side of the cut. where it was 30ft, while on the inside it was 28ft. The face is still very fine, with no seams showing above -the water line, and in many places it is pure silt from top to bottom. The dredge had a good run during the week, -but" the prospects were poor for the amount of "stuff handled. The gold won was mostly very fine. He has plenty of stacking room at present owing to the high state of the river. _ . When she .was put out of commission nearly a year ago, the. Kura dredge 'was only able to average from 7oz to lOoz or less per week -.'or an 'average turnover of about. 5000 cubic yards of stuff. About six months ago this dredge was purchased by .1 private investor, who at once doubled her bucket capacity, and we are informed that since resuming operations at Waikaia the dredge has not only doubled the amouni of spoil weekly, but has also doubled her weekly returns, whicn have averaged from 17oz/to 20oz per week since resuming operations. In this case, a simple engineering expedient has turned an idle dredge into a money-making proposition,' and it is probable that this course will be adopted elsewhere where similar conditions prevail. _ The . following cablegram was received on the 17th from the master of the Stanley Paraeale dredge, Manila:—" Thirty-two ounces for three days 14 hours, to February 19. Have been obliged to shut down for repairs and through sickness." The Otago No. 2 dredge was closed down last Thursdav for repairs to the elevator, and these will occupy about a fortnight. The No 2 dredge had a full week's run. but the'high state of the river interfered with "operations arid accounted for the small return. . A report from Bannockburn states that it is freely understood that in all probability a krge number of men will be put on the reefs at the Caledonian on the Carrick before the winter, where Mr lies has been prospecting on an extensive scale for some considerable time. It is said that the blue quartz:, which in the early days proved unpayable through not being able to save the gold; will, when treated in a proper manner, be highly payable. Should this be the case there is a chance of the Carrick once more booming again, and the reefs worked down to far deeper levels. _ ' , The Thames Advertiser states that attei the recent fatality at the Waihi mine none of the men went to work in the morning. It is said that this is practically the result of a resolution passed bv the union, it being considered a mark of respect to their deceased mates, for all men m a mine where a fatalitv takes Dlace to immediately knock off work till after the luneral. It is stated that this practice is in vogue: in other mining centres. A largely attended meeting of the miners was subsequently held when it was resolyed by a big majority that' when r fatal accident occurs the men cease work in that particular mine, and do not return to work till the victim has been interred. An amendment to the effect that all men cease work during the shift in which a fatality occurs, and also on the dav of the funeral, was lost. Our Alexandra correspondent informs us that the pumping plant belonging to the Karaunui Dredging Company sank on the claim on Wednesday morning, and was washed away. The-plant is now lying on the rooks below the-bridge, only the, highest portions being visible above water "level." March 19.; The master of the Now Trafalgar renoi+s several small stoppages last week, nnd a run of onlv 122 hours was got in. BThe ground is still very rOugh and noor. as the return indicates. As the quality of the wash changes so rapitlly the master

has hopes of improvement in time, especially as there are payable returns a couple of chains ahead working in. Mr G. A. Harlow, secretary of the Karaunui Company informs us that he wired on the 18th for further information concerning the mishap to that dredge, and in reply the dredgemaster states that in his opinion most of the machinery can be recovered when the river recedes to a moderate level. This is singularly unfortunate, as the drecge had just got into the last week of its re-equipment, which had been so nearly completed that a • trial run of the machinery and gear was made last Saturday, and proved most satisfactory. The secretary of the Electric Company received a wire on the 18th stating that the No. 2 dredge haa been successfully floated down past Richards's Beach, on the Kawarau River, and was moored near Cromwell. The manager of the Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company (Limited) wires as follows:—''Not enough water to finish paddock; no rain; closed dam; meantime had a partial wash-up of boxes for 520 z." The delay in receiving this return arises partly from a break in the race and shortage of water causing a loss of 10 days, but chiefly from the manager having received instructions to change his mode of working. Instead of as nitherto washing up every four weeks, reporting a result partly stripping and partly bottom wash, he will in future only , wash up when he has got a paddock com- | pletely stripped and cleaned up. : The Advisory Board has recommended, | the . Board of Management of the i Thames deep level crosscut to have the first 15ft from the Queen of Beauty shaft • driven by wages labour; that the tunnel be let in 500 ft contracts; also that air pipes I be continued from the 650 ft level to the 1000 ft level in the Queen of Beauty shaft, j It was decided that no work be done until j all contributions are paid by the various mines interested. A later -telegram states i that the May Queen and Kuranui Caledonian Company's refusal to pay their con- , tribution pending the signing by all the i companies to the deed covenant guaranteeing the completion of the tunnel if money exceeding £17,500 be required for the work. The board decided to invite applications for a supervisor at a remuneration of £4 per week. March 21. The master of .the Rising Sdn dredge reports that the drift was very troublesome last week, but the river was falling fast. All the terrace.sluicing claims at Skippers are reported to be taking full, advantage of the remainder of the season, and are in full swing again. It is understood that they are obtaining satisfactory returns. ' Two loads of mining machinery, have been despatched from the O.P.Q. battery at Waipori to the Macetown reels. It is said that when all the machinery is reerected at the Macetown mine, it will be capable of crushing more quartz than any battery previously in operation in that district. • It is reported that nearly 4000 ft of pipes are being utilised by the Sandhills Syndicate- to bring water to the No. 2 claim at Shotover. This" water supply will be used for- sluicing the sandhills, and will - also assist in making the. channel which is being put through to divert the river. When the latter is accomplished nearly a mil© of river .bed will be available for • mining. • _. From additional infoismation to hand- we learn that when the mishap occurred to the pumping plant of the Karaunui dredge it was on pontoons a considerable distance . clown the river from where the dredge was : moored. As the river is reported to be falling again, it is to be hoped that it will I recede to a level which will permit the ' company to recover all the pumping plant ]' again, as its value is considerable. j The Lake County Press states that quite a novel method of obtaining gold from a river bed is about to be made about two chains below the Skippers Bridge. It is being tried by Mr Gates, from the West Coast, who has constructed a wooden sylini d°r about . 10ft in diameter, which he is sinking in the bed of the river with the object of working payable wash withurthe radius of the cylinder, without disturbing ; the surroundings. The cylinder is already down 12ft." and Mr Gates appears to b 3 confident of success. Tho Laive County Press learns'that minI ing is being pushed ahead with much ; vigour in the various mines in the Skippers i' district. Messrs W. Gordon- and M. Seffer are prospecting at the branches, with encouraging results. In this locality the head of the' Shotover, there is a big field for enterprise. In the early days of the ! diggings portions of the branches were pro- ! fitably worked, but there is a very lavgo extent of likely country yet untried. Lower down the river the Branches Syndicate has started . operations' under the management of Mr J. S. Collins. The mode of opera--i tions will be hydraulicking, and the ground to be worked' the river bed. Unfortunately, for the last three weeks- the river has been too high to permit of operations ! being commenced. The plant has been - tested and works well. , ' March ZZ A The Molyneux River was 10ft 6in above the norma} mark at Alexandra on the 21st, the- weather/ being fine. ' ! The master of Jhe Pactolus dredge rei ports a return, of 390 z lOdwt for 120 hours dredging. . . . The secretary of the Koputai. Dredging Company, Waikaia, reports a return of 290 z sdwt for 142 hours' work. The master of the Nelson Creek dredge | wired yesterday stating that he resumed dredging on Saturday. , The master of the No Town Creek dredge j reports a return of 240 z for 127 . hours' I dredging. j The manager of the Muddy Terrace I Sluicing Company wired on Monday reI porting that plenty of water was available, j and that he was. keeping the plant at two faces working at full- capacity. I The master of the Rise and Shine Com- | pany's No. 1 dredge reports a return of , 33oz>8dwt .for. 131 hours°up to the time. of the. stoppage on Thursday, 10th inst? The dredge, resumed work ,op Sunday at midnight. .The master. states that the silt is causing .some trouble. The secretary of the Karaunui Dredging Company reports that the company has purchased the Waikari dredge, at present moored on the Molyneux River between j Clyde and Alexandra. The pontoons will be floated down the river and utilised to

replace the damaged pontoons, and the pumping plant will be erected on them. Th<3 master of the Rising Sun dredge reports that he dredged 131 hours, and woxked ahead 12ft on a cut 140 yards wide. As the river is falling, the drift was troublesome.. There is a gradual improvement in the ground, and a great portion of the bottom worked was sandstone. The machinery is running well. The receipts of gold at the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint during last month totalled 41,967.050 z fine of which New Zealand contributed 12.645.320 z. Since January 1 the mint received 101,013.360 z, the Dominion's contribution being 23,520.420 z. The total value of gold and silver received by the mint during January and February was £429,457. . During his visit to the West Coast Loiid Plunket visited the Ross Goldfields mine, which he descended as far as the sixth level. The recently-installed pumping plant, which is a very big concern, was at work, and the visitor was much impressed with the magnitude of the operations in progress. The master of the Central Charlton dredge reports that the crown broke on Thursday night, the accident being caused apparently by the wheel being loose on the shaft, thus throwing an extra strain on the key. This was replaced by another one, and after working with it for four hours yesterday morning the .second one broke also. Both wheels broke in two, and the master says it is very difficult to account for the mishaps. Meanwhile arrangements are being made to procure a new wheel, and this will cause about a "week's delay. The secretary of the Welcome Quartz Mining Company reports that the contractors are making steady progress with the rise, which is being put up with a view to striking a chute of payable stone. The rise is now up 83ft, and the contractors anticipate striking the stone at about, 100 ft to 120 ft. Since the cornmencement of operations the main level has been driven a distance of 825 ft to date. Despite the travelling drift, which is always worse with a falling river, the Rising Sun dredge had the splendid return of 78Aoz. She has still 400 yards to work before reaching her top boundary, where the little Punt dredge got over 50oz weekly, and as it will take at least two years to work up to.it with her present cut there is every probability of very good returns being- got all the time. Moreover, the standstone bottom the Punt dredge worked on the top boundary has come in in the Sun cut. This is a splendid bottom to work on, as it melts away as soon as the .water touches it and all the gold is saved, which is not the case with a clay bottom. The late flood has done the Risiifg Sun Company £2OOO of good, as, thanks to the foresight of the dredgema6ter (Mr G. Macdonald) in diverting the current of the river along the high bank on the eastern side of the claim, she ! top burdon of 10ft of sandy loam has been washed off about 10 acres of ground, leaving only the gravel to be dredged. This sandy loam was very difficult to clear from the buckets, consequently a deal of washdirt was emptied into the well-hole and lost. The lower and eastern portions of the claim have yet to be worked, and as the rich i wash both the Rise and Shine dredges are 1 on run directly into the lower boundary of 1 the Rising Sun claim, there is a rosy out- | look for the shareholders. It will take | fully 15 years to work the claim out. It i* said that 4i million pounds' worth of gold has been obtained from the various mines at- the Thames, and of this amount the Caledonian mine contributed £1,Q00,000. the Waiotahi mine £953.000. Moanataiari £551,000, May Queen £413,000, and the Victoria £150,000. These miike. together with the Saxon mine, are included in the group of mine* which have been called upon to contribute a proportionate share of the cost of further develoDiner the deep levels at, Thames. In order to do so. it is proposed to utilise the Queen of Beauty j shaft fron the 1000 ft level, which the i May Queiein Company unwatered .and sank . at a cost of £7545 7s 6d, of which sum . tl o Government contributed £1941 14s Id. | the Thames Borpigh Council £865, and I Thames County Council £519. In view of | this expenditure, the May Queen Company ! has' applied for a certificate of easement. on the grounds that it should not be called upon to pay the amount, asked.' having per"formed the above work in terms of the contract, and claims to be fairly entitled to compensation for th. 9. outlay. The case was exciting considerable local interest last week at the Thames.