WEEK'S MINING NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 3017, 10 January 1912, Page 28

WEEK'S MINING NEWS

January 2. The gold yield in the State of Western Australia for the past year was 1.497,3080 z, of the value of £5,043,191. At the annual meeting of tho Shamrock Company, held in Arrowtown last week, the resignation of the Rev. J. F. O’Donnell as director was accepted with regret, tho chairman referring to the very excellent assistance rendered by him in fostering mining in the district. It was reported that the manager had washed up feioz for nearly four months’ work—a return which was considered very satisfactory. Messrs Reid, Romans, and Lynch were elected directors, • and Mr A. G00d,., auditor. • * January 4. The secretary of tho Nokomai 'Hydraulic Sluicing reports that the last report is dated December 26, when the manager stated that No. 1 had a full, week’s iluicing. Some of the mom had left for tho holidays, so work will bo somewhat intermittent till they settle down to work again. No 2 had a full week’s sluicing, and good progress waa made. No. 3 washed up, and

grot a return of 1540 z 7dwt 12gr for about three weeks’ work The elevator and all tho plant, except iho pump, had been removed. The secretary of tho Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company reports a return of 340 z lOdwt from a small paddock, from which very little bottom was cleaned up. January 6. Tho master of the Golden Bed dredge reports that he resumed work yesterday with the machinery all going well. A start was made in effecting some necessary repairs to the Masterton dredge on Wednesday, and the dredgeinaster expects that this operation will last about a fortnight, when work will bo recommenced.

Tho secretary of the Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company informs us tjrat a report, dated a week later than published yesterday, is to hand, telling of a wash-up at No. 2, the result being 930 z 17dwt, or a total for the two claims of 2480 z 4dwt 12gr. No. 1 had a full week’s sluicing, and the progress made was good. All tho plant from No. 2 ,has been shifted, a stone wall built, and a start is to be made to blow off top material. At No. 3 the boxes have been erected, and as tho creek will have to be shifted, part of tho main lino has been broken out, and everything is being got ready. January 6> Work in the majority of-the river and' sluicing claims has now been resumed after the holidays. Mr MTntosh’s hydraulic plant on tho Arrow River is (says the Lake County Press) working smootnly, and a considerable amount of wash is being treated daily. January 8. Tho secretary of the Rise and Shine Company reports a return of 19oz Bdwt for 105 hours’ dredging. The Rising Sun dredge washed up on Saturday for a return of 30oz 7dwt for a run of 109 hours. For tho week ended December 23, 1911, the-Blackwnter River dredge obtained a return of 490 z as tho result of 123 hours’ work. January 9. The Molyneus River was 7ft bin above the normal mark at Alexandra on Monday, and tho weather was fine. In reporting a return of 4oz 12dwt for 89 hours’ work, tho master of the Chicago dredge states that he has closed down in the meantime. The master of the Golden Treasure dredge has been effecting a few necessary repairs during the holidays, and will resume work at an early date. iTie Golden Bed dredge resumed operations on Thursday last, and on account of the short time worked there was no wash-up

on Saturday. Boring operations will be recommenced again very shortly. Work was resumed by the Hartley and Riley dredge on Tuesday last, and has been continued steadily since then. Though there was no wash-up last week, the ground was easy to work, and the.gold muon about the same as previously. The secretary of the-Electric Company reports that both dredges are at Present undergoing a general overhaul. A conti act has been let to Messrs Miller Bros of Port Chalmers, to strengthen the top tumbler, framing, etc. of the Ivc dredge, and when this is done a satie,actor v year’s work should be put in. The master of the Rising feun <lredge re ports as follows:— “\Ve dredged 109 hours last week, and worked ahead 12it on a cut 90vds wide. There is no change to report in" the nature of the ground. Dredging wag resumed on Tuesday morning. ine machinery is running well. _ _ Mr L. Cross and party, consisting of Messrs D. M'Lcan. G. Evans, and F. Fortune, Jolt the Bluff on Wednesday by one of Captain -Roderique’s auxiliary vessels for Southern Fiord. The party intends prospecting for ■o-old and other minerals in the vicinity ot the soot where Mr Cross located gold-bear-ing wash some months n<rp. Mr Cro®** has great faith in Southern Fiord as a field for profitable mining, and {fays the Urepuki Advocate) has -spared neither time nor money in backing his opinions by strenuous prospcctmg. So far he has, iinaidsd by any "subsidy from the Minos Department gained a measure of success. Anyone who has travelled in that wild region can iipprookito the tremendous task tne prospector has to face. Large sums have been disbursed by the Mines Department for prospecting parties in the north, with little or no return. The party under Mr Cross are all practical miners, and can bo relied upon to do good work. The opening of Fiord to the miner is of national importance. and assistance to such a party as< Mr Cross leads would meet with general approval.