MINING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3085, 30 April 1913, Page 28

MINING.

WEEK’S MINING NEWS April 23. During March the gold yield of Western Australia was 97,7690 z, valued at £415,295, a decrease in production of 47650 z compared with March of 1912. The secretary of the Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company reports that the No. 2 race has been somewhat troublesome, the ground being ©o saturated that it has given way and brought down a slip carrying five boxes out of position. It has been repaired ere this. At No. 1 race a start was made cleaning on Wednesday, and the work was expected to be finiched on Monday. At No. 3 race the break in the main line of pipes at the foot of the hill was connected up, and all packing end stays in. Thirteen 18in pipes and expansion pipes have been recovered. The pipes were covered to a depth o{ from one to four feet. All hands were going out to the race on Monday. On Thursday there was an inch of snow on the flat, frost following. Gold entered for exportation from the dominion from April 1, 1857, to March 31, 1913, according to a return published in the current Gazette, totalled 20,598,7220 z, valued at £80,961,026. Daring the quarter ended March 31, 1913, the gold export totalled 90,5710 z, valued at £361.932, and during the corresponding quarter of the preceding year the export was 101,3750 z, valued ac £401,880. April 24. Last week the Rise and Shine dredge worked 12ft ahead on a cut about 100 yards wide. There was an average depth of about 45ft, with a bottom of various clays, carrying fair prospects. Our Greyrnouth correspondent states that the New Big River Company suspended crushing operations during the past month, in consequence of repairs to be made to the main shaft. The master of the Waikaia dredge, reporting on the 19th inst., states that on the previous Monday the supply of coal ran short owing to the high state of the river. The dredge was turned up stream and operations were suspended until Saturday. when further supplies of coal arrived from Dunedin. The interval was employed in effecting repairs to the buckets, screen, and ladder The mtalar of the Success dredge, reporting on the 17th inst., states that the dredge lias been working on the south side of the face all the week. For about 20ft from the surface, mud and a false bottom is met with, but underneath there is fairly good wash, with large stones. The ground has been as good as in the previous week, but a tmailcr quantity of wash was dealt with owing to stoppages caused by the replacing of hushed buckets and links and timber ana jinks. T’.io dredge is running well ut preedit. April 25. The secretary of the Masterton Company reports a return of 2loz lOdvvt- for 152 hours’ work. The master of the Success dredge, Hokitika, reports a return of 390 z for 113 hours’ work. The master of the Koputai dredge reports a return of lOoz 18dwt for 138 hours’ work. A Press Association telegram fiom Auckland slates that during the four weeks ended April 15 the Komata Reefs Goldmining Company crushed and treated 500 tons of ore for a return of bullion valued at £1024. The Sandy Point dredge worked 109 hours last week for a distance ahead of 12ft. The cut is three chains wide, with an average depth of 35ft. Owing to the extra heavy overburden a smaller quantity of wash was put through. The class of ground and the prospects remain about the same as during the previous week. The manager of the Hamilton? Sluicing Company reports that lie started elevating on the 21st inst. At that elate he had rot down about 9ft, and the prospects so far wore good. Ho had two or three feet further to go before the bottom was

reached. The paddock will be about 90ft, long by 60£t wide. April if). A promising deposit of iron ore has been found between Kimberley and Prieska, Africa, 145 miles south-west. It has been reported to the Mines Department. April 28. The master of the Golden Treasure dredge reports a return of 340 z lOdwt for a period of a fortnight. Pour days, however, were taken up in clearing the paddock of silt. The master of the Oirig dredge reports that the dredge put in a fairly steady week, and the wash remains much the same as previously. On Friday the dredge was turned towards the tailings. The mineral possibilities of Greenland were first brought prominently before the British investing public in 1853, when, in the autumn of that year, the Dolphin yacht, of 217 tons, after an unprecedented passage of six days from Cape Farewell, in Greenland, to Land’s Knd, brought with her upwards of 16 tons of copper ore, said to average more than 50 per cent, of pure metal, and a great variety of specimens of silver and lead ores. The expedition was accompanied by W. C. V ivian (a Cornish mining captain) ami Herr Hoff (a mineralogist). on behalf of the King of Denmark. Their report was stated to he very satisfactory regarding the metalliferous character of the entire country included in the grant. The average produce of the ores sold at the Swansea ticketings from the mines was 23|. and Captain Vivian described a certain copper lode as being worth £IOO a fathom. April 29. The postmaster at Alexandra telegraphed on Monday that the Molyncux River was 9ft Sin above the normal mark. The weather was fine. The wash in the Ma.sterlon claim continues to look fair. The bottom is. unaltered on the western side, but close to the eastern side it is becoming deeper. The ground above the wash on the western half of the cut is becoming very hard for dredging. In answer to an inquiry from the secretary of the company the dredgemaster has reported that the total area of the unworked ground is 10| acres. A Press Association message from Reefton states that the return from the Pactolua dredge last week was 28oz 2dwt for 104 hours’ work.

The Rising- Sun dredge started to open a fresh cut on the western side of the river Last week, but evidently struck a deep gutter, as no bottom was reached at 50 feet. The di'edge was pulled ahead a bit, and a fresh cut is being opened out. The tailings are being stacked against the Athenaeum reserve, to stop furt'aer erosion through floods A Press Association telegram from Reefton states that negotiations for floating the Pride of Reefton Company into a development company are almost completed. Driving on the reef, which has widened to three feet, is still going on.