WEEK'S MINING NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 26

WEEK'S MINING NEWS

May 29. The secretary of the Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company reports that a wash-up was made at No. 2 claim, the result being 105 oz 14dwt for two weeks' sluicing. No. 3 h*d a full wcftk's sluicing with two shifts, and the progress made was fair. The Ri&e and Shine No. 1 dredge botfoiwfld on soft whita clay tt about 38ft on Wednesday week. The wrsh gave fair prospects, and was similar m appearance to that from which good returns were got jn the same part of the cut some time ago. Che gold was coarser than usual. May 30. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that the Waihi Grand Junction return is £8245 19s 4d from 5670 tons.

South Australia's total mineral" production for 1918 was valued at £1,451,438, which compares favourably -with the total for tho previous year, £1,460,764, in view of the fact that the value of the output of copper and ironstone, the two principal products, was lower for 1918. The contribution of some of the non-metallio fnineral products such as barytes, gypsum, taaestone, flint pebbles, salt, and opal was .fcvrgely increased, and the output of manganese ore was valued at . £17,876. The r.ilue of the copper produced was £828,556, *e compared with £902,495, and of ironstone, £277,297, as against £359,723.

May 31. Tho Broken Hill Proprietary Block ±4 Co. made a net profit for the half vear ended March 31 of £7749. A dividend of &d per share on all shares, together with half-yearly interest on all preference shares, amounting in all to £6500, was paid, and the balance remaining at credit of profit *nd loss account is £44,504. Tho net profit for the previous term.was £BOIO. x'ho surplus of liquid assets over liabilities nfc the end of the half-year was £47,976, as compared with £45,742. Carbonate ore despatched amounted to 3817 tons, assaying 22.32 per cent, leac and 13.620 z silver per ton fo~ th-3 previous periol. Development wcrk continues to open up satisfactory supplies, bxit the cost per ton of oro despatched was £3 5s 0.3 d, as against £3 Is 10.+d, Satisfactory results attended tho reopening of the sulphide stopes, and 13,447 tons were treated at tho Block 10 mill under the agreement for joint treatment. The assays of the ore despatched were 13.58 per cent. lead, 10.130 z silver per ton, and 11.2 per cent. zinc. The cost per ton was 28s 5.9 d, as against 25s 6.9 d. May 31. The return from the Rising Sun dredge last week was 260 z 9dwt for 124 hours' work. _The Rise and Shine No. 1 dredge obtained Sooz lldwt for 136 hours' work last week. The following is the Mount Lyell Company's report for the fortnight ended May 7:—Mount Lyell Mine.—No. 9 level. South I/yell drive to 388 ft in schist: completed. North Mount Lyell Mine.—6ooft level No. 13 crosscut to 14ft in schist. 700 ft level No. 351 diamond drill bore inclined, completed at 53ft penetrated ore of fair grade lor first 20ft; No. 352 diamond drill bore, inclined, completed at 52ft; parsed through low grade ore for first 10ft: 925 ft level, No. 353 diamond drill bore drilled 45ft. Reduction Works. —One furnace in blast during fortnight: 3365 tons blister copper consigned to refinery for the current year. Juno 3. The installation of the new heavy 10-bead mill at the Mount Bisehoff Extended Tin Mine. Tasmania, was completed during the half-year ended March 18, and 15 heads of stamps have been running since the end of October. The running of the full 20-head mill was delayed through various causes, including want of water, and it is not yet possible to £yy© an idea of the reduction in workincr costs in comparison "with those Which ruled when only the 10-head plant was AS operation. Tho output of tin oxide was B 4 tons 17ewt, as asrainst 70 te-ns 3cwt for the previous six months, and the net amount VeaJised v.T! £16.054. a,s compired with )517.059. Sir months ngo the net price i*e*Mved for the company's ingot tin was

£3OO per ton 5 the latest sale was £207 5s per ton. A net profit of £2666 was made, as a -ainst £5448, and dividends absorbing £2400 were paid. Another dividend of ono shilling per share was payable on May 21.