MINING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13662, 28 March 1908, Page 4

MINING.

! WEST COAST DREDGING. ) ', (Special to Herald.) REEFTON, March 28. '^ Gold dredging returns — Pactolus No. I:. 520z. 4dwts. for 135 hours; Pafctolus No. 11., 38oz. 4dwts. for 102 hours. ' ; tli^TJfi^i'atid Scientific Press^V f - lislied at San Francisco, picks the Robinson mine, at Johannesburg, as'the greatest goljtmine in operation to-day./ It started Derations in January, 1388, ' sindo whfc'n it has produced gold to the value of £9,474,678, at the rate of £8 5 10s s£d per ton of ore milled*." To the end of 1906 it had paid in dividends a total £5,064,687. . £h» *^jfey yiela abou% September last was £90,99< , and it is estimated tftat at the present rate of production the ore Actually measurable will supply the milk for twelve years. It is interesting to compare these .figures with those relating to the Waihi mine. This mine has produced to the end of February gold to the value of £6,415,729, but it did. not commence so soon as the Robinson* In fact, it was only in 1895 that the annual output reached six figures first; - The. average value of thd ore i» about £2 6s per ton, and the dividends paidto date amount to £2,926,215. There is ore enough in sight to maintain the present output for several years. Last month the output was worth £68,860.

The mining forecast for th© current year was given to a representative , ©£ the New Zealand Times by a man. who, is , described . as one of the best authoritios in the dominion. He ■Uted that there would in all likelihood be an increased output from quarts arid coal mines, but a falling-off in the output of kauri gum and alluvial gold. With copper at its present low market price, very little attention was likely to be paid to prospecting for that mineral. The Reefton, Karangahake and Waihi mines, he saio> 'would be the principal producers this year, with the Blaokwater coming on later in the season. At the Thames Warden^s Court on. Thursday Mr R. J3. Bush recoramendeti the granting of a license for the Champion, Extended special claim of 80 acres, The application for a license for the Champion North claim of 50 acres was adjourned for alteration to survey, the plans produced showing 4UX overlap on tho Kauri Company's freehold. A license for the Ready^ Bullion Ejrtentk ed % special -'claim was '-granted? fen <th& name of T. G. De Renzy.