Untitled

Observer, Volume XI, Issue 706, 9 July 1892, Page 11

By Obadiah, the Scribe

Since my last, the market has been ' ratber weak, with a downward tendency. With a few exceptions, it wants a little more gold to give investors faith, as there is no want of cash ready for speculation. Would it not be advisable for the brokerß to take that long list of dead and defunct companies out of the Herald, as it must have a very depressing effeot on stockholders and others to see that there has been.no business done for the last ten or twelve months in mines in which they are interested. Moanataibi.— Slight improvement in crushing for the last fortnight. Cheap crushing, good management, easily- saved bullion and very low-grade rock pay expenses. Magnolia. — Prospects improving. The owners deserve encouragement and bullion, as many of the holders have been interested in this mine through good and bad times for nearly twenty years. Victoria.— Forfeited four thousand shareß, which were sold for non-payment of calls, realising three times the amount due on them. This should be a warning to stock-owners to pay up, as all overplus is the property of the company, but stockowners are still responsible for any loss. Alburnia has cut a nice leader. They have been a nice time about it, and it has cost them a nice lot of cash — so think some of the shareholders. But these fellows are no judges. Being interested, they are barred by law from giving an opinion. Crawford's Special. — After all the row, rumpus and rioting and attempts to float this property into a new company, it seems the windiDg gear has been sold and it is to be shifted to the Beauty shaft. Is this the joker that Tom had up his sleeve ? — the reason why be did not sell to any of the other mines? What has become of the wonderful prospects of this property ? Has the settling down of the levels settled all chance of working same? Is the property to be abandoned by the present owners ? If so, it cannot be because they are hard up. Cambria.— Still increasing bank balance. Long may it continue, as balance decreasing has been more fashionable for some years. Waiotahi. What a wonderful mine ; regular as a clock ; how is it managed ? Hazelbank. — More specimens ; still no boom. Silverton. — Shareholders still enquiring when is the company's plant going to make a start. Not being a prophet nor the son of a prophet, the question is. as easy to answer as when will the millenium start operations m this provincial district. The reasons why and wherefore for not starting are many and marvellous. The latest, I hear, is tbat the specifications for the main level are not yet eomfpieted, or the difference between a yard and a load of rock haß not been ascertained.* Verily, the owners of this mine are a longsuffering and contented people. ' Money is plentiful, and woul d be invested in mining if mine managers would only give substantial returns and dividends ;' so writes the scribe of the Tribune. Will managers kindly take the hint and give accordingly, and directors make no appointments except the dividend clause is inserted in the agreement ? No divs., no screws ! _ As payment by result is now being extensively preached, would it not be advisable to try it on mining ? So think some of the | investors ; but they forget managers don't make reefs or put in the bullion, their business being to take it out, and this is a difficulty at present with some of our mines where it -exists, as none of the patent compound, extracting, solvent solutions have solved the difficulty to our satisfaction. They can treat concentrates and rich rock ; but poor stone is not in ♦heir line. It may be one of these days. If the lead-pot is as successful as its owner tellß us, then good- bye to Cassell, Bohan, j and all other chemical compounds and compressors. -,