MINING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 174, 8 June 1871, Page 7

MINING.

The miners at Black Boy, Fingal (Tasmania), are doing well. lOOOozs. are expected shortly to arrive in Launccston.

The ceremony of tbe christening of the Maerewhenua Quartz Reef took place on the 24th inst., in the presence of a large number of visitors from Oamaru, the Otekaiki, and other stations in the neighbourhood. The christening was performed in the usual manner by Miss Donaldson, who, after breaking the usual champagne bottle, named the reef "The Victoria," in honour of her Majesty — the day being the anniversary of her birth. The batteries are now in full operation, and the first washing is fixed for Monday next. So far, the shareholders are very sanguine as to the results. — " Oamaru Times."

We notice in our San Francisco files accounts of a recent experiment, made to test the enormous explosive power of Hercules powder. The powder itself is a new explosive, being different in composition from Dynamite, or " Giant Powder." It is already very extensively used in the mines of California, and it is asserted by American journalists that, were its wonderful properties understood in Australia, it would most certainly be introduced there. It can be transported with perfect safety. Its enormous explosive power causes a great saving in boring, as much smaller holes are sufficient. One ot'its greatest merits is that it explodes evenly in all directions. Colonists desirous of testing the powers of this new powder should communicate with the company, at the city offices, 314, Californiastreet, San Francisco.

At Alexandra, Cleary and company have taken up two acres of ground iv a gully debouching near the Half Mile Beach. They have got very good prospects at a depth of fifty-four feet, but have not yet bottomed. It is probable that it may turn out well. Knowles and Oliver are in very good spirits this season, having got a fair supply- of water, and they will no doubt reap a very good harvest by supplying about seven companies with water. If they had the water as many more would rent it and the West bank of the Molyneux would look up. The Great Eastern tunnel at the foot of Conroys is li.oking up. A share in it was sold for £30 recently. At Sandy Hook and Golden Beach, the ground adjacent to Messrs. Knowles and Siimnonds for a mile and a half on each side will no doubt be taken up and worked. It has been tried and proved payable if proper machinery were put on the ground. The Golden Beach party have erected a large wheel and are about to commence operations in ground where gold was previously obtained. Roberts and party are layin ? to this year to regain strength for next year, when they intend to strike for the "jugular" they last year tried so hard to get at. At Conroys Gully Reefs, work is being carried on with right good will by the holders of the prospecting claim, Iversan and party. The site fov the machinery and the road to the same is completed; the water race, to supply the motive power, is being vigorously pushed ahead (this work was let by tender). The timber (about three tons), the produce of Tapanui bush, is on the ground, and the latest advices from Messrs. Kincaid and Co., the contractors for the machinery, state that a large quantity left town on the 18th inst., and that the balance will leave in about a fortnight. In the meantime the reef is being worked and stone brought to grass. At the present time about three hundred tons are ready for the mill One other claim is in occupation on this reef. The holders are applying for a lease, and until that is granted little work it is anticipated will be done. — " Dunstan Times."

Very favourable accounts of the progress of mining come from the Coromandel district. Some immensely rich stone has been taken from the Tokatea, Harbour View, and Royal Oak Mines.

Our Thames Correspondent says :—: — " Just now the absording topic of conversation is, not the Caledonian mine, but the scarcity of blasting powder that prevails. Once last week there was a threatened stoppage of work in some of the principal mines on this score alone, and the calamity was only averted by the timely arrival of a small supply. It was, however, very inconsiderable as compared with requirements, and was soon exhausted, and now the cry for powder is again raised, and more earnestly even than before. One of our principal merchants assured me on Monday that there was not one week's stock of the article left. — " Weekly News," May 28. G-old having been discovered in Madagascar (says " Nature ") the Grovernment of the island has prohibited the search. If gold is discovered in remunerative quantities, there will be such a rush of Europeans to the country as will dispossess the native inhabitants.

Ou Monday evening (states the "Berlin Herald," 26th April), Brown and Thomas got a 30£ oz. nus^et in their claim at the back of Messrs. jfhomsou and Conine's store, in the blind gully at the foot of the range, behind the town, at a depth of six feet. A biii; rush quietly set in, and the supposed line of reef, along the base of the range, has been taken up for a long distance.