OUR MINES

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 26 September 1881, Page 2

OUR MINES

v-\ • (PBOM OVB MINING BEPOBTEB.) THE WKEE, Saturday, September 24. Tbe past week has added nothing new (o the history of tbe field, and there has been no speciality in the brokerage, although the average amount of business bas been done. Up to tbe moment I write no definite step has been taken in the way of forming the projected Diamond Drill Company, but a meeting is convened for to-night in order to lick the

proposal into solid shape. The possibility of the scheme being realised has, however, taken possession of the public mind, and as the result of this mining leases are being applied for in anticipation, and no doubt as soon as the company is fairly launched, a large extent of ground will be re-occupied. Some diss cussion has arisen during the week, as to the propriety of companies barring visitors to their mines except upon written passports from the directors. There is nothing new in this form of prohibition, for it has been adopted from time to time upon every goldfield, but it can hardly be justified except in very extreme cases, such for instance as when the stone is extraordinarily rich, or peculiar risk or delays are occasioned by ' the visitors. The matter is one which, I think, may fairlyjbe left to the discretion of the mining manager. In Victoria, the practise has been howled almost com* pletely down, and in the case of some Beefton travellers who lately visited i thirty or forty of the leading quartz mines of that colony, in no instance was it necessary to obtain any such permit to enter the workings, the wish apparently being rather to encourage interested visitors. If a mine has nothing to show it is not likely to attract many visitors ; if it has, it is to the advantage of the company that its good fortune should be advertised as widely as possible. The following are the reported returns for the week :— JUST-IN-TIME, 2860Z3 15dwt amal. gam, from top plates for tbe week. For tbe last three weeks* 301oz 14 dwt retorted gold from top plates* amalgam. UNITED ALPINE (Ltbii) 3870zs of amalgam (top plates) from 190 tons.