MINING NEWS

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1522, 16 March 1885, Page 2

MINING NEWS

PHCENIX.

[From our Mining Rfportir] Saturday, March 14.' The following are the battery returns for the past week. Krkp-iT-Dabk— 3BBozs of amalgam.

This Company are preparing for a small crushing -whiclt wfflTbo— shortly commenced.

INHLEWOOD EXTENDED.

The sinking of the shaft is being proceeded with, only a distance of abont 20ft remaining to be sunk. When the required depth has been reached a rise Will lie pat up to the level above, which will give about 120 ft of backs and the quantity of stone thus opened up will provide employment for the battery for a long term, and as the stone is of good quality the yield of gold from this mine for the remainder of the year will be considerable. HAPPY VALLEY. The directors visited this property early in the week for the purpose of laying off the works required for bringing the mine into productiveness. There is a large reef already exposed on the surface and the intention had been to connect it with the Rainy Creek battery, by means of an aeral tramway similar to that of the Globe Company, but the directors before going into the large outlay were dedesirous of ascertaining the success of the tramway in nse at the Globe. GOLDEN TRPASURE. This battery was brought to a standstill last week from want of water, and at the general cleaning up the manager took the opportunity of making sundry alterations or repairs to the machinery. They were finished about the middle of the present week, and the battery was to have been started yesterday. ENERGETIC.

Tho welcome intelligence was brought to town to-day by Mr M'Callum, tbe mine manager, of the striking of a splendid body of gold bearing stone in the newly started low level of this mine The news created some little stir, and intimation was at once conveyed to distant shareholders. An active demand at once set in for tlie shares, and during the remainder of the afternoon there was quite a little buzz on 'Change. The stone although not as yet broken into, shows as a wall of stone of considerable oxtent, and from its appearance there is good reason to believe that it is the continuation of the main reef worked in past times ta such good profit in the npper levels. Fuller particulars of the discovery will be forthcoming in a day or two, lis steps Will no doubt be taken at once to drive through the lode and prove its thickness. Iti the meantime the find haa given rise to a very healthy feeling of satisfaction, as the prospect of the old Energetic battery oncn more finding permanent and profitable work is one of no small moment, particularly as tlie battery is in a good state of repair, and could be put in active requisition without delay. BIG RIVER EXTENDED. This is commonly regarded as a good pioperty, and in view of the scare occasioned by tho application for the cancellation of the Homeward Bound and Happy Valley leases the directors have been pnt on the alert Owing to the distance of the lease from Reefton, and the difficulty of getting to it, it is purposed to apply for protection of the ground. NIL DESPERANDUM. Here also the directors are up and doing, and steps are to bo taken to man the mine. This company have, however, expended a considerable sum in works of a prospecting character, and it would not occasion any very heavy outlay to place the mine in the way to put out stone. GLOBE. This company's works are the scene of much activity, and everything is being pushed ahead as quickly as possible. I understand the company have in contemplation the nse of a gas engine to do the hauling from the maiu shaft Gas engines are fast taking the place of those driven by steam, being very much morn economical in working and reqnire no skill to drive. Coal of excellent quality exists a short distance away, and the erection of the required gas works would not be costly. The proposal would of course embrace lighting the mine with gas, which of itself would be an immense yearly saving.