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MINING.
In reviewing the state of mining in the
Ovens district during tho past mouth, it
is satisfactory to note that, although in
some divisions thero has been a consider
able falling off in the yield of gold, owing
to the scarcity of water, in other locali-
ties an improvement has taken place. In
the Indigo division, where deep alluvial
mining is the principal form of employ
ment, the prospects of the claims in the
hands of the larger companies are very
satisfactory. As an instance of this we
might mention that the yield of gold from
the Extended Sons of Freedom Company's
mine for the past four weeks amounted
to 1,179 ozs 13 dwts ; last week's return
being 244 ozs 5 dwts; and these, it must
be remembered, are not extraordinary re
turns, but represent what may be termed
the regular yields from the claim. In
the Ballarat and Cliiltem Gold Mining
Company's ' claims — better known per
haps by its former title, tho Indigo Grand
J unction — some good payable ground has
been struck during the mouth. Should
the washdirt continue as it has lately
been showing in tho mine, this company
will, before long, be placed on the list of
dividend-paying concerns, aud after years
of outlay the shareholders will receive
a return on the money they have in
vested. At the El Dorado, another
important deep alluvial mining division,
operations have been partially suspended
in two of the largest mines, during the
month, owing to an unfortunate dispute
as to wages between the companies and
the working miners. It was hoped that
the matter would ere this have been
settled, hut neither of the contending
parties appear inclined to give way. The
directors of the companies fail to see
that higher wages should he paid at El
Dorado than in any other portion of the
colony, while the miners insist that
owing to the nature of the work, it is
absolutely necessary that they should be
better paid than their fellow workmen at
Chiltern and other parts of the district.
An attempt was made to put an end to
the dispute by the introduction of a
supply of labor from Ballarat, and, during
last week, from a hundred to a hundred
and fifty men from that district arrived
at El Dorado. Partly by cajolery, and
partly by intimidation, the men on strike
succeeded in inducing the new comers to
refuse to fulfil their engagements ; and
the whole of the Ballarat men again
left El Dorado without having done a
stroke of work in the claims. For the ;
present, therefore, matters remain in
as unsatisfactory a condition as when j
the strike first commenced, while 1
not only the miners, but tradesmen and
business people geuerally, are suffering
considerably in consequence of the large
amount of money heretofore paid as
wages being withdrawn from circulation.
It is impossible to say how the matter
will end ; one thing, however, is clear,
that it would have been much better both
for the companies and miners had they
endeavored to come to some satisfactory
arrangement at the outset. The companies
are losing owing to the stoppage of ope
rations in the claims ; while the men
have already lost more during the time
they have been on strike than the differ
ence of wages for a twelvemonths, had
they accepted the reduction. Quartz
reefing has been rather quiet during the
month, although one or two new reefs
have recently been discovered, which
promise to give good returns to the
finders. The inauguration of a prospect
ing association at Beechworth, is not
unlikely to lead to further discoveries ; a
large area of country in close proximity
to the town has never yet been properly
tried, and if conducted in a business-like
manner, the : new association may do
much to develops the auriferous resources
of the district. . In the sluicing divisions
operations will be brisker for at least a
few weeks to come than they have been
for many months past. Since the com-
iiffficeiffehtt6'f"the pre'sefflfffi'dhthV 386inr
of rain have fallon, a greater supply than
has been experienced in a similar time
daring the season. "With this supply,
and occasional showers now and then,
sluicers will be kept fairly employed until
Christmas, a most gratifying state of
things considering the glomy apprehen
sions entertained until within the last
few days, as to the complete stoppage of
the whole of the sluicing claims.
With reference to operations in the
El Dorado claims, the managers report :
— North Wellington Gold and Tin
Mining Company. — Tenders for shaft
timber have been accepted, and works
commenced at the mine; also tenders
have been called for suitable pump and
winding engines. — Golden Lake Gold and
Tin Mining Company. — Although the
" strike" referred to in the last report is
not yet over, tho mining manager of this
company has succeeded in securing the
services of two shifts of men at the re
duced rate of wages — viz, £2 10s per
week, to commence work on Thursday
last, the 80th ult. Washdirt will now be
brought to the surface, the manager
having kept everything in order, ready
for sluicing. When the strike is settled no
further delay is anticipated, so that results
may be expected in a very short time. —
Great Extended El Dorado Gold and Tin
Company, near Beechworth. — The mining
manager again expresses his confidence
that he will be able to sink continuously,
as he has succeeded in dividing tho water
equajly between tho two shafts, and the
water was lighter on the 29th ult. than
on the previous days. He is able to
keep it down by driving from nine to ten
strokes per minute on the 5ft. stroke,
which draws more water than all the
claims on the El Dorado Load. Tho:
main shaft had been sunk 4ft. during tho
four days previous to his writing, and he
meusured it then 164ft. deep. He in
tends to continue sinking the main shaft
as long as possible before going again
into the small one.
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