June 17, 1897.]
used for years past, never once failing to cure the person under treatment within twenty- four hours. Recipe-Two ounces of cream of tartar; put this into a quart of boiling water; to be kept stirring for 10 minutes; when cold take a wineglass-fall every half hour. This to be taken immediately the disease is known. This remedy, I hope, will prove of some advantage to the inhabitants of Hongkong and
Kowloon.
I am afraid I have already trespassed too far upon your kindness, Mr. Editor, so I con. olade by informing any of my old comrades, I shall be pleased to hear from them. With best wishes to all old friends of the Regiment, not forgetting our special admirers, the Parsees, I can truly say "God's providence is mine
inheritance.
22
THE QUEEN AND EUREKA MINES.
Messrs. John D. Humphreys & Son, the General Managers, have received the following reports on the Balmoral Gold Mining Co., Limited, and Olivers Freehold Mines, Limited
NEW BALMORAL GOLD MINING CO. LIMITED.
Mount Macdonald, 14th May, 1897. Queen Mine. The contractors engaged in sinking and timbering the main shaft are making fair progress, and since last report there is no important change in the character of the country being sunk through. We expect to cut the reef in the shaft before the contract for sinking the 100 feet is completed, when a change in the rock may be looked for; but it may be necessary to sink an additional 50 feet or more before opening out on the reef. This will, however, be determined by the nature of the ground and indications that may point to the probability of good gold being found by driving.
Prospecting Shaft-We are still driving west from the bottom, the ground being highly mineralized, and we have a small vein of quartz, lying almost flat and going west, carrying good gold. We are following this up, hoping it will lead to the main reef.
Engine House. The boiler is now in position and the shed will be completed shortly.
Estimate, &o, for sinking Main Shaft 100ft.- The work was started on 10th April, 1897, and we estimate the contractors will sink 18 feet
per month, 100 ft. at £4 18. Od.--£405. Timber, tools, &c., found by Coy £100. Total £505.- Yours truly,
p. pro. JOHN D. HUMPHREYS & Son,
C. J. WILLMOTT.
REPORT ON NEW BALMORAL-CO.'s BATTERY.
Mount Macdonald, 14th May, 1897. This battery is situated in a most ridiculous position, being perched up on the side of a very steep hill. The water has to be pumped from a deep gully or gorge, and without going to an enormous expense it would be impossible to conserve more than one month's water. So that unless it rained very frequently the battery would be idle. The plant consists of 1 large Cornish boiler, 2 eugines (1 small 1 large) in fairly good condition,and 20 heads heavy stampers (which must have been erected at a very heavy cost). The stamper shanks are fitted up old style, a style that involved a considerable amount of extra work and loss of time; and be fore being re-erected they would require to be fitted with more modern appliances. The stamper boxes are without exception the worst that ever came under our notice, and no one with the slightest knowledge of battery work would purchase them or take them as a gift; and it would be a big
in very
even
mistake to remove and re-erect them near Olivers battery or elsewhere. The tables are built on the worst, principle and instead of a large copper plate.just outside each box there. is a sheet of iron, something new, but far behind modern ideas all the same. There are also two Watson and Denny fans erected and one not erected. Taken altogether this battery is the worst situated, most extravagantly erected, and for practical use the most incomplete plant our mining manager ever inspected or reported upon; and, apart from the two engines, boiler, and pans, regarded as worthless.
P. pro JOHN D. HUMPHREYS AND SON,
C. J. WILLMOTT.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
OLIVERS FREEHOLD MINES, LIMITED,
Mount Macdonald, 14th May, Eureka Mine-Since last report work has been progressing most satisfactorily and the developments, more especially at the 200 feet level, are most encouraging. The North drive at this level has been extended to a total of 71 feet with the lode 4 feet 3 inches wide, and showing fair gold. In the South drive we are now in 48 feet with the reef 5 feet wide of good pay. able stone. This makes us now a total distance of 119 feet on the course of reef with no signs of a break in it, and it is going strongly under- foot and overhead; so that even without any further developments, we have many thousands of tons of good payable stone in sight. There is not the slightest doubt that below the 200 feet level the reef will be equal, in fact may expect better, in quality and than it is at the greater in quantity present level, and that it will extend for several hundred feet North and South.
We
At
the 150 feet level the winze is now down 32 feet with the reef still 5 feet wide and of good payable quality. We hope to connect with the lower level (200 feet) in about 8 days, when the output of stone will be greatly increased. Crushing was resumed on the 10th inst, and will be continued while the water in Battery dam lasts. Even if the water there gives out, as it will unless we get rain shortly, it will not in any way retard the development of the Mine; and if the rain comes, we can keep the battery going regularly by putting on one or two additional men. New buckets are being made, and all getting ready for resuming the sinking of the shaft an additional 100 feet. Everything in connection with the mine and mining plant is in first class order.
p. pro JOHN D. HUMPHREYS AND SON.
C. J. WILLMOTT.
REPORT ON OLIVERS FREEHOLD BATTERY,
Mount Macdonald, 14th May, 1897. This battery is situated in the best possible position that could be found, and consists of & good engine, 2 good Cornish boilers, 20 heads of stamps (light), and 3 Watson and Denny pans. These latter although worthless in many places, are especially adapted to treat the stone here, or rather the sand, after it leaves the stamper boxes, owing to the peculiar nature of the stone. The stamper boxes are of fairly good pattern but are very old and require con- tinual patching, and cannot last much longer The stampers are very light, about 600 lbs. each, also very old, and liable to break. During the last six weeks, three have broken and have had to be replaced by old discarded ones. What is required to make the battery equal to pre- sent needs is four new stamper boxes most ap- proved pattern, 20 heads new stampers say 750 lbs. each, new cầm shaft not less than 5 inches diameter, the latter being a very important item as the breaking of a shaft means a serious stoppage and ex- pense, hence they must be strong; an addi- tional Watson and Denny pan also required, giving one pan to each five heads of stampers. it would also be necessary to erect a small engine to drive the pans, leaving the present engine to drive the stampers and pump water. The boiler power is sufficient for the two and it is a decided advantage to have the driving power for stampers and pans separate, as it is sometimes inecessary to stop the stampers at onoe, when at the same time the pans should be kept going to prevent choking, &o.
cam
With the above alterations and additions you would have a complete plant capable of treating 200 tons per week; and when an additional plant is needed, and from present appearances at the Eureka" it will be required, it could be erected close to the present one, so that the two would be under the supervision of one battery
foreman.
p. pro JoHN D. HUMPHREYS AND SON,-
C. J. WILLMOTT.
Colonel Huertas, Governor of Sulu, under date the 16th May, writing to a friend in Singa- pore, says that a few days previously eight fanatical Moros, armed with parangs and other weapons, rushed into the Spanish lines there, and wounded three European soldiers, but before they could do any further mischief they were shot down.-Singapore Free Press.
́HONGKONG GOLF CLUB.
473
CAPTAIN'S CUP FOR JUNE, Although the weather was very warm and on the second day, owing to very heavy rain, a considerable amount of water lay on the links, a fair number of members turned up for the above competition. The scores, for reasons given above, were as a rule high, though the winner of Cup and pool returned a very steadily played card on the first day, and on his enhanced handi- cap, occasioned by his winning the Junior Handicap Cup a few days before, netted 83, which promotes him out of the ranks of the Juniors. The greens were generally admitted to be in fine order, but the grass on some por- tions of the links was very trying and is now being attacked by a gang of celestial Hebes. Subjoined are the returns handed in :---
CAPTAIN'S CUP.
Mr. W. Taylor Mr. G. Millward Mr. W. A. Duff'
Mr. V. A. C. Hawkins... 100 Mr. A. P. MacEwen 110 Mr. J. Hastings a. Mr. C. A. Tomes Mr. W. J. Saunders'
Mr. W. Taylor
98 15 83 104 15 -89 104
12 $92
8
$92
15
95
108
12
96
105-
.9
96
116
.18
98
22 entries. POOL
98
15
83
8
92
100
15
95
108
12 96-
105
9
96
15 entries.
Mr. V. A. C. Hawkins.. 100 Mr. A. P. MacEwen Mr. Hastings Mr. C. A. Tomes
CORRESPONDENCE
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
THE SALE OF THE MOUNT AUSTIN HOTEL.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
DAILY PRESS. SIB,-I was somewhat surprised to learn from your columns that at a private meeting on Saturday it was decided by those present to memorialise the Government on the sale of the Mount Austin Hotel to the Military authorities, with a view to ascertaining whether it be possible to buy back the building for the use of the civilian population. I say that I was surprised, because I should have thought the first step in this direction would have been to ascertain whether those interested are ready to plank down the necessary funds. Without Arst being assured on this head, I imagine the Government would not feel justified in taking any action whatever.
The sale of the Hotel is without doubt a serious blow to those residents who, benefitting by the misfortunes of the shareholders and de- benture holders of the Mount Austin Hotel
Company. Limited, have been able to enjoy the winter below, and the summer above, at prices unobtainable in good hotels in other parts of the world. The handful of boarders who have lived there all the year round have done, so be cause they found it cheaper than taking a house of their own. These are the people who, like spoilt children, are scolding the Military author- ities for having made a good bargain, and now that the reality of the sale is brought home to them are crying out at the injustice of the transaction and making statements which are quite unwarranted by the facts.
It has been asserted by some of those inter- ested that the sale was effected suddenly and with undue secrecy. This is nonsense, and it is also incorrect. Is it likely that the owners of the property would go into the street and announce that they were in treaty with the War Office for the acquisition by the latter of the Hotel Naturally they remained discreetly silent about their own business, knowing that to talk about the matter would probably pre- judice the bargain. It is not to be supposed that a firm having large dealings in landed property would not know whether it was their interest or not to sell the place to the War The Department. They had had some litttle experience of the public in the matter. T Hotel had previously been offered for sale, once before to the Military Authorities and once to
i
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