MINING SUMMARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 94, 21 April 1892, Page 2

MINING SUMMARY.

(FROM OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT.)

Thames, Wednesday.' The post month rjas been characterised by more than usual dulness so far as the mining industry v concerned, and as a coriHcquer.ee, thero is but little of interest to chronicle The all-important question of the development of the deep levels ot the Thame, has again received a reason.be amount of attention, but, up to the m-ewent, nothing of a practical nature has •i.-ultod - meeting of the shareholuers ot the Saxon ..okimining Company is to be .old on Friday next, to take into eon--id. ration " tho future of tne Company s mine," and if I might be permitted to make a -uggostiou I would urge that if possible

the Saxon Company should acquire the Queen of Beauty mine, and as speedily as possible make an attempt to prosecute operations at a greater depth than has yet been attained on the field. There can be no question as to tho ultimate rosulb that would attend deep level prospecting in this direction, and so thoroughly alive are alargo section of the people of the Thames to the importance of the matter that I am convinced they would readily take up a substantial number of shares in tho event of a reconstruction of the Saxon Company taking place. It seems somewhat peculiar that, tha directors of the Company referred to should have permitted affairs to drift into the present unpati«factory and depressed stato without long ago convening a meeting of shareholders and devising some scheme for the well-being of the Company generally, but it is never too late to mend. There is yet time to improve tho position of shareholders by an amalgamation or in any other way that may bo decided upon, and I fool sure that tho outcome of the meeting of those interested in the Saxon on Friday will be productive of much good both to shareholders themselves aud the Auckland and Thames communities generally.

Another matter to which public attention is just now directed is tho prospecting of tho back country. Hero and there the existence of gold and silver ha 3 been inconbestably proved, and were this back country systematically traversed by prospectors, there is almost a certainty of practically now gold fields being discovered. But as Mr Warden Norbhcroft romarkod in tho Warden's Court, a couple of days ago, the rising generation appear to think more about wasting their timo about town, and " taking out their best girls on Saturday night than in seeking to unearth tho treasure lying hidden in tho vast area termed our back country." Timo was when the prospector, with pick and dish in hand, could bo soon roaming ovor rugged and densely-wooded country in search of auriferous and argentiferous lodes. Bub now, comparatively speaking, this is a rare sight, und thero are but few who adopt tho occupation of a systematic prospector. It is gratifying, however, to observe that the Thames Borough Council aro ab last beginning to roaliso the importance of this matter, and in future will probably assist to tho extent of £2 10s per week. Tho Mayor has given notice of his intention to move that £10 por month bo voted by tho Council to this object, and I suppose Councillors will not objoct to voting such a munificent amount. As already stated, thoro is very little of interest to report from tho various mines ab thoTiiT-.es, the usual works being in progress with about the samo results as last reported. Tho Maritoto Gold and Silver Mining Company's mino and plant have been sold by auction to Mr Chas. Judd, iron-foundor, for the absurd sum of £70, while the Crawford Special Company's mino was similarly dealt with and purchased by Mr J. .1. Macky, of Auckland, for £1,250 on behalf of the now company now in course of formation.

In tho up-country districts things are pretty brisk. The Waihi Gold nnd Silver Mining Company's mino ia looking even better than over, and the sixty hoad of stampers aro now pounding away on ore therefrom. Tho yield for tho past four weeks was £2,800 worth of bullion. Tho prospects of tho Silverton Company also look well, besides which tho Gladstone and other mines in tho same district aro enorgeticully pushing on work. At Waitekauri, Mr Cooper's Jubiloe property ia being developed aa speedily as possible, and at Komata Mr Russell's mine gives every prospect of being a good thing. . Thoro is nothing fresh to record from other parts of tho district, except that at Waiomo Mr Poter Hansen's reduction plant has had a trial start and w«3 found to work splendidly.