OUR GOLDFIELDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 296, 13 December 1892, Page 2

OUR GOLDFIELDS.

UPPER THAMES MINING.

Waitekauki.—There are now such a number of mining properties in and around this districb, each going by the name of the " new find," that one is very liable to confuae them. The very newest new find is Lowrio'3, located some four or five miles to the northeast from Russell's Waitekauri battery. The find is in very rough country and rather difficult of approach, but a pack track has been tnada to ih from Hikutaia, on the Thames main road, and a parcel of about two tons of quartz has been sent out to be tested at the Thames. The reef is spoken of as a very extensive one and of a likely appearance for gold, but very little can be known as to the real value of the find until some parcels of tho stuff found have stood treatment. Another new find is Baker's, about two miles from the Waitekauri battery. Not much work has yet been done on this claim, and we shall better be able to speak of its worth when further developments have been made; but from what has been clone there is promise of good payable country being got into by Henry Baker and his party. In Russell's Komata property—the " original" new find—from fifty to a hundred men have been steadily at work for some months past, and a largo tonnage of quartz has been put through the mill. The characteristic feature about operations in this property is that results are kept exceedingly dark. The battery is enclosed within a picket fence, and "No thoroughfare " is set up over every gats. Bub the battery is kept running at nearly its full capacity day and night, and it is certain that a good quantity of bullion has been sent away. The value of the bullion haa no!) been made public. Waihi is progressing in a steady, staunch sort of way. The returns from the big Company's operations do not vary materially from month to month, but maintain a fairly satisfactory average. The prospects in the mine are at least as good as ever they were, and the plant is doing its work steadily and well. The results following the competition of the adib tunnell have been of a most encouraging kind, demonstrating the fact that the quality of the quartz at a lower level is ab least equal to, if nob better, than that of the present and past workings. The Silverton is working away bravely a3 ever determined to make a name for itself yet'

The mill is a fine little plant. There are no other mining operations of importance in Waihi at the present).