THAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 302, 22 December 1898, Page 3

THAMES.

At the Thames matters have been quiet during- the year as far as actual gold returns were concerned. ;\ow, however that the magnificent pumpraki Company has at last started

ing plant erected by the Thames Hauoperations, the, important work of testing the value of the deep levels is one stage nearer. Pending the starting of the big pump, many mines have simply been doing development work, lhe Tararu Creek Company had the misfortune to have its battery destroyed by fire, but a new plant has since been erected, and the crushingreturns latterly showed improvement, which augurs well for the future. About the middle of the year a number of the big companies threw open their properties to tributers, and in the case of the Moanataiari mine the result was very satisfactory. Last month 113 tons crushed for tribute parties yielded £7155 8/9, and this month 137 i tons returned the tributers £711 15/2. The Company , also had a satisfactory crushing from 100 tons of ore taken out of the reef in the Cambria section, which returned £659. A break then cut oft" the reef, and driving is now proceeding to pick it up at the other side. As very rich returns were got in the old Cambria mine, it is to be hoped that the Moanataiari Company will have similar good fortune during the coming year. Altogether during the year S,ICG tons of ore and 408 lbs of picked stone from this mone returned gold valued at £7.566 4/10.

The May Queen Company has been practically waiting an opportunity to open up another level, which should prove payable, as gold lias been left in the floor of the drive. It is to be hoped that now the big- pump has started this work may be accomplished during the coming year. Meanwhile development works have been pushed ahead as fast as possible, and the ore won during the year returned bullion worth £6,208 4/2.

The Mahara Royal, at Tapxi, is one of the mines worked by an English company that erected a' small crushing plant, and which during the year has given consistent returns each month, the total yield being about £-6,114.

The old Waiotahi Company has the honour of being the one Thames Company that paid dividends during the past year. Formed in the early days of the Thames, when mines were not overloaded with shares, this Company has for 21 years continuously paid dividends to the fortunate shareholders. Altogether about. ,£34,500 has been distributed by this Company in dividends, and during the past year the mine yielded about £4,500 worth of bullion.