MIKING MATTERS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3429, 13 July 1868, Page 3

MIKING MATTERS.

Kellys Claim, Moanataiari, crashed 7561b. of specimen stone taken out of their claim at the Kuranui Company's one-stamper machine, on Thursday, and the result was a yield of 4320z. sdwfc. retorted gold. The gold was deposited in one lump, as it was taken out of the retort, at the Union Bank yesterday. This claim ,will crush nearly 130 tons of quartz, from which the above was taken, in a few weeks' time. The shareholders of Point Russell Claim believe they were successful in striking the Dawn of Hope leader in their ground on Thursday l*st. Some splendid specimens have been taken out, the quartz bearing every resemblance to that taken out of the above famous leader. The Pretty Jane Claim, Karaka, crushed 201b. of specimens yesterday, at Spencer's berdan, which yielded 16oz. 18dwfc. of retorted gold of ft very' superior quality. ' '

We paid * visit yesterday to the ground known as the Waikat-, Germans', Independent, and Molly Bawn Claims on the Karaka, but certainly cannot give a very favourable report as to the result. The Bengal Claim, Waiotahi, contains seven men's ground, situate above the St. Lawrence, German's, and the Waiotahi Gold-Miuing Company's ground. It has been open some eight months, but with poor success hitherto. Several tons of quartz have been taken out of the Jeader opened in this drive, which is being stacked. A cample of stone from a reef in the Golden Crown, Puriri, has been tested this week, with a yield equal to S"Z. to the ton. The stone was procured at a depth of 70 feet, and no gold was visible in it. The Golden Age Claim crushed 2 cwt. of stuff at the Kuranui Company's one-stamper yesterday, which yielded aboub lOoz. retorted gold. The True Britou, six men's ground, is peg to peg with the Caledonia and Prospectors' Claims, and between the latter and the Manukau. The leaders from the Prospectors' Claim run into tha ground The reef bearing from the latter has been struck, but the leaders are not yet opened The main drive has been carried to a distance of 200 feet from the creek, and a shaf t sunk to a depth of 90 feet on the boundary of the claim. It is iu tended to drive quite up to the boundary line of the creek, where the heaviest of the Manukau ground is supposed to run. The Harmouic Claim comprises two men's ground, on the tip of the Moanafcaiari, near the Candle-light and Multum-in-Parvo Claims, taken up abonfb four months ago, A fortnight ago a Jeader was opened, and since then some excellent specimens have been got out. A shaft was put in some 20 feet, when it gave way, and, on clearing out the stuff, it was converted into a drive, There are alao four other drives in the ground, but from these no prcapect has yet been obtained. The Biasing Star, Karaka, adjoining the Star of Onehunga Claim, struck rich gold in their ground od Saturday last. The Sacramento Claim, Shellback Creek, is found in close proximity to the Siam, Shamrock JRose and Thistle, and Enterprise Claims. It consists of four men's ground, and was opened seven months ago. A drive was put in to a distance of ISO feetj&nd a leader passed after 33 feet had been excavated, A shaft w« likewise put down 40 feet, and another drive carried to a distance of 90 feet in search of the leader from the Siam Claim adjoining. A mullocky leader was passed, but only one specimen was taken out of the claim until a few days ago, when two good leaders varying from sir inches to a foot and a half in thickness were opened, and a sample of mullock was tested and found to yield at the rate of four ounces to the ton. A correspondent from Madman's Gully writes as follows :: — M lt might be interesting to both you and your readers to know how we are getting on here. A great rush h&s taken place to this locality of late, and every inch of available ground is being taken up for miles beyond Madman's Gully. McCann's claim is turning out well j their leader is a very handsome one, and bids fair to rival any on the goldfield. This rich leader has now been traced to the Hose and Shamrock Claim (Miller and party), This party, after the most praiseworthy perseverance, suoceeded in putting in two drives, one of which is 100 feet and the other 90 feet ; they have cut several small leaders through, which are highly gold-bearing, but now their labour lias been crowned with final success, as they have struck McCann's leader ; the bearings of this leader run about east and west, and go straight through the Marquis of Stafford Claim ; the latter claim is now registered, and protected for a period of three months. Sutherland and party have done a great deal of work to their claim ; they have put in two drives about 90 feet each, and have struck leadera, but not the desired one, which no doubt they will have the pleasure of striking after, a while. This party took out several tons of quartz, but I am sorry to say not payable. Neighbouring claimholders give this party their sympathy, seeing that they were almost the pioneers of this locality, and worked perseveringly for about four months. A very high price has been offered for shares in this claim, and especially since Miller and patty struck McCann's leader, which is close to their boundary, and cannot escape running through the whole of their ground. As lam writing, I may state that a party of men came on the Marquia of Stafford Claim to-day and pegged off afresh. 1 understand that the ground on which they took possession is that the claim has not been properly protected. Such proceedings as these are calculated greatly to retard the prosperity of this goldfield; indeed, such" daring acts should be punishable by law : howaver, it is to be hoped that our Warden will see justice done in this case, and show these parties that they cannot prowl about the diggings seeking whom they may devour. Dixon's Claim looks well ; it joins the Marquis of Stafford and Rose and Shamrock Claims, and it is generally supposed that this claim will eventually throw all other claims in the shade, on account of the very large body of stone which is obtainable, tho richness of which cannot be qiiestioned or doubted. All other claims in this locality look well, and no doubt, as soon as machinery can be erected in this neighbourhood, a rich golden harvest will amply reward our mining community."