MINING MATTERS AT THE THAMES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3752, 28 July 1869, Page 5

MINING MATTERS AT THE THAMES.

Although there have been no very remarkable finds during the last few days, there appears to be a great improvement in the general appearance of those claims which are on gold, and we every day hear of new ground being taken up. either for lease or to be worked by companies, as well as a general amalgamation of the claims into convenient blocks to be worked more efficiently than they possibly could be while cut up into claims of three, four, or six men's ground, which in many cases are so situated that it is utterly impossible to prospect the grouud with any chance of success for want of opportunity or means to open low-level workings, while those who have low levels are very often unable from want of space to penetrate far enough into the hill to give a fair chance of testing its contents. This state of things is now rapidly giving way to a more liberal order of arrangements, and amalgamation of claims on equitable terms ia taking place every day. JBut while acknowledging the benefits to be derived from this, we fail to see any reason for cessation of work on those claims which are formed into companies, and especially in such cases as leases are applied for. There is little doubt that the present arrangement, by which large extents of country are virtually locked up directly a lease is applied for, is nut a very effectual mode ot' developing the mineral resources of the field ;is they deserve to be. It is a pity but that work should be continued until the leases ai'e granted, when of course they would come under the

usual leasiug regulations. "We are pleased to sec that ia many instances the good sense of those who occupy many of the blocks so protected loads them to employ labour, aud have the ground worked in the usual manner. The Florida 'Company's ground, containing 111 men's ground, at the head of the Karaka, ia likely to prove a valuable property when more fully developed. The company was formed but last week, with a nominal capital of £4,500 in £5 shares, of which £3 is paid up, the remainder being left to be paid in calls as may be required for working. The ground had previously been workod for about eight months, and gold was found in one vein, from which about 50 tons of stone were taken out, and now lie on the claim, but owing to the difficulty of getting the stone carted to machinery it lias been impossible to get any large quantities crushed. A ton of stone, however, taken from the heap, has been crushed lately, and yielded l^oz. of gold, and we are informed that several tests of smaller quantities since have given an average of three to four ounces to the ton. The shareholders intend, if possible, to have at least a portion of the stone now out crushed at Mclsaac's if possible. Another lease, called tho Melbourne Cotnpauy, on the Karaka, has been taken up within the last few days, and from the position of the ground, 13 acres, it is considered likely to turn out good ground. It is surrounded by the Lord Nelson, Epsom Eiae, Happy-go-Lucky, Helvellyn, and Kejected claims. A lease has been applied for, and work commences to-day, when a drive is to be commenced to prospect tho ground, and more especially to cut tho Happy-go-Lucky leader, which has been workod on close to the boundary. The capital of the company is nominally £10,000, in 5,000 shures of £2 each. Several other leases have been applied for during the past week, and the only wonder is how such a quantity of spare ground has been discovered, or rather how ifc happened to remain undiscovered so long, while the surrounding claims were in many instances making good returns. The Pride of the World, six men's ground, lately taken up on the Karaka Hill, has cut an eight-inch leader, from which, somo capital specimens have beon obtained. This is certainly not to bo wondered at, as tlie claim is situated between the Pride of Earaka, Dayspring, Loyalty, and Prince of Wales, all of which are well known as golden claims. A new shaft has been commenced in the Waitemata Gold-mining Company's ground from the top of the hill, for the purpose of giving air in the lower workings, and to permit of more effectually opening on the leader than could otherwise be done. The work has been taken by contract. A parcel of specimens from the Pai Marire Claim, weighing about 6cwt,, were to be crushed on Monday, at the Berdan attached to the Victoria battery. Some of the stones were rich and will yield a good return. The Morning Star: This claim, although in few hnnds, promises to be one of the best on the field. The original owners, four in number, have held the ground from tho first of the rush, and have never parted with any of their interest. The claim is nearly six men's ground, and is supposed to be directly in the line of the Golden Crown reef. But apart from the latter probability, there is the solid fact of a good reef having been already opened in the claim, and the crushing of 100 tons of stone yielded close on soz. to the ton. Another 100 tons is to grass, and will be crushed shortly. The claim has been recently surveyed, and the surplus ground amalgamated with it. The shareholders have formed a limited liability company, but it is not likely much of the scrip will find its way into market. £4,000 a share has beea refused. — Advertiser, July 27. The Prince Alfred (G-oodall's) batlery was cleaned up on Saturday, and the stuff retorted, the result being 2'ljoz. of gold for two and a-half days' crushing of Golden Crown stone. On Thursday last the amalgamating pans were cleaned out, and 112oz. of gold obtained from them. The batteries are still on Golden Crown stuff, excepting the one-stamper, which is reducing a couple of tons from a claim, the name of which is kept secret by the owners. A cleaning up took place on Saturday evening at the Kuranui b-ittery, for the Eureka Company, aud resulted in l,ooooz. of umalgam. A parcel of Eureka was crushed yesterday, in the single stamper, from which 400oz. of amalgam wore obtained. Two well known claims on the Moanataiari have recently agreed to amalgamate and form a company, and the preliminary steps have been taken for carrying out the object. The claims we allude to are the Dauntless and the Sink to Ifise. The name of the company has been decided upon as the Dauntless and Sink to Eise Gold-Mining Company. The Dauntless has been working on a rich, leader for a long time, and successive crushi^ga have proved most remunerative ; the first one, after all the specimens had been carefully picked from the stone as taken out, averaged five ounces to the ton. They have now about 70 tons of stono ready for the mill, and 2ewfc. of rich. specimen stone. Tke same leader is opened in the Sink to Rise, and another of proved richness also, which traverses the Dauntless ground. They are blocking out tho leader from the lower workings. The two claims are admirably situated for amalgamation, ! and form a compact bit of ground. There are several large bodies of quartz in the ground, but operations are principally confined to the leader from which such good returns have been obtained, and the amalgamation has been effected for the better working of the ground. They only await the opening of the tramway to send tho stone now ready to be crushed, and the company promises to be a most sue« cessful^one, The additions to tho United Service Company's battery are in a forward state, the framework being ready for the reception of the stamper boxes. A large leader has been opened in a drive fiom the shaft, and a considerable heap of stone has been raised, but the alterations to the battery have prevented any trial of the stone. The leader is believed to be the same as that now bein# worked in the Dauntless, Several claims adjoining the present ground of the company have it under consideration to amalgamate, including the Monkleigh (one man's ground), the Surrey, Temple Bar, Ministering Angel, and Western Star, altogether about twenty-six men's ground, and well situated for some"of the best leaders in the Moanataiari. In most of the claims good payable lodes have already been opened. The Western Star struck the Dauntless leader some few days "go, and got out some pretty specimens. Jf the amalgamation were completed, ie would considerably facilitate tho working of the block. The Monkleigh has produced some first-rate crushings, and, considering that it is only a man's ground, the workings are pretty extensive. Some fine specimens were taken out of the leader on Saturday, and again yesterday, and some fifty or sixty pounds weight were shown to us on the claim, which would give at least half-an-ounce to the pound. The Pioneer battery is still crushing for the Whau Company ; 575 ounces of amalgam have been lodged in the bank from about 130 tons of stone,— Times, July 27

Holloway's Gintmknt and Pills. —The worst desc iptiona of u'cow, the most revolting sores, ntul the iutensest external inflammations yieU bafors this tooling Ointment, when its effect is augmented fry the internal administration of Holiowaj's Pills. In " badlega," this Ointment lias only to be replied for a few days before its beneficial infliienou is seea over those indolent ulceratioua which no j) evious treatment could case, much l'ss c.ire. Umler it 3 api>! cifc.OD, lha pains decrease, the alm'ist l urctmw skin relax s, andhcilthy "rannlatiom fpria^ u ( > to displace the oil nutter, which wa* horri'-.m; to behold. Tiolioway'a Ointm"nt punlies the Moo I in llni neighbouring vessels, from which firm au«l ilesh can alone bo foimed; it quickerm the abruption of offeta Bubatauce3 ; and reestablishes souudi es°. —Ady.