MINING MATTERS AT THE THAMES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3891, 10 February 1870, Page 4

MINING MATTERS AT THE THAMES.

(FROM YESTERDAY'S " THAMES ADVERTISER.") The Mount Pleasant : The crushing for this claim, at the Hap© Creek battery, was finished last week, but owing to some very disagreeable circumstances, which will probably form the subject of inquiry at the Police Court on Thursday next, the retorting has not taken place, and is not likely to take place for some days yet. These circumstances include the alleged robbery of 71 oz. of hard amalgam, calculated to yield at least one-third gold. We gather from the statement of Mr. Vernon, who is, we believe, managing director of the company, that the cruahing of a lot of Jspecimens was finished up at the berdan, on Wednesday night, at a late hour, and, as he (Mr. Vernon) was about then to proceed homewards, a man named Flyun, who was employed on the mine, but not at the machine, came to him and told him he had better squeeze and wash the amalgam, and take it home with him, otherwise it would be stolen, at the same time giving him to understand that there was a plot on foot to steal it. Mr. Vernon asked nim who his informant was, but this information he declined giving. The upshot of it was that the amalgam was not squeezed, but was placed in its liquid state in the usual place, and locked in, Mr. Vernon taking the precaution of locking his dog in the room in which the amalgam was placed. Next morning Mr. Vernon came to have the k amalgam squeezed pi-evious to retort ing. It was found all safe, and was cleaned up in the usual manner, and resulted in Tl^oz. of hard amalgam. Mr. Vernon having to proceed to Auckland on Thursday, he left instructions with the manager that it was not to be retorted until his return, stating that, if the silver were required for the use of the battery, it might be retorted, but on no account to retort the amalgam until he was present. The amalgam was then placed m the drawer of the scales in the presence of Mr. Taylor, the manager of the battery, and others. Some of the directors from Auckland arrived on Friday morning, and requested to have the amalgam retorted, as they were naturally anxious to know the result. Previous to going by the steamer Mr. Taylor was applied to, and he got the keys, and what was the surprise of those present to find that the amalgam had been taken away, and the vessel in which it had been placed contained nothing but liquid silver. Mr. Vernon arrived from Auckland on Saturday, and an inquiry into into the ciroumstances took place. The police were informed, and the case has been placed in the hands of detective Richards for investigation. The man Flynn has been arrested, and will be placed on his trial on the charge of larceny on Thursday morning. Circumstances have come to light which place suspicion on several parties, which we refrain from mentioning at present, as it would serve to defeat the ends of justice. We hope to see the matter fully investigated, and the guilty party or parties brought to justice. The Tweedside : A crashing for the Tweedside is now going on at the Hape Company's battery, and gives promise of a payable return. The Golden Block : The strike announced yesterday of the Shamrock reef was followed up this morning by another in the Golden Block, a claim in close proximity, but situated at the other side of the range. Rich gold was. found in a small leader cut in a tunnel that has been entered to prospect for the famous Shamrock reef. There is reason to believe that the vein that was cut through yesterday is a feeder from this or some other good leef. The Cure : Another splendid lot of specimens were yesterday taken out of the Cure Claim, and there is every reason to believe that a very rich portion of the reef has been met with. There is another reef, about Bft. thick, opened in the workings, which is as yet untried ; but we observe that tenders are called for driving on it for 100 ft. The Golden Age : We are glad to see that the Golden Age Claim is likely to continue to sustain the character which xt has made for itself as a good payable claim. The former yields have usually averaged about 3oz. to the ton, and there is little doubt but that the stone at present on hand will pay handsomely. The cross-cut drive in which the reef was cut in the lower workings is in a length of 100 feet, and at this place the reef has been opened out on in an easterly and westerly direction, the former to a length of 55 feet, and the latter 33 feet. A pass from this level haa been taken up to the upperone, and stoping will shortly be commenced. There are at present about 40 tons of stone stacked on the claim ready for crushing, and they are at present constructing a branch tramway to the Criterion Battery, in readiness for sending down stone for a crushing. The Overland Route : On Friday last, the contractors, putting in the main drive in the Overland Route mine, which is now in over 300 feet, cut a fine-looking reef nearly three feet thick. A small trial, we are informed, gave an average of 3oz. to the ton. This is not the Delhi reef, the one for which they are driving, and which they expect to get in another 50 feet driving.

The Waitemata : The amalgam from the crushing for this claim, which was completed at the Waiotahi machine on Monday, "was retorted yesterday, and gave the splendid result of 2370z, of retorted gold. This return has so encouraged the shareholders that they have commenced sending 100 tons of stone to the new Criterion on the Waiotahi, to be commenced upon at once. Stone is also being canted to the Waiotahi machine, which will be crushed as soon aa the parcel for the Manukau ,now engaging the battery, ia completed. The mine ig now in first-class working order, and an almost unlimited quantity of stone oan be taken out, which, if it yields aa well as the late crushing, will pay handsome dividends. Specimens rionly impregnated with gold are also daily taken out of the leader struok some time ago. — Times, February 9.