LATEST THAMES NEWS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Thursday.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4000, 17 June 1870, Page 3

LATEST THAMES NE WS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Thursday.

THE COURTS. At the Police Court this morning, rather a, heavy charge w*s made against Mary Glen, who stood accused of stealing nearly a ton 6f firewood. After a long 1 hearing the case was dismissed, -with, the proviso that either the wood or its value, 65., should be given to. the complainant by defendant. .-~ William Marsh • was arraigned, on the accusation of Constable Walker, for cruelly maltreating an unfortunate horse, which was unable to pull a bogged dray out of the mire. The case was fully proved, and his Worship, in passing sentence, observed that the practice of ill-treating horses was only too prevalent in Shortland. He should therefore fine the defendant 20s. and costs. No fewer than forty-eight civil cases are announced for hearing to-morrow, in the Resident Magistrate's Court. There was no Warden v s Court held to-day.

OHINEMTJRr. Areporfc has been disseminated amongst the Thames Maoris to the effect that the Government had' agreed to hold another sitting of Native |Sanda Court at Ohinemuri, the petition presented by the natives to this end having been favourably enterta-ied by Judge Fentou. The natives .are quite jubilant at the idea, and evince much satisfaction at this ainicabje termination to what once threatened to become an awkward Question.

AUCTION SALES. House, especially public-House, property is at a heavy discount just now at the Thames. I have jt on good authority that no fewer I than eleven hotels of one kind and another I have been placed in the hands of one of our auctioneers, and that such a thing as a bid for either of them is not obtainable. The reason for the great depreciation may be found in exorbitantly high rents, and the near approach of licensing-day. The tenants have given notice to quit, and the landlords are anxious to dispose of the properties before the licenses expire — Messrs. Gudgeon and Dowen held auction vales of general merchandise yesterday. The attendances were good, and fair prices were obtained.

ACADEMY OF MUSIC. I was glad to notice a good house at the above place of amusement last night, upon the occasion of Mr. Eastwood's benefit. The diorama of "Paradise Lost" was exhici;ed ; and Mr. Carey, the lecturer, also rendered a scene from " Hamlet" with good effect. The entertainment was very well received.

MINING. Tramway Machine.- The new boiler for this machine was placed in position last night, and will prove an immense acquisition, containing as it does ample steam room for supplying power to an engine of much larger size than the one in use. The battery is in full work, and likely to remain so, as it is held in deservedly high estimation as a goldsaver.

Shotover Company. — This company his done excellently well during the current month, for, besides the 2510z. of gold obtained the other day from stuff crushed at Tookey's battery, there are 1701b. of hardsqueezed amalgam on hand. 400 tons of stuff have been crushed for the above return, cold inclusive.

Ladybird and Hand op Friendship. — It was Captain Sonter and Mr. Gibbons who came forward yesterday at the last moment and paid the liabilities of the company, thereby stopping the sale, and at the same time becoming the owners of one-half the ground — in trust for the Flora Macdonald Machine Company. The mine is a valuable pi'operty, and the new arrangement come to will be no less advantageous to the batbery than to the shareholders. West Coa%t Company, Waiotahl — The shareholders are getting a head famously with preliminary works. The low-level tunnel has been opened nearly on a level with the Waiotahi tramway, and a tipscaffolding erected, whilst below men are 1 busily engaged in culverting the creelc to prevent the rubbish filling up the bed.

Criterion Machine. — Seventeen stampers of the various batteries are moving in quartz from the Golden Age mine. The stuff makes a great deal of amalgam, and thus promises a good yield.

Weston's Machine. — The Alburnia Company finished crushing at Western's battery last night, after sending down about 140 tona of lode stuff. It is expected to be very navable.

The Vale of Avoca Company is still crushing, and making a first-rate show on the tables. To-morrow, stuff from the Whau and Papakura companies' claims will be carted to the machine. The Whau is likely to firsfc occupy the battery. Australasian Machine. — Three batteries

are working on stuff sent by the tributers of the True Briton Company Claim, and the tables show for at least Aoz. to the ton.

Waiotahi Machine. — A few tons of stuff from a leader known as the St. Lawrence, in the Waiotahi Company's ground, is being crushed out of the way, as it has been lying on the surface for many months. A mtich larger quantity of quartz recently extracted from the same vein by tributers will follow it thi'oueh the battery.

Waitemata Company. — The 950z. Bdwfc. of retorted gold yesterday obtained by thia company frora a crushing at the Criterion machine was melted to-day at the Bank of New Zealand, and reduced to 940z. 3dwt., showinsr a loss of loz. sdwt. only.

Clyde Company. — Twenty-eight ounces of gold was the yield of the stuff crushed at Grove's Hape Creek babtery, and to which I alluded y ester 'ay. The gold was molted at the Bank of New Zealand, and turned out 260z. 3dwt.

Wandering Stak. — The crushing at the F.D.K. machine for this company has turned out very well, the return of retorted gold from the 2260z. amalgam being 430z. This was melted at the Union Bank of Australia, and gave 390z. 14dwt. 12gr. of gold. There were 22 tons crushed.

Junction-. — The gold yielded by the late crushing was melted to-day at the Bank of New Zealand, and came out of the pota 1390z. Bdwt. The quantity of stuff crushed was 100 tons.

The Prince Imperial Company is making good progress ; the shaft is do*n 90 feet in country that is daily improving in texture, whilst the flow of water ia very much reduced. The contractors stick closely to their work, and are likely to make the job pay.

(FROM THUESDAY's "THAMES ADVERTISER..") The Shotoyer. — The crushing at the Tramway battery gave an average yield of 240z. to the ton. At Partington's machine, up to Saturday last, there were 110 tons crushed, and the amalgam they obtained off the plates and ripples was 501b., and since then a further lot of 101b. has been taken off. The whole of this amalgam has been squeezed through hot water, and will yield a large percentage of retorted gold when the final cleaning up takes place. The whole force of the mill (11 stampers) is employed on this stuff, and we are glad to find it turning out so well. The boxes have not been opened since the end of last month, although they are known to hold a large portion 'of the heavier amalgam?

Waitemata Company. — For some time past a crushing lias been going on at the Criterion battery, and yesterday a cleaning up and retorting took place, the result of which was about 920z. of retorted "gold. Crushing will be resumed on Monday next.

The Golden Age. — A crushing was commenced on Monday last, at the Criterion battery, and will be continued during the week. The stuff is showing up as well as usual. ,-

, The West Coast Company. — The new main tunnel to open up the lower levels has be§n commenced, in a.convenient situation a little above the level of "the tramway, opposite the Criterion battery.

The Dauntless and Sink to Rise.-— A lot o£ stone occupies the Morning Star battery this week. There ha 3 been no cleanins'-un since the start.

The Excelsiob' Battery. — The battery . hass been, crushing with the full force of themill for two days this week , for the John o'Groata tributers, and there are, bow about 40cz. of amalgam on hjmd,.*Yesteialay_'on9

cattery of four stampers was taken off this stuff, and started on another lot for the Berkeley Castle. It will be considered payable if it yields lOdwt. to the ton.

The Ballarat Star. — A crushing of 64 tons was completed at tke Thames Company's battery, aud yielded an average of one ouDce to tho ton.

The Cure. — A parcel of 40 tons Avas crushed at GoodalPs battery, and finished yesterday. The amalgam is now being retorted.

The Odd Fellows'. — Last week a small lot of stone was crushed at the Kuranui battery, ami gave a payable result.

The Kuranui Wokkr. — The manager is erecting no less than five berdana for the treatment of blanket washings and tailings. Those no\y in course of erection are a much heavier metal than are usually in use on this field.

Tire E\ri, of Ertn.— There have been about 20 tons of stone taken out of the winze, which is being crushed at the Halcyon machine. Ai rangements have been made with the manager of the machine to crush a trial of 10 tons from the large paddock, taken out of the main level, for half the gold obtained from it. The cost of, crushing, tramway, and filling into Government trucks, and attendance at the machine will not exceed 18s. Cd. per ton.