Gold-fields Intelligence.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 72, 18 May 1868, Page 120

Gold-fields Intelligence.

LATEST FROM THE THAMES,

(From the Correspondent of the Evening News.) J .. ~ May 5. I‘presume that by this time your readers haveheard with satisfaction that the Avon is safe. She has been lying at the Waio-‘ talii since Saturday last: she was taken to Tryphena, at the Great Barrier—-whether by stress of weather or “ urgent private affairs,” I know not at present. The claims up the Waiot&hi are extending, and new ground is being taken up in advance each week. The Monarch party expect to strike the same leader as that in the Lizard. The Point iu view have have had a good crushing, and the Great Republic are on excellent ground. Some new ground of considerable richness has been just pegged out high up on the Moanatairi, and has caused a slight rush iu that direction. A case of considerable interest—though simple in the extreme—was heard at the Police Court this morning. I allude to Douglas v. Burtfell and party, in which it was decided that the worker of a share having abandoned the claim, the holder of a sleeping half had no claim on the new workers of the ground. The Durham and adjoining daim on the Collar Bone have amalgamated, and the shareholders intend forming a Joint Stock Company. Talking of the County movement, I hear that Charles Featherstone Mitchell, Esq., has resigned his position on the Committee, and retired from participation in the matter —-which is, I presume, by this doomed to extinction.

May 6,

Many people arrived by the Tauranga last night, so many indeed that the Clyde as well as the Maori Chief had to convey her passengers to Shortland. They came (that is the majority,) I believe, in order to assist at a soiree, held the same evening in aid of the Presbyterian Church Building Fund. It is said here that an important legal opinion to the effect that no business licences need be taken out in Shortland, it having been proclaimed and gazetted under the Municipal Police Act. If this be the case its importance can hardly be overrated. The Thames Gold-fields Improvement Committee meet to-night. They congratulate themselves, I learn, upon the fact that since their formation there have been evidences of a disposition on 'the part of the Province to spend more money upon the district. Point in "View party have had a first-rate crushing; from 15 tons of stone, out of which all the specimens had been previously picked and crushed, they have got 120 ozs. of gold. New claims are still being pegged out in advance 'on the Waiotahi and Moanatiri. Were there only good roads further up these creeks, the back country would not remain long unopened.

(From the Correspondent of the New Zealand Herald.) May 7. An immensely rich leader, some six feet through, was struck in the Kawanui Claim No. 2 this morning, j. Mr Civil Commissioner Mackay returned from Auckland on Wednesday evening, in order to dispose of some important cases requiring his personal attendance. At a meeting of the Thames Improvement Committe, held at Butt’s Hotel, on Wednesday night, Mr C. F. Mitchell’s resignation was accepted. RepKes and anewers to his Honor the Superintendent respecting the wharf and tramway were read. Messrs Dyan, Brierly, Holland, and Mason, were added to the committee as representing the digging community. The question of a Shortland County was then entered upon, and after a lengthened discussion, the debate was adjourned until Monday next.

The schooner Caroline was sold on Wednesday morning by .Mr M-Caskill, to Messrs Gibbon & Co., for the sum of £l5O. Her new owners intend to run her between Shortland and Kaikowakarere for timber.

The p.s. Clyde arrived from Hastings this afternoon, and brings 500 cwt. of rich quartz from the Full Moon claim to be crushed at Shortland. The reports generally from Tapu are good, several. new leaders having recently been struck.

The American Theatre was crowded last evening, the occasion being a complimentary benefit to Mr J. Hopper, one of the corps. A very large bill was provided, including the French play “ Camille,” the part of the heroine Being sustained by Mr Hooper with, considerable skill. The make up and general conception were very good, and did. not fail to receive the applause of the audience.: ■ His Honor the • Superintendent, R. J. Creighton, Esq. (Provincial Secretary), and R. Graham, Esq., were ahiongst the passengers by the Tauranga to-day from Auckland. ■ —V .

Th°e AH Nations claim will have another crushing.during the ensuing week. 1 The important case of MTsaacs y. Clark has been again postponed until. to-morrow, when/ft will" -be heard- at Mr?Maokay’s private house, in order to': allow the other cases'tq bepreoeededwithatthe W arden’s Court. About a - dozen uases are ontbe list for. bearing. . • ./ . - ,