CLIPPINGS FROM AUCKLAND PAPERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 259, 3 November 1869, Page 2

CLIPPINGS FROM AUCKLAND PAPERS.

We have been infomed that some six pounds of stone from a new district only nine miles from Shortland, was tested yesterday, in a private berdan, and gave the magnificent yieid of over four ounces of gold to the pound of stone. Lons Drive Specimens.' — Three hundred and thirty-five pounds of specimens from the above claim were crushed at the Kuranui yesterday, and gave the return of 1,2300z5. 15dwts. 12grs. of gold. The general crushing is still going on at the same battery, but a cleaning up will not take place for a few days. The Thames is doing nothine ! Is it ? The Auckland took away on Monday 9587 ounces. The Cambodia sailed on Wednesday for London, with over 10,000 ounces. The gross value of the two shipments may be taken at something like £60,000. Four thousand ounces of silver also go by the latter vessel. The above facts speak trumpet-tongued for themselves. But little need we cave for southern sneers or Australian indifference. We shall yet work out our own destiny. We would call attention to the amount of Customs duties collected on Monday at our port, viz., — £2970 9s. 4d. Nothing, could possibly testify in plainer terms to our Southern friends that Auckland is progressive and progressing than this fact. They may legislate — they may combine, but Auckland has that which, known hitherto as the thing to "make the mare to go," will yet bring back the seat of Government, aud leave poor Welliugton pining in the cold wind of Cook's Straits and natural adversity, for it is an acknowledged fact that it is no. more possible to make Port Nick an acceptable residence for a Governor or for members of Parliament, than it is to make good pancakes without eggs. Although there is even a further decline since our last, in the price of mining shares, there is fresh svidence daily of the value of the mines. Stone of rich quality is continually being struck, first by this, and then in that claim ; but, better still, the production of gold is fast increasing. It is this latter result, and this only, that will revive the value of scrip. Scrip must represent dividends or the sure prospect of dividends, at some certain date before it will henceforth be counted of value. As the mere title deeds to " castles in the air," the people of Auckland will have no more of it. There are, of course, other hindrances to the successful working of the field—the peculations and extortions of legal managers, and the robberies of shareholders by mining managers and men. That the claims are shamefully and shamelessly robbed is a generally admitted fact. Directors and shareholders must set to work, and by prompt and energetic measures, keep legal managers in their right places, and put every possible check on the robbery of gold and specimens. Till this is done, the production of the field may continue to increase, but the shareholders in companies will benefit little by it. Coromandel. — Mr. M'Leod's Claim — 800ozs. from 4001bs. of stone. — We learn the result of a crushing of 4001bs. of stone from M'Leod's (the prospectors') claim. The stone was crushed at Ring's fourstamper battery, and the yield was 800ozs. of gold, or 2ozs. to the lb. It is estimated that with the improved appliances for saving gold which have been introduced at the principal batteries on the Thames, the yield will even be much greater than this, satisfactory as it must be to the fortunate discoverers of the claim. We are informed that the stone thus crushed merely represents one man's work for a fortnight. Hunt's Claim. — The Shotover.-— There is no disguising the fact that many interests on the Thames are suffering from a reaction, and that the ideas of speculators from the South and Victoria are much misled, by common report. During the past few days, scrip in the Shotover has depreciated to a considerable extent, aud it can now be bought up at a very low price. The mere intervention of a hard dyke will throw the theories of the last known geologist out, and where it is thought for a certainty that a reef will be met, it is sometimes found wanting,. and is again found again in an adjoining claim, where its presence was little expected. The reef in Hunt's claim, what may be called the main reef, was first found on the surface, as before stated, and' is working up the hill. A mass of small leaders were

met, and all of them were found goldbearing. Of course there was a ready means of making money, and Hunt and Co. were not such fools as not to take advantage of their chances. Portions of the ground were taken out in a rather reckless manner, the idea being evidently to do as much as they could at the present, and the workings are now left in an indifferent state. To do away with this state of things, competent men have been appointed to superintend the workings ; and if the dividends are not larger for the next three months, it must not be attributed to want of quartz, or the proper direction. From one lead, Barry's, which has not been worked to auy depth, 17,300 ounces have alone been taken, and this lead is clearly traceable and so well known that it is only for the prejent manager to develop it and to get out stone. A new management has been constituted, and able men are now in charge, and ere long it may be expected that Hunt's will again arise to its first greatness, and that many will then be rather sorry that they have parted with their interests at the prices which they have lately done. — Auckland Herald. A quicksilver mine is reported to havß been discovered at the Thames. A Wellington paper hopes that this " mine" is not too close to the workings, or it may turn out to be quicksilver lost by amalgamation, which has deposited itself in some cavaties of the ground. The Coromandel correspondent of the Advertiser writes as follows : — A large saw-mill, driven by an engine of 20 horse power, is in full work at Kikowhakarere, and while looking at it I heard that what is called a " log drive" was about to take place. I went up the creek about half-a--mile, to get a good view, and was well rewarded for my trouble. "After waiting about a quarter of an hour, a man came running down the creek to warn all lookers on, and a few minutes afterwards a rush and a roar gave notice that the sluice-gates had been opened. Immediately the water in the creek rose about six feet, and between 40 and 50 large logs, from three to six feet in diameter, were driven down the creek at the rate of about 20 miles an hour. They were turned and tumbled about by the water like casks, and when they came to a narrow part of the creek the roar of the waters and dull noise of the logs driven together and heaped oue above the other formed a scene not easily forgotten, and enabled one to form a very good idea of the irresistible force of pent-up water.