THE KARAKA GOLD-FIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1361, 27 March 1868, Page 3

THE KARAKA GOLD-FIELD.

(FEOJI OVU SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Shortland, March 24, IS6S.

I hare been so frequently asked wliy we do not produce more gold here, that I am tempted oiicc more to revert to the old sore—want of machinery. We hare now six machines, with a power of fifty-fire stampers in all; but even out of tliis small number seven are idle at one machine, erring to tlie want of water in the crook. With the stampers now at work, we can possibly crush some thirty tons a clay, but not more. Until by some means or other we can mend this, it will be impossible for us to produce more sold. All the crushing going on at present, or indeed for some days past, has been satisfactory. Kelly's claim has had 200 tons crushed at the Thames Company's battery, hut the result Ido not yet know. Barry's (Kuranui Gold Mining Company) has SOO ounces up to Saturday last from tlio beginning of the rjonth. As far as I know Hunt's willliarenone. The Deep Lead and Goldsworthy's will both crush with the next few days. The Lord >"elson Claim (Hollo way and Middleton), hare jiad 5 tons crushed at Gibbons' machine in the Karaka. The yield was :32 ounces, or about (j.V ounces to the ton. The Star of the South on Saturday last sold 123 ounces to the Bank of Australasia : 5S. 1 , ounces of this was got from OS pounds of stone, and the remainder from 12 toDS general stuff. The arerage gives 9 ounces to the ton, had all been put in together, specimens and general stuff. I am glad to say that the machines are keeping sueli a register as I suggested a few davs ago, and that we shall be now in a better position to judge the general yield of the field. The Prospecting Claim at the Puriri is turning out *20 ounces to the ton ; «ud the claim known as Walker's claim is said to be better than the Prospectors' Claim. The claim of Edwards'and party, between the Prospecting and Walker's, lias yielded 37 ounces 5 d<vts. to 92 pounds of

stone. I have taken some little pains to arrive at some idea as to where The tiu came from, which was discovered the other day at Scanlan and Ellis's machine. It is not easy to say where it did come from, but it is pretty certain it did not come from the claim. I believe it will be found iliat tin is never present in stone in the form that is alleged in this case. I should suppose that the place to look for this sort of tin would be in the quicksilver—and if present in the quicksilver, then the gold is lost. A woman was brought before the Eesident Magistrate the other day for stealing a gold chain. As the loser swore that the chain he lost was _ ] ozs. weight, and the chain on the woman weighed only 1? oz., the case was dismissed. The Electoral Representation Committee appointed at the public meeeting on Saturday last is busily engaged in having the registration forms filled up. Counsel's opinion has been taken as to whether it is necessary to have any forms filled, and while the matter is doubtful, it will be better thai a sufficient number should be placed upon the roil in the event of the opinion not holding.