MINING MATTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1444, 4 July 1868, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

(From the-Thames Advertiser, July 2.) The claim known, as Powero-court, adjacent- to the Nil Desperaridum and Golden Fleece, in falling a tree to mark the boundaries between Powers-courtfand tlie Nil Desperandum, a good leader was exposed, and a very rich specimen was taken therefrom. " '. _ We are glad to learn that the complaint of want of machinery at Eastings is in a fair way of being rectified. Amongst others in course of progress there is one .to be erected at once. & little way above the Prospector's Claim, Golden Point. Water-power is to be used, and for some time past a number of sawyers hare been at work preparing the timbers upon the ground. The stampers sire of thesame size and weight as those erected for Du Moulin on the Moanatairi. Two stampers onij> are in-each battery» the delivery being at both ends as well- as. the front, thus enabling a very finely perforated plate to be used, a great desideratum, especially with fine gold. After the pounded quartz leaves the stamper bos it passes into a series of troughs each of them being supplied. with quicksilver, and agitated with rollers having a number ot knife-like blades projecting from their circumference. It then passes into to amalgamating pan, something like the old Indigo mills at home. In this pan three iron balls are kept constantly revolving, each ball weighing Zewt. These balls further reduce the pounded ftuaite, as well as squeeze it into quicksilver. ■ xieat 'is also applied to the amalgamating pan, -so asto< ensure full-vigor of the mercury. After leaving the amalgamating pan the pounded matteij.goes through another series of troughs, and fanfcUy over plates and blankets. • Dr. Aickin« patent amalgamating compound is also to be adoptedns soon as possible. Each battery is provided with the same appliances and . all deteched, - so aa either to crush all, for one partyyor for a J TI ™P e? ofdiffefent parties atthe same time. Mr.;Sand<tfson, a woll-known C.E. in Atickljmdr iS fte speculator in this instace, and from rthalMnte know of that gentleman's abilities wehare. everj confidence in its success. In 11 few weete. however; the machinery will be at 'frork, ana parties can then judge for themselves* ■~ The shareholders of the Prince Alfred Claim* on the Karaka, are. forming themselves into a company under the Mining Companies limited Liabilitv Act; This clann-has been steadily worked by the present sharehoiders of seven months. They were first to erect machinery on the Karaka, and bemg Mnateur machinists they had immense difficulties to contend with. Upon its completion it was found to bl very imperfect, in fact almost, useless, so that vlr7httle gold could be saved by ! it; For the first crushings the clam yielded over one ounce to the ton. It has been resolved to jonn a company in-order to raise. sufficient capital to erect machinery of the best descnphon engage an experienced miner e.s manager, together with a competent man .to attend-to thC i hrS'NaughtGlaiin,- Waiotahjradjointog the Republic,' Lizard i and WaterM claims, have some 90 tons of stuff in readiness for cashing, and are awaiting "the completion .of Stevenson's machine, now in course 6f erection .onge Waiotahi Creek, on the Victoria' Claims. The Fear Naught had a ot sample stone a few days ago; which yieMedi ounces of gold. The party have been engaged for some time in sinking iIT-Tuntouched some time, and have left the leader untoucnea

in the meantime. They purpose draining the shaft and sinking some 70 feet on the hill. From the shaft there are four gold-bearing leaders, whilst the spur contains a total of nine leadors. The claim was taJjen up as five men's ground about six months ago, and is rapidly advaucing. Messrs. Stevenson and Hamlin are about to erect a crushing machine on the Waiotahi creek, on the Brittania and Victoria claims, and for the convenience of other numerous claimholders. There will be five head of stampers to commence with, capable of being doubled as occasion requires. The five head were to be ready for work in a month's time.

The Caledonian Claim are turning out some excellent specimens of quartz from a new leader opened on their ground. The leader was cut in a drive carried from a shaft, and some good stone was likewise taken out of the shaft itself. The specimens exhibited are very rich. One of the shafts has lately been filled with water, The last crushing from the claim was at Graham's machine, anil had turned out 3 ounces to the ton. There are 25 tons of quartz on the ground which the shareholders propose crushing at Goodall's machine in a few days, and from this sample a much larger yield is anticipated. This claim contains five and a-half men's ground, and was one of the earliest opened on the gold-field.

The Poverty Claim are crushing some 60 tODs of quartz at Goodall's machine this week. The Star of the East Claim, at Tapu Creek, is Bituated on the northern boundary of the Brittania, and on the same spur, which runs nearly due north and south. The workings on this claim consist of a trench which they cut across the ridge and succeeded in cutting what appeared to be the leaders from the Brittania, being situated on the same parallel; they then commenced a drive into the eastern face of the hill about 50 feet lower than where the leaders were struck in the trench. They are now in about 150 feet, and have crossed three or four gold-bearing leaders, and are daily in hopes of cutting the main leader. The workings at present are in dark friable shale.

The Polar Star Claim adjoins the Star of the East on the northern side. This company proceeded to work their claim in the same manner as their neighbours, cutting first a trench across the hill from east to west to find their surface leaders; they succeeded in striking one at a depth of six feet, from which good specimens and a good prospect could be obtained, and they have commenced a drive some distance down on the eastern side of the hill; they are now in about 60 feet, and expect to cross the leader in 25 feet more.

The Newmarket claim consists of four men's ground on the Waiotahi Eange, right-hand side of the Moanatira Creek, nnd above the Junction and Eyber Pass claims. The ground was opened in September last. The leaders have all been followed on an open face from the ground, and one drive has been put into the hill. The last crushing only comprised a parcel of 5 tons of qnartz, which turned out 38 ounces, and it is believed that at least 30 per cent, of the gold was lost, as the stone was of a rich appear ance. There, are some 50 or 60 tons of quartstill lying on the claim in readiness for a crushing. The ground is situate one claim from that of the Point. Russell, and two from the Dawn of Hope, and is yet only partially prospected. The leaders are to be seen at each end of the ground, and as the drives progress the ground is expected to turn out much richer.