THE THAMES GOLD FIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1495, 9 September 1868, Page 3

THE THAMES GOLD FIELD.

(fboai oub own cobbespondent.) September 7. Dixon's Claim. —The shareholders of this magnificent claim it is said, have had a meeting at which they agreed to have 2000 tons of their stuff crushed at Victoria Battery Company's machine for the sum of £4000, the Company to perform the carriage of the quartz. I believe the Compauy have accepted the offer, and that Mr. Bleazard, the manager, has gone to Auckland to make some necessary arrangements. The results will be something handsome to the shareholders, and an average of not less than from 7 to 8 ounces to the ton is anticipated, and which is fully warranted by previous crushings. Mr. Eobert Graham has promised a site for an Independent chapel at Graham's Town. A school-room is about to be erected in Graham's Town. The building is intended also for public meetings, &c._ Pollen-street is barricaded at each end in order to get the street into something like repair. Mr. John Williamson, jun., has been appointed Clerk of the Ilecords. MINING MATTERS. (From the Thames Advertiser, September 8.) The Great Golconda, a claim of eight men's ground, held by Campbell and parjy, is situated, in close proximity to the Lucky Hit claim. The ground has been taken up about two months, since which period three drives haye been entered, the main drive to a distance of 80 feet. There are about 80 tons of stone already stacked ready for crushing. The Duke of Argyle, three men's ground, adjoins tlie Bank of England, Victoria 3£e6f> and Duchess of Kent claims, Waiotahi. This claim has been taken up five months, during which time about 200 feet of driving has been wrought. Several good leaders have been ex-, posed, the largest of which runs from about 18 - inches to 2 feet in thickness, from which some very rich "gold-bearing quartz is being taken'. There are" about 40 tons of stone on the ground ready for crushing. The Perseverance Claim, near the gtar of Fortune, Puriri, six men's ground, has been in operation for two months past. A main drive has been excavated, in which a gold-bearing mullocky leader was struck, a small quantity of which yielded in washing 8 dwts. of gold. The Fiery Cross, a claim of eight men s ground, situated in Tinker's Gully, drives have been entered and three leaders cut, in all of which gold is visible. From one of these leaders 311bs. of stone was tested at Goodal's battery, and yielded 5 dwt. of retorted gold. _ .' The Napoleon Claim, which is situated •'OH I the Karaka Creek, next but one above the

Pretty Jane, has recently struck a fine reef of dark reddish quartz, from which a number of very good specimens have been taken. In tho Leek Claim, adjoiaing the Prospector's at Tararu, the rich reef which runs through the latter claim has been struck, and according to the report ofja well-known mining engineer, who has examined the ground, tho Leek will contain the larger mass of stone, and will, in his opinion be of greater richness. The Kuranui Star, a claim of six men's ground on Hunt's Spur, adjoins the Flying Kagle. Some time back a leader was struck on tbis ground of a mullocky character, from which a very good prospect was obtained. A drive has also been opened and a shaft sunk in it, a good leader being struck at a depth of about 10 feet. This leader is about 2 feet in thickness,Jn some of the stone of which gold is plainly visible. The further improvements contemplated at Gibbons' machine have been so far completed that one of the Chillian mills commenced working yesterday afternoon. A large number of claims from the E.araka hill have been holding back their stuff until the erection of these mills, and there is consequently a large amount of quartz and mullock at the battery waiting its turn to bo put through. At the time of onr visit yesterday afternoon, the machinery was in full work, crushing some of the leader from the Diike of Edinburgh elaim. Karaka, the new addition— thp Chilian mill —being also set in motion, and doing its work in a manner that was considered highly satisfactory. 'I he mill has been erected at the foot of one of the ripple tables, in such a position as to catch directly all the tailings passing over tho table, at the same time being disconnected from the battery, and therefore not liablo to any vibration that might be caused by the heavier machinery. Two solid-looking iron rollers, weighing respectively 15 cwt. contained in a basin of the mill, revolve slowly round it at a rate of 15 revolutions per minute, and, as the whole of the tailings coming from the ripple tables have to pass underneath those rollers, it will be readily understood that the tailings become pulverised to the minutest extent. After being thus thoroughly pulverised, the contents have to pass through a copper rim, situated near the centre of the basin, and after passing through mercury fall through the opening on to blanket tables 15 feet in length. The refuse from these tables had been tried several times during the day, the result being satisfactory both as regards tho precious metal itself and the mercury, none of which was discovered to have escaped. To even the most careful observer the principle now adopted at this battery by the addition of the Chilian mill, at once shows the beneficial results that must necessarily accrue, as tho whole of the stuff passed through undergoes a second crushing, ard it is hardly conceivable how there can be any means of escapo even of the finest gold. In a few days, however, we shall be in a better position to speak as to tho results of these improvements. A second mill, to be placed at tho foot of the other battery, is now in course of erection, and is to be completed in about a fortnight.

The Abyssinia, better known as the Brickmakers' claim, Waiotahi, struck a fine gold-bear-ing leader on Thursday last, which is quite encouraging to the shareholders. Captain Armstrong's monster claim of 53 men's ground, next to Young Hunt's, Tararu, is expected to turn out a first rate claim. WnAU Clatii.—The shareholders of this claim met yesterday in the chambers of Mr. Bcveridge, solicitor, for the purpose of receiving a third dividend, paid since the ground was opened. Arrangements were also completed for forming the claim into a company, under tho Mining Companies Limited Liability Act, ISGS. Since the claim has boon placed under the hands of an experienced manager, some magnificent stone has been taken cut of this claim, aud we learn that a leader of upwards of two feet in width lias been laid bare, from which about 100 tons of quartz per week can easily bo taken, and the shareholders have to look for nothing but better roads to secure to them handsome returns.

MINERS' UK FORM COMMITTEE. The meeting of the Miners' Reform committee, convened to be held at Capt. Butt's Hotel, last erening, is adjourned by advertisement, in our columns, until Thursday evening next, afc the same time and place, in consequence of the thin attendance at the first meeting. Owing probably to the inclemency of the weather, only three or four members of the committee elected oh Saturday were present. We liope the adjourned meeting will be well attended, in order that some practical result may follow. There is a vast amount of work to be done, which may fairly be chargeable upon a committee formed for such an object, and we are quite sure if the gentlemen elected only devote themselves to the work in earnest they will merit the thanks of the miners on this gold-field. The following are the names of the committee appointed at the meeting held on Saturday:—Messrs. J. 0. i3oyd, M. Brierly, Charles S. Guthrie, John Parry, 0. Rowley, W. Logan, George Holland, John Mason, Thomas Scanlan, Edward Birt, Thomas Cherry, and M. Kinley. WARDENS' COURT.—Monday. Before Major Kcddell, Judge. TAYLOtt V. iI'cAETHY AND OTHEII3. The Court gave judgment in this case. The complaint was that the defendants were illegally in possession of the Bunker Hill claim, and for the defence there appeared to be urged thsee pleas:—lst. That plaintiffs claim possession by virtue of a certain protection certificate, which the defendants allege was obtained by false representation; 2nd. That ifeven such representations were correct, the Warden granting such protection exceeded his powers ; 3rd. That it such protection was valid, the plaintiffs had failed to post true copies of the protection notice on their claim. The evidence (from which the Court quoted at length) showed that plaintiffs were in possession of the claim some time between the 4th and Bth of Feb. As to the question of the amount of work, it was not proved to the satisfaction of the Court that there had been such a want of industry on the part of the plaintiffs as to warrant the want of it being admitted as the false pretence. The claim appeared to have been protected for one month, and to have been occupied and worked for three previous. The Warden could have protected the claim for three months, and no evidence was given of the amount of time asked for on that occasion. It was probable that, knowing this, —and the Court was of opinion that the evidence was in favour of the Warden's knowledge of the fact that the plainliffs had received protection before—he was of opinion that he could continue the protection ; and it was in evidence that the plaintiffs applied in his absence, which was no fault of theirs, nor did it appear of any one else's, but an accident over which they had no control. Had he been present, then it would be fair to assume that he would have granted them what he did two or three days afterwards, and if that was so the equity of the case would hardly permit the defendants to take advantage of the circumstance of the Warden's absence to insist upon a literal interpretation of the words immediately preceding the application. It might be that although the Warden had no right to renew a protection certificate applied for on these grounds, he might not be exceeding his powers to continue or extend; and had he been at his office when plaintiffs went there, and then extended the protection for two months, makinc in all three months, it was })robable that no exception could be taken against the fact. Ho believed that the second application was for an extension of the privileges of the first, and when the action was tried for the first time the judge on that occa-

sion "was tlic Warden to "whom tlie defendants allege the plaintiffs made the false representation and on that occasion the same Warden gave the plaintiffs a verdict. The fact of the second woteotion expiring on (lie same day. of the month as the first showed that the first was in view of the Warden. So far on the first count the Court found for plaintiffs. With regard to the second, that the Warden had exceeded his powers, the Court ruled that it was hardly before it. The complaint was lodged on the 10th of July, and on that date the claim had not been protected more than two months, and defendants had not been injured under that document plaintiffs remaining in possession. The whole foundation of the case rested on | the false representation, and this the Court was of opinion had not been proved. With regard to ; the breach of rule 31, and tho evidence which had been taken to show that no true copy of tho protection notice had been posted, the plaintiffs had perhaps been guilty of omission of the usage of the Warden's Court, but it was nowhere shown that'one or more true copies were to be posted. Forfeiture did not seem to follow a breach of this section, but if persons holding protection of claims left them without such notices, not only would they be liable to the penalty enacted, but should their claim be taken up as abandoned ground they would have slight grounds of action, or gold or stone removed. The Court was therefore of opinion with regard to the first and sccond pleas that the weight of evidence was in favour of the Warden's knowledge of the fact that the plaintiffs had received protection before, and that the second application was in reality for an extension of the privileges of tho first. After further details respecting the various features of the case, the Court found judgment for tho plaintiffs, the costs, as directed by the Court above, to go with the case. lIABRINGTON V. IMREEEL. Mr. Dodu for plaintiffs, Mr. Macdonald for defendants. This was a ease for re-hcariug, which had been previously tried before Mr. Baillie, warden, and was now heard before assessors. This was a case of considerable importance, involving the validity or otherwise of sleeping interests. The plaintiff had been in possession of a full share in the claim known as Scanlan's, on tho Karaka Kill, lie subsequently sold the working half to a Charles Vfcllesley Drury, retaining the sleeping interest himself. Shortly afterwards, the plaintiff found it nccessary to leave for the West Coast 011 urgent business, and before leaving informed Drury that he was about to do so. Drury gave no intimation at that time that lie was about to abandon tho claim. On arriving at Charleston received a letter from Drury, dated the 12th Alarch, stating he was going to abandon the claim. Tills letter did not come into plaintiff's hand until the 2nd June. On returning to Shortland, he immediately commenced an action to recover his interest, which during his absence had been taken possession of by the defendant. The defendant had been in possession of the full share since the Ist of April, and had been in the claim previously from the 27th of February, at which date he came into possession of tho working half share. Applied to the warden on tho 31st March for the sleeping half, having written to the plaintiff on the 12th of the previous month.

Charles W. Drurv deposed that he had purchased the working half share from the plaintiff' for £'GO, £20 cash, the remainder to be paid out of the crusliings. Before purchasing, lie had been shown a prospect from the claim, which represented it to yield about 5 ounces to ton. There were 30 tons of stuff ready for crushing, in which witness had no interest, and wlfich on being crushed only yielded about an ounce to the ton. Told the plaintiff that under the circumstances it would be out of the question for him to keep his agreement relative to the shares. The plaintiff replied that the bargain had been made, and he did not feel inclined to alter it. Had written to the plaintiff, at Auckland, informing him that he intended to give up the ground, and also to Mr. Scanlan, who plaintiff liad told liim he had appointed his agent, to the same effect. Had seen Air. Scanlan personally before abandoning the claim. He did not tell Mr. Harrington he intended to abandon the share on the Saturday, because heard it had turned out four and a half ounces. He rcecivcd.no consideration for the share, not even a discharge of an old debt due to another party amounting to £10. He told Mr. Harrington he could not carry out his contract, as the stuff turned out so bad; but he did not give him notice of his intention to abandon the claim until he wrote the letter put in evidence.—Mr. Macdonald put in evidence the certificate of registration of defendant's title.—Plaintiff's solicitor intimated that lie had just ascertained his client had no certificate of registration, and was subject to a penalty through neglect, under the sth section of the Act. —The Court ruled that the effect of a breach of the sth section was toputtheparties out of Court. There could be no question of possession where such was never given. The Court then directed the assessors to return a verdict for the defendant, in the absence of auy title on the part of the plaintiff.—Yerdict for defendant.