MINING MATTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1517, 5 October 1868, Page 3

MINING MATTERS.

(From the 1 homes Advertiser, October 3 ) The claimholders on the ground recently taken up between the Town boundary and Murphy's Hill were visited by Mr. Commissioner Mackay a day or two since, and were informed that as they were mining on reserved land they would be required, in pursuance of the mining regulations, to fill up any excavations made after they had been worked. Some little excitement was created at first, and it was supposed that they might receive intimation to quit altogether. Mr. Mackay, however, encompassed the difficulty in the manner already mentioned. We again visited this ground yesterday, and are glad to be able to state that the good results we anticipated from mining operations in this locality are very speedily being realized. Mosi. ot the claims have already struck auriferous leaders of one kind or another, from which some very good gold bearing stone has been obtained. One claim in particular, the Prince of Fame, adjoining the Morning Bell on its lowest boundary has cut a splendid reef, from which several large pieces of brown quartz have been taken the first struck—in which the precious metal is profusly apparent.. The shaft in which this reef has been touched is down about 100 feet, and the other shareholders are at present busily engaged in puddling clay to keep out surface water, and also in preparing a fan and all the necessary gear to ensure a supply of fresh air. The size of the reef has not yet been thoroughly determined, as work was obliged to be stopped as soon as it was cut, in consequence of the foulness of the air, but as soon as every thing is in readiness the lucky finders purpose driving upon the roof from which such excellent results have already been obtained. This reef is apparently the same as is being worked by the Morning Bell, a ton of the stone from which, it will bej remembered, was crushed during the past week at ißull's oner.:

stamper machine with such excellent results- In the Morning Bell claim a new leader has recently been cut of surprising richness, from which some very beautiful specimen stone taken was shown. The Wheel of Fortune, Sunburst and Jeweller'sshop claims have all struck leaders of various dimensions in their several shafts, which are actively been proceeded with, in the expectation of exposing the splendid lead struck by - the Prince of Fame, which leaders are supposed to be coming right through the flat. The Prettjr Queen, six men's ground, joins the Mar of w aipipi on its lowest boundary, and was first taken up (about two month's ago. A drive, at present entered 75 feet on a low level has exposed three diffeient leaders, from each of which a good prospect has been obtained with a dish. The drive has been continued with the expectation of cutting the Young Manukau and Cuckoo leaders, which are supposed to run in this spur from the W^aiotahi side. Two drives have just been commenced on a higher elevation of the ground. In starting a fresh drive the top of one of the leaders cut in the lower drive was exposed, so the shareholders elected to sink upon it instead of driving. .About 40pounds of stone from this leader have been recently tested at the Kuranui one-stamper machine, giving a payable yield of 18 grains. Several surface specimens have been picked up close to the small creek running between the two spurs. The owners of claims in this locality have some distance to go for their timber, nor is there any very great amount to be obtained where it w taken from ; they complain that a great deal of it is being taken away for fencing, building, and firewood, which they consider should not be allowed, in consequence of the scarcity of the supply, and the large quantity that is necessarily required for mining purposes. _ The Colleen Bawn, six men's ground, is situated at the foot of the Pretty Queen on the opposite spur, and has been taken up about three weeks. A drive is being excavated on the creek level, through the left-hand side of the Karaka spur, and will be continued right through the hill. It has at present been entered between fifty and sixty feet, several small mullocky leaders having been cut, which have not yet been opened out. There is a quantity of broken quartz in the drive, in some portions of which gold is said to have been seen. A large amount of wash dirt has also been taken out of the drive, from which the color can be washed In a dish.

The Golden Slipper adjoins the Colleen Bawn on the same spur. A drive already entered at 110 feet has exposed several small mullocky leaders, from which a color can be obtained. A shaft out of the drive has been sunk thirty feet, twenty feet below the level of the creek ; the water is making in it so fast, however, that it will nrobably have to be abandoned.

The shareholders in the Eose of Denmark claim are at present engaged in driving for a leader to be seen cropping out of the surface of the hill. This claim is situated almost directly opposite to the Colleen Bawn, on the Waiotahi spur. Four Men's Ground, immediately above the Eose of Denmark, has been taken up within the last few days. A drive is being opened out with the object of cutting the Star of Waipipi leaders, which are supposed to be making in this direction.

The All-Serene, six men's ground, is situated on the Karaka Hill, opposite the town, and is joined by the Waterloo and German claims. This claim, on which some work had previously been done, has only been held by the present shareholders about a week. An old drive on the same level as the Waterloo workings is being continued, in order to follow up a leader already exposed of a blue and white quartz formation surrounded by mullock. This leader is about eight inches in thickness.

The Wellington, six men's ground, is situated on the Earaka spur, behind the machines. The ground has been in operation about three months, and forms one of a chain of new claims taken up about the same period in that locality. A drive on the creek level will be continued right through the hill, in order to prospect the ground. It has now been entered a distance of about 140 feet, is securely timbered with a tramway running the whole length of it. There is a large amount of made ground on this spur which has been passed through. The shareholders in this claim seem determined to give it a fair trial, their tunnel being excavated in a very workmanlike manner. The Wellington adjoins the Delhi claim.

The Ponsonby claim, on the Moanatairi, had a crushing of nineteen tons of stone at Souter's machine, at the foot of the Waiotahi, during the past week, with a total yield of ninety ounces.

The Golden Crown commenced crushing at Souter's on Monday last with one battery, stone which is stated to be the worst the cla : .m <produces. The result of twenty-four hours' crushing is estimated to average from twelve pounds 10 fifteen pounds of amalgam. This claim, we have been informed, is likely to beep the battery engaged for a considerable period. The Charleston claim is crushing at Souter's, having engaged one of the batteries for that purpose. IS o actual yield is yet reported, but from the amalgam on the plates, a fair yield is anticipated. The Sarp of Erin claim, Waiotahi, will crush sixty tons of stone at Souter's machine as soon as the Charleston claim has completed crushing.

The Manakau claim has also completed a crushing at the above battery of twentj-five tons of stone, the result being 536 ounces 15dwt. and 11 grs.

The Jtedan claim has also a large parcel of stuff at Souter's machine waiting its turn to be crushed., ■

The Homeward - bound machine, Kuranui. Fire additional stampers are in the course of erection at this machine, with Chilian mill attached. Mr. Keals being the architect of the work.

quartz from the Deep>Lead, was 136 ounces, or eight ounces to the ton. Eickett's claim, on the Collarbone, crushed five tons of stone at Gibbons' machine yesterday ; result, 3oz. 9dwt. to the ton. The shareholders have got twenty tons quartz ready for crushing. THE WORKINGf OF THE THAMES SOLD FIELD. A meeting, announced by circular, was held at Graham's Town office last evening, to take into consideration the advisability of procuring information with a view to the more efficient working of thia goldfield, and other important matters connected therewith. There was a moderate attendance. Robert Graham, Esq., said his attention had been direoted to this matter by reading a letter on the subject, which he would .have placed before them. The object was to consider the-difficulties under which the goldfield was at present worked, and to procure the introduction of mpre skilled labour than they had at present amongst them. To do this it had been suggested that a delegate should be Bent from this field to the Government at Wellington, where he should be joined bj a Government ag;ent. and proceed to Victoria, for the purpose of gleaning information on the subject, to be placed before them on his return ; and also with a view of placing reliable information before the Victorian miners, as an inducement for them to come and do what ther can towards the development of this goldfield. There was at present a want of system and skilled direction observable in the working of the field. They had no proper system of placing their plans on a map- of. the district, so that a second surveyor might go and inspect the same. It whs necessary that they should strike at the root of the evil at once, for unless that was done a very serious re-aclion would enßue. They had no alternative but to do the work themselves, for the Superintendent t"ld them that they could not take the provincial funds for any purpose. The matter was of the utmost importance to the colony at large, as well as to that district, for he contended that there < was nothing so necesßary to settle a native difficulty | as the encouragement of a, large population, such

The result of a crushing of seventeen tons of quartz from the Deep* Lead, was 136 ounces, or eight ounces to the ton. Eickett's claim, on the Collarbone, crushed five tons of stone at Gibbons' machine yesterday ; result, 3oz. 9dwt. to the ton. The shareholders have got twenty tons quartz ready for crushing.

as that now assembling on this goldfield. These were tho views which had induced him to call them together. He thought it was desirable a committee should be formed to frame resolutions to ba submitted to a public meeting at a future day. On the motion of Mr. Mitohbil, Robert Graham, Esq., was voted to the chair. He said he should be glad to cooperate with them in the manner proposed, with a view of assisting the development of this—the richest goldfield in the world. Mr. Alexander Saunders was elected secretary, and at the request of the Chairman read a letter written by Mr. Bust (late of Canterbury), on the J: subject for the consideration of the meeting. Mr. L'oatus said there was a want of system in the ■ developement of this gold-field which required remedying, but as he was a professional man, and had only recently come amongst them, ha refrained from courting notoriety by ..publicly., pointing out these faults. He had had ten years experience of the goldfiolds, and was a scientific observer during that period. Here, however, they -had a different gold-field to any other; not that the working of these lodes would be so difficult if they had some way of tracing them. The miners here appear to forget that the lodes only take three positions or directions. If these were defined and borne in mind, the miners would have lees trouble; in tracing their quartz. Tt was the duty of the. miningsurveyor to define the direction of quartz and the dislocation of a lode, but on trJs gold-field the mining surveyor took no such responsibility, and no record was kept, so that new arrivals knew nothing of the direotion of tho good ground or ground unoccupied, and were left to find that out as best they could. It was absolutely necessary that all underground and other surceyß Bhould be kept for the inspection of the public. Ho considered that, judging from the formation of the country geographically, this was a goldfield of great richness.

The Chairman said large sums of money had been sent down by Melbourne capitalists for investment on this field, but through the unsatisfactory tenure, their agents refused to invest it.

• Mr. Mitcheiii, in moving that stepß be taken to call a public meetiug to carry out the object, said he was aware of £8,000 having been withheld by the agents of the parties desirous of investing it, because there was no security for mining property on this field in the absence of a proper title. They were rapidly drifting into confusion. Considerable improvement was necessary for the working of the regulation and the conduct of the bu-rinesß generally. It was within his knowledge that protection had been granted at 10 o'clock, and at 12 o'clock a permisssion was given to other parties to take possession of the same ground as abandoned. There was no security for investors of money here. If persons came here they should have some security that they would not be imposed upon. He was quite sure that thera "was more litigation in one month in Shortland than in twelve months -on any other field during his experience. He had never seen the saine reckless trading in shares he had on this field ; the men themselves did net work, but loafed or idled their time away on tho claim. They ought to take stepi to secure the Mining Board asked for, and a petition for which, signed by 500 miners, had been presented to Mr. Mackay to be forwarded to the Superintendent. They ought also to insist upon the money taken from the gold-field being returned, instead of held as it wa9 by the officials, the Bank of New Zealand, or the Government. He believed it was nent to the Devil's Exchequer at Wellington, and they would get none of it back unle ; s they looked sharp after it. After further observations, Mr. Mitchell proposed the first resolution. A number of. resolutions, which will be found in our advertising columns, were then proposed and adopted, and the meeting separated after a vote of thanks to the Chairman,

■WARDEN'S COTJ&T. Fbidat, Octobbb 2. Before Lowther Broad, Esq., K. M. Dins V. ItCGUIBE —HAND -IN-HAND V. ATOOE4. The Court gave judgment for plaintiff in this action, each party to bear their own. expenses. BAIiKY V. WARD —STAB OP ONBHUN&A Y. STONEY BATTEK: This waa an action brought to recover possession of a piece of ground worked upon Vy the defendants, and alleged to form part of plaintiffs claim. Mr. Cary appeared for plaintiff; Mr. Macdonald for defendant. Garry Barry, Henry Jenkinson, Henry Bobineon, and Ambrose Fust, were examined in support of tha application for posaeßsion of the disputed ground, and agreed that when the surveyor waa on the ground, and the pegs, including the one in dispute, were pointed out to him in tha presence of the defendant, the latter made no objection. Henry Robinson, a shareholder in the Star of Onehunga (originally called the Davenport claim), deposed that he handed the ground over to Garry Barry and party, and the old original line embraced the disputed piece. James Calderwe'l deposed that he was a. surveyor, and surveyed the Star of Onehunga claim. He likewise surveyed the Stoney Batter cliim. On his first visit he did not see Ward, but he did on the second. Barry said tha peg A was not the Stoney Batter's, and they agreed that if the Star of Onehunga had not six men's from this pag it should be shifted higher up to admit the six men'a claim. • He laid out the ground as six men's, finding it did not contain that amount, but the shareholders of the Stoney Batter objected to the removal of the peg. When he went to complete the survey on .the 4th of August the peg was not there, but he could see where it had been. By Mr. Macdonald: The second plan doe 3 not differ.

This closed the plaintiff's case. ; Patrick "Ward deposed that he .pegged out the Stoney Batter claim on the 10th June. Before doing so he had a conversation with Barry, asking him to show his pegs. He showed witness the : upper and lower pegs. They had baon working on the ground in dispute ever since. A leader about seven or eight inches had been discovered in the disputed ground before the dispute arose. .Other evidence corroborative having been called counsel replied on the evidence, and The Court gave judgment in, favor of plaintiffs, •with coats. . MCEOBBRTS V. DONNAXI.Y. On this case being called, plaintiff- failed to appear and the case was adjourned until Tuesday next, with costs. 1 DRABBLE V. HENKELY AMD OTHERS. This was an action to show cause why defendants, who ire sinking a shaft on plaintiff'aground, should not be restrained from so encroaching. Mr. Macdonald appeared for plaintiffs, Mr. Dodd for defendant. J<] mes Drabble deposed that he was a> shareholder in the Lucknow Claim. He recently visited the ground, and had the pegs pointed out to him. The ground was pegged out on the 18th of July, and be saw the pegs on the 20th. When he last visited the ground one of the pegs was missing—the one marked A on the plan. By Mr. Dodd: There were originally six men's ground, but a few days after taking it up two men's ground were added without removing the pegs. The two men's ground was not a -second claim. Extra pegs were put in for the two men's ground. He be« lieved there were, six men at work on the claim on the 20th of June. He went up to see if his man was representing him-on the 20th, ras he understood he could not find it. . He found him on the; groond in the evening. James Brocklcy deposed ihat he assisted in pegging out a claim on the 18th of July. The pegs on the creik side represent those on fre.-h ground pegged off by myself and par'oy. I saw ; the lower peg» put in. . Luke Neagle deposed that he was a shareholder in the Lucknow Claim, and pegged it off ; on the 18th of July. The ground was pegged off in accordance with the plau,. produced. He : put- in pegs A and D. Burns was on ths ground on Tuesday, and said he had pegged ofi the Lucknow on the previous day, but he could not show them. - 5 -.f. Edward Murray deposed thaffhe was a shareholder in the Delhi Claim, and had no interest in: the case. On the Saturday, July 13, himself , and party, were pegging off, when tbo plaintiff* came on "the/ground and asked what'!was up." He said;" there was a bit of a rush, and they had better have a slice with them. Witness then showed them their boundary pegs. The defendants were not on the ground at all that day. This closed the plaintiffs case) and ■k< The Court wasat this stage adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday next. -

A person was ii- Jissra? "-' v t lu> bpranp; from a high family. Yea," said a bystander:''"! 1i tve eeensoma of the same family so high "that 'th&ir feet; cpiild no touch the ground." 1 ■ •' ■>*' '* ''

. ciirriicii m.vttws.j • St. Matthew's Chutich.—The Bislipp of Melanesia preached yesterday morning, at St: Matthew's .Church..' from part of the 20ui and 21st verses of the 17 th chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, '•'The'kingdom of God cometh not with observation", neither shall they say, Lo here' or lo there ! for behold thekingdom of Uod is withinyou:" Tho v Bishop of New Zealand and Lichfieli preached' in the evening, from the 10th verse oif tlie 18th • chapter of St. Matthew's gospel, " Take heed that.ye despise notone of these littlejones," &c.> His Lordship' in his discourse bade farewell to the parishioners, and confided all the young persons who were confirmed to the cire of'their parents in language most touching. The ohurch ■was .crammed, and numbers were 'unable to 'obtain seats. ! " St. Maby's, Pabnell.—The mornipg sermon Testerdayat this church was preached by the Bishop of Nelson. His lordship's'text was.taken from the Bth verse of the Ist chapter of the First Kpistle General of St. Peter, " We rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." In the evening the Bishop of Melanesia delivered 'an excellent discourse from the sth, 6th, 7th, and Bth verses of the second chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Phillippians, "Let this mind be in you which'was also in Christ JesVis,"'&c. St. Sepulchre's Chubch.—At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre the Very Bev. the Dean of Christchurch. preached, at morning service, from the Ist verse of the 4th chapter of Ephe- . Bians, "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith, ye are called." In the evening, the Bishop of Nelson preached a most' eloquent iermon from the 26th verse of the 15th chapter of the Gospel of St. John:—"But when the Comforter is come; whom I will send'unto you from the Father, &c." . St. Mask's, Kemuera.—The Bishop of New Zealand and Lichfield held a confirmation at this Church yesterday morning, when bix young persons took upon, themselves their baptismal Vo\frs. His Lordship preached a most practical sermon, chiefly addressed to the young, from the 6th verse of the 4th chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians :—"One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." ; St. Paul's Chubch. —The Bishop of Wellington preached at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul yesterday morning, from the 11th verse of the 97th Psalm: —" Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." In the evening, the Ven. Archdeacon Corbett delivered a sermon from the 7th, and' two following verses, of the 12th chapter of the 2nd of Corinthians " And lest I should be exalted above measure, &c." St. Andrew's Chubch, Epsom.—His Lordship the Bishop of New Zealand and Lichfield performed the ceremony of consecration at this Church yesterday afternoon. The Bishop was assisted on the occasion by several other clergymen, and the Church was densely crowded. .