OUR THAMES LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 2103, 21 October 1870, Page 2

OUR THAMES LETTER.

Thursday, 4 p.m. Tooket'3 Cour.iST.— I am very sorry indeed to have to report that the fire had to be withdrawn last night from this company's boiler, as it was discovered that it leaked, and on examination it proved to be seriously damaged, the crown giving way, caused by tho water from the engine shaft being used ; and on looking at it, it. is just in the same stale as the Caledonia and other boilers which hare been affected. This is a very serious matter, not only to this company, but to the Caledonia, as they will have to drive faster to keep the water under, so as to allow the men to work the cross-cut from the main engine shaft; and not only is the Caledonia inconvenienced, but the Tramway machine is completely idle, with any amount of stuff in their paddock, as they are dependill" on this machine for their supply of water ; and until pumping is again resumed. I see not the shadow of a chance of a supply from other sources.

CiTr of Glasgow.—The tributers of this company had just completed their crushing before the sfoppige, and about 2SV tons of stone were put through. TooKEr'sTunsrTEius. —The tribu'ers of the No. 1 lode nave also cleaned-up, after crushin;: 25 tons, and the yield is a good one. JrjN'CTiox.—At soon as the Caledonian battery have cleaned up at the Manukau battery this claim will send down 100 tons of stuff to crush, of which GO tons is from the All Nations leader, on the upper level, and is expected to yield very well, and the remaining 40 is from the lode cut in the 100 feet level a

few days ago. Point Rcssell. —I am very glad to have to record that the men came upon a fine patch of specimens last night, and which are now in the company's otliee, whilst driving on the lode in the low main level into the hill. On paying a visit to the mine this morning, I found the lode very large indeed, and good coarse gold in the face, and, by surrounding signs, 1 anticipate more being brought to grass with the next shot or two. Unio;.".—There is every prospect of this mine retrieving the position it lost by the last crushing, as the stun" they are now raising from the leader, hitherto unworkeu, in the upper level, is first-class, gold being seen daily, and within the last few days about 50 lbs. of good specimens are in hand. For the speedier removal of the quartz from the upp-'i-stupes, a Terr good tramway indeed has been laid up to the junction of the leaders where the trucks receive the stone, and run out a short distance to a deep wiuze which connec s the two levels, and shot down where it is received by a large truck, and thence to a paddock, the whole being a great improvement upon the old plan. JPafakura. —The crushing of the thirty tons of stono for this claim, at Weston's machine, was finished last evening, and, I am sorry to say, has not proved payable, averaging a little over 4 dwts. to the ton.

WitoTAHi Cheek.—The lower part of the creek is, to day, a dry gully, not a pint of water coming down below the Hume belonging to the Hauraki machine, who have tiie tint right to it, and even they hive hid to hang up a portion of their stampers, and Souter's must close allogtt her without a supply is got within the next 24 boms. As to the Wuiotahi and Criterion machines, for the next few days they will be able to hold on, but the worst of it is, yesterday a tree fell down the hill, and carried away a portion of the latter company's embankment of the dam, which flooded the creek for a few hours, thereby losing a large storage of water. The Ashley G.M.C.—In driving from the chamber at the bottom of the shaft, in say 10 feet, the men have cut a small stringer, and on taking down a little stone, which I ;aw mvself, gold was found therein. It is supposed to he a feeder from the main or TweedI side lode.

The Thame* Advertiser of yesterday has | the following: — j The All Nations Company-still continues steadily crushing at the six-head battery of the Kuranui machine, and continues to present the same rich appearance an the tables as formerly. It is intended to ha.-e a cleaning up and retorting tiiis week. The stuff from the Shotover Company's mine s'ill continues to employ the whole- force of the llauraki battery. It was intended to have had a retorting early this week, but it was afterwards decided to run until Saturday before cleaning up. There has been good stuff going through this week, and a good lot of amalgam is ready for the retort. The Manukau mill, although ic draws the "reater portion of its water supply from the sea, is occasionally short of water, and during the past week several stoppages took place, and one five head battery is still hung. The mill is now employed us follows: —15 heads for the Long Drive", 10 for the Belfast, and 10 for the Caledonian.

The Dauntless and Sink-to-Rise Company ha« just paid a dividend and kept £181 on hand to work and open out the mine. A contract has been invited for fluming the creek at the lowest level, which will extend 100 feet outward from the mouth of the lowest tunnel. When this is accomplished a second contract will be let for driving up to the main leader, which will be opened out upon, and the specimen lander as well. Gold has been taken out of the main leaier on the higher level, and has been foun 1 when sunk upon, so that good and permanent crushiugs may be relied on as soon as the above works aro completed. The company's affairs thus far under local management have improved, as the present directors took office with the company £350 in debt, which has all been wiped off, and current expenses. Quartz, is being got lo grass daily. Crushiugs will take place soon. We are glad to find that crushing for the Alburnia Company has been resumed. One battei-v at Weatoii's mill is now employed on stone "from this mine, and the plates have a flue promising appearance.