THE GOLD FIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5359, 20 January 1879, Page 2

THE GOLD FIELDS.

[FROM OUR OWN correspondent.]

Thames, Saturday. Aliu'r^ia.—There is no cuange of any importance ill the operations i>. this mine. The stopes are being worked with vigour, those above the battery level yielding goad crashmg uirt, with ojcasionai parcels of fair picked stone. The out-put of quartz is considerable, enabling the manager to keep twenty-five head stamps employed crushing for the company. Latterly the general dirt has been shewing up fur a better yield. Another change has taken place in the management, Mr. ..aykiu having resigned and Mr. Samuel Unbble been re-appomted. Since Mr Daykin took charge the mine has been well opened up and free communication established between all the levels. It had been his intention to open ud another level about 50 feet below the 70-foot level, and further test the company's ground. "No doubt this work will be one of the first undertaken by the new manager. In dealing with the out-put of quartz, Mr. Gribble's system is to exercise great care in selecting that which shall be forwarded to tha battery, he being very careful not to send aoy that will not pay for crushing. In future, therefore, it is very likelv the tonnage crushed will not be nearly so large as it has been lately, but the average yield will probably be better. ° Waio-Kakaka Pumping Association.— The directors of this association have in contemplation a scheme to work their pump by water-power, instead of, as hitherto by steam. Application, has been made to the County Council for the necessary water, and, if granted, it is the intention of the directors to resume pujiping operations Before applying the water to the large pump all the water will be cleared from the mines by the present steam engine, after which the Queen ofJßeauty Company's shaft will be sunk about *0 feet, and a new level opened up. To keep the new level clear of water a small pump will ba erected, to be driven by a turbine wheel, and the water raised to the present low level, and from thence lifted to the surface by the large pump. Should tka new level be found to have a rich deposit of the precious metal, the advisability of removing the column fromthe Piakoto the Queen of Beauty shaft, and driving the pump by water-power, would be discussed. Xt-i3 argued in favour of this that the latter shaft is the most central to the surrounding reefs, and that but one shaft would have to be kept open, whereas at present two have to be maintained, bothuf which are in bad condition. Should the County authorities see their way clear to granting a sufficient supply of water for driving the pump, and the scheme prove successful, it will lead to the developing of r»- Q ueen Beauty mine but also the Piako at a greater depih than any that has hitherto been tried. GOLD RETURN'S FOR THS WEEK-

02 dwi.«r. ,-uoanatautl Company .. 260 0 0 Prince Imperial I'onipmy .. . 70 0 Ditto Lnckie'd tribute . / 2 7 0 Ditto Kendall's tribute *" 6 1-1 0 Alburma, Scoti'a tribute 25 1 0 Ditto, Ord's tribute... V. V. 6 10 0 Ditio, Forsters tribute . * *' 10 0 0 r. u Dll i?' is'ichoU'a tribute .. .. 6 16 d Golden Crown,-ymoua tribute .. .. 4 10 0 Queen of Beauty. \Vin;ate*s tribute 2S 3 9 New North Devon. M,iiett'a tribute .. 5 5 9 Nonp&rlel. B«gntll s tribute .. 7 5 0 Crowa Princess, Graham's tribute].* ** 11 15 0 Kuranui, McDonild a tribute .. .. 2 11 0 Tookty Tribute Company " "' 9 13 4 •• •• 5170 Hopeful oUim .. ■» n o Last Chance .. q 15 0 *ortU.. .. ,2 q W-llUms.. .. 2 o Second Tit .. K 1 # OnlyChsuce .. !! "* [[ '' s 18 9 Total .. 49J 10 0