A VISIT TO THE UPPER THAMES -No. III.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9020, 5 April 1888, Page 6

A VISIT TO THE UPPER THAMES -No. 111.

, {from OUR OWN cobrespqspjxx,] _■ XARANGAHAKJE. ' %.y>~ Os Thursday I started out from Mr. J. Corbett's hotel, Hukutaia, on a tour of inspection around some of the older mining communities. The first plaoa called at was Karangahake ; and, arriving at the Ivanhdfe battery, I was just in time to see Heitman and party, tributers in the Woodstock mine, put a retort over the fire containing 807oz amalgam, the produce of 106 tons of general dirt. In the Kenilworth mine, two parties of tributers are at worknamely, Moore and party, who are working on the Maria reef from the low level of the Woodstock mine, and Shepherd and party, who are working on a new reef, hitherto unprospected, which they reckon to be worth soz to the ton. They will be sending a few tons down to the battery soon. Moore and party are breaking out some excellent stone, which they value at £40 per ton, and intend shipping it to England. The Ivanhoe, Sir Walter Scott, and Truro Claims, were lately purchased by a Christchurch syndicate, who intend to thoroughly prospect their newly-acquired property. The Diamond Company have tnree men employed in breaking out what they believe is payable dirt. Twelve tons are now ready for the Reduction Works. Two men are working in the Specimen Hill Claim crosscutting to intersect a reef which outcrops on the surface, and from which good prospecte can be obtained. Nothing is being done in the Crown mine beyond a little prospecting. Mr. Hogg, of the Monastery Claim, has just completed a crushing of 26 tons at the Reduction Works, for a return of 720z of bullion ; but the low value is such that the return is not.payable. The reef varies from four feet to nine feet, of which 1 about three feet is saved from the hangingwall, The mine is opened by a main tunnel, 130 feet in length, and at present gives backs about 90 feet in height, which will be increased as the reef is driven upon. A large amount of work has been done in connecting the claim by tramway to the Reduction Works. Mr. Hogg now proposes to let the the upper levels on tribute. Until within the last fortnight 54 men were employed in developing the mining resources of the district, but that number has been considerably reduced by the suspension of all works in the Mammoth claim. Times are, therefore, very dull at Karangahake at present, and a little outside capital is much needed to make it livelier. ; OWHABOA. Farmer and party, tributers in the Smile of Fortune, have just effected communication between the tramway and surface levels, a height of 80 feet. A large block of ground is now opened up for toping on a series of small leaders, averaging altogether about 4 feet in width. They have about 70 tons of dirt on hand, which, although of low grade, ia expected to yield a remunerative return. The battery has lately received a thorough overhaul, a new turbine wheel having been fitted in, and the water-race extensively repaired. At present there is not sufficient water to crush with. Frearson and Wood, tributers in the Radical on No, 2 reef, have about 30 tons on hand ready for the battery, from which they expect a payable return. Reid and party, who are working on No. 4 reef., have been doing a good deal of opening up work, and are now getting a little gold. Tney have about 60 feet of backs, and expect some fair returns. Sims and party are prospecting on No. 1 reef at the surface level WAIHI. Under the supervision of Mr. Walker, the preliminary works are going on apace in preparing for the reception of the machinery for the development of the Silverton 'mine. Four pair of sawyers are hard at work in the bush, and have already about 40,000 feet of timber ready for building purposes and the framework of the machinery. • Tenders have also been let for the cutting of mining timbers and slabs, also for tqe making of a road from the clearing to the sawpits. Several men are also employed repairing the road between Colebrook's Hotel and Tauranga-Waihi junction, a distance of five miles. About 40 tons of machinery are now on the site, which is being rapidly prepared by a gang of men, and numerous drays are employed daily in bringing the machinery from Faeroa, which the Kotuku has already landed from Auckland. The Ruapehu has the Globe mills and balance of machinery on board from England, and it is also expected an engineer is on board in charge of the same. Mr. E. M. Corbett is to superintend the erection of the machinery. Mr. C. Judd's tender, at £175, has been accepted for the drawing of the Dart pumps and dismantling of the winding and pumping engines. , The Martha mine and battery is at present being worked by, tributers, three different parties being at work. Crushing is proceeding, with 20 head of stampers between the lot, but the quartz treated is of low grade, averaging about 4dwt per ton. , / This ended my tour of inspection, and leaving the Waihi Hotel at about half-past four p.m. on Thursday, I arrived safely at Hikutaia at a little after eight p.m., after a pleasant ride on one of Bradley and Co.'a horses, which did me good service during my four days' trip through the " diggingb. 1