THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9039, 27 April 1888, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Thursday. Cambria.Ten pounds picked stone were obtained to-day from No. 7 leader on No. 2 stope. Mr. Meyers, the representative of a Sydney syndicate, will shortly proceed to Waitokauri, to inspect a mining property there from which some good results have recently been obtained from small trial parcels.

Mr. Peter Hansen, who recently purchased Hicks' section of the late Kurunui mine, is now having ten head of stampors erected in the old battery, and Messrs. Price Bros, are putting in a Pelton wheel for motive purposes.

Warden's Court.—At the Warden's Court to-day the following telegram, received by Mr. Northcroft (the Warden) from the Minister of Mines, was read, showing conclusively that the Government are determined to prevent, as far as possible, the locking up of the goldfield by granting special claims: —" It having been reported that large areas are likely to be applied for as special claims for purely speculative purposes, I am directed to request you to take every carQ that provision is made for the full working and expenditure of money.. Before granting applications you should send a full report as to proposed operations with each special claim you may transmit for my approval. —(Signed) H. J. H. Eliott." Up to the present time, when an application for a special claim has been granted by the Warden, the latter has forwarded it to Wellington to be approved by the Minister of Mines, who has the option of finally granting or refusing the application ; but, in future, the Warden has been requested to forward a detailed report as to the proposed operations in each special claim, in order that the purposos for which the claim is wanted maybe fully understood. This is a step in the right direction, and will prevent ground being locked-up purely for speculative purposes.

The following applications were granted : —C. P. Cox, machine site and water race, Karangahake; H. C. Wick, water race, Marototo ; J. Popper, water race, Tana ; J. E. Banks, Moonlight licensed holding (formerly old Golden Calf), Moanatairi Creek ; H. M. Smith, Mick and I, licensed holding, Marototo; P. Hanson, Tiger licensed holding, ' Marototo ; E. C. Cox, Ivanhoe, licensed holding; A. Hogg, Abbey, licensed holding, Karungahake; J. E. Banks, Shamrock, licensed holding, Marototo. Permission was granted to the Waihi Gold Mining Company to surrender their title to seven licensed holdings at Waihi, subject to tho same area being included in four.' Protection was granted for fourteen days to Alex. Thom for sluice claim for four men's ground, Tairua; three months' protection was granted Thos. Carr for the Wild Colonial claim, Te Mata, and two months to H. Hughes, Hidden Treasure, Te Mata. Applications adjourned : W. Regan, machine site and water race, Marototo ; Alex. Mackay, tunnel, Whangamata ; J. Walker, permission to construct a road and tramway ; J. E. Banks, Walkover licensed holding, Waiomo ; A. L. Wilson, Just-in-Timo licensed holding, Whangamata; C. Mc Williams, licensed holding, Whangamata ; D. Henderson, United licensed holding, Hape Creek ; T. H. Crawford, Kimberley special claim, Waiotahi Creek; R. Mcßrinn, licensed holding of 30 acres, Marototo ; T. A. Dunlop, Queen of Beauty special claim, Thames ; R. R. McGregor, licensed holding ten acres, Marototo ; F. Creighton, Sylvia, Seaver, and Hematite, special claims, Tararu Creek ; J. H. Smith, exchange licensed holding, Marototo; E. Thomas, special claim, 250 acres, Hape Creek ; J. Baggott, licensed holding, Moanataiari Creek ; E. McDonnell, Crown Prince, licensed holding, Mnrototo ; D. B. McDonald, special claim, Hape Creek ; M. Kelly, Herald, licensed holding, Whangamata ; F. Creighton, machine site and water race, Tararu Creek. In the case of Edwin Edwards and others v. Henry Skene and others, for tho non-working of the Eclipse claim, four men's ground, Waitekauri, it was proved that only one man had been working for the past twelve months, and the claim was forfeited, with tho exception of one man's ground. The application of Georgo Harcourfc v. A. Gibb for surplus ground within Spade Guinea claim, Marototo, was refused. The suit* of E. McDonnell v. T. McDonough, for surplus ground within Silver Guinea claim, Marototo, and Rowe and Eddowes v. Monzies, for surplus ground within Silver Rock claim, Marototo, were adjourned to the 10th of May. In the case William Goldsworthy v. Louis Melhose, for alleged encroachment of defendant on the Hikutaia Gold Mining Company's ground, Mr. Button appeared for plaintiff and Mr. Miller for defendant. It was explained by Mr. Button that it would be impossible to proceed with the case, as the plan only showed the portion which the defendant desired to take, and did not afford any information as to the original pegging out and encroachment. The case was adjourned to the 10th of May. Tho cases, Goldsworthy v. L. Jackson and Goldsworthy v. E\ Simpson wero also adjourned until the 10th of May, both having reference to encroachments on the same ground.