THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11855, 6 January 1902, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

AUCKLAND SHAREMARKET. The Stock Exchange reopens for business to-day, after the holiday season.

THE GOLD OUTPUT.

HIGHEST YIELD SINCE 1891. [by TELEGRAPH. association.] . Wellington, Saturday. The gold returns for the past year show the highest yield since 1891, viz., 455,5590zf valued at £1,753,783, an increase over the year 1900 of 83,5600z, valued at £320,830.

RESUMPTION OF MINING . " OPERATIONS, ■ [FROM our OWN correspondent.] Thames, Saturday. Work in the various mines of the district is to be resumed on Monday morning, after a fortnight's stoppage for the Christmas and New Year holidays. So far as can be ascertained, however, no new development works are likely to be commenced in any of the mines at the present juncture, so far as ■ the companies, themselves are concerned, but several of the tribute parties are stated to have very encouraging prospects' in their respective blocks, and are looking forward to a prosperous year, whilst others are determined to renew their efforts to discover payable ore.

THE BIG PUMP. [from our own correspondent.] Thames, Saturday. During the holidays pumping operations at the Big Pump works were suspended from December 24 to the 2nd inst., this step being necessary on account of the water supply being cut off in the county race, in order that the latter might undergo its annual cleaning out and repair. Advantage was taken of the stoppage by the manager (Mr. J. Brokenshire) ; to overhaul the pumping machinery, .and to effect slight repairs, so that everything is now in good working condition. The water rose a height of 43ft in the pumping shaft during the stoppage, but this has since been greatly reduced, for since resuming work on Thursday last the pump has been working continuously at' a speed Of slightly over five strokes and a-half per minute.

WEST AUSTRALIAN MINING. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPOND-;*!?.] Pakkoa, Saturday. Mr. H. D. Manning, of Paeroa, lias just received a letter from his son, who has been living at Southern Cross, West Australia, and: in the course of the letter the writer says :—" Everything is very quiet in this place now—worse than they have been for some years, in fact, it is the same all over West- Australia at present. I might tell you that this colony, or State, as they now call it, is without a doubt going to be the greatest gold-producer that the world has ever seen. The industry is only in its infancy at present, and I feel sure that no one, however sanguine they may be, can have any idea oi' the enormous output of gold that West Australia will have in, say, another 10 years. . Mind you, the countryis practically no good for anything else, and its area is so great that Jit will take years yet before it is prospected. I have been 1000 : miles as you might say in a straight line from here north, and its auriferous country all the way is against its rapid development, the distances being so great and cost of transit so large, we might say that so far the only place that lias been developed at all is Kalgooi'lie. lhat is 144 miles from here, and has six or eight of the best mines in the world, two of them already producing 30,0000z per month each. There are hundreds of miles of country that you can say has not yet been scratched, and some that has never even been explored. I might tell you that this colony alone comprises about one-third of the whole of Australia, so that will give an idea of the size of it. But it is a rotten country to live in, and it is only a fortunate few who make big rises, and then it is more by good luck than good judgment."

SOUTHERN MINING. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunemn, Sunday. • Dredging returns :Chicago, 360z 6dwt 6gr ; Earnscleugh 1., 260z 4dwt 18gr ; Lawrence, 2loz ; Earnsdleugh 11., 20oz 3dwt 12gr ; Molyneaux Hydraulic, 15oz ; Alexandra Eureka, lSoz.