TERAWHITI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 6956, 7 September 1883, Page 6

TERAWHITI.

THE GOLDEN CROWN CRUSHING.

FIRST BATTERY CLEANING UP AND

RETORTING.

ONE AND A-HALF OUNCES TO THE

TON.

Tebawhiti, Tuesday, 9 a.m. The washing up in connection with the crushing of Golden Grown quartz was completed last night at the Albion Battery, the amount of amalgam obtained being 2210 z. Tho work of retorting was commenced immediately, and early this morning wai finished, the find res dt being 75uz 15dwt of retorted gold from about 51 tons of stone. The battery, it is expected, will recommence work today with the st me from the Albion Company's claim.

The above intelligence reached town early, and was very soon after substantiated by the arrival of the c ike of gold in charge of the Manager of the Gulden Grown and Mr McLean, Legal Manag.-r of the Albion. It was at once placed »u exhibition in the window of the office of the Legal Manager of the Golden Crown, and attracted unlimite l attention during the day. The “cake” looked very well, had evidently been skilfully retorted, and was compact and of good color, and, judging by the latter, the quality of the gold should be high. We estimate the loss iu refining as small, and that the gold will run iu value from £3 10s to £3 15 1 per oz.

The impression created by the result of the crushing was, on th j whole, satisfactory. Still, there was not a little disappointment engendered amongst the over-sanguine. Extravagant anticipations of the yield had been prevalent, from 3.17 to soz to the ton being free predictions. One ounce and a-half per ton, however, is not a fair criterion of the quality of the stone crushed. A new battery, with imperfect appliances, cannot possibly save all the gold of the first parcel of stone put through it. A loss of 23 per cent, may be safely calculated on. But then it is to be remembered that a very much lowtr average that one and a half ounces to the ton is a paying return on developed goldfields, where mining is pursued systematically and scientifically. And that Terawhiti will eventually receive the fullest development, we have no manner of doubt whatever.

Farther advices from the goldfield are also gratifying. The Albion Company will be ready in a couple of days to send vein stuff from the mine to the machine, all that remains to be done to cunplete connection between mine and battery being to fix the brake of tho incline tramway. Tho Company will then commence a long spell of crushing. It is also their intention to complete their crushing plant at once by adding to it a couple of proper berdans. We regard this as indispensable.

Of the enterprise, the pluck, and straightforward conduct of tho Albion Company we have spoken more than once. To tho resolute action of the original shareholders, of whom all are still shareholders, excepting one or two, the prospecting, and so far successful development, of Torawhiti, as a goldfield, is entirely due. It was their liberality that provided the crushing plant that has just operated on Gulden Grown stone, and without which battery the result, so pleasingly declared yesterday, would have been a long time delayed. It is a remarkable fact, showing how littlo some men are influenced by the riotous action of the share market, that tho. present Directory of the Albion Company is composed of original shareholders still holding their original shares. We du think that a public ecognition of the services rendered to tho district by the promoters of the Albion Company would not be out of place.