MONTHLY SUMMARY.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1832, 5 June 1874, Page 3

MONTHLY SUMMARY.

.OUR G-OLDFIELDS.

Although the gold returns show a decrease as compared witli the previous month, it must be observed that the present month has not reach its full period, Owing, however, to the exigencies of the' mail service* we are compelled-to give the list as far as it has gone. If a few days more liad elaped several returns would have been to hand which would prove than sufficient to show an increase instead of the reverse.; It will be seen that from the .Old Wliau, with the exception of one-small parcel produced, mainly by the treatment of some tailings, there has been no gold lodged yet, but the monthly cleaniug up will take place tomorrow, and the result would of itself be sufficient to turn the balance of the present month. The mining events we have io record have not been- characterised by many new discoveries, but there has been steady progress in the development of, the mirieril resources of. the district which has led to ■ very satisfactory results.',/ ; Perhaps one of the most important of these features has-been, shown, in 'tlio; Bright ,on the Waio-Karaka Flat, where a new level li'as just been opened with splendid 1 prospects.:— The. Bird-in-Hand 1 -and: Queen of Beauty! claims, huve also exhibited "splendid resources/ but to these we shall refer more particularly., Another new feature which we shall notice ii the feeling of confidence exhibited in mining affairs generally, and particularly in respect to new .the -flu.' > This arises from the ever : improving prospects of the mines located on the flit, a district which has, now become the most promis-ing-portion of the Held, ihese minesare on the flat laud at the base of the

lulls, but for Koine reason or other, .although the whole of the flat to

the; north of theVlacitka Oreekyias loag since been occupied for mining purposes the flat or towuship to tne south of

the creek wus left wholly unprospected,. althougli theroi was no good reasdn?toj;be shown why ili'e lands on the south side of

thojcreek should not contain auriferous lodes as well as those on the north. Ilie Bird-iu-Haud boundary reached to the creek, and.it is ; turning' out (well, ; Tin*, in connection with the continued richness of tho:other,mineß on the,flat has brought

ihe Yinguard Company's.- ground into .prominence. This lease is pegged out to 'the south and West of the Bird-in-Hind and Bright ; Smile, iind- s'holild have ; £lie strike of the principal reefs of those .miueß.rrßece.ntly,. another ' section .'has been marked off still further to. the south, to be c<ll-d the Leeds, we believe, and a compaiiy 1 is to be formed; to work it. We notice .tnese/instauces with pleasure, for by means of these and similar prospecting companies the field will be extended and its resources developed.—fhe South-.'British--Ass nation are steadily pushing, ahead': their works for-prospecting; another*,large area near the base of.the dli inland . hills, and

have now* sunk their'. shaft' r a depth of 190 feeti intending shortly to drive 1 prospecting; levels from it to intersect vtlie reef system of the place.v Although there has been fluctuations ti a cortain extent in

the market value of mining s'oclfs since our last'sum na-yj B" healthyj feeling has 'prevailed, whicir on tlie- oile h'aud prevented stocks assuming ! a fietitfoUs value, arid ori the other was equally efficacious in preventing unidue - depreciation in the value of good marketable'stocks - . 1 Indeed, the' most marked fluctuations have occurred in the'b;st stocks, - b'ltgeierally

kpeaking, there is uu ; upvvar l'tendenc/ in the value of most prominent stocks, which is in every instance fully justified

by results,and prospects in,,the, mines. We shall now refer to the principal" incidents, of the, last mouth in the various localities into which the district is commonly divi led. Pumping Association and Adjoining Mises,—ln the Pumping Association'*

mine up to the 21st ultimo, work was continued on the 400-feet level by con-' tinuing the various drives to which we particularly alluded ,in, summary, but during all that time the mauager was pushing; ; forward- his preparations' for lowering the massive plunger aud rods into their positions in the bottom, and these being completed, all wo f ks on the 400-feet jlevel- were discontinued /oii the 2Lst- ultimo, and tlio- pumps slbpp^d

while the huge plunger which, with its' stock, weighs nearly 6 tons, was lowered. I'he water rose in the shaft, but.it had to be pumped out' again before the p'unger was properly fixed in its case. jVos' only is this now : in position, but the pumprods are also' lowered, and in le.-s than another week the. whole will be.in active work and/the sinking of the; sliaft resumed At tho same time also

the works 'wbic'i have'«b'eeh suspended in the 400-feet level will be continued as bftbre. :i ; These 'comprise a large double

drive eastward through the Tookey ground to the Albion, a drive southward; from the Pumping Association shaft to that of the Albion; and ai drive southward to tho Tookey shaft. This shaft is being: sunk to a depth to communicate with, ■ he drive when it reaches far enough, and; it can'then be used us a winding-shaft for the 400-feet, level,. besides irhijli by' effecting, a thorough draft it will nuke; tho ventilation good. ...The Imperial •'rcmn Company at thi< level have been driving seaward on the course of a lode, but this work, like the others, had to be Huspended when the water was allowed to rise, and when tlte"plunger gearing was

being lowered.-In the I'ookey mine beyond the sinking of the 'shale already illuded to there has not,been much work' loingaud in the Caledonian, although rapid strides have been made with the progressive works no are reported since our last snnx-nary. I lie Irive east of the rniiii shaft, to which we tlieu alluded, has now reached a length of ib.ml 70 feet. The ol>j ict of the drive is to intersect the Manukau ri-ef and any ither foot-wall lodes which miy strike through this section of the mine, but no quartz tas yet been met with. fliere is, lowever, a further distance of about 150 r'eet to drive before the boundary is reached. Driving on the course of the

>o. 2 reef at the bottom level northward is also coiiti nued. The whole of the c usliing stuff which is no if bring takeu mt comes to hand from leaders opened in Hi intermediate 1-vel, arid' some small docks ot the ' main reef which. had i-en allowed to lvmain. stand.ng i the old stopes-In the Albion

nine the Caledonian main level cnss-cu

.s. continued into the company's ground d) 0 feet past the boundary, but with the ■xceptiou o? one lole, supposed to ba the lip of the Ualedoniin reef, m quartz his teen met with yet. There is another irive from a higher level in thioll

laz'lbank shaft being- driven througl

bis company's miu«, bat Verf little process has, Jet been mi le With it, aai no aapoctaat diadovocLoa liwa been aude id tta ttiQA ia Mi

the whole of the operations now being carried out in the mines to which we have

referred are only portions of a large plan of works organised and carried out in connection with the Pumping Association. The other mines in thuV neighbourhood are not so intimately connected with the Pumping Association. In fact their operations being carried 1 on'from higher levels, they are not so m;ich affected by the "big pump."., Of.jhese mines the greatest interest at ' present centres' in the Manukau claim. In our last summary we allude-l at considerable length'to the richness of tho new reef which had been discovered and its iaflu-" ence on adjoining mines. u Since then tho drive on the courie of the lode has extended a long distance towards the Cure boundary in tho , north and the Imperial Crown' to' 1 the south. - - In tho north end the drive has reached to within less than 40 feet of the Cure boun-'

dnry. and has ca rod with it the same rich class of stone to which jve'previously alluded. In order to facilitate the operations of the mine by ; procuring ventilation aiii a passage also for the long massive timbers'.required in the'mine, the sinking of an old shaft was continued to' the present man level.'- lii this the reef Was cut

tlirough. It showed a width of 15- feet,< the stone being exactly similar in character to tot inV tlie ; - main

drive,, but gold did not show in it' at first;' The manager, however, started men to take out a trial crushing from it' Without waiting until the main drive connected with the shaft, but they had scarcely commenced breakitig out stone when rich 'gold was struck' on the. 27th ultimo. ; This being-satisfactory evidence of the auriferous quality of the reef at.this point, nothing' further has since been done there, but the drive on the course'of the lode'is"now : being con-

tiuued to the shaft. There is only a further'distance of-15 feet to drive, and the run of gold has now been traced for a'lengifrof fully 130 feet. This is the greatest length of any run of gold ever before Opened at the Thames, and some of the specimens taken out of it recently

would do credit to the Caledonian in its best days; : Although:there is no sloping, on, there is sufficient stone coming' to hand to kee'p-18 head of stampers fully employed crushing. There has been no retorting during the last month, but the stuff is showing up well for a good average yi-ld. In a short time, as soon, in fact, as the shaft i's 'reached; stopirig will 'be commenced, and then the crushing force will be very largely increased.—ln the Golden Crown mine the manager is at present working, out the. hanging-wall leader above the main level prospecting the foot-wall of the No. 2 reef bulow the level at which the Manukau is being worked i-Although'. there have been no. new discoveries in the Cure mine recently, its prospects are, of course, greatly enhanced by the splendid appearancs'of the Manukau reef as it approaches that company's bdutrdary. i .Waio-Kiiuka. Oismcr.-We have already mude a brief reference to this district, but it will be necessary, in order to explain the improved prospects to which we,alluded, to enter .into, soma brief detail. On the 14^h-ultimo the Bright Smile Comptny, having sunk their main shaft to a depth of. 288 feet, commenced to open out a new level on the •ireefand drive onHhe course of one of the lodes which was jn the sllaft. This renf soon showed ricirgold, and has 'since co itinned to do so, the, quality of

!the stone being much* superior : to any |ever found in the upper levels. This now level is 70 feet deeper than that formerly worked, and thus commands not only high hacks for.stOpingil'but ;an increased length on ; the •course-,of tliu, lode by; enabling the manager to follow, them further to seaward than could' have bee,n; done before. -Some time, after .this openr

•ing was rasde cross-cuts were driven to intersect the No. 1 and No. 2 reefs, one of which is at each side of the shaft. The ; No. 1 was :s;riicjc on the 25th, and,,the. iNo. 2 on the 27tli ultimo. Bith showed gold freely, and the level ..being soon after opened up to . some estent "'the' ; manager started in increased; force tliiS week. The first crushing fronr the new level yielded a higher average per-ton than day "similar quantity of quartz taken from the upper levels, thus adding further proof to the theory that the reefs in this portion of the gojdfield gainin richness with depth.— Ik the 18th a retorting took place for the Bird-in-Hand Company, the result of whic'i exceeded .the most sanguine expectations, and siiice then the compiiiiy's stocks haveacquired favour in the mirket. But tiiis feeling was greatly' strengthened by a dicovery which took place on the 27th ultimo, when rich gold was struck in the seaward drive. I'he lode had become broken by a disturbance in the c rnntry, but after passing through 12 feet of .this broken ground the lode was pic-fed up richer than : ever beyond- if, and since then gold has been in thn end of the mine "as'weir as in that in the opposite direction. Crushing is steadily continued with very favourable results.— The City of London has experienced no change since . our last summary. I'lio drive on the course of the new reef has been continued towards the City of Yorkboundary, and a wiuze is how being sunk on the No. 2 reef at the boundary of the Queen of Beauty, to meet the new level which is being driven from the. latte.r cmoany's shaft. Tn the 'Queetf ' of Beauty the reefs in the new level have, like those of the Bright Smile proved much richer in the lower level than in the upper, but this has beeii the invariable rule witii ail ; ihe claimun the* W'aio- Karakii. This clai n ii on: of the ranst valuablo properties .o.i the Thame) It is held in 7 shares, aid p'lyn dividends of about £12') per'fortnighton an nvewge to each full share. During the month a inlf-share or a fourteenth purtofihe mine was purchiis-d -by Mr William BucMaiid. ail Auekhnd' capitalist,' for £1,75 ), and we understand tint negotiali in l ! are now going oirj'or the purchase of a full share for £1,000. t he niain shaft of t ie City nf York is bein,' sunk, but it will be some lime yet before it reaches a depth sulllj'ieiitly low (or opening out on the lodes which traverse the claim.—ln the Crown Prince mine the work ehii fly progressing on the jod'B has been the. sinking of t«o winzes on the No, 1-and No. 2 reel's On.the lltli ultimo rich gold was struck in the winze on the No. 2 reef at a depth of 45 feet below the mii.i level. On the 15th the sinking ol I lie m iin shaft wn. resumed, and prepur-tli'iiH were made for working the mine system itically by erecting poppet-heads over the shaft. An engine has also been procured, and is' now being litted up with winding goar. In a short time everything will be in readiness for opening the new level advantageously from the engine-shaft, and judging from the splendid show of g )ld found in all the winzeS'suulc towards the 1 new level, the new blooks are likely to prove very rich. , • Momuuui Dtstutor.—la this dis«> triat the Old. muatntta

early part of the tn >ntli was mostly occupied in fillingf up worked-out ground, timbering where required, and generally getting the mine into thorough working order. This and on the^l3th fiitimoP wflrk • iwas resumed in real earnest, rich gold being at once found. Large quantities of auriferous quartz continued to be,turned out of the; mine, and the manager made arrangements with the Moanataiari Company for the use of half their splendid 40-head battery, at which crushing for the Whau has since, been steadily continued.- , This force is additional, for the company's own "15-head battery is also kept fully employed. On the 2lst ultimo the manager commenced to open a new level 55 feet deeper tlinn that then being worked, aud on the 25th ultimo a little gold was struck in it. It was not/however, until the evening of the 3rd instant that the shot of gold was struck, and there is now good reason to believe that this new block, pervaded .as it is by the rich run of gold which has made this mine famous, i will prove, even' richer' than that which is now partially worked* outs — The operations'of'the Alburnia Oompmy were &jriously impeded for. want ofwater. in the early- part of the month, inasmuch as there was an immense quantity of stone in the' battery-house, and even in the drives and passes of the- mine, but' in consequence of a. long continued drought there was no water in the creek for the crushing mill. But after a rainfall the mmagor'started crushing on the 12th ultimo, aiid'since the-mill haa been kept irregularly working; : ;.On the 22 nd there was a considerable reduction made in the pile of quartz, and work was; resumed on reefs.' The' crushing,; which was .completed this week, gave a good averago yield, and the prospects of the miue are very promising.-In regard to Dixon's No.lmine, the negotiations with theßlack Angef Company for.permission .to drive from: the, bottom of: the.latter company's winze have b"en satisfactorily completed. —Crushing for the Black, Angel Company : has' been continued froru the section -above the 116 feet level with Very'favourable results, The annual . meeting of; the cun.'iany.Avas held on the.27tli : uliirao,'.;at which very favourable reports from the •mine • manager aud the company's surveyor were read. The directors' report stated that the company'have crushed during, the pas', year 1,650 tons of quartz, yielding 1,8910zs I7dwts 12 graini of go'd, realising: £5j164'75; being at.the rate of nearly lnz 3-lwts per ton, at a cost of £455'),-iillitwing ! tHe directors (to'declare a dividend of 'Is per share, amounting to £880. Pumping gear lias also been supplied, and £100 paid-to the Sons of Freedom and Lincoln Castle Companies for use;of' tunnel to, lay down; fl'iminpf.^— There has also been an improvement in the prospects of the Sons of Freedom '■(luring the lastweek. Gold was struck in the 9-1-fe-it level, close to the Black' Angel boundary, ana it is evident that it is a-portion of the Black Angel run of gold underlying this mine. - i'he Golden Calf Company have not been so successful with t'leir 260-feet level a$ was expected, but the manager is,now about to sink tho shaft for. a further level from whic'i better fortune may be expected. (There has been a new lode cut in the low level of the Central Italy mine recently, which'isii likely! to prove of .somfri imoorVatice/bufc it is'not yet'd-ivelop-d to any great extent The annual meeting of this company, was, held on the. 24th ultimo, fhe .dire.fet.o?s'i report staled: Your 'directors have the pleasure of submitting .the annual accounts duly audited, showing a balance of cash in hand of £40116s 6d.: The.company/ after a considerable expenditure amounting to nearly £9QO in opening jUpthe'.m'ne, have, been .able ,to keep crushing almost continuously since .that time,' having crushed 1,514 tons.of quaftz, yielding 1,4910zs 6dwts 94rs'of gold (nearly an ounce to the ton), reading £4,170 13s 6J. The cost of taking out this gold,-crushing, an-i de^prk,since August list has been for labour an I crushing, and ptherraine expenses£3,B2B, showing that .the mine, is more than pay abje.rThe Coliban had a . orushiug.during {the mbntlij which'averaged about 2izs to the ton.—l'he Moanataiari. Company have had a very successful.'mouthi ./The., first fortnight's crushing gave a profit of £60.) and the second fortnight better tlun £500. Mr W. Rowe, having resigned his position as manager, lie has been replaced by Mr HobtCorner. TJie annual mebting of thecimpahy was h,-Id; on the 28tli ultimo in Auckland. The directors report stated: " I'he quantity of quartz raised and crushed during the year has ■been 8,863: ions, with a yield , of 4j980 >zs Bdwts. 12 grains of m4ted gold, which sold for £13,663 Is 51,' at an average .yield oflldwts and s|/rs per ton. The directors congratulate the shareholders upon.the efficient battery of 41 head_ of stamps, whic'i is ri'ov in perfect, working iirder. An inspection of theisamvjitstilies the assertion that it is. the.mOst complete and 'substantial'' crushing''' plat in the o -lony. I'he directors have to inform you that Mr William ' owe, the mine manager, who took .charge of the mine in June Just, .has resigned; his .situation. They have appointed Mr Robert Comer to take charge of the mine,.and trust that the. appointment will nuet with tlie approval of the shareholders. Although the operations carried on in the mine during the past year have not been as successful as, the . previous year, yet the directors have not lost confidence in the mine." MiscßU&ANKous.-An effort has been male during the last mouth to effect an amalgamation between th.i Nonpareiland YVait'einata' mines, 1 ; butr-the . terms are not yet agreed upou. An .extraordinary, meetinir, of. the.-Noqpareil Oompmy has. been adjourned- for the purpose of give, the Wuitemata directors an opportunity of considering the fresh proposals. — Che Hna Company are at present merely pushing ahead their main level to reach the reef, and are not taking out any crushing- stuff' at present.—! here have been several claims taken up in the Karatca and its neighbourhood lately, wliieli give good promise, and one of those named llnyalty his opened a'splendid lode, the; first crus >ing from which yi-lded very handsomely. — Hie Tweed* side, 0,1 the Hapo Creek, is now being worked "ii tribute, and is shapi ig well_ 'The ICuraliui has been rather poor during the last m'lntli, but may .be expected to improve.—The I)i'ive has also yielded a' molerate return, but a very handsome yield lias been Obtained from the All Nations crushing. CouoJUNDBL.-Uiongstthe most important,events' of the-Cjoromandel district has.< been the splendid yieid r- corded below as the result of a crushing for the Uniqn - Beach Company, • formerly ■ the Green H irp. Thoolaimsou the ruuges are turning.; out very fairly, an.l show good 1 prospects, and altogether mining matters at Coromandel have a more prosperous than they have borne for some time past. Tee GoLD.iftEM)-—'We append the usual list of the Qfushiags during the i3Qutik The yield, it will be aeea, is loss

crushed is also less, but the average- is on "the "whole good. GOLD R ; -TURNB,EKOM MAY'IO ; .■■■•:■ TO JOKE 5.1;': ■ CLmoR boiiPAm. '" ' SmEgnvinsb!' , 06L»;' •': I | 3 | | Alburnta - , • • • S9O 0 0 4U 0 0 All Nfttioii3 - - • • 53 0 0 303 10 0 Albion tribute (Holly's) • 60 ,0, 0 71 0, 0 Baliarat ami Rising Suu , , . ; ;,i tributo - -. * s'o 0 ,m 5. 8 0. Bright Smile .-. • - 300 0 0 323 0 0 Ditto .- • • ■ 220 0 0 111371 2 0 BlriMn-Hauil - -, - ,«1 0, 0 j«395 ' 6 0 Caledonian - - - -, 72 0 0 75 ;0 ,0 Ditto -.- - ■ - 72 8 0 73, 0 0 Ditto • • • - 75.0 0 ,78- 0.0 Ditto • • • - 70 0 0, 72 0 0 Cure. - • • • ■ 51 0 0 48,8 ? Central Italy • • , - 100 0 0 mlo o u.O Candlelight tributo .•-.:.- 10 0 10 20. Coliban ' - • • 32 0 0 07 0. 0 Forester's claim • - • 50 ,0 5.7 0 Golden Ci'own • • , ■ 05 0 0 00 0 0 Ditto •; • ■• > 0 0 48 14 0 George Stepheuaoh • ■ 50 0. m"212 0 Golden Calf , ■ ■ 300 0 0 200 5 0 Harbour View (Coromandel) 75 0 0, 61 0 0 Inverness tribute - • > ■ 40 0 0 50 0 0 Ditto - -' - - 49 00m 52 0 0 Kuranui - • - • 250 0 0 ',' lS010 0 Ditto - • • - 250 0 0 88 10 0 ladybird tribute • • 150 00 m 37,14.0 Little Jessie (Tapu) • • M 0 0, . ~30 .0 9 " Long Drive tribute .• .. • 130 0 0 75 0 0 lloauataiari - - ■ 300, 0 0 383 0 0 Ditto - * - •! • !-. 350 0 0 ■ 341 0 0 Messenger's tributo - • 30 0 0 34 6 0 Montgomery Bros, tribute • 80 0 00 0 Morning Star - ; • .;; ,10 0 0 11 2 0 Ditto tributo 9 1 0 0 '1510 0 Nortli Star tribute 7 '20 ;0; 0 '«iisl7 0 Old Wliau •'! - : !tr ! ', 6 0 0 0 220 0 0 Queen ol Beauty - ' • ' • 450 0 4 "#OO 0 0 Ditto - '• • !.'•! 450 0 0 510 10' 0 Red White and Blue triiiuto'. 25 0 0 m'i3l6 12 Ditto"-'' • V, ,60 0 0 "27 5 0 Roso and Shamroek tribute "35 d o mis 1, 0 Ditto r - .00, 0 0 45 5 0 Royalty - - • - 20 0 0 )»17 0 0 Shotover tribute • . 32 0 0 37 .0 0 fjuiidriei, including Gold from Tail'ngs, about - 1000 0 0 Tokateii (Coi'omandel) • • 50 0 0 60 18 0 Ditto 1 ;•' "-!' : ; '• v • 160 00. 123 18 0 T\venty ; thir3 of Juio' -, 0 1-50 ,3714 '0 Tapu wasiigoid '' ' »' ll , Union Beach (Coromandel) • ' 0 7 0 m 535 0 0 Dim tribute • " • .' -. 8 ?. , 8 'P.,® Waltemata ; • •" • • '35 0 :0' 10 5.0 ; Windsor Oaatlb . l J- • jo 00" 32 1 18 .O '

Total ; ' - 5.5U ii 50 7,4031112 Previous Month - , .6,491 18.88. 8,715 19, i 2

Decrease! - - ' 12 100 1,307 :8 "0 m nioaua that tiie quantity stated is iii uielted gold.',

GENERALNEWS,

On Friday, May'B; : two meii 'H'orking in the Cure mine were injured, and had.a narrow escape with their lives.'-'These' men, W. H. Davidson and John Quiiin; had put in a shot which missed fire, and insteadofdrillingla new,hole,they thought to save time and troublo by drilling out tlie tamping of the unexp'oded s'lot, The shot went off, and the drill which the men were uiing' was fortunately • driven 5 out between the two men. B >th were bruised by atones im the explosibn;* ; On May 9 and 11. an inquest was held at the fire which occurred at the tJniop Bank. Grahamstown, on -the, morning of May 5; Mr J. B. Macdouald, isolieitrir,'.was the' Coroner,.and Mr Sub-Inspector Ballen conducted the examinations; Mr Ji JD. Grarit, agent of the Uniou Bank' at trrahamstown; Mr Garrick; assayer ; J and Oliver 'OeanV iesse'tiger.'were' examiiied ; as to how the premises,were left'"on-the' night before the. fire, .'pe inquiry was then adjourned till tlie Monday, when several "other; witnesses were examined. It wa's at ono time 'tliought that a little dog, which had been left in the building, had knocked down a bottle of nitric acid,; aii'l that this had caused the.fire. ~Tlie evidenie, however, teuded to show that nitrio acid- spilt.on wood would not ignite it, and! also , that the dog . could not have • got to where the chemicals Were. The verdiot was to the effect that no evidence as to how the fire originated/appeared to the jury. • . On Monday, May 11, a miner named Edmund frauiman, a German, was killed ,by suffocation from carbonic acid gas in the Crown Prince Miie. Ko was : -work-, ingin a winze, from «;hieh he'came,'and went down into, aiplaco whero no!work was being carried on for a necessary pur pose. D'ufortunately lie did ''noc take a light wi h hi ii, which would liave shown him at oc.co tliat the air was bad. He had started to leave tiie place, but had fallef down,-Wd was quite dead when found

; On.. May 13, Mr W..Sti George, the engine-driver at the Wliau Company's battery, was injured by^falling from a plat'orm on «nich he was stauding engage I in replacing one of the stampers. ' "Dr. AuVuVtu'i Gr. Vlerrett, who was the first medical man on t.lie.gojdfijld, died in tlie Hospital! on May 12. 'Deceased"was mucli liked amongst the. miners, having many good qualities, but unfortunately tor himself he was addicted to drink. He w& : 4 always -■ willing to' attend : a cise, whether there was a proipeot of • getting a fee pr ; not. His funeral fas largely attendi d. . . ,-. • ~- •. ; ; • .

; In n fuw cLys a'very gathering bf naiivoa will be held at Pukorokoro, on the opposite shore of tliO; Pirth of the, ;lhaini'B from this place. According to their practice, the natives are to bring from different parts of the district, where Kuropems have purchased hud and become settled, the bones of ancestors who? have been loag burie.lj with the intension of re-intering thern in a very sacred 'spot at Pukorokoro. The natives will be assembled from near Auckland to near Tauranga. There will Be a weeping-for the dead, and then no doubt we shall have a good many political apeeolies. _ ■ >'n Mfy 14, a deputation consisting of Mr W. Diuis, Mayor of the Borough of Thiraes, Councillors Anthony, Butt, and Mr W. Kowe, an 1 Messrs Bagnail, Carpenter, and Broffii, representatives of the district in the Provincial Oontioil, waited on ilie .Superintendent in reference to various local matters the most important sulij 'ct was the foreshore, which the Municipal Council wish to procure as an endowment for the Municipality. Hii Honor said lie had no power to band over the foreshore, but he would d.) what lie CJuld to assist t'te Municipality in their applicition to tho General Uovernrn'-nt A. petitim to the Superintendent has been numerously signed praying that he] will do. what he can to'have land in the Thames Valley which has been purchased by the Provincial Government opened under'suitable.regulatijD!) for settlement., {'here has been great dcl iy and mismanagement in connection-with these lands. During the last few weeks, his .Excellency the Governor, Sir James Fergusson, has ma''o a trip to-the north in his yacht accompanied by H.M.B. 'Blanche.. . .His Excellency intended to visit the settlement of Whangarei, but was unable to get into tho harbour owing to -the stormy weather! Ho went onto the Bay of: Islands, and Mossed, over to fiokisng#. Ha wa» ovetjrwhaw woli

\ gtod ileal •'iif'Stir'lias'bei'fi mused within "the last low weeks by the purchase of; a land ■ in ctho, muri. district liy Mr fl. C. Young. j Sometime ago, the. General Gforernment • appointed Mr James Mackay to'purchase i latids in tho Thames Valley',\ but much dissatisfaction has been-caused amongst those anxious-to'promote settlement!in s that district by : the fact" that, whether from Mr Mackay's fault or from that of the* Government, little or nothing has. bt en done. "In the meantime, Mr Young v ', gets the signatures of nearly all the (. owners of the piece of land, Te Komata. Upon tiiis an 'agitation arises or is. raised amongst the natives, theHauhau section threatening the parties who sold to Mr Young., ".Great : di3satisfaotioii ; exists; among tlio'Kuropeau's in this district, at " the policy of the Government in connection .with the acquisition of native lands. > On May 21; a bazaar 'was opened in Grahamstown in aid of the WesleyahCir- ■. cuit! funds.. The proceedings wero' for-, ' nially opened by tho Mayor (W. Davies, 1 Esq.) It was open for three riigh'ts, arid " resulted in.a profit of £236 14s 4a. r , The Queen's Birthday was celebrated at tho 'I liarnes on Monday, May 25. . Tho day being wet, .seTteral of the, excursions '- wliich«had been, spoken of wore. put.augend to, ; -The./ Voluufeißrs, ...to>wey?r,s'turned.out.. at, noon, the .muster being:} augmented .by. ihei:Auckland .Naval u>itcers,'who came rlovrn on the previous! Saturday. A feu de-joie was fired: on the beach at Grahaiiietown, the force 'being under the' ; commatid of Murray.'df tlie Thumcs' Scottish'; i'l, th'ev abstscoof M»jir Cooper. r TlVe,battalion,, •then re-formed citupanies,' and ,w.aß,j marched into'tJi&Naval 'brill! liall, whero *' , a battalion squar'o was' forineid, officera od"j •, •the i side,; the, agreeable task of dis-; tributiug the,prizes icoinmei'iced. ; Thisj, , latter .performed...by.v Mrs;/ Mjurray, Mrs - Spencer, -- -M iss i Belcher, f and Miss Spencer,' Captain 'oialing' aV I 'commanding'' officer. : ■ -I'heroV! wis a hrge number of the general pubjio'J present, and the jiroceedjiigs ; interesting. OaptHiir' Murray said, that'.' in.the absence of M»j »r Cooper lie would ; distribute' the di*itr ict; ; . priztss !3 to ; who had -signed for!,ifc^ doing so there were oth?r;,p.rizeSv i with A the,v •distribution of which they.would.proceed.],r . The first prizo.% for'i presentation i-Was;.a I) handsome sword to lion. Captain Scales,l' of! the ! .E V. t'adet Oorpiilt-had been'.; subscribed for aiid • - -purehusod/ * ■ by'l- - member* o^'the I '-corpsV'asV, s!" .mark of appreeiiiion 1 for'.the-'intorest!) which Cai.tam'j'! .few, ileshud '''ialtieiij -in; the uffuirV of! Iho igword was pri , si;utid,.t;o .iKe. youthfui ; _ 'officer by Mrs Spmicer wuh.iifijw approjiriate remarks., ; ;Gap.tiin Swales: than :edi the members of his company-for: thel presentation J; and s >itl' tliats ; he tfould) always make it his 3 study to : advance*the; interests of the'Tiiames f Kngilleer■ : Cridefi 1 Corps ,\ uiedtl jiresefi'ed 1 fcr 'competi-; tion by- Mr(rra'nf'to::,tlw! i Thkttieg:' Scottish Cadets'i fhi'd been wdn.-jby Sergeant Hor.ne,;. wJis presented'to hjrii, and pinned by Mt;s 1 Another handsome Maliest?/Gross; pre-;; seated by,.Mrs .Murray..to,;the,j.hamei/ Scottish Company Sfor .competition,'; was' presented'to'theteraiiorary-winner, cYoIP tjjiarp, by thalt 1 la'dyl " ( Vhe ! Station' 11 ' wily' l . a' ll,; btiHdib'm . drum-major's staff, : |W!i bF'i.Mr Ti Bijjh' ftM f \- formally hande.d, .to' )'ru 1 iv-'mbJ or Cam '.bill, of the 'Mrs Spencer. 'ffiU 'jjijji tr|aneous prizes, l and,< ; thje;rprgseutatip;ofj tlie districtprizes j*M..lhe^c i »n}j®«nw4ff x Tlie first called wasiStaffvergatut-majopr Grant, the winner of the tirst : !prie? in the!, fij-st set, which, c insisted of a' handsome medal and JSLb;-; jr itV; matcinV' tile - tation, Captain'Murby 'sail • sQre all the Volunteers! were glad to see!';! .this prize won by B.efgeanfcin'iiSjp! for the great interest, which he had ttabedjiri the success of the companies,, and ;ior volunteeringgenerally. Captain Murrayv then handed the medal.and the.olieqiie to?. Mrs Murray, by whom'.the. modal-was, pinned oti his breaßt, ,amidat tho cheers, and applause of all present. « ■ '*< j On May, 25i''a ; ;s6i'reefwSS' i held-in' , St| .. George's' Hiilli' in the , Protestant ,:r A.lliando ' Friendly'i Society There was a large atfeMaiice. The Her. J. Hill occupied.the*ch'aV, t "and in opening tiie meeting'gate ah. address'',explanatory of the objects aud principle* of the Society, i'ho. meeting was afterwards addressed bjr , '/ev.'.p Mc tee, 1 Kfey. J B. ,! o.'Butlarid, : lieYi j., DaVis.'a'rii.qther'sl. , j'!^.;' v'!.'!!v ! j'he (Jjeiistis, returtis, lately taken,!.liave been p.ubiishedi.We,giye ( ;the, ' figures:— .' I-M ''-4) i.r,!. ' : ' Males. Femalci TotalToiat y Thames. • ; b: > ..6969,,J303 12271-1'1 ; 950 M • ;Jncrease: ~ 'V:.,' ..r!32.1 oi,^' The following are the full.returnp fof.:) the province:—' • ■■■'• '• 3 ■ i- ; - . Mongonui& Bay, ' w . - offshnds • 15it 1085 . 2626 - 2331 1 , Mars len - 2369 17 ; 25": 4D90 Waitemita ■ 1325 95G 2281'^-'2450 ; Rodney - - 1517 1165: 2682 2504 ■' ' Kdin 1 - - 216 i 2031' ,' 4195 — Friukljn - 4 '87 \ 3G75 ' 7942 7567" ? Waikalo- • 29.'6 ! 1673 -4596'- ' BastCovt -• 1782, 1115 2897 VlB53 1 • Oaehuiigt • 1023 1061; 2084-1889, ».• Paraell • 1935 : 1989; 397*7^3563^ • Newton- • 239i'2153 '4847' —3967 f ' [ Auckland VTeat- 4664 4M7 ,8871 —r 8622; i AucklaudEaiit• 2197,. 1914 '4111 — 1079;

Total : ;' i '!> 37,11930!348 67,467 62,385' lacrease iii 1874 '5,182 ,

• On; Sundajr,.,May, 31,. a .very"b<?avy l gale.'.feleyr,^.. yy'liipii pphwderable damage iati.i the -Tbrnesi and; tat Auckland. ThOj i rhames.is very .badly off for harbour and,. Iwliarf accommodation. Several; cUttorS;

wliich were at anchor drifted with the* force of the, wind, and ; went through the a

Grahamstown Wharfca very weak'atruclure. Ihe Tararu 1 Railway and sea-wall f "was injn -cd, Tararu Wharf wasalso patkj tiaily destroyed;'. A meeting was' held o't the evening of June -2, in reference toj harbour aepommodation "for, the.Tliames, jwhen. a Committee was, formed,to take, means to have better accommodation fur*.

nisbed. _ -si l - ! : - .i. The Provincial Council ha? now? been in session for several weeks, Imt tlie Pro-

vincial Executive have not been very ruc«

cessful with their measure. A hill was I brought for ward to amend the Education! Aoi, but the proposals or* the Kxecuiive 1 were almost unanimously the country and the t'ouucil, and tlie now proposed to Bubstan« tiaily continue the present Act.,.. .• : > ■ The Provincial; I'roasur.'r estimates the, revenue for tlio year «t £132,075 ,lis 8d but it-'is.-considered very iioubtfut ther this amount will'be real ised.'^

Tlie 'Kenuedy •' Kit mily,''iwhow entertainment is entitled. " Twa Hourf&S Hinie," ahd; consists 'btiMy l of-ScdttUll song and story, have had a moit'siiccess" fillweek

- A lady,- aocording to John Ball, is "reading itt'Chiittbeca'' with * eoaveyattoing* wunsltl it*. Uncpja'arinitt wi, to qt%a{it&e : lno«Q6A9t^^A