THE WEEK.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1735, 25 July 1874, Page 2

THE WEEK.

The past week has been an important one to the Thames so far as mine matters are concerned, two of the companies haying struck gold in their claims. First I will take the Waiotahi Company, who hpve undoubtedly struck the underlie of the Manukau reef in their No. 2 shaft. The reef has been cut into for five feet, some of the stone showing good gold, and, according to survey, a drive from the engine-shaft is within 20 feet of striking it at a lower level. This reef is evidently rising with the Manukau hill, and seems to be correspondently depressed with the country towards the gully. The gold I saw is similar in character to that from the Manukau mine and the stone is very like, The next important find has been in the Exchange Company's ground, good gold having been found in a leader averaging about nine inches thick, bearing away towards the Crown Prince. The stone is similar in appearance to that found in the latter mine. This discovery connects the whole of the flat from the Waiotahi to the Karaka, as a gold-bearing country. It was feared that a barren break occurred between the Crown Prince and Exchange. Of the Pumping Association, Tookey and the Albion. I have nothing fresh to relate. The shaft in Tookey's is being rapidly sunk to meet the cross-cut from the Association's, low level, but is not yet holed through. The Queen of the May are pushing their shaft down with great rapidity, and have, I hear, engaged battery power to reduce their stone as soon as it can be sent to grass. The City of London are making preparations for a large out-put of crushing ■tuff, the reefs continuing to improve in appearance.. The Bright Smile is sending enormous quantities of stuff to the mill, with most favorable results to the owners. The Queen of Beauty is a gem, employing 83 head of stamps, and 80 men ; giving splendid results to the shareholders; their reefs increasing as they go down. The Bird in Hand Company also keep steadily crashing, with results the shareholders seem satisfied with. The City of York and Queen of the Ihames, progressive mines, are being worked spiritedly. What is going to bo done with the Smiling Beauty ground, I do not know, but hoar that machinery is being sent out from England, to work the ground. From the Karaka I have nothing to report. The Hape Creek is. making quite a stir. The battery owners are making preparations for a busy spring, but I must defer making any comments till I have had a look for myself. Tho mines up the Moauatairi are kept steadily at work. Tho Old Whau is reported favourably of as to the yield of the general stuff. The Black Angel Co. are not crushing, being busy getting out stuff. The news from the Coliban this week is a most decided improvement, they having struck gold, where, from survey, they expected to do so. The Golden Calf has still plenty of water, which sadly impedes sinking. The Central Italy have just started on another crushing, the stuff as yet not showing so favorably on the plates as on the previous crushing. The drainage case will come on next week, when I hoar that most of the companies sued will fight to the bitter—or wet end. The tributers have again made their mark, having lodged some nice parcels of gold at the banks. There have been some calls made during the week; one, of 7a par scrip, at first seemed a poser for some of the shareholders, till it was ascertained that 5s 6d had been already paid and would be credited. The cqrner has been unusually dull this week from no discernible reason, none of the mines shewing any perceptible falling off, the business in scrip seeming y running in cycles. The Manukau mine continues as rich as ever, and during last week they sent up stuff in one shift nearly at the rato of a truck per minute. From Tararu I can hear of nothing new in mining matters; neither is there anything io chronicle from Taupo. The yield of gold last week from tho Thames proper was more than anticipated, and there must now be still a large amount of amalgam in claimowncrs' hands. There is still a great outcry about the dearnoss of coal and mining timber. Those mine owners who are get ing remunerative gold do not feel it, but it comes particularly heavy on progressive or poor companies.