Our Mining Reporter.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1765, 29 August 1874, Page 2

Our Mining Reporter.

THE MONTH.

The month of August, like July, hasbeeu most decidedly prosperous to the Thames as a goldfield; altheugh I have very few dividends to talk about, theys having gone chiefly amongst the tributers, who continue to work old ground* or such ground that has not paid to be worked by companies, but with small parties of miners, closely following small lodes very profitable results ensure both to the men who have had pluck enough to tackle abandoned levels r.'nd to the actual owners of the mine. Noticing tributers in a dis-| trict mining report does, I know, generally convey to readers on other fields an im-? pression that tUe goldfield spoken of is almost worked out. The Thames is exactlythe reverse—it cap not be said truly that it is yet born; it is a fact that it is a long way off being well prospected, and my tributing friendaare only just working out upper levels. Now for the mines. So far as I can Judge, they are neither better nor worse than as described in last month's report, if anything they are better; notably so, the Manukau, Nonparie'l, Crown Prince and others. That steady old coach—the Caledonian—has shown signs of a renewed vitality, the scrip having within the last week or two suffered a kind of recovery, and from (apparently) a reasonable cause; but, realty and truly, the only cause is, that promising stone has been cut at a low ievel. The Pumping Association's works are working so smoothly and so well, that the pumps seem almost to have performed' their work ; but, still, it will be worth almost a year of a life to, see what will be v the, result:. of. the next hundred feet ' inking. What strata the men will go through, and ;whetherithere will be any gold. Every foot they sink will be a kind of new history to us. lam very hopeful, as I have not steen ahy evidence of any violent volcanic eriiption that has been powerful enough to disturb the strength that a reef has in asserting' its own power to cleave a! country, or; to be so fused as to cause a break. As to the Waio-karaka flat mines, actually thereis little difference to be soticed.in! their yield. The public were expecting! dividends both from the Bright; Smile and Bird in Hand, but it seems that, al"though most of our mines are worked: economically and well, very few have benefitted, other than those who have mining commodities to sell. , The fact is -that, although the business pays by the mines, mine shareholders don'fc seem to. participate in the profits ; and a man who has saved a little will rather invest in the thing we want than in trying to produce; the gold the Thames so freely gives. The price of coal, mercury, wood' and iron has absorbed more- than its due proportion of our gold, coal and wood being especially dear, yet not the slightest attempt has been made to secure better habourage or better wharfage. . I hear that the Queen of Beauty shareholders I have to either cut their shaft down, i.e., enlarge it, strengthen it or straighten the guides; it will take some little time, and for that-time a good many men will be thrown out of work ; but better so than, if life is in danger consequent on a faulty shaft, to risk it. About eight weeks will be occupied in repairs. The return of gold for the month is close on 10,000 ounces, of the estimated value of £27,500. For September I do not expect so large a return, as from present appearances over a 100, head of stamps will be idle for a greater portion of the month. x