Our Mining Reporter.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1837, 21 November 1874, Page 2

Our Mining Reporter.

THE WEEK

A synopsis of the week's mining is easily made, since there has been nothing on the boards to call for special notice. The returns of gold have been in many instances satisfactory, and the prospects of a number of our mines brighten with the progress of time. The great event has been the accident which befell the Big Pump, of which on the day of occurrence I heard nothing,and thus was unable to report. Unfortunate as the circumstance was, considering the interests which rests upon the pump's active •working, we may congratulate ourselves that it was no worse, and on the principle that good may sometimes come out of evil, the present temporary breakdown will give the manager Mr Emngton an opportunity of fixing the new piston in its place. Nothing has been heard recently of the Maramarua Coal Company, who are apparently laying on their oars. But coal companies as well as all others do not " grow spontaneous," and the promoters of this last undertaking must be content to meet with reverses. Th« directors have stated that should it be found that the public will not take up the shares, they (the directors, or prime movers) will work the ground on their own responsibility. That would be a bold step, but should the fact once become fairly demonstrated that there are bona fide chances of the coal proving fit for use, speculators large and small will not be backward in coming forward. Already the accounts of the extent of the seams are very' encouraging, and the tests made at the batteries, according to the reports of practical men, show that its steam generating qualities are sufficiently powerful for the use of batteries, that is at the reduced cost at which the company proposed to supply it. The company may have made a mistake in the prospectus. It is certainly not sufficiently explicit, considering the mist which hangs over the land in which the field is situated and the country through which it is proposed to carry the tramway. The cost of this tramway (and engine)' some fourteen miles in length, over a hilly country, is set down at £500, per mile, at which price it cannot be accomplished. And in this, perhaps, the prospectus does not bestow enough confidence, or the estimators are slightly out in their calculation." So long, however, as the supply can be afforded, the cost of the road will prove of little consequence, for the demand is great, and coal brought from a spot contiguous to the place where the article is chiefly consumed, should receive a preference over that which is transhipped from a distance, The hoped-for opening of Ohinemm'i is unsettling the minds of all of us, and there is less actual interest felt in what is doing on the field here at the present time than in what might be done in mining at Ohinemuri in the immediate futureSome do not believe in the auriferous character of the Upper Country, which springs only from a disposition to doubt | of a good thing until it becomes obviously real; others do believe, and will believe, because it has been frequently reported by persons who have gone to the trouble of seeking : but the imaginations of all are in different degrees fired, and under such circumstances it is only natural that we should look with small interest on passing good in reality, when there is such a magnificent dream to dwell upon. One thing is certain, however, and that is that it the upper country is not opened the consequences to this place will be very disastrous. For over three years people have lived in the miserable sickness of hope deferred, till at last they have come to regard Ohinemuri as a joke; but now, they have been brought so close to their prize, such promises have beem held out, that if they are again disappointed, the effect will be very damaging. Patience has been well nigh exhausted, and a last disappointment will kill it.

The following parcels of gold haye been lodged at the Bank of New Zealand during the week :—- ---ozs. dwts. Bird in Hand (Ist lodgment) 173 0 Nonpareil - - - 101 0 , Kelly's tribute - - 17 0 Point Eussell - - - 53 0 Bright Smile (part lodgment) 77 0 Dp, do. - - - 227 5 Poverty aftd Charleston tri. 73 13 Sundries r - ' - 200 0 Total - - ' - - 861*" 18

As will be seen, the week's return as g.bove is scarcely up to the average, but there are yet to come in 800 or 1000 ozs. from ,tne .Queen f of Beauty, and from the Moauatairi and others about |0Q ounces. ». ' ■ ■••'■■■■■•