THE THAMES GOLDFIELD.

Thames Star, Volume XXV, Issue 4667, 22 February 1894, Page 3

THE THAMES GOLDFIELD.

I L " GOLD AND NO MISTAKE."

As it is now many jears since the question of " gold and no mistake" at the Thames was settled, the following from an Auckland paper of September 13th, 1867, will be read with some degree of interest by the old pioneers, as well as by later comers who do not, know the excitement which was caused by the result of the trial crushing here recorded:—

Hump's Reef.—6Bozs 14dwts of sold from 6cwt 4&.B8 of quahtz.—The result of the crushing of 6cwt of quartz brought tip from Hunt and company's claim, as exhibited in the shop window of Mr Beck, jeweller, Qneen street, on Saturday evening, was most satisfactory to the prospectors, and to the character of the. newlyproclaimed poldfield at the Thames. A yield equal to 1930zs 13dwts of gold to a ton of average quartz, fully establishes the richness of the prospectors' claim, and leaves us no longer in doubt as to the value of the Thames quartz reefs. It is calculated that six men can take out abou 30 tons per week from, this claim. , Of course we do not venture to say that it will be equally rich throughout ; but the quartz crushed was taken as it lay to hand. Ibe fortunate discoverer of the reef, and party, leave town to-day in the p,s. Enterprise, in order to take down the crushing apparatus and retort made to their order by Masefield & Co., of this city, after % pattern supplied by Mr Alexander. The rotort was completed on Saturday, snd takow to a smithy in High street, where the yfeld of amalgam, consisting of 145cfce, was retorted, with the result alreedy ■tated. The yield of ICozs 12dwts, taken from 45lbs of quartz, and crushed by Mr Beck previooaly, and forming part of the lame stone, is added to the above figures a* the product of sold so far obtained from Hunt's claim. The yield was carefully •melted and asrayed by Mr Beck, who ascertained that it was composed of three elements only, in the following proportions, namely :— Gold, of 14 carat quality ... 58 per eeo% Silver ... 37 „ Base metal ... 5 „ 100 The gold was ran into two bers, and exhibited during the evening in Mr Beck's shop window, around which large crowds were gathered. __