AUCKLAND GOLDFIELDS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 179, 26 February 1868, Page 3

AUCKLAND GOLDFIELDS.

(From the Weekly Herald, Feb. 1.) KARAKA GOLDFIELD.

(from our special correspondent.) Shortland, Jan. 27.

The crushing of Hunt's stuff still continues at Stone's machine About GOlbs of amalgam is taken out of the boxes every twelve hours, and up to Saturday morning the yield of gold was 800 ozs, of retorted gold. Should there be time to crush the stuff now ready, there will be about 2000 ozs. for the mail from this claim alone. Barry's claim has sent up a small lot out of some specimens, I believe. The Star of the South, one of the new claims up the Moanatira Creek, of which I sent you a favorable report a few days ago, has crushed 501bs of specimen stone which yielded 45 ozs. of gold. Twenty pounds of stone from the same claim, the inferior stuff, gave 5f ozs. of gold. The Young Canadian claim, on the same creek, Mr Wilson of Freeman's Bay and Mr Morgan of Napier-street, has some very fine stone —indeed the whole of the claims on this part of the Moanataira gully fully warrant my recent favorable report. From the Tapu we have a one pound nugget, which, as I believe it will be in Auckland before this can reach you, ought to be seen to be appreciated. A claim near GroodftU's machine. The Poverty Eeef, has shown some first-class stone within the last few days. Amongst our visitors on Saturday last were Mr Corbett, Chief-Postmaster; Mr Grey, Inspector of Pest Offices, and Major Cadell.

Trom another Correspondent.) The sailing of the cutter Fly, gives ine an opportunity of forwarding you the following interesting intelligence : —The Thistle claim, four miles south from MTsaac's adjoining the British, struck gold on Saturday ; and that a paddock on the main Tapu Creek was bottommed on Saturday, at a depth of 23 feet. The prospect gives great satisfaction. The claim belongs to Messrs King and Co. The further working of the claim is at present stopped in consequence of repairs heing necessary to the pumping gear. Jamieson and Co., Diggers' Rest claim, have also struck a fresh leader on the ranges, one mile from M'lsaac's. The present prospect is 1 dwt to the tin dish.

I send you herewith a specimen of silver and copper ore from the lode of WilliamsonandSmallman'sat Waiomu. The lode is three feet wide, and crosses the beach from the sea, passing up to the hills. The mine is leased for a term of years, and it is the intention of the proprietors to commence operations at once. About 30 tons will soon be ready for shipment to Auckland, for the purpose of sending to Australia, in order that it may be thoroughly tested, &c.

The township is progressing, and diggers apparently satisfied, many making more than fair average wages.

THE THAMES. Messrs. Hunt and Clarkson, passengers by the s.s. Tauranga on Wednesday, from the Thames, brought up two bags of gold, weighing 1400 ozs, from Hunt and Co.'s claim. Another gentleman by the same steamer, was the bearer of about 25 ozs. from Tapu Creek. We are glad to see that a valuable addition is to be made to the still insufficient machinery at the Thames. The new crushing machine by Mr Pratt, of Wangarei, will be in operation at Butt's hotel, Shortland, in the course of a week. Bank of New Zeaiand.—lt is notified that an agency of this bank will bo opened at Mhortland Town, on Monday next, February 3i-d, for the transmission of general business.

{From the Daily Southern Cross.) The returns from the goldfields have not been considerable which is in a great measure owing to the want of proper crushing machinery. That want is now to some extent supplied three new quartz crushing machines having made a start a few days ago If the expectations of a very large number are not to be altogether dissipated, the yield of gold next month will be considerable.

The s.s. Tauranga, which arrived from the Thames on February 1, brought up about 150 ozs of gold in private hands, which was contained in three parcels. A severe gale with heavy rains was experienced at the Thames on the 2nd and 3rd of February, causing considerable losses to many of the claimholders.

The ps. Enterprise, No. 2, which came up on February 6 from the Thames, brought 236 ounces of gold, the result of a crushing of quartz, the product of the Long Drive claim— Messrs Charles Snowden and Co., proprietors.

The s.s. Midge, which arrived on Feb. 7 from the Thames, brought up 80 ounces of gold, the product of a crushing of a few tons of quartz from Mclsaac's claim at Tapu Creek, The cutter Peter Cracroft, which arrived on Feb. 9 from Coromandel, brought up 33S ozs. of gold, the produce of one month's crushing at the Kapanga Company's claim. The s.s. Tauranga, which arrived from the Thames on Saturday evening, brought 350 ozs. of retorted gold, the product of the All Nations claim.