LATEST FROM THE THAMES.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2921, 27 November 1869, Page 5

LATEST FROM THE THAMES.

•* LONG DRIVE, 1 The following is the return of gold deposited in the Bank of NewZealandon account ; of the Long Drive Goldmining Company from October 15 to November 18, 1869 : —

A new leader of exceeding richness has been struck, in the above company's ground. The whole claim looks very promising. The specimens are looking up again. They purpose crushing on or about Thursday next. BEBKELEY CASTLE. Some very rich stone is at present being taken out of tho lode lately cut in this now celebrated claim. During the week many patches have been discovered, and on Saturday the lode seems to have been met in a more solid form, with the gold very equally distributed. The quantity of stone out warl'ants the shareholders in expecting a rich ! crushing before Christinas. Under proper management this claim bids fair to prove one j of tho best on the goldfields. GOLDEN CROWN. The usual weekly cleaning up fov the Golden Crown took place at the company's battery on Saturday, and yielded 2430zs of gold. . Only about 30 tons of stone were crushed this week, as from various causes the battery was not in working order. A quantity of stone from a branch leader is being crushed at the Tararu battery, but it is not expected to come up to the usual average of the crushings from this claim. — " Advertiser," November 22. THE JIOANATAIRI. The gold obtained from the retorting for the Moanatairi Company was melted yesterday at the Bank of New Zealand, and yielded 3450zs 6dwts of gold. The amount of retorted gold was within a few dwts of 3600z5. THE PUKEHINAU. A trial crushing of stone from the Pukehinau has been completed at Clarkson's machine, Wiseman's Gully. The stuff crushed bad lain on the claim for a long time, and, although it was sent to the battery, the most sanguine of the shareholders had very little hope of a profitable return from it. Contrary, however, to all expectations, the parcel of 23 tons crushed yielded 26ozs 9dwts of gold. MOUNT JTACEDON. Some excellent specimens have been taken out of the Mount Macedon's Company's ground to-day ; they are of a very rich character, quite unlike any of the gold yet exhibited on the Thames. FTTH MOON. On Wednesday last a lot of the richest specimens ever seen at Tapuwere taken out of the Pull Moon claim. One, although not the largest, is valued at about £30, and is a remarkable specimen, quifce unique of its kind. It is by no means pretty, yet it would be a pity to crush it, as ifc would be a curiosity in the Auckland Museum. GOVERNOR HOBSON. This claim, which has been strongly womanned for some weeks past, can now boast of a gold-bearing leader about eighteen/ inches wide. On Friday last it wag struck \ on a shaft 75 feet deep, and the matron of the claim richly deserves her success, as she is the mother of about a dozen children, and has worked with spirit throughout. I PRIDE OF ERIN. The John o'Groats reef has been opened in the Prido of Erin Company's ground in a shaft sunk near the boundary. The shaft is sunk 42 feet, and the men are now driving along it. It was only opened last week, and there is already a nice lot of stone to grass. The reef presents a similar appearance to what it does in the John o'Groats claim, although the workings in the Pride of Erin are about 50 or 60 feet lower. MIDDLE STAE. A rich reef has been struck in the Middle Star claim, which has been traced through the Union and Royal Exchange claims to the Lord Ashley lease. The Middle Star shareholders first struck the reef, which has been proved payable, in their upper workings. They are now driving to cut it on a lower level. In the claim below, the Union, a much lower level could be got. No doubt the two claims will amalgamate ; they would then form a first class company. BATTERY RETURNS. Goodall's Prince Alfred Battery is crushing stone from the Young American claim, which is looking very well, and no doubt will give a splendid return when the lot >is finished. This battery now, with the ten head of stampers lately added, is one of the most efficient on the field, and when the new reservior now in course of excavation is completed, will have always a plentiful supply of clear water, so much required in saving gold on this field. The Kuranui battery has been engaged crushing last week for the All Nations in the old battery, which was promising to give the best returns as yet from this well known claim, and which will be concluded to-day, ten head in the new battery for the Long Drive, and the remaining heads for tne Eairanui Company. The fortnight's crushing from the company's claim was cleaned up on Saturday, and gave a very satisfactory result. The Long Drive will clear up on Friday after nearly three week's crushing of general stuff. It is also probable that a number of specimens on hand at prosent will also be crushed before the clearing up takes place, .thus making the second specimen crushing within tho last three weeks. The Hauraki machine has been crushing stone from the Hazelbank claim, but the supply of atone fell short, so that the battery has nob been constantly working during the past week. Souter's battery has been steadily crushing for the United Gold Mining Company, Waiotahi. Clarkson's Gold Discoverer machine is crushing a large parcel of stone from the John O'Groat's claim, which is looking splendid upon the plates, and will fully uphold the reputation of this celebrated claim. Every precaution will be taken during this crushing to prevent the same trick being played by ill-disposed persons, of putting substances in the stamper-boxes, to prevent the saving of tho gold. Weston's battery is still crushing stuff from tho El Dorado claim, Punga Flat, There is already a large amougt of amalgam on hand, but a retorting will not take place until the parcel is completed. Tne Prince Alfred battery commenced crushing again this week, but they have not got enough water to keep the battery going. They are at preset buisy making a reservoir, which is progressing very fast. The follow. ,

ing are the dimensions, viz., 18 feefc deep by 100 feet square, to be faced with stone from Rangitoto. In working in this reservior they came upon a reef which is supposed to I be the well-known Charleston reef. It is i gold-bearing. The ground upon which it was found belongs io the Imperial Crown. The tramway battery is now working in j first rate order, after a spell of several weeks. They commence crushing for the Imperial Crown on Monday, and after that a lot from the May Moon. A recent crushing at Eing'a battery Coromandel, from the Scotia claim gave a result of 2\ ounces to the ton. This is considered a highly satisfactory return, as a large quantity of stone can be got out with very little trouble. The Chance claim, next but one to this claim, is taking out rich stone every day.

oz. dwt. gr. £ s. A. October 15 ... 1,230 14 17 ... 3,212 510 „ 29 ... 887 19 0 ... 2,331 910 I November 8 ... 241 10 0 ... 622 17 3 „ 18 ... 1,850 4 0 ... 4,874 14 5 4,210 717 £11,031 6 4