THE THAMES.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3271, 7 August 1871, Page 3

THE THAMES.

■ *$. . i [Telegram to the Ouoss, August 2 ] A miner, Henry Stead, was taken to the hospital this morning suffering from a broken leg. More specimens have l>ecn found in the Bright Smile mine. In the Police Court this morning, John W. Jones and Thomas Quiuu were brought up, charged with stealing spe-cimen-tailings from the Caledonian Company. After a long hearing the accused, upon the advice of counsel, pleaded guilty, and were summarily dealt svith. Jones received sentence of six months' imprisonment ; whilst Quin, upon the application of the police, was remanded for one week. A great outcry is being raised hero by mining uifmagers and others about the BC4gp£P^ of blasting, powder in the Kf^et, and the wretched character of tie fuse that is supplied. A stoppage of work on the one hand, and serious accidents on the other, are threatened. The Tookey pumping-engine and the Waiotahi Association's crushing machine had to stop work — lacking coal. More specimens were taken out of the Caledonian mine to-night. The specimen crushing will commence to-morrow. The Manukau machine will stop "working to-morrow morning for want of coal. The monthly crushing return gbows that 970 tons of quartz were

crushed during the month to a return of 1,470 oz of gold. The sharemarket is easier. Quotations remain about the same as yesterday. Bright Smile shares closedbuyers at 355, sellers at 40s. Caledonian, £195. [Telegram to tho N. Z. Uebald, Aug. 2.] In the Caledonian there is nothing new to report since my despatch, except that the leader cut in the chamber is looking splendid. Una have taken out a nice patch of specimens. The Manukau battery has crushed during last month 970 f tons of stone, which yielded 147GJ ounces. The charge of stealing specimen-tail-ings from the Cixledouian was concluded, and the boys pleaded guilty. Jones was sentenced to six months' hard labor. Quinn's sentence deferred for seven days, the Bench remarking very strongly upon the facilities granted for converting specimens, etc,, into cash. The want of coal and powder is playing sad havoc with tho batteries ai.d mines. There is a great scarcity of both articles. Of the latter, the Caledonian, Moanatairi, and others are almost out ; while for coal, the Manukau, Tookey, Waiotahi, Imperial Crown, and Prince Alfred are idle, and Ihe Caledonian will follow suit if vessels do not arrive by next tide. The share market is easier. Caledonian, £195 ; Tookey and Thames, £38. THE '■ HERALD'S" THAMES I.ETTEII. Tuesday, G p.m. Caledonian. — Tbe rew leader at the bottom of the shaft is looking first-class some splendid stone having been grassed therefrom. The main run of gold in the slopes never looked stronger or better than it does to-day, and tomorrow, when the men commence to break out, a fine lot of rich stone will be the result. Towards the Otago side the lode is improving very much, and gold has become frequent ; while the lode itself is becoming larger and more compact, and I doubt not ere many feet have been traversed, a good run of gold will bo picked up, as there is every indication of such. Tookey. — The crushing that has been going on at the Tramway machine for Willis and party, tributers on the upper portion of the cross-leader, and a part of tho Young American leader, is now closed, after 22 tons have passed through, uud the result is a fine yield of 51ozs retorted gold. Warwick and party, tributers on the low-level of the Belfast leaders, are putting through 25 tons at the Prince Alfred, and the result promises to be a payable one — something over loz per ton. Chown Piunce. — The crushing of a , small lot of stone for this company is now progressing at the Manukau machine, and so far the show promises a result of over two ounces to the ton, exclusive of some picked stone that will be put through at the finish. The stone being reduced is from both the Beach and the new leader cut a veck or two ago, and was broken out from the stopes of the low winze going towards the old Mariner's reef ground. Both the leaders going this way improve as opened upon, and asso on as more ground is opened up the quantities put through the mill will be much greater than they are at present. Bright Smile. — Very encouraging prospects have been met with again today in the leader at the bottom of the shaft ; scarcely a bucket of dirt comes up but there is gold visible, and a few hours ago a large dish of stone was brought into town, the whole of which showed gold, sufficient to prove that the lode is a splendid one.