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36

The returns from the Thames Goldfield last year, notwithstanding the cry of depression, show that there has been an increase in the yield of gold for the year ending the 31st March, 1894, of about 3,3000z. 19dwt., as will be seen from the following comparative statement: —

It will be seen from the above table that the total yield of gold from the Thames District last year was 34,6360z. 19dwt., whereas for the previous year it only amounted to 31,3360z., exclusive in both years of the gold obtained from tailings. The total quantity of quartz crushed last year was 34,254 tons, and 14,970 tons of mullock, while in the previous year there were 38,131 tons of quartz and 21,106 tons of mullock crushed: making a total of 78,546 tons of stuff, which yielded 31,3360z. gold. The total material operated on last year was 62,444 tons, which yielded 34,6370z. gold. Taking the number of men employed in the mines, there were sixteen less last year than in the previous one; but the estimated value of the goFd and bullion obtained was £6,650 more than for the year 1892-93. Therefore, taking the number of men employed, and the value of the gold obtained —namely, £92,650 —it gives an average of about £140 7s. 6d. per annum, or £2 14s. a week for each man at work; whereas the average earnings of the men on the same basis for the previous year was about £114 4s. 6d. a man per annum, or £2 ss. 6d. per week. It will be seen, therefore, that by taking the value of the gold obtained, and the number of men employed, it gives an average of 9s. 6d. a week per man more last year than it did for the previous year. In some portions of the district there has been a falling-off in the yield of gold, but in others it has increased. Tapu. The principal claims at Tapu are Sheridan's, the Fluke, and Centennial. There are thirteen men employed in the claims in this locality, and during last year about 150 tons of quartz was crushed, which yielded 201oz. 18dwt. gold; whereas during the previous year 35 tons of quartz and 176 tons of mullock were treated, which yielded 2460z. 7dwt. gold ; and only ten men employed in the mines. Some very rich quartz has been obtained in this locality, but the most of .the gold is got from small leaders ; but, so far, the rich stone does not continue down for any great depth. At the Fluke Mine, F. McMahon and party crushed 42 tons of quartz, which yielded 128oz. lOdwt. gold. They are working on three different leaders, varying from Bin. to lft. 6in. in thickness; but this party is back for about four miles from the flat, and have to pack the quartz out for some distance before it can be carted to the battery. It is the intention of the party to try and form the claim into a limited company, in order to get sufficient capital to erect a crushing battery near the claim. In the Centennial Claim the surface mullock and clay was sluiced, and, from the quartz which was got from this mullock, tons, after being crushed, yielded 19oz. 15dwt. gold. The owners, however, do not consider the ground payable by working it by this method, and have abandoned it. Waiomo. There is very little work being done in this locality. A deal of the ore is of such a refractory character that the present methods of treatment fail to extract a fair percentage of its assay value. The owners of the Golden Gem and Monowai Claims are said to be in treaty with some one in Europe with the view of getting a satisfactory method of treating the ore, and, in the meantime, protection has been granted for the ground for a period to enable them to do this. A claim has been taken up near the Golden Gem ground by A. M. McMahon; and he reports that from the surface workings he had 7cwt. of quartz crushed last year, which yielded 1430z. 9dwt. gold,

18! 13-94. 1892-! 13. Gold I: icrease. Locality. £2 IP 5 d . SO ° § r< O o H ■8 5 o O H Yield of Gold. Gold from Tailings. OB* tfO 0/ OS IP I s •A 5 1 Si cfl O § E4 Yield of Gold. Gold from Tailings. 1803-94. 1892-93. Tapu Waiomo Puru Tararu Shellback .. Kuranui Moanataiari Grahamstown Waiotahi Waio-Karaka Karaka Una Hill and Tβ Papa Hape Creek.. Puriri Otanui Matatoko Tairua Ohui Tailings .. Oz. dwt. 201 18 143 9 37 9 291 12 33 4| I 4,202 9 12,624 19 617 6 5,640 2 4,916 14 1,744 10 1,293 3 Oz. dwt. Oz. dwt. 246 7 , Oz. dwt. Oz.dwt. Oz. dwt. 44 9 13 1 5 17 5 62 200 36 103 107 43 41 150-5 0-4 137-9 378-0 26-0 8,400-5 13,2220 708-0 4,621-0 3,984-0 1,180-7 1,006-6 3," 450 11,520 .. 2,411 4 10 38 11 75 221 57 125 23 45 41 36 4,220 144 2,654 19,822 588 6,313 867 1,700 825 176 13,173! (6,257: 1,000 500 529 7 151 19 I 3,804 19; 10,070 6! 816 9 7,162 1 546 4 1,643 ,1 1,214 9 839 0 i i 143 9 37 9 397 10 2,554 13 2,212 01 1,076 15 118 15 .. 13,220 .. 1,521 19 .. 4,370 10 101 9 78 14 14 338-2 274 3 25 2 808 44 575 10; 31 10 301 7 31 10 4 10-0 11-0 71-1 8-0 .. m 5 6 2 8 179 14 17 10 5 6 2 8 114 14 17 10 "l 2 3 45 65 0 184 4,478 12 4,478 12 Totals., 660 34,254-5 14,970 32,225 15 2,411 4 13,220 676 38,131 21,106 26,857 2 1 5,317 12 10,035 12 7,573 7