THAMES AND COROMANDEL GOLD-FIELDS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1309, 9 October 1872, Page 3

THAMES AND COROMANDEL GOLD-FIELDS.

[herald, sept. 9.J The second report upon the Hauraki Gold-mining district (north and south) for the year ending 31st March, 1872, has been laid upon the table of the House of Assembly. The year 1871 (says the report) will always be remembered favorably owing to the immense richness of the Caledonian claim. In the first six months of that year this famous mine ' yielded J98,1440z, daring the last six months 163,2360z. On the 15th June (1871), the price of shares (Ll2 paid up) was L 176, which reached on the 21st of ' the same month L 212. The return for the ensuing fortnight was 13,5160z. The stuff taken out o! the mine averaged from 6oz to 12oz to the ton, but with specimens 260z to the ton. The report proceeds to describe the Albion, Uniting the Belfast, Kelly's, and Poverty and Charleston claims, comprising 9a lr 12p, or 28 noons' ground, also the pumping machinery imported from Australia. The Multum in Parvo yielded, from 425 tons, gold worth L 2432. The All Nations crushed 2oz to the ton. The return from the Moanatairi was, from July to December, 52250z. The want of water appears to have been much felt. The Una Company crushed 4453 tons, yielding 25050z {average lldwt 6gr), yet they paid LISOO in dividends. A feature of the field is the formation of large low-level tunnels with double rails, common to many mines, to be worked by lease, extending from the beach into the interior. . These tunnels will cut the main auriferous belts, and drain and improve the country.

{For continuation of News, see Uh page.)

For the three quarters ending March, 1872, 179,4701 bof blasting powder] passed the Onstoms. The number of stampers employed are 823, with a Bteam power of 1372 horse, and water-power of 24^ horse, making a total of IG2I horse-powek For the three quarters ending March 31, 2872, the amount of quartz crushed was 59,844 tons, yielding 171,8250z, or about 2Joz to tho ton. ! The Coromandel gold field (North Hauratij has had a rather chequered existence. Discovered in 1851, abandoned in 1854, revived in 1862, and neglected since 1864. There is little to be said, except that the yield has been much larger proportionately. From 4797 tons of stuff crashed for the year ending March, 1872, the yield was 27,2850z, averaging soz 13dwt. A good deal of the specimens from Coromandel were crushed at Grahamstown, and do not appear in the return, but lOOOoz is allowed for them, the total value of the yield being LBI,OOO. There are 300 chains of water-race and 15 sluice heads, constructed at a cost of L 1075, present value L2OOO. The area held under lease is set down at 1013 acres, exclusive of Wynyardton. Thtre are crushing mro' ines, 6 ; stamper heads, 68; horse- power,] ol ; steam batteries, 3; water-power batteries, 3. There is in the report of the Thames Inspector a very interesting return of the yield of each of the gold-producing mines.