Gold-fields Intelligence.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 79, 13 July 1868, Page 168

Gold-fields Intelligence.

We take the following items from the New Zealand Herald’s monthly summary, published on the 3rd July:— THE THAMES GOLD-EIELDS. A parcel of between 300 and 400 ounces of gold was brought up from Shortland by the steamer Tauranga on the 3rd ult., for the Bank of New Zealand.

The steamer Tauranga arrived from Shortland on the 12th ult., with 600 ozs. gold from the Bank of Australasia, and about 300 ozs. from the Bank of New Zealand.

A parcel of sixty ounces -of gold—the result of a crushing of eight tons of quartz from the Hatter claim—was brought up by the p.s. Enterprise on the 24th ult., and was lodged iu the Bank of New Zealand next day. The s.s. Halycon brought up on the 27th ult. 120 ounces from the Caudle-light-claim. A parcel of 266 ounces of gold was brought up from the Kapanga claim, Coromandel, by the cutter Peter,. Cracroft, being the result of the past month’s crushing.

We hear that a rich leader has been opened on the Kuiunui Company’s ground this week, which is said to have increased the value of the claim some £IO,OOO.

We understand that the large battery of stampers and amalgamating machinery ordered by the Thames Quartz Crushing Company from one of the first firms in Victoria may be expected to arrive in the course of a few days. We also learn that an agent of the firm will come over with the machinery, and having ascertained that there is a fair field to business. in Auckland for the making of first-class quartz crushing machinery, will arrange for the establishment of a branch manufactory in Auckland.

We understand that the tender of Mr Matthew Frost for constructing a bridle-track between Tapu and Shortland has been accepted by the Provincial Government. This work when completed will be a great public convenience.

We learn that a petition is being numerously signed by a very influential portion of the community who have an interest in the Kurunui, Moanatiairi, and Waiotahi Creek 3, to have a branch bank established at or near Graham’s town, the want of; which is much felt in that district.

> Messrs Fraser & Tinne are about to erect a machine of fifty head of stampers at Tapu, to be driven by water power, A site has been given for the purpose on the Golden Point Claim, but it is probable that not more than fifteen stampers will be erected in the meantime. THE REPORTED KAIPAEA AND RAKG-A-RHLI GOLD.EIELDS. . ;; Mr Allwright, who returned to town from Kaipara on Wednesday; evening, as ,we, stated in our issue 4 of yesterday, has brought with him, several pounds weight of stone, taken -by himself from the Tokatoka Reef. ■ There'is no' gold visible in the stbne,and’; and 'as.‘.Mr Smith, the assay.er of the New; Zealand Bank, is now at the Thames; it may be ■ a day nr two before we shall be able to announce whether the ' stone is auriferous hr hot. There were djutfew men :up on- the ground and little or no work was going on. The i only ;' stbne to be seen in the district was the - one

leader from which Mr Allwright took the pieces brought down by him, and this reef or leader was discovered in consequence of its being intersected in its course by a water-course or gully. The stone contains much mundic. We have received several pieces of stone from this reef from Mr James, of the Kaipara. ' From Rangariri many miners returned yesterday, complaining that though the appearance of the country was most-likely looking, and indeed very much resembled the Thames, they could obtain nothing but hard biscuits to eat. Coming down they met a number of persons going up to the field. ■ . -

: We understand that Captain Steele has been in to record a claim for ten men at Lake Waikare. We may as well state, however, for public infoY,matioa that the Superintendent cannot, as many suppose, give protection. All that he can do is to record applications, which records, we suppose, will afford proof of date of occupation should disputes arise when the gold-field is proclaimed. His Honor, we are informed, has sent parties up to Rangariri to procure and forward to Auckland a ton of stone that it may be satisfactorily tested.

The remarks eontained in the “ Own Correspondent’s” letter of the Cross of yesterday, as to the “ slowness of our our paternal Government,” are as ungenerous as they are untruthful and uncalled-for. There has been nothing from first to last of official indolence or redtapeism in his Honor’s conduct with regard to the development of the Auckland gold-fields. He has lost no opportunity of developing the mineral resources of the province.