BATTERY RETURNS.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 31, 5 January 1884, Page 2

BATTERY RETURNS.

Each truck has been accounted and charged for as containing 1£ ton ; if this calculation is correct, it represents as the total amount of quartz already crushed in round numbers is 2107 tons, or an average yield of over one ounce of melted gold per ton. Considering the large extent of ground covered by the nifties which have crushed, the result cannot be lookeJ upon otherwise than

highly satisfactory. (Seldom indeed has any new gold field been found giring .such good results from general dirt, Most of our readers no doubt nre aware that owing to the insufficient number of lu'rdnn3 available at (.lie battery, a large portion of the blanketings had to be put aside during crushing ; and have been as stated in our la*t issue, under treatment during the holidays. The result of this work, will materially increase the 'returns already recorded. But even then it should be borne in mind that the tailings, which have been proved to contain a large per cuntage of gold, remain totally undealt with. Were these tailings treated and the result as well as that of the blanketings added to the returns already given there is not the slightest doubt but that the total yield would satisfy the most sceptical. Now that the field has been so thoroughly proved, not only to be a good paying one, but also one of great, extent ; and which promises to give satisfactory returns for many years to come, increased crushing and treating power at moderate charges—- is the one great thing needed to more fully open up and devclope the many acres of payable auriferous ground which exist close to our doors. With additional crushing power, we must have moderate charges for convening the quartz to the various batteries which no doubt will shortly beereetptl. It has been reported that ere long each truch lo.ul of quartz crushed at the existing battery will be charged for as if containing one and a half tons. We trust however that the rumour is without foundation, for such a proceeding w <uld undoubtedly— in conjunction with the present expense for conveying quartz over the tramway and charges made for treating the blanketings, &c, — hava the effect of detering all low grade dirt being dealt with. We have no doubt, however, but that the battery proprietors will see the wisdom of giving every possible encouragement to mine owners to open up their ground.

A. FEW issues back we commented in strong terms on the apparently one-sided arrangement entered into between the mining companies crushing at the battery and the battery proprietors. As we pointed^out, the most objectionable portion of the agreement was the clause which gave but two berdans to each ten head of stampers, and it was shown that at the very least six berdans were required to treat the blanketings ae-cu-nulated by that number of stampers. Since the article in question was written we have had conversations with several of tho mine directors who were parties to the agreement, and their statements in a m insure clear them from the charge of want of forethought, which at the time they certainly seemed to deserve. It appears that they accepted the limited number of berdans, under the belief that the Waiorongomai quartz was what is technically known as "free,"/.*., that none of the minerals that prevent gold amalgamating in the boxes or on the plates existed. Being fully convinced of' this they believed that the two berdans for each ten head would be amply sufficient. The sequel has, however, proved they were wrong, and endeavours are now being made to rectify the mistake. We are "lad to be in a position to state that the battery proprietors are willing to assist them out of the dilemma, and have made a proposal to the companies which, if accepted by them, will, in effect, give the mines crushing the use of five berdans for each ten head without extra charge. A meeting of the directors of the companies was held in Auckland the other day for the purpose of considering the proposal, and we have no doubt that before this is in type an arrangement, satisfactory to all parties, will have been arrived at.

The 23 «t?iinn buttery, formerly owned by the Alburnia Company ut the Thames, ha 1 * just been purchased by the directors of the Deep Level Cross Company for £1250. The British Qneen (N. Z. Shipping Co.) left Plymouth on Deo 29th for Wellington and Lyttelton with immigrants. The Annuia. I ]', for Wellington, ivnd the Doric, for Wellington, will probably come direct from Toneriffe. Mr J. S. Buckland will hold a sale of cattle, «heep, hordes, &c., at Waihou and Waitoa Kaleyards on Thursday next. The Hon. Fred. Win* taker (late Premier of the Colony), one of the d^legate^ of the Australasian Federal Convention will deliver an address in the Theatre Royal Auckland on Tuesday next, on the proceedings of the Federal Conference recently held in Sydney. Professor Herbert, illusionist and prestidigitnteur, as will be seen by our advertising columns, purposes giving an entertainment in the Public Hall on Friday and Saturday next, entitled " Seeing is not believing." The Professor's repertoire of illusions embraces many eminently good tricks, all the^ jnore interesting been use they are perfifflmed without the aid of the elaborate apparatus usually found surrounding the professional conjurer. We have no doubt the Professor will find a large and appreciative audience will attend his entertainment here. On la<*t Friday week the Sunday school children at Shaftesbury had their annual treat. They first assembled at the school and then with flags and banners marched to the fhld where the sports took place, which consisted of cricket, foot racing, jumping, swinging, see-saws, and various games. At dusk the party assembled in Mr E. Y. Cox's drawing room, when after singing some hymns appropriate to the occasion, they were briefly addressed by Mr Cox. Mia Cox then proceeded to distribute the prizes. There were about 40 children prtjseut ; the weather w*h that could be desired, and the who'e uihiir p.is..ed oil: very ploubuiniy.

Mr T. P. Judkin, lately from Te Awnirmtu, ha& started business here as a boot and shoemaker. In our advertising columns our readers will find his price lit>t. The prices quoted arc. certainly very low for first-cbiss work, such as an experienced nnd competent tradesman like Mr Judkin is sure to turn out ; and we have no doubt he will quickly have a large amount of work on hand. Mr Judkin also undertakes the cleaning and adjusting of sewing machines of all kinds. It is anticipated the Property Tax will yield £250,000. Tho Customs returns again show a serious decline. The receipts for November were very unsatisfactory, fn October, as in August, there was a marked recovery, but as in September so in November, this has failed to maintain itself, and instead of the recovered ground being maintained the revenue has gone still further astern. The November Customs yielded only £100,142, as against £122,467 for the previous 'Month, and as compared with £127,618 for November 1882. Consequently the deficit is £16,000 i and £21,000 respectively. The Customs revenue for tbe eight months of tho current financial year is £033,032, which is £80,000 loss than two-thirds of the estimate for the year. This sum has therefore to bo made up in three months if the estimate is to bo reached by 3lfst March. But it is highly improbable that this large deficit can now be made up before the end of the financial year. The beer duty is behind hand. The receipts for November were £4775 ns against £4996 for October, and £5292 for November 1882. This will bo a subject for congratulation amongst the blue ribbonites no doubt. L'otal for eight months £35,645, w hicli in nearly £6000 less than two-thirds of the year's estimate. Arrangements were concluded this morning between Mr W. J. Burton and the Thames liiver Steam Navigation Company for tho purchase of the screw steamer Waitoa, and she will commence running on the company's behalf to-morrow. — Thames Stir, Doc. 31. Wo (Auckland Star) learn that the New Zealand Tobacco Growing and Manufacturing Company anticipate a return of y)ine foity tons of tobacco leaf by Mireh next f r om the Auckland district alone, and that a consignment of the Company's machinery for cigar and tobacco, is now on the road to New Zealand. We understand the shares arc sought after by the public, who look upon the venture as a colonial industry, under the guidance ot an excellent directory. To those who have feared that the Thames goldtield was wonted out, a perusal of the annual report of the Prince Imperial Goldmining Compmy, will be comforting. This mine has yielded, during the last 12 months, q ii<l to the value of £57,838, and has p«ul £35,000 in dividends, being equ.il to 3Ps p.Tsh ire. The amount piid by the original holders of these shares is only sixpence — uncommonly good interest on their inwstni -nt, particularly when the prt- cut run'!;et value of the stock is added to the -*urn received in dividends. We I rive very little doubt that the Thames hills conf lin more gold than has yet been la ken out of I hem ; the trouble is when- M fiu<l it. The hi t«>ry of the Prince Imp -rial mine exemplifies as strikingly as . 1 1 ■ >~ ami on tne goldfield the uncertain: ios of the search for gold. — Stai. A Money Order olfice jtkl Savings Bank, in connection with tli • IV t office itt vVuioroMgom-rii, were opened la-t week. A very valuable draught mare, the property of K. Y. Cox, Esq., Shaftesbury, was accidentally drowned in the river Waihoti a few da^s^ince. Some of our readers may n it b • aware that a Money Order office .md Savings Bank has been open d for ->ome weeks past at Mr H. J. Clifford's st >re, Morrinsville. The new bakery erected by this gentleman is nuw in lull swing. We clip the following from the Waikato Times of Tuesday last: — There are to be seen at the office of this paper some rather extraordinary specimens of prairie grass and cocksfoot, grown on the estate ot Mr W. A. Murray, Annaudale, Piako. The former measures 8 feet 7£ inches in length, and the latter 7 feer. The first year the land was in cultivation ! it carried a crop of potatoes ; the second year it was in clover, and was cut twice ; the third year the clover was cut three times, the rod clover the last time b *ing higher than the man who cut it, John Murton, who tied it ruiind his shoulders. The fourth year 40 bushels of cocksfoot per acre was saved, and this y^-ar (tne fifth) Mr Murray, expects4o bushels again. The cocksfoot seems now to have taken possesion of the paddock. The soil is a rich, deep, black loam, and there are thousands of acres of it. We were obliged to hold over from last week, the following loport of a meeting lately held in Shaftesbury, and sent ur for insertion by Mr E. Y. Cox -.-Great indignation is felt by the inhabitants of this district, at the action of the Board of Education in stopping the progress of the school, which had just been commenced and proposing to remove the material to Waiorongamai. A large number of children of school age, have been for many months shut out from the temporary school carried on in the Temperance Hotel. It is true that about a doz"n families have left tho settlement, consequent on Messrs Grant and Foster stopping the bulk of the work they had in progress, but even of these, several are keeping on their cottages and land in anticipation of returning as soon as there is work to be had, and there are about 30 families still residing on the settlement. A special m'Tting of the School Committee was hold on Dec. 2Gth, Mr E. Y. Cox in the chair ; the others members present, being Messrs Gowell, Craig/Knight and Squirrel I, when the following resolutions were unanimously carried. First. That "this Committee hear with extreme surprise that the Board of Education proposes stopping the building of a school at Shaftesbury, and that the Committ-je feel that they have been treated with great discourtesy by such a change being mad • without any communication being made to them." Second. Chat ''there is no justification for withdrawing the school, there b^ing considerably over 50 children of school ago in the district, besides »t least one family outiide its boundary who will avail themselves of it, as tii; nearest school, when built; and tint, though several families have recent! v left, one has arrived within the last moot. i, .m<l fiat it is probable that other settlers w ' shortly occupy ll»~ vacant land, ab ou j

uliont one-fourth of the property is at present sold." Third, that ''Mr E. Y. (Jox be appointed to attend the n >xt meeting of the Board of Education, as a deputation from the inhabitants of Shafteshury. We would call attention to the fact that Mr Robson han removed his Pharmacy to tiewnml inucli larger premises, opposite Nkws Ollice. Hise tihlisinu >nt has ho >n fitted up with much taste and the position is excellent. The cricket match, Auckland v. Canterbury concluded Monday aftynoon in a win |<tr the local team with four wickets to spare. A Victorian loan lor £3,200,000 is to be floated in January. The tender of Messrs. Smith and Blackmore, for clearing the new battery site at the foot of Butler's Spur, has been accepted. Tenders are invited in this issue for the construction of the water-race. In this issue, tenders are called for driving the low level cross-cut in the New Find G.M.C. Tenders are receivable up to the 10th inst. There were quite a number of Te Aroha people on the Ellerslie race course on New Year's Day, amongst them being Messrs. Stafford, Cleary, Quinlan, and Leslie.

Mine. lew Find Vernier Colonist Verahiko Vaitoki No. Tmcki Quartz. 400 .. 462 . . 405 .. 224 .. 82 .. ;s. Melted Gold. ozs dwti 1038 10 492 6 403 6 292 3 43 13 1573 2259 18 Crushed at Thames : jucky Hit 6 „ 6 9 1579 2266 7

Appended we give the result of the crushings at Te Aroha from the starting of the Battery to December 22nd :—: —