THE THAMES GOLDFIELD. A RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE. (Written specially for the Aroha and Ohinemuri News.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 286, 1 August 1888, Page 2

THE THA MES GOLDFIELD. A RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE. (Written specially for the Aroha and Ohinemuri News.)

Thames, July 14. The attention of speculators and others bad been directed to this mine for some time previously, as it had shown considerable improvement, and for the fortnight ending March 3rd, 1887, the then manager (Mr H. Comer), banked 7150z5, 15d\vts gold from 480 tons of general dirt. This was considered very satisfactory, while it awakened additional interest from the faot that it was estimated that some 20 tons of this, which came to hand from the No 9 reef, produced the splendid yield of 500ozs gold. This was destined to be the beginning of another era of prosperity on our field, Car exceeding the expectations ot those

who, on the day in question, saw the gold carried to the bank of New Zealand. Of course other mines were also yielding' well at this period, notably the Alburnia,. which was paying good dividends ; but as this was eclipsed by the Moanatairi, I shall pass on to the "greater Mghft" Those who» were then resident on the" field will never forget the stirring events which followed, when, about a week later' (Marcb 9th-), an eager and excited crowd' 'of fully 200' persons — from the bell-top--pered swell to 1 the moleskin-clad miner, inspected the workings of the mine, but more particularly those in progress on 1 the No. 9 reef. There was a really* splendid show of gold to be seen in this reef, but several of .those present, more 1 critical than their Mlows, seemed to be desirous of ■ satisfying themselves more' accurately as to the quality of the reef by breaking eff small pieces, but were at once warned off by a gruff voice exclaiming, " Hands off, please !" On the afternoon of the same day some of the 1 specimens were exhibited at the battery, and excited considerable interest, the stone being vary rich. Several large hauls of specimens then came to hand,, and the handsome fortnightly yield of gold which shortly followed, viz : 4912 ozs., was the cause of no small amount of excitement and speculation. The gold was coHveyed to the Bank in a cab ; ac- ' companied by an escort of batteiy and mine officials, and the rich return was' the all-absorbing topic of conversation. As the result of this splendid yield, the debt incurred by the company in erecting their battery (one of the finest plants on the field) at a cost of £13,000, was wiped off, and in commemoration of the event the manager (Mr 8,. Comer) hoisted the Union Jack over the battery, and with others in the Company's employ doubtless felt pardonably elated at the brilliant results achieved in such a short period. Besides liquidating all the liabilities, however, the Co. were also enabled to place the substantial sum of £6000 to the reserve fund, thus putting the mine (which had only a few months previously been heavily in debt) upon a sound financial basis. A few weeks piior to this time shares had risen in price to £4, when the daily hauls of 4cwts, and Gcwts of specimens caused them to advance to £8 ; and when lOcwt of specimens were bagged in one breaking-down of the reef, shares which in the morning could have been purchased at £9, were quoted in the evening at £13. They then receded to £12,. but on March 22nd the excitement became intense, and they rose in the evening of the sane day from that figure to £22, being an advance of £10 in one day. Upon the following visiting clay the mine was inspected by some 150 persons, who were always generous enough mot to forget the '* Hospital Contribution Box" at the mine for the benefit of the Thames Hospital, which then reaped a good harvest. {Shortly afterwards the magnificent yield of 61340zs goM was- conveyed to the bank in a cab drawn by four horses, being the result of a fortnight's operations, and was a day or two later followed by the splendid haul of Iscwt of specimens, the largest ever obtained irom the mine in one breaking-down One of the pieces of stone weighed 50lba, and was exceedingly rich, as when crushed it was found to contain 300ozs of gold Of course little else was spoken of by the crowds collected in -the streets but the rich gold coming to hand from the. Moanatairi mine, btit old residents will ever remember the intense excitement that prevailed on April 2nd, 1877, when the enormous return of 10,2980zs gold was banked for one week's operations, being one of the best yields ever obtained on the gold field. About this time I recollect being told a Wellington doctor who bought 175 shares at 19s and sold them for £22. But this is only an example, and not by any means an exception, of the money made in those* days, many clearing considerably more than this, though I know of few others ,who "hit" the price so well. This proved to be the climax, the returnbefore mentioned was the largest obtained from the mine, and though several excellent hauls of specimens were reported, and rich returns came to hand for some months afterwards, shares gradually receded to £5 ; then less, and the excitement at length cooled down and attention was directed to other mines and several new ventures which had been started, In 1880 the Alburnia and New Whau Co.'s obtained good gold, and paid substantial dividends. Great interest was evinced in- the work carried on by the latter Co. while driving for the run of rich gold then being worked by the Alburnia ; and shares rose in consequence to £3 before anything of importance was met with. But the extent of the gold, which was certainly good while it lasted, did not come up to expectation, and proved disappointing. It is not my intention, however, to well upon the excellent yields obtained from the various other mines— Bright Smile, Queen of Beauty, and a host of others. " Suffice i,t to say ■ihat they paid dividends to shareholders. -The history of the companies at present in existence — the Cambiia, New Prince Imrerial, etc,, is somewhat interesting, and each mine is worthy of an article being devoted to itself, as they afford ample exemplification of the uncertainty to goldmining.

Wo do not hesitB to st&, That] 888 Is something very choice and grB, For ladies who desire to niB, - And when they meet their proper fS, "We do not much extiggei-8, When boldly we asse\ r erB That few wise women will Z8 In gobbling up the tempting h§,