THAMES. [From our own Correspondent.]

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 347, 2 March 1889, Page 2

THAMES. [From our own Correspondent.]

Wednesday, Mining : It is always gratifying to chronicle the success of outside capital in developing our mineral resources, especially when so many bogus companies are foisted upon investors, aod the proceeds therefrom pocketed by unscrupulous promoters, as is unfortunately the case too frequently nowadays. Your readers will therefore be pleased to learn of the success of operations in the Fume and Fortune mine, which is situated between the Moanatairi and Waiotahi creeks, and in which work is being carried on by Mr ft. X, Cooper on behalf of some English capitalists. A large staff of men has been employed for some months past cleaning out and repairing various old levels, and also in opening up fresh ground. Tl>e result of operations has been highly satisfactory, as a crushing of twenty loads *>f general dirt has just been finished for tl>e excellent yield of 45ozs 13dwts gold r while there are fully 1201bs of good picked stone on hand, which is to be treated by means of the experimental plant at the School of Mines. The works , are all well advanced in the mine, and crushings should now be forthcoming. The Cambria G. M. Co.'smine continues to just about pay its way from the amount of gold won. As the result of the past fortnights operations the manager has banked 56ozs 9dvvts gold from 32 loads of quartz, and a small parcel of picked stone. Quartz of similar quality is s,till being broken out from the stopes and winze. In the New Manukau Co.'s mine, Mulligan's leader is looking a little better in the stopes, and colours and dabs of gold are freely visible in the quartz. The Waiotahi crushing is shaping for a good payable return. At Waiomo the Paroquet G. M. Co/s battery continues to be engaged with the full force of stampers (20 head) reducing quartz from the Gem Co.'s mine. There is no change to report from other mines in I the Waiomo diVriot, with the exception that the Paroquet wire tramway from the mine to the battery is noweompleted, General : Considerable improvements are about to be made to the Pacific Hotel. The work has been entrusted to Mr Jus. McAndrevv. Although several miners have left here lately for Broken Hill and Charters Towers, it would appear as though many of them are dissatisfied with those goldfields, and are contemplating" an early return to the Thames. From a private letter i eceived by the last mail from an ex-Thamesite at Broken IX ill, I give the following extract, a-* it may interest some of your readeivs:— "l think it is high ,tuuo that a note of warning waa sounded

to: those at the Thames, Te Aroha, and Corbmandel, who are contemplating comingover here or to Melbourne in the hope of bettering themselves. Work here is scarce, and although one may be successful in getting employments £3 per week, it must be borne in mind that living is dearer and the- climate terrible. Advise any friends who intend leaving the Thames to rest contented for a while longer with their lot, as after all things are not so bad there as they are in many other places I have been since I left it. Although capitalists here have been fighting sby of Thames mining investments sinno the Marototo • swindle* was brought to light, yet I think their scepticism will yet be. overcome if only the Coromandel mines and the works at Te Aroha turn out a success. A good many here have heard ,of the extensive and valuable reduction plant being erected at Waiorongomai ; and it is certainly to be hoped for the good of the whole goldfield that they will prove a success, when I feel quite satisfied there will soon bo a» influx of capital." Thursday. Sir Wm. Fox, Mr i\ W. Gjover, an f several other local friends of the ternperance movement, last nighK addressed a public meeting in the Salvation Army Barracks, in connection with tlta New Zealand AlHance. There was a large attendance The princip.nl topic of conversation in mining circles is the reported suspension of operations in connection with the Waihi Gr. and S. Co«s- mine and plant, regarding which your readers were brieflly apprised by telegraph, it appears that 'work has not been altogether stopped, but twelve men have been discharged, leaving only five men in the employ or! the Company, It is said the Globe mills are a failure, and the machinery is temporarily stopped. Nothing if being done in the mine, and it is stated that only one shift is to be run in the mill when operations are re-com-menced. It is greatly to be regretted that matters have resulted so unsatisfactorily up to the present, as the mine i^ unquestionably a £ood one, and, if properly and judiciously managed, would in all probability pro vr a success to the slmuv holders. At the Thames the improved tone continues, and it is quite on the cards that within the next fornight I shall be in a position to record the floating of a most important mining venture, the particulars • f which, however, cannot at present be disclosed, as the matter has not been quite completed. The quartz coming- to gross from the Saxon Co.'s mine is shaping for a good payable return, the amalgam return for the past week being 4510z* from 165 load.s of quartz, or equal to about an ounce of gold l pc? load. The reef at the low level has not yet been picked up, but the manager is of opinion that it will be intersected beyond the " break " within a fortnight. Operation* hay«» been resumed with a small staff of men in the Deep L 'vel Cross Co.'s mine, and a trial crushing is now bein<r broken out. In the Blanche Co.'s mine work is confined to tribute pirties, two of whom MaEntoen and part} 1 , und Trembath and party. h-»ve banked the respective returns of 9 -zs 2<!\vts. and 7ojss B<lwts. The latter wss from 11 lbs of specimens. Friday. The following hive been elected for the Thames North Licensing District : M^hms D.irrow, Rarlford, Reid, Pilkethlc}', and Rev S. J. Neil!. Chas, Cliileott, jeweller, of Pollen-street, has filed a petition to be adjudicated abanKi'tint. A painful accident occurred on Tuesday to Daniel Fisher, of Taniru, whilst working in D.irrow's bush at Waipaheke. near liikutain He had only started work at 8 o'clock that morning, and an hour later was engaged clearing some RcrnhKurrounding a large kauri when a r/ka rebounded, and struck him on the knee cap, breaking hisleg near the joint. He w<is brought in to the hospital, where ho is now progressing very favourably. Mr •!. F, Heiyhway has again returned from Broken Hill.