Our Mining Reporter.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1751, 13 August 1874, Page 2

Our Mining Reporter.

THE PUMPING, ASSOCIATION,

Preparations for the further sinking of the shaft are being actively carried Qut. The pump rods are nearly ready,.and I see that the management intends to' try to go down with a twelve-inch lift. The big pump itself was working, I think, a little under three strokes per minute; it must have done itjs work well, to have broken the flow of water to enabWJia manager to so reduce the speed of We pump stroke almost to a minimum, and augurs well for the experiment to be tried with the twelve-inch lift. The chamber under Tobkey's shaft is' not yet completed,-the workmen not having quite squared up. There was one steam fan at work* this morning, sending air down to men employed in laying air boxes down on the. drive towards the Albion; when these arrangements are made it is expected that no supplementary assistance will be ..required, for the full ventilation of the mine. 1 heay that Mr. Errington, the, Pumping Association's mino n anager, has drawn, plans for the supply of Auckland with' fresh water, which have been accepted. His success, I hope, does not necessitate his permanent absence from-tbe Thames, if iv does, it is to be hoped he will be as successful in bringing water into a place where it is woefully wanted, .as he has, been taking it out ot a mine where it was great an obstruction. THE MANAKAU. ' The news to be reported from this mine ' is still most encouraging, gold being in view now for two hundred and forty feet. There are three winzes .going down on the lode, carrying gold with them; on the upper level the reef is fully 12 feet thick, {shewing gold at both ends.. The foo.t V all leader has been driven on both ways, and shows gold. I was much pleased to see

steam up in the Golden Crown boilers this. morning, but I am informed the arrangement with tho Manakau people for winding the Manakau stuff up through the GoMen Crown shaft is only temporary. From what I can gather the clearheaded- '■ ness of the Thames proprietors of both i mines will bring any disagreements .to a \ satisfactory conclusion, for future steam ' power required; if such shoukl happily be tho case, it shows proof positive to the actual necessity for good business.men io be on the spot, especially when the almost vitality of thp mines is concerned. It gave me more pleasure to see steam up it& the Golden Crown machine room than x have had for many a day in mining matters. The lift was timed while Ii was watching.it, and so admirably was the hoisting done, that a truck a minute was at surface for overy minute noted.