Our Mining Reporter.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1813, 24 October 1874, Page 2

Our Mining Reporter.

THE WEEK. The incidents of the past seven days have not been so many but that they might be summed up in a very small compass. There is no lack of work ; perhaps no man on the field is in the position of being compelled to be idle for the want of work; but nothing has occurred to grace a newspaper report. When you do not visit the mine yourself and ask the manager what has been doing, they will invariably tell you that there is nothing to record. We want a big find to set the money afloat: there is plenty of it here and in Auckland ; all that is required ia that it bo placed in circulation. The prospect of Ohinemuri being opened —now, it is to be hoped, close at hand — is keeping the expectation of many in a healthy condition, and thus there is a kind of suspended animation in the place. In view of the upper country being placed at the disposal of prospectors, settlers miners, speculators, commercial men, and agriculturists are all waiting for this interesting " something" to turn up. It is to be hoped that another new year will not have passed over our heads before that country, about the richness of which so much has, been affirmed, is opened to our miners. They will not be long in determining what the country contains. But whether or not gold is discovered in such quantity as is reported to exist, the opening of Ohinemuri will give the Thames an impetus in trade, by meeting the wants of the districts as regards the consumption of produpp. One of the events of the week is the Bright Smile Company's meeting of shareholders. The repoits submitted to the meeting show the company to be in a most prosperous condition, while confident hopes are entertained that the

prosperity will be of long duration. Tlio late find at the low level was certainly a most fortunate circumstance, coining as it did just prior to (!u »mnu'il meeting of tlie company. Jfcist proposed to erect a battery near lito mine, by which, an immense saving is Jo bo eiiected in crushing stuff 1 that it would juot pay to cart to distant mills. Tho Cure has been louting up latoly, and more lvoontiy «c have finds which ' promise wo!i Tor Lho future. Tha know ing ones have been heard t> remark that Cures were the safest stock to "tackle" i in the market at prt-s nt, previous to tho late discoveries in the M'irizo now being sunk. lam inclined, .to think the know ■ in>, ones have in this respect displayed sagacity. " General mining on the field is unin> tcresting. The Karaka Creek looks slcepj, and the ilape Creek, as maybe imagined, looks little better, though it was supposed, some time since that the ITape would advance, in consequence of the result of a little ■ prospecting- in that locality. The scene of active' mining operaiions lies from the Waio-Karakri. to tho Moanataiari, wlien it ceases to all intents and purposes to be lively. The Manukau shareholders'aro to be envied,, not because I hare an^hing new to relate in respect of the mifff, but because the rich harvest still continues. Gold shows daily in the stopes, particularly in the Ko. 2 stopes, and a splendid looking reef is be jug carried down in tho | No. 1 winze. Crushing at the battery I was temporarily suspended on Friday last, in consequence of repairs being required to the battery engine. A new shaft is being fixed in the engine ; but care has been taken to'have everything in readiness, and the shaft being finished and fitted, there will be only a very short stoppage while it is being fixed in its place. This will in all probability .bo completed to-day, and crushing will be resumed early on Monday morning. There has been a noticeable improvement in the sharemarket during the week. Cures have been enquired for, and Bright Smile shares are firmer than they have been for some time past. Speculators are very wary now, excessively careful, in fact. Though a large return was obtained from the Watchman of 4 ounces to the ton, there has been "no enquiry for the shares. Buyers probably imagine—not without reason—that such returns are of a great distance apart. As will be seen by the quotations to-day a few exchanges in stock have been made. The following parcels of gold have been lodged at the Bank of New Zealand since last weekly report :• — ozi. Bright Smile - - - - - 369 Queen of Beauty (partial lodgment) 246 &iranui - - - - - 121 Small lots - - - - - 250 Moanatairi - 402 Total - - - 1388 Other parcels are expected during the evening, including about 600 ounces from the Queen of Beauty, making the week's yield from this mine over 800 ounces.