THE WEEK.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1949, 3 April 1875, Page 2

THE WEEK.

Mining matters during the week have been of considerable interest. Several events have transpired to give great promise of an approaching prosperity for the Thames. The chief of these is the test applied to the quartz from the bottom of the Pumping Association shaft. The result of this test has already been published in the Star. There is only one drawback In the matter, namely, the quantity prat through the stamper boxes, which was not sufficient to obtain a just appreciation of the worth of the stone. However, the result, such, as it is, leaves plenty of roon for hope.

All those mines in the vicinity of the Big Bump are watching its progress with a keen interest, as, if the Pumping Association should strike payable quartz below their present level, there would be a great revulsion in the direction of mining operations, and deep sinking would be the order of the day. Headers will be glad to learn that the Caledonian has again come to the fore, after remaining for a considerable time in the back ground. The riches of this mine were at one time so great that there is still a feeling of confidence expressed with regard to its future. It is at least satisfactory that the manager has struck this small leader in the intermediate level, and will be more so should it prove to be the off shoot of a parent reef, or itself the tale end of a reef with some pretensions to size. The Golden Calf crushing, completed yesterday, was not perhaps quite as good as might have been expected from the appearance of the lode; there is every probability, however, that the stone will improve as it is driven on. The stuff from the Cure Company does not appear to be making a very promising show on the plates, but the* blankets may tell a different tale. There are a very large number of tributes working, for payable returns, and in some of the creeks there is a good deal of prospecting being done. Nothing could be more desirable than that the Thames should be well prospected. At present there is a vast extent of country which remains totally untried. The Dolly Varden, at. the' head of the W'aiotahi, has been taken ] up' by McLeary and mates. They obtained an order from the Warden to ■take possession this week, the former owners :having neglected to work the ground. One of the parties to whom the ground formerly belonged has gone in with the new adventurers ; it was he, indeed, who induced them to take the ground up for working : and as he would not take such action without having some evidence in the result of his operations, we may expect to Hear from Dolly Varden ere long. There is nothing new to report from the City of London, Queen of May or any mines in the Waio-Karaka. Following is a table of the gold returns for the week :— ■ . .

Waiotthi •■;• ••• Una (tributers) ... Christmas Ere Waiotahi (second lot) Bright Smile Dauntless (tribute) Th 6 Only Chance Long Drive ... Golden Calf West Coast <•« • •• ozs.dwts.grs. 64 0 0 64 10 0 411 0 6 17 0 256 10 0 49 5 0 81 0 0 310 5 0 43 0 0 20 15 0 Total ... 900 13 0