THIS WEEK

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1961, 17 April 1875, Page 2

THIS WEEK

■ Though the cxfcornal appearance of \ the the Thames district is not what cari:l)o characterised as gay, there is a much better tone all over the field than for some time past. This is partly owing to the recent discovery of the gold field bordering on our boundaries, aud partly fc& an internal progression, about which there can be no manner of doubt. The want of! ,life;in our streets, which,tod frequently^ present the appearance of GoKtlinith's deserted village, is attributable to the extensive exodus of,.the^population to the., new fields, but so soon as some practical demonstrations of^the* mineral richness of, those districts is^ithcoming, the tide of population will set in here, and the old days of 1867 and thereabout will be revived. Though many have (and with some reason) undiminished faith in Ohinemuri, it is forcibly evident that Tairua will come to the fore sooner than jthe former, as there appears to be a better show of surface gold there. If similar results to those obtained in shallow sinking are to be arrived;at in?deeper depthsj then, indeed,.-the. Tairua may be looked upon as a golcfficld of no mean importance. ;'

• Asfar as the .Thames goldfield proper is {concerned;: (here is a steady improvement in maijy of the mines which promises better things lor the future. The City of London has suddenly sprung into the position of a valuable property, and bids fair to rank still higher in the market. Shares are in the ascendent, and holders firm. The Queen of Beauty, and indeed all Waio-Karaka mines are working with, cherring results. The Caledonian return was a handsome one, and though the gold was obtained ft?pm stringers, it is at least satisfactory to hare obtained an addition to company's funds.'if for no other purpose than to prosecute enquiries in the mine still further. It is true that Captain Bichards has not much hope of succeti in the levels already worked, having fossicked in. every direction without the smallest 'encouragement but as stated in^ ■* these columns previously there is a considerable block of ground still unworked, while there is no reason to doubt that the ore will be found at a deeper level. But the manager has not been able to deepen the shaft, owing to the presence of^water. If, as it is thought a slide has cut the reef and. thus stopped the drainage, the Pumping Association may yet come across it in sinking, and thus be enabled to run the :. water' off. The Cure mine is lobking-up, and the Manukau has obtained some good looking specimens. On' the Hape there is a little mining, doing, but in a quiet way.' The Una has rn«t yet cut the reef for which the long tunnel was put in, but they expect to do so every day, and when that object is achieved it is hoped that the company will receive some return for the outlay concomitant upon the performance of such an extensive amount of deadwork. „