THE WEEK.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2057, 7 August 1875, Page 2

THE WEEK.

The splendid return from the Cure's crushing, followed by the declaration of a dividend, has been the principal event of the Thames mining world this week. No mine better illustrates jthe vicissitudes of mining ventures than"the "Cure. One; of the first pieces of ground taken upworked with commendable vigor and system at a time when surface scratching was more generaL than desirable, the Cure exhausted the patience and the means of somo of the original shareholders. It was not till the company had been once wound up and reformed that any very encouraging results were obtained. Of late, however, the character of the mine has much improved, and the recent discoveries have proved how near people may bo to ra'uable deposits and yet not come upon them for a long time. The fact that the Cure- reef is carrying gold to within a few feet; of the Caledonian boundary has perceptibly affected the latter stock, and there has been a good bit of business done in them during the week. If the gold should be carried right through the boundary, as sceins probable, there will be a

good show for the Caledonian getting the shot of gold and retrieving some of its lost; prestige. The Cure dividend was fire shillings per eight-thousandth share, or, £2000 distributed. amongst the shareholders. The Golden Calf crushing did not como up to expectations, namely, two ounces to tbe ton ; but if the reef be of the size reported, and continues of the same quality, the crushings ought to be continuous and highly remunerative. The Long Drive monthly return was very favorable, but a dividend does not seem to be forthcoming—no doubt for good and sufficient reasons. The Manukauhan not made much of a show since-last cleaning vp —the return for a month's crushing will be nominal, but it must be remembered that it has been interrupted, and small battery power has been engaged. The accident referred to in last " week" as having occurrod at the Bright Smile 8 haft was repeated this week, resulting in the temporary stoppage of works in the mine and at the battery. This and one or two other minor accidents, to which it is not necessary further to refer, will., exercise some influence on the gold yields of. the claims directly affected. It is reported that a difficulty occurred this week at the Pumping Association owing to the pre-. sence of bad air in the shaft. There was a great deal of talk indulged in, and the Mining Inspector's interference was necessitated before the matter was arranged. This matter would not have been noticed but for the fact that nothing has hitherto appearedl regarding the matter ; and as it is a public question, some mention should be made of, these occurrences. In one of our mines, on more than one occasion the lives of a whole shift of miners were endangered by the imprudence or worse of some ! persons in the adjoining mines. If a 1 mine should be suddenly flooded with noxious gas and life be sacrificed, there would then be an outary against the press for not haying previously called attention to occurrences which were sufficiently ominous- to warrant the utmost' preI cautions being taken. This latest incident, it is said, was purely the result of a •-' mistake;" of that the' Mining Inspector was satis (ied, so it will not be further enlarged upon.