THE WEEK.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2165, 11 December 1875, Page 2

THE WEEK.

There has been very little of interest or note in the mining world this week. The business of the Waio-Kara.ka mines for resuming pumping on a footing satisfactory to all parties, which was expected to be completed shortly, still remains in statu quo. The offer made for the shaft, pumping gear and winding api paratus has not been accepted, and the water has gone on accumulating, much to the disappointment of those who hoped the difficulty was nearly at an end. There is some talk now of the whole concern being put up to auction. Whether such a thing is seriously contemplated cannot be stated here with certainty, but it appears probable that the matter will not | be allowed to remain much longer in the present position. It is said that the recent heavy rains hare helped to increase the inflow of water, which can readily be believed, as the ground about the principal mines has besn worked to such "an extent near the sutface that it will more readily absorb the water running, over it. To-day the Queen of"* Beauty has stopped, and mining in the Waio-Xaraka is reduced to a very small space. The public will have to move in the matter soon: it is a mattter which concerns the whole community. The 'report on ,the Tairua mine is looked forward to with.more than an ordinary degree of interest —not so much for the prospectors' mine as the effect it willhave upon others, all of which in the locality have derived much of- the importance attached to them from the probability of .their getting the reputed rich lode on the strength of which the district was opened to the miners. A number of litigious plaints laid against the holders of shares in the Waitekauri district have been disposed of against the complainants. One effect of this will be to discourage the practice of persons endeavoring to trade upon other men's labors, but it should also induce holders of shares in mines believed to be good to see that they are properly represented. The bringing into operation of the Goldmiuing Districts Act (fixed for the first of next month) will tend to increase the security of claimholders, and it should also bring about a better system of management. Ohinemuri stands better with the mining public than it did a few inonths»back, and the works recently

authorised to be undertaken should still >,"" further promote this desired object. Business in the sharemarket, which has been reduced to a small compass for some time past, culminated yesterday in no business at all. The Exchange has pre» * sented a deserted appearance, the un. usually wet weather no doubt having something to do with this state of things, A proposal has been mooted to organise a systematic prospecting of the back country, with special reference to the Otonui block. If undertaken by reliable and " practical men, there is no doubt the orga- % nization would meet with support at the hands of the business people. It would afford employment for some of the miners >: out of work, and men whose opinion is worth having are confident that it would result m discoveries of value. It would not require a large sum to undertake, and the benefit to the district cannot be overrated. It ia: to be hoped the proposal will not be lost sight of.