THE WEEK.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2515, 27 January 1877, Page 2

THE WEEK.

As was predicted in last Saturday's "Week" the general re-starting of the batteries has already begun to have a salutary effect in increasing the amount of the gold returns; this week's list shewing a great improvement on that of last week. At present the following batteries are at work or have been during the week .—Moanatairi, Kuranui, Queen iof Beauty, Prince Alfred, Bull's, Piako (old battery), and the Una. In round 'numbers, it may thus be said that 200 head of stampers are kept continuously, or nearly continuously going, and this means a great deal of stuff being crushed and a good deal of gold being obtained. Several large yields have lately baen obtained, amongst which may be noticed that from Barclay's Alburn in tribute— that very El Dorado of tributes—which : amounted to 580 and odd ounces. When it is remembered tbat this is not a solitary occurrence but that it comes nearly once a month, there is good reason to suppose that there is plenty of gold in the vicinity of where this was obtained. Newdick's and L'e Manquais' Kuranui Hill United tributes have also had good yields, the one from the former amounting to 160 ounces, that from the latter to 304 ounces.

Readers of advertisments will doubtless have been surprised at noticing the numbers of mines which have lately been thrown open for selection by tributers. By many this is said to be caused by the non-working companies at last caving in after holding their ground for a year or two to see if they could make it worth their while to work it themselves. The tribute sections now offered for competition by tender appear to be pretty much run after, which shows there are plenty of men on the field able and willing to take them up. If this had been done some time ago many good miners who have since left the district would have remained here instead of going to seek their fortunes " in fresh fields and pastures new, 1' they being utterly disgusted and disheartened at the dog in the manger kind of spirit shown by some of the large companies by not letting others work what they could or would not work them; selves.

The event of greatest moment which has occurred during the week is the breakage of the Waio-ELaraka pumping engine's pumping shaft. The cost of repairs will be considerable, and as several

days will elapse before it is started again, it is very probable that all, or nearly all of " the Waio-Karaka mines will be put to some inconvenience until the water ia reduced below their levels. A meeting of the delegates from the directorates of the different Waio-Karaka mines was held in Auckland yesterday, and it was agreed . that each of the mines interested should bear the expense of repairs, and that the following should be the proportion which each of the mines should pay per month for the maintenance of the pumps:— Queen of Beauty,"'£9o';' Piak'o, £90; City of London, £75, and the Queen of the May, £75. Thi» appears to be a pretty fair arrangement, and it is expected to work very well. Speaking of the WaioKaraka it may be added that the trial crushings from the City did not answer expectations, and were in fact unpayable. The Queen of the May continue! to look well, and the crushing is shaping ! for a good yield. One or two pretty favorable reports have come to hand during the week from the Ajax mine, and indeed the aspect of affairs at Tairua is a little more promising then it has been for some time past: No news of any importancel has been received from Ohinemuri, and nothing definite has been heard of the Owhdroa crushings though it is generally taken as a fact that **4 'they have terminated unsatisfactorily. Later to-day information was received of an arrangement having been come to for the construction of a tramway from the Welcome mine to- the Waitekauri battery, which is encouraging.