OUR MINES.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2882, 11 May 1878, Page 2

OUR MINES.

THE WEEK,

In the chronic dulness of the period there is one very healthy sign—a desire on the part of the County Council to elaborate some plan for extending the present area of mining operations. There is one other feature which almost looks like a revival, that is the mania for taking up ground and forming new com* panics. With regard to the steps taken by the County Council to obtain suggestions as to the bejt means to open the country, they are such as, will commend themselves to the approval of everyone. For the suggestions, some of them are characteristic of the suggesters; some are altogether impracticable; while a few are really valuable, and deserving of that consideration which they will no doubt receive. It is not intended to discuss these suggestions in this article. They have elicited an independent letter from a practical' miner of some experience, in which a scheme previously projected by a number of persons has been revived, namely to put iv a tunnel from the Upper

Karaka to Tinker's Gully at the head oi Tararu Creek. This scheme was considered eminently feasible at the time it was first proposed, and it also had the additional recommendation of being likely to develop payable reefs at an early stage of initiation. The same chances still exist. There is a' large area of country uuoceupjed which would be thoroughly proapected, and the probabilities are greatly in favor of a new auriferous belt being opened. Liberal concessions could no doubt be obtained in regard to the occupation of the necessary ground, and with the prospect of obtaining assistance from the Colonial vote for opening new ground, some encouragement from the Council, and the general cooperation of' ihe business people—who are primarily interested in the ex tension of the goldfield—it is reasonably to be expected that the scheme proposed would be a success, and help to raise the field from its present depressed condition. Mr Angove's letter is deserving of consideration. It does not differ much from the proposals submitted to a committee of experts some years ago, but it will be remembered that that committee was mainly composed of mino managers interested in diverting the expenditure of money to the mines on tlie flat, who threw cold water on the scheme. Since that time a great deal of public money has been spent on the Big Pump and prospecting drives, with the result that the field is now in a worse position than it was even at the time the scheme was first mooted. In instancing the putting in of the Sutro long tunnel Mr Angove points to a work which shows how far ahead the American miners are of the Thames people. There the promoters of mining industry are alive to the importance of keeping, up its vitality, and it ia not too much to expect that after so much has been c 1 one to develop the low levels some attention shall be given to the bills, in the bick country, where most encouraging results were obtained by individual labor. It was not to be expected that the County Council rould communicate with every person competent to edrise on prospecting work, but that will noj probably militate against the adoption of suggestions from outsiders, and Mr Angove's, scheme, or proposals, will probably receive the consideration they deserve.

As far as the recent " peggings out" are concerned, it is only fair to say that they comprise some really valuable pieces of ground, and the way in which they have been taken up by prominent local men augurs well for their future success. One of the most eligible areas lately pegged comprises the old Papakura, JNil Desperandum, &c, at Punga Flat. In the early days these claims were in : high favor, and some first-class stone was taken out. The water to be contended with in sinking, the difficulties of getting stone to crushing mills, and other circumstanoes peculiar to a new goldfield led to the abandonment of these claims, the expenses being too great for miners working m small parties. Some of these difficulties no longer exist; others could be easily removed ; and it is not too much to expect' that the system of cooperation comprised in well "'managed companies will be successful in unearthing the treasures denied to the original prospectors. The general mining news o| the week has been more encouraging than for some time past,- and the shareraarket bas shown more vitality. ■ In the Queen of Beauty a reef of seme promise has been intersected, a trial crushing from which is giving satisfactory indications of a good yield. The Alburnm, from which great things were espec.ed last week, is scarcely so encouraging, but a turn for the better may be looked for at any time. The other items of interest in the mining world have received due notice in this column during the week, and do not call for any special remark.