Mining Review of the Week.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3541, 1 May 1880, Page 2

Mining Review of the Week.

The impetus given to mining at the head of the Moanatairi creek, Punga Flat in thst vicinity, by the recent discoveries in the and Old Whau mines, seems not to have ended with the formation of the Victoria and Columbia Companies, as daring the past week it has transpired that two or three new ventures in the same locality will be submitted to the public. 1 The, first of these is the Reuben Parr— a piece of the ground on the Moanatairi creek below the Alburnia, which its present proprietors, Mr J. W. Walker and others propose forming into a company of 9000 shares with a capital of £9000. A parcel of 6000 shares will be offered to the public for 3s per share, £400 of the money so raised, will be devoted to working the ground,, and the balance of £500 will go to the promoters. The new venture is looked on favorably, and the capital will no doubt be speedily subscribed. The Reuben Parr comprises 37 men's ground) and contains many auriferous lodes. Another of the new candidates for public favour is a company about to be formed comprising the Luck's All and Hopeful claims, and a combination of the old Multum in Parvo and Candlelight holdings is also spoken of. It is stated that the Columbia will shortly start operations from the surface. Before operations can be started at the Alburnia 70 feet level for either the r Columbia or New North Devon, the Sons of Freedom tunnel # w ill need to be connected with Dixon's* lower, level to provide an outlet for the stuff, and of course this is a matter of time. During the week ■ the Victoria company started, work to intersect the Vale of Avoca reef.

During the week good progress has been made with the drainage at the Big Pump, and the No. 3 Caledonian level will be clear to day. Measurements, made this morning show the distance from the sill to the top of the water in the- various shafts to be as follows :—Pump 270 feet,' Prince Imperial 245 feet, Crown Princess 245 feet, and Piako 231 feet. During the coming week the Caledonian, Kuranui U ill, and other companies will be able to resume operations from the Caledonian No. 3. In speaking of pumping, the question arises, when will the Queen of .beauty pump start ? We are assured by Mr &. McDonald that operations will be commenced as soon as connection is made between the mains and the turbine. This work will probably occupy the whole of next week. The length of time that the preparations for resumption of pumping operations have takea has led some people to think that there was a desire on the part of the Queen Beauty directors to get as much water as possible drained by the Big Pump. This is not so, however, as every effort has been made by the Queen of Beauty to get started. An important matter during the week was tbe Alburnia retorting after a week's crushing which produced the handsome yield of 5700zs 17dwts gold, thus indicating a marked improvement in the general output*of the mine. The new battery of this company is admirably suited to its requirements, and the saving effected will have the result of causing a larger proportion of the profits to find its way into the pockets of the shareholders than hitherto.