Mining Review of the Week.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3564, 29 May 1880, Page 2

Mining Review of the Week.

Thursday, the day which heralded the resumption of pumping operations on the Waio-Karaka Flat, is certainly a red letter day in the history of the goldfield, and, let us hope, the day that inaugurates an era of renewed prosperity in the miniag world. After much tantalising delay, this important work is an accomplished fact, and in the course of a few months we may expect to see all the surplus mining labour absorbed by the Queen of Beauty, and remunerative yields coming from its lodes. It will take several weeks to drain the mine, and the deepening of the shaft for a new level will take time, but from the magnifioent prospects obtained just before the cessation of operations there is little doubt but that success will reward the enterprise of the company. The pump is powerful enough to drain from a depth of 1200 feet, which will be sufficient for a number of years, and great credit is due to Mr J. R. Perry, the designer of the turbine, for its efficiency. Before closing the subject we may mention that there are two matters worthy of note in connection with the pump, viz.—lt is the first hydraulic pump u«ed on the field, and the cost of its construction came entirely out of the ground, and not out of the pockets of the shareholders. ■ There has been no fresh devolopment ! with reference to the Big Pump during i the week, so that we may take it that the j companies are satisfied with the magnanimous treatment of the Thames local bodies. The pump is working well, and the gas has not been troublesome. The winze sinking in the Caledonian to connect the Nos. 2 and 3 levels will improve the ventilation of the-latter. In view of the improvement in the New Whau reef, the two theories respecting the Alburnia so-called run have been discussed considerably. Some« firmly believe that the shot has a strong dip westward, and that it will shortly, be obtained in the low level drive; while others are confidently of opinion that the gold worked by the Alburnia is not a run in the ordinary acceptation of the word, but simply gold made on the junction of the footwall leader with the main reef. Which idea is correct will shortly be proved by the operations of the Whau.