Summary of the Week.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3993, 15 October 1881, Page 2

Summary of the Week.

But little of interest in connection with the mines in our own immediate neighbourhood has transpired this week. A few of the mines, however, are showing a marked improvement, especially the New North Devon and Old Golden Calf. In tbe former, the reef, both at ths intermediate and 160 ft levels,

continues to keep up its good appearance, and there is every reason to suppose that the crushing now at the Herald mill will turn out as well as the last. The latter mine has not been sending so much quartz to the battery lately, only ten head being kept employed, but it is of a much better grade, and if it continues to crush as well as it is doing at present it will pay well. The New Golden Crown, though it has not attracted so much attention as ifc did last week, promises to have a good return at the end of the month. In the Caledonian, j the reef in the east drive has uot j changed, an! continues tv carry a j large percentage of good minerals. ' Crushing will probably be started ] next week on a trial parcel of about | 20 loads from the No. 1 reef, and it is ] expected from the appearance of the j stone and the gold seen in taking it down that it will prove payable. ThoAlburnia company is crushing at their battery, but from the manager's report, the preseut prospects of the mine do not seem very encouraging. The New Whau mine does not seem to bo doing much, audits shares have not been quoted in the market for somo time. The Southern Cross have been getting good average crushing dirt lately, but there is, unfortunately, uot so much of it as the shareholders would wish. The Moanatairi and Kuranui Hill mines are very quiet. Crushiugs were finished for both companies to-day at their respective batteries, but the returns will not be banked till Monday. In the latter mine, the surface dirt still continues to be very poor, so the manager contemplates starting crushing from a point higher up the hill. The battery will be stopped for a few days to enable a supply of quartz to be accumulated. The Upper Country districts have attracted a deal of attention, and a number of sales at good prices have taken place in Waihi, Waitekauri, and Owharoa stocks. The former district will, no doubt, be thoroughly tested as soon as the Waihi Company's battery is erected, and it is estimated that crushing will be started some time in January. The Waitekauri No. 3 claim promises to be a very rich one; the shares have been selling at a very high figure, and are rapidly going up. The Success shares are also selling well, but Moonstones remain at their first figure, 2s. The Smile of Fortune mine at Owharoa has figured conspicuously in the market of late, and the shares have changed hands as high as 8s 6d. The tributers' time expires^ today, and operations for the company will probably be started at once. It is expected that the tributers'return will be over lOOOozs of gold, and this, too, for about two month's work, so the company should do well. ....'..

The find at Te Aroha has caused a deal of excitement in that district, and all the ground in the immediate vicinity has been pegged out. Judging from the accounts given of the reef the find is a most important one, but it will probably be some time before it is properly developed, owing to the inaccessible nature of the country.