WAITEKAURI.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4038, 7 December 1881, Page 2

WAITEKAURI.

(FKOM OUR OWN. COBBKBPONJWNT.) -WiiTKAUBi Deo. 2,1881. . The battery has bdenidle since Monday owing to the driving belt breakiogythe repairing of which is nearly "completed, and will start work again op Moudayntxt ( with 30 head of stamps for the foUof M»g parties .—l2 head on Butler and party's stuff, 10 head on Waitekauri No/3 stuff, and 8 head on the Waiteka'nri Company's dirt. These three parties will keep the mill going till Christmas, and the whole of the quartz should yiekLw«ll.*.r,.- f> \-> VSome splendid stone is coming to hand from the new reef in Butler's tribute, and the prospects got yesterday were far better than any that this party have jet had. Driving both ways in this reef is still being continued, and will open up a largiti block of ground; this reef has not yet been worked on in the No 3. ■!>-.-•*

In the Waitekauri No. 3 driving is still being contiued both ways, and the .reef still maintains its usual size and character. The stopes from the tributert'quartz put is about 2Q feet, and a g'eba deal of crushing dirt is coming to. hand which should give a good yield, but no fair estimate of the dirt can be giren till the stamps are working on it. ' \7- ' In the Waitekauri Company's ground the new reef is producing a large quantity of good dirt, gold being freely seen in most of it, and a large block of ground it being opened up in this reef. Barring accidents to the mill or tramway, a good yield should be the fce?a!t of these three partys' crushings. 0 I hear that a nice looking reef has been found in the Moonstone ground, but no work has yet been dona bu'it to prore its yalue.

In the Waitekauri Extended a good reef has been found, whioh gives excellent prospects, and should crush well; about $ feet has been driven on it towards the Bonanza ground. In the Caledonian a contract has been let to drive a. crosscut to out the Just-in-Time reef, and the contractors are making good headway with the drive which is now in about 80 feet. <

The Crown claim has also started to work with two shifts, and I hear,that the Grand Flanneur will also start work next week. - ... Our population is slowly but steadily increasing, and altogether the district has a livelier appearance. The Welcome ' tramway is finished as far as the Dawn of Hope ground and will be nearly completed by the New Year. "