The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4637, 14 November 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1883.

» It is unfortunate that the success which has attended the opening of the goldfields in the Te Aroha district, should be attended by any circumstance tending to mar the general result of the work done on the field up to the present time, and it is still more a cause for regret that such a j contretemps, trifling though it may be, should be—as it is generally supposed— caused by indiscretion. Since crushing was commenced at the Wairongamai battery, and the daily results of the various companies' produce were made known every twenty-four hours to the public, it was generally supposed, and with good, reason, that the usual course of squeezing the amalgam was being adopted, and it was expected , that the gold return from the amalgam obtained would average the amount generally obtained on the Thames—about one-third. This idea has been dispelled, but unluckily not before shares in the companies reached a price which it must be admitted, they would not probably have gone to bad it been known, that the custom of " squeezing" adopted here had been departed from, in favour of one which will give a lesser return of gold from the amalgam. It was an unfortunate omission on the part of those concerned in the crushing that the public were not made aware of the innovation, and furnished fully with information as to the altered method which was being followed. We hare not the least desire to impute unworthy motives to any person; in fact, had we any such-design, it is doubtfuleven with the aid of the greatest distortion of facts—whether any grounds could even be hinted that an evil action was contemplated by those connected with the crushing operations. We would point out though, how very desirable it is that every available information in relation to such works as we how refer to should be given to the public, not only because they, as a body supplying investors and speculators, are fully entitled to it, but so that the various ventures affected should be, like Csosar'sj wife, above suspicion. We are informed by mining experts that had the usual course been adopted in treating this amalgam, namely, that ot "squeeze ing" it in hot water, one-third of the quantity in gold might have been reasonably expected; whereas, by following the system which has been deemed an advisable one, only between a fifth and a sixth is likely to be returned. As we have said we regret that this little episode should have to be chronicled, but it would be a gross dereliction of duty on the part of a newspaper were it to pass heedlessly such proceedings which were unknown to the public, and in which they were financially interested.^