THE THAMES GOLDFIELDS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 73, 3 July 1869, Page 6

THE THAMES GOLDFIELDS.

(Oondenßed from the " Thames Advertiser.")

BATTEEY BEIUHNS, JT7STE sth.

During the month ending May Slßt, 166 tons 13 cwt. of stone were crushed at Souter's battery, and yielded 409 ozb. 4d\vts. 4grs. of gold, of the valuo (at the rate of £2 l§s. 6d. por ounce) of £1,074t Bs. sid. ; the average por ton is about 2ozs, Bdwts. The quantity crushed at the same machine during the month of April was 321 tons, for a yield of 701ozs. 16dwts. and 13grs., representing the sum of d£l,B-Jt2 ss. lid., and even this yield was considered very small, representing only twenty-four days work, The Victoria Battery. — During the month ending May 31st, the amount of stone which has been I crushed at the battery has been 332 tons, and the yield 6470z5. lldwts., of the value of £1,699 16s. 4Jd. The manager of the claim deposited 2300z5. of gold in the bank on Saturday, as the result of the last retorting, and a large quantity of amalgam has again accumulated. The Tkahway Battery. — At this battery, during the month ending May 31st, 200 tons of stuff have been crushed, with a yield of 320 ounces of gold, of the value of £840 sterling. A parcel of specimens, weighing about 1801bs. from the Shamrock claim, was crushed in the amalgamating barrel connected with the machine, on Thursday, and yielded nearly 70 ounces of gold. The Prince Alfred (Goodall's) Battery. — Fourteen tons of stuff from the Castle and Galatea claim, on the Moanataiari Creek, and yielded 26 ozs. Bdwts. 180 lbs. weight of stone from the Euby claim, next the El Dorado, on Punga Elat, was crushed yesterday, and yielded Sdwts. of retorted gold. The stuff was taken from a reef about five feet thick, lately opened, and was merely crushed as a trial, and surprised the shareholders by the comparatively large return which the parcel gave. We are informed that gold was visible in the stone, and that it was taken promiscuously from the stuff taken out of the reef.

G-eeenway's Battery, on the Hape, crushed two tons from a large reef in the Devon and Cornwall claim, which only yielded an ounce of gold. The Hape Gold Mining Co.'s Battery finished crushing a parcel of 14 tons from the Golden Anchor, early in the week, which averaged three-quarters of an ounce to the ton.

The Break o' Day Battery commenced crushing a large quantity of stuff for the "West Coast claim on Thursday. A shoot has been made from the workings of the claim, which, with the aid of a short tramway, conducts the quartz from the claim to the machine on the opposite side of the creek. There are about 200 tons now ready for crushing, and large effcantities are being taken out daily, so that it is very probable that this claim will keep at least part of the battery constantly employed. The Halcyon G-old Mining Co.'s Battery has commenced a crushing from the new reef, three feet thick, which has lately been opened in that claim, and it is making a very fine show on the plates.

The Hattiiaki Battery is still employed crushing from the Manukau claim. The amalgam is fast accumulating, and gives every promise of another rich return to the fortunate shareholders of this claim.

The Kueaftji Compact's Battery has been idle all this week, having been stopped while the reservoir which supplies water to the machine is being enlarged, preparatory to the erection of tbe batteries. "We are informed that a rich leader was opened this week in one of the old workings of the " Edinburgh Castle " claim, on the Moanatairi, and that the leader bears through that claim and. into the Prince of "Wales Gold Mining Co.'s ground. The Liverpool Boys Gold Muting Co.'s ground is situated on the Waiotahi range, and adjoins the Shamrock, Ballarat, and Euby claims. This company have for some time been [Sinking. At the depth of 125 foot from the surface a number of small veins or feeders were met with, which were of a highly auriferosu character, and all bearing in a north-easterly direction into the spur of the hill, and it was thought advisable to follow those in a drive, as they were evidently all leading towards some reef, or elsewhere the commencement 'of a reef themselves. The miners are at present employed in prosecuting this work, and there is very little doubt that before long they will drop on to something good. The Waitemata claim has produced during the last few days some very rich specimens, which auger well for the future of this valuable mine.

A Scandalous Elopement. — An unfortunate scandal has been caused by the elopement of a well-known grocer from Slamannan with the wife of another tradesman residing in Bo'ness. The gay Lothario is a married man, and has left his wife and seven of his family to lament his unfaithful conduct, while the companion of his flight has left three children. No trace of the erring couple has yet been obtained, but rumour has it that they have made tracks for Liverpool, thence to embark for America. — N. B. "Mail."