MINING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 169, 4 May 1871, Page 3

MINING.

The Auckland correspondent of the "Hawkes Bay Times" says: — Since the Caledonian claim at the Thames has yielded such good returns, we have had a return of the share mania, but ifc is not likely to be nearly so dangerous as before, so many of our people, in all ranks of life, of all ages of both sexes, have suffered severely by it on its lust visit. You are doubtless aware Unit tlie Caledonian bounds tae Guiden Crown on one side, and tuat t<ie rich lodes of the Golden Crown dipped towards the Caledonian, and were worked to tie boundary <k tue latter, before the latter found'thein in their own workings. Consequently l .'6 LVk'douiaa stood in a different position ay a bpLvumtinu from any . oca^r cijum uu Ijcs iLid. Vut it was but a speculation ; for although very iutely, or evou tolarabiy certain, to catih the Gulden Crown lode, it was very problem itical wuet.icr it would be \aiuablo wiien found ; for it ia understood t.iat it was not yielding very well in tnat portion of toe Golden Crown nearest tlie Caledonian. Valuing in quality as ewn the best knuwn lodes are, it was a lucky turn of fortune w^en it changed in the Caledonian for the better. The dividends paid lately should make an appreciable difference in the mouey market. But a word of caution may not bo amiss. The Auckland press dojs not take care that all their statements of quantities of gold are ocr-rect. Even the quantity exported by a certain vessel a few weeks ago was incorrectly given, by several thousands of ounces. Surely the actual amount passed tnrough tie Customs, and on winch duty has been paid, should be given not an imaginary amount.

Carrice Easge Qctartz Reefs. — Fresu discoveries of quartz claims on tho Carriek Eange may now be regarded as regular weekly occurrences. At least turee new reefs have been brought fco lignt within as many weeks, aud prospecting for others goes on with uuaoaiod vigour. The two reefs lust discovered were found by Mr. G-eor^o (toss and Mr. Watson respectively, anil iv both. cdPe^ prospecting claims have been applied for. Tho stone from both claims shows very jrouiising indications. A parcel of ten tons from tue Golden Phoenix claim was lately crushed at the Royal Standard battery, but the result, it is said, did not equal the anticipations of tue shareholders. Nine and a half tons from the Royal Standard reef — the balance of stone left over from a former crushing — were put through the mill last week, and averaged about an ouuee and three-quarters to the ton. Tue machine is at present idle, but crushing is to be resumed on Monday neat, by which time fifty tons of quartz from the Heart of Oak will be ready for testings The Elizabeth Company are busily engaged grassing stone for a eocoud crushing, and similar operations are in progress at Gross's and Watson's prospecting claims. The majority of the- claims which have been opened out would pay well for wording were it not for tue heavy expense of carting and crushing. £9 per day of 24 hours, or at the rate of 7a. 6d. an hour, is the charge made for the use of the Royal Standard machine; and the cost of cartage varies, according to distance, from. 13s. to 233. per ton. It is quite evident that only very rich stone can De made to pay at these rates ; and v itil the erection of a machine in the immediate neighbourhood of the claims is accomplished, there is but little chance of tne reefs being properly developed. — " Cromwell Argus."

The " Evening Star," (G-reymouth) llfch iaat. cays :—": — " It was exactly tbis day, twenty years a^o, that gold was disoovared at Ballarafc, the dite oa which the first gold was dug out of tho earth by Hiseoek, beinjj the llfcii April, 1851, at a spot near Buninyong. Hiscock was afterwards rewarded by the Victorian Government by a money grant of £500. Then lie set up as a storekeeper, made a large amount of money, the whole of which he lost by subsequent profitless speculations. The exodus from G-eelong was so complete that only about three of the male adult population remained in it. In 1852 the gold brought down by escort from the Ballarat district averaged 49,000 ounces per week, a yield which before in California, or since in the auriferous districts of the world, has never even been approached. Of all the miners, traders, aud merchants who flourished in those prosperous times, not half a dozen escaped the reaction which took place in 1856, when the insolvencies in eleven months exceeded over twelve millions of money." We, " Oamaru Times," understand that the Maerewhenua Quartz-reof Company has commenced crushing, but until the gold is retorted the result cannot be definitely ascertained. Mean, while, from the appearauce of the stone it is believed that an average of 2 ounces to the ton will be obtained.

"We, " Wakatip Mail," hear Barton and party, who own the dredge work* ing at Maori Point, struck good ground on Monday. When getting timber for their boat these men were very uu* fortunate in being completely burnt out of their tent, with a loss to Barton of some few hundred pounds. They are a hard-working lot of men, ana it is gratifying to think that their afcac is in the ascendant