The Newtown bee., 1904-07-22
The Newtown Bee
I1ON :
 600 43oo
Ten Pages.
LITCHFIELD COUNTY.
WASHINGTON.

THE GOLD FIELDS OF THAMES, NEW | ZEALAND. EXTRACT FROM AN IN. 1 rEREsING LETTER OF WILLIAM CoAD, TO MIR AND MRS OREsTEs RICKOX. So far as this Thames township is
 concerned it has been principally built
 up on the strength of the gold mining industry, it having for it's size been
 one of the richest goldfelds in the
 world. At present, however, gold
 mining in the immediate vicinity of
 the town is languishing very much for
 the want of necessary capital to prop erly develop the mines. All the rich surface patches of gold have been
 worked out, and while they lasted the policy pursued was to pay as many dividends as possible, and to let the future look out for itself. The result is that now deeper levels are required the people have not got the money to do it with, and consequently very little mining work is actually proceeding. There is but little doubt, however, that in the years to come the Thames
 will again be prosperous gOldfield,
 for we have already proved that our
 reef system (the reefs are the bodies of quartz ore which carry the gOld) con
 tinueS to great depth, and there
 is every probability of as rich runs of
 gold being found in them at depth as ever were found in the higher or sur face workings.
 The history of this famous goldfeld can, however, only be briefly referred
 to in letter. Formerly the whole of
 the Thames district was owned by the
 war-loving Maoris, who consciously or uncOnSciOuSly, within it's boundaries, oniauod O An1tpinf1c o1ivnofn ~I, good land to serve all their purposes, splendid shelter in the picturesquely bush-clad hills and valleys, and excel lent facilities for fishing in the river and firth of Thames. Though it was known for many years that the district was gold-bearing, still it was not until the 27th of July, 1867, that arrange ments were completed with the native owners of the land for it's concession to Government, and then merely for pros pecting purposes only. All the area included in the agreement was event. ually proclaimed as a gold field, and ever since the field has been yielding considerable quantities of gold. Some of the "reminiscences of the yield are truly golden, and are well worth being placed on record. Within a montb of the fields having been proclaimed as gold field it is stated that the famous Hunts claim was begged out, and it's four proprietors in a very short time netted gold to the value of $2OO,- GOO. The mine known as the Long Drive yielded in comparative short time, after deducting all costs for working expenses, profits to the value of S414 ,0O0. The most celebrated mine, however, was the famous Caledonian. This mine, in which there were 286O shares, paid dividends amounting to to total of S10224, the largest portion of which was paid within the first l2 months of the cOmpany's existence. The largest fortnight's yield of gold from that mine was about 5000 oun- to s135. The tide of specula- tion ran SC, high during that period that the company $ shares were actuallysa able at SlO6O per share; dividends in oth- CT mines amounted in values to grand totals as follows:- Manukan mine, $7S,- 75O; Golden Crown, S709, ,52O; Nonpar- ell, S73, $50; Kuranni, $2O6, 1885; All Nations, $2O7, ,225; Old Whan, $5e, ,25O; Cure, $85, ,OOO; MoanataiIi $589, ,965; New Prince Imperial, l$3O3, 750; Cambria, S35O, O,O00; Waiotahi, S2O1, 600. The val ues mentioned above are the principal dividends paid by mining companies GU AduICos Ouu UASA0 ud0 Oc0u 1uduy more of lesser amounts, besides many hundreds of thousands of dollars won by private mine owners and tributers. These figures will therefore give you a little idea as to the wealth of gold won from this district since it was proclaimed gold field.
 Although mining operations here at Thames are somewhat slack at present, yet in the adjacent districts consider able quantities of gold are still being won. For instance about 35 miles from here there is what is known as the Waihi mine. That company is en- ploying several hundred nen at the present time, and has monthly out put of gold valued at about $26O, ,OOO. For the year 1890 it's total output of gold was valued at $182, 29O, but since then it's yearly output has been in- creasing in value year by year, until last year It's output in value amounted to S3 PAY ,OOO. Its total output in value for the last 13 years amounts to no less a sum than Sl6, 536, l75, and it has paid dividends during that period amou unt-e ing in value to about $7,500, 900. The mine in question is really one of the richest and best gold producers in the world. and it's developement works are so far advanced that it is comput- ed the company has sufficient supply of ore in sight, as will keep 200 head of stamps continually employed in crush ing it for the next years, without do- ing any more devlopement work. There are other mines situated up that way which are yielding considerable quan- titles of gold, but none that can be