(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) May 13.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3972, 16 May 1870, Page 6

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) May 13.

The great majority of claims, both on the Tokatea and Tiki Range, have been getting splendid stuff this week, and prospects never looked better here than now. The drawbacks are bad roads, few machines, no pier or jetty, and a scarcity of capital, which Siaa been exhausted apparently, or fright- , ened away, by reckless Thames speculation. Quits as rich, if not a richer, field is before us here, which only wants judiciously developing to yield a rich harvest. — Several accidents have occurred here this week. In one case, a Maori in the employment of Mr. C, Ring, and well known and lik' d by the pakehas living in the neighbourhood, fell from the top of a high tree (where be had climbed to gather berries) to the ground, a distance of more than 30 feet. The force of the fall may be judged from the fact that the bark was knocked off a good-sized stump by the concussion. The Maori, singular to relate, is fast recovering, and was this morning sitting in the sun smoking his pipe much as usual. — During the heavy rains in the early part of the week a miner, in making his way from the Tokatea range to the flat, as he was crossing the creek (which was very much swollen at the time) missed hia footing, fell, and was carried down the stream, which tossed him about like a log in a heavy fresh, for some distance. Fortunately he succeeded in scrambling up the bank against which he was thrown, and got to dry land without sustaining material injury. — The large boiler of the Kapauga Company's machinery is moving its slow length along the road on its way to Shortland. It appears very unwilling to leave Coromandel, and has stuck fast many times. If the directors had as.much sense as their boiler, they would keep their machinery here, where it is much wanted. Mr. Tookey has made several investments in mining shares here this week. He has bought in cheap, and, unless I be much misaken, will be richly rewarded. A few more enterprising men like Mr. Tookey would do food to the district as well as to themselves, 'he Church Committee have held a meeting this week. They will guarantee £75 for 'a a year for a clergyman, and will apply to the Right Rev. Bishop Cowie to' supplement the amount if he has any funds at his disposal. — The want of a resident clergyman here is felt by many who in the scramble for gold are not altogether unmindful of higher and holier things, as the result of' this meeting shows. I have heard that a gentleman of this district will probably leave the civil service' here, and seek ordinatibii, >aiid there was a flying report' circulated here on Saturday, that Mr. Warden J?raser is to be the new warden at Ohinemuri. Mr. Fraser is very much liked here, and' it is 1 generally felt that his decisions have been 'based on good sound sense, an anxious'desire todo what' is right, and a wish to press hardly upon no one, whera hisduty admits of discretionaiy power, — The first of a series of popular entertainments, in the shape of readings from standard English authors,' isto take place on Wednesday next. The Warden has kindly consented' to preside ; rand,r and, ' should the weather be fine, the affair will,' in all probability, prove a success. — In 'my next, I- hope to be able to give .you -the result of the crushing at Ring's mill ifor/.the -Tokatea {McLeods), which is looKedib with much interest. As , yet nothing has been done to establish a branch bank here, a want, which the storekeepers and employers ! of labour here complain of very much.,, 'Neglect and indifference cannot prevent Cdromandel from" going ahead eventually, .for shVhasrfche gold in the ground -in rich -abundance, and the fact must fc ere long become patent to the world. L -. > ". ,j- . '„ r ~ >■ *