THE NEW FIND OF GOLD AT TE AROHA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6212, 14 October 1881, Page 5

THE NEW FIND OF GOLD AT TE AROHA.

♦ A correspondent of the Thames Star writes :—"The advent on the Thames last week of the famous Te Aroha prospector— Honi Werihiko—with specimens of quartz, showing gold freely, from Te Aroha, caused quite a sensation in mining circles. For some time Honi has been known to be prospecting in Te Aroha, and there have been rumours afloat that he had found payable gold, but till he came down himself the rumours were disbelieved. The known truthfulness of Honi caused more attention to be given to his tale than would otherwise have been given to anyone else from such an unpopular district. The stone brought down by Honi was seen by a number of mining experts, who agreed that if the reef was as good as the sample, it would be the salvation of Te Aroha. Some of the stone was tested in the Bank of New Zealand and the Union Bank, and was found to average 3ozs. to the ton. Under the invitation of the prospector, a number of Thames experts agreed to accompany him, to judge by ocular demonstration the correctness of the reported discovery. Starting from Shortland on Saturday morning by steamer, after a slow but pleasant journey, we made Paeroa, where we put up for the night, agreeing to hark away by horse early in the morning. By the time we were mustered on Sunday morning, our cavalcade had been joined by equestrians from the np-country, all bent on seeing the new find. The situation of the find is to the • cast of the Trig Station, in the High School reserve, up the Waiorongomai Creek, The only track to Honi's claim is by the top of

the mountain and down its eastern side, which means fully five hours' walking. There is a large blow of stone standing about 40 feet oat of the ground, and from 20 to 33 feet thick, running north and south in the direction of Waihi. We examined the reef carefully, and wefound gold freely distributed throughout the face. In places moss had grown over the stone ; on pulling away the moss, gold was seen. The gold is in spots, all over; indeed, very little stone could be broken off without seeing the precious metal. No work has been done, but claims have been pegged off for miles along the reef. Honi has called his claim the New Find, and there is every chance that it will prove a rich find. The great obstacle in the way is the difficulty of access. A road, with a nice easy gradient from the Wairakau, so I am told, could be made, that would place claims within two hours' walk off Morgan town. Till that is done a thorough prospecting cannot be entered upon. I noticed several old taces—men who will give the place a thorough prospecting—have come back to the Aroha to try their luck again."