Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING GISBORNE, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1895.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7297, 4 June 1895, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERT EVENING GISBORNE, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1895.

PROSPECTING FOR GOLD. In last evening's issue we published a telegram from our correspondent at Wairoa, detailing the results of the explorations of a prospecting party of three meu who commenced their search for the precious metal about three weeks ago. The time of year is decidedly unfavorable for prospecting operations, and as a consequence serious obstacles were met with in the shape of swollen streams, heavy rains, and snow. The members of the party must have had a considerable amount of " grit " to prosecute their search under circumstances involving great discomfort. Their labor was to some extent rewarded, as a prospect of a grain to the dish was, obtained. The prospectors are naturally disinclined to divulge the exact locality where the auriferous stone was found, but state it is on Crown lands adjoining the Uriwera country. The discovery of gold, even in the most minute quantities,, may be said to be satisfactory, as, where even a few grains are found, there is evidence that the country is to some extent auriferous. The discovery of a few guwins of gold would, of course, be insufficient to warrant an opinion that a payable field had been found. It would be necessary to produce much, stronger evidence before capitalists could be induced to find the money required for mining operations, or before the Minister of Mines would be justified in proclaiming the opening of a goldfield. This step is one carrying with it grave responsibilities, as, when a goldfield is declarbd open, diggers come from all quarters, and, unless there appeared 'sufficient justification no Minister would take such a responsibility upon himself. ! We hope that a more valuable discovery will be found by the Wairoa prospecting ' party, as a mere dish prospect is only evidence of the auriferous character, of a very small quantity of dirt, and it does not follow that a body of stone when put through the battery will yield the same results as a small quantity taken from the | reef. Dish prospects, and assays of small parcels of dirt are at best but indifferent as to the general value of a reef, and it has often been found that stone, in which not a color was visible to the naked eye, has yielded payable battery returns, while that which has shown fair dish prospects has not given sufficient gold to pay for crushing and carting. The telegram from Wairoa does not specify whether the gold was fine or coarse— aud in the absence of definite information on this point, no opinion can be formed of its value. If fine, there would be a great risk of its being lost in the ordinary battery treatment, and even under most favorable conditions a f considerable percentage would be lost. It might be saved by the cyanide process, but it would be necessary to prove the existence of a vast body of stone, before the investment of the large capital required foe ths erection of a. cyanide plant would be -warranted. Even an ordinary small battery containing a few stampers and berdans would cost upwards of £1000. From the meagre details at present available, it is, of course, absolutely impossible to give anything approaching an accurate calculation of the value of the discovery by the Wairoa prospecting party, but even regarding it in the most favorable aspect, it does not appear to be sufficient to justify any sanguine anticipations. We are not informed as to the weight of dirt from which the prospect of a grain was obtained, but assuming lOlbs as a fair and likely quantity, a ton of 22401bs would yield 224 grains -and as this would give 9£dwt - the value at L 3 per ounce (a good price) would be LI 8s per ton. It must, however, be borneln mind that it would not be possible to save more than 90 per cent, by any process, and this would be further slightly reduced in melting. Of course, if an immense body of stone (say thousands of.tons) were available, and there was an abundance of water for motive power, this low grade ore might be payable— but it is unlikely that the circumstances would be so favorable unless they were exceptional, and entirely different from those which years of experience have proved to obtain upon the established goldfields in the colony. It is to be hoped that more encouraging results will yet be obtained in this part of the North Island, as the opening of a payable goldfield would cause a general improvement in trade all round.

The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council will be held to-night, and that of the Hospital Trustees to-morrow evening.

The Harbor Board this morning received seven tenders for the supply of boulders. That of Mr Heeney at 3s 5d per cubic yard was accepted. The Public Trustee has £29,000 of Harbor Board moneys to lend on freehold security, with a fifty per cent, margin. As will be seen by advertisement, applications are invited. A meeting of creditors in Mr T. W. Porter's estate was held this afternoon at the office of the Deputy Official Assignee (Mr John Coleman). The meeting was called for the purpose of confirming a resolution carried on the 20th ult., accepting £150 as a composition, and. to annul the bankruptcy.

At the meeting of the Charitable Aid JBoard held this afternoon, the discussion on 'the proposed alterations in the management of one Old Men's Home was postponed until the next meetiug of the Board, in order that the County Council might be more strongly represented at the meeting.

We would draw the attention of residents in town and country to the advertisement announcing that Mr B. Wayte, Government Dairy Instructor, will deliver a lecture at the Mason\c hotel on Thursday evening. The Mayor will preside. The dairy industry is one which has made rapid progress during the last few years, and any information in connection with it should be welcomed.

We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Triad Musical Album (edited by C. N. Bafyfriz) published in AHpk'l an(J ' Ib contains "Slumber Soug" (Sfchjjfrann ;) "She Wore a Wreath of Roses." §T. P. Knight) ; " Elfentanz " and " Waltz " (Greig) ; "Simon the Cellarer" (Hatton) ; one of Mendelssohn's Leaders, and his funeral march ia E minor, a Nocturne by Field ; " Loreley " (song, by Sllcher)} "True Love (German Folk song ;) " Traumerei '; (Robert Schumann) ; Balfe's ". When other lips," and German drinking song ( Triuk-hed). The present number is an excellent one.

The following is a statement of assets aud liabilities in the bankrupt estate of W. C. Whitfield, carter :-Fanners Co-operative Association £7 8« lid, J. Clark and Co. £12 7s 2d, J. Townley £2, J. Wlnnray £3, R. Litfle'£s 6s, Clayton and Co. £7 10a WO. Skeet £4 ss, F. Hall £2, A. R. Mmr £2 10s, J. H. Ormond £6 10s, A. G. Smith 4,1 2s 6d, Dormer and Edwards £3 10s, J. Craig £6, S. Rosie £2 10s, W. Adair £2, Johnston and Sweet £3"25.6 d, Pettie and Harper £4. P- ? • Lewis £1, W. H. Tucker £3, Mrs Whxtfiold £25. Total, £104 Us Id. Assets :Furuiture £25. Deficiency, £79 Us Id. The first meeting of creditors will be held at the .Assignee's office on Thursday afternoon at g,30 o'cjoplf,

At Thursday Island the Japanese have collected about £200 for the purpose of holding a demonstration to celebrate the conclusion of peace in the East.

Unclaimed letters are lying at the Post Office for Henry F. Hill, Aubrey Russell Hughes, Thos. Corcoran, Edward Campbell, Mary Coughlan, and W. Cleghorn.

The design for the memorial tablet to"be erected to t he memory of the late Sir Robert Duff, in 'Shoalhaven Church, Sydney, has been adopted. The tablet, besides bearing the name and rank of the late Governor, will carry an inscription setting forth that it ia erected by the women of New South Walea as a tribute of sympathy with Lady Duff and her family.

The following advertisement appears in a contemporary : — " Matrimonial — A stamp collector, the possessor of a collection of twelve thousand five hundred and forty-four stamps, wishes to marry a lady who is an ardent collector and possessor of the blue penny scamp of Mauritius, issued in 1847."

The North Otago Daily Times says : — " Over 6000 bales of wool were carted into Oamaru this season. This, we believe, is the largest number of bales carted in any season. Large quantities of grain were also carted in. All this means that the ratepayers -of the colony have to maintain both roads and railways, while- one should be able to do all the heavy work."

The annual report of the Dunedin Acclimatisation Society states that the year's operatious resulted in a credit balance of £114 4s 9d. The quantities of fry distributed during the past season were: Brown trout, 115,000 ; American brook, 22,000 ; Scotch burn, 85,000; Loch Leven, 72,000; rainbow trout, 1500. From the Wellington Society 5000 rainbow trout were received.

Speaking at Marton the other evening, Bishop Wallis said :— At present the question upon which he felt most interested was the obtaining of some form of religious training in our daily schools. This was a most important question, and one which he hoped at no distant date to see realised. It was in the hands of the church people to accomplish this, and he hoped they would endeavor to see it successfully carried.

The New Zealand Times has been informed by Mr T. VV. Kirk, the Government biologist, that while he was in the south one lot of 87 bags of rye was put up for sale, but did not find a purchaser. Arrangments were then made for the seed to be put through the seed cleaning machinery, which resulted in its being, reduced to 20 bags of pure seed. The effect of sowing the 87 bags in their original state may easily be imagined.

When Mr Hill was examining the upper standards at the Woodvi.lle school in history on Thursday, be asked them what the three estates of the constitution were. They gave "The Governor" and "The House of Representatives " correctly and promptly. "Yes," said Mr Hill, "now what is the other?" "The House of Conservatives, Sir," said one bright youth. "One of the best answers I have ever heard to the Question," said Mr Hill.— Examiner.

In the Magistrate's Court at Christchurch last Wednesday informations were called against twelve publicans, charged with Sunday trading. Cross-informations had also been laid by the publicans against three men for inciting and procuring on the offence earned, also against them collectively, with anotherman joined, for conspiring to incite and procure the offences charged against one of the publicans. As the two Stipendiary Magistrates were otherwise engaged, these cases were formally adjourned, sine die, the date to be fixed in the meantime.

A few hours before Bishop Moran died, he insisted upon having his couch drawn to the window of his room, in order that he might see the funeral procession of the Cathedral sacristan, Mr Joseph McCawe, who died on the previous Sunday. The Bishop's defective eyesight prevented him from at first discerning any objects at such a distance, and he called for his far-seeing spectacles. These were handed to him, and with their aid he was enabled to see the funeral procession. " I'll be the next " were Ms words as he sank back, and less than 6hc«« hours aherwarcta hist earbhly Straggle was at an end.— -N.Z. Times.

. Commenting on the recent decision of Mr Northcroft in the shop cases, the Auckland Star says : — " The effect of the decision seems to be that clause 3, which provides that all shops except those that are specially. exempt shall be closed on the afternoon of one working day in each week at the hour of 1 o'clock, is in force, but there is ri^ power to fix a day for general closing. Closing is to be a sort of * go-as-you-please ' arrangement, a man shutting his shop on any day he likes, and on a different day every alternate week if he chooses. This, if sound law, reduces the Act to so much waste paper, for a whole army of inspectors could never enforce its provisions. Some of the convictions which have already been given by magistrates in other parts of the colony were also wrongful convictions."

A gentleman, writing to our Auckland morning contemporary, states that a noteworthy event transpired at the Oromahoe native settlement, Bay of Islands, quite recently. The occasion was the marriage of Wi Parata, son of Wi Hokoro, to Iti Hopi, daughter of Hepi. The Rev. Martiu Kapa performed the ceremony in the pretty little native church. The bridegroom was dressed as an ordinary English gentleman. The bride, a handsome young lady, wore a dress of white brocade, trimmed with oiange blossoms ; a tulle veil hung from a wreath of the same flowers ; aud she carried a beautiful bouquet made by Miss Williams, of lJakaraka. Among the guests were the Hou. H. Williams, M.L.C., and Mrs Williams, Mr Guy Williams, Mr W. Loodbrook, and others.

In the course of her report to the Schoo Committee, the mistress of the Wairoa school wrote :— " I would again remind the Committee of the very unsatisfactory lavatory arrangements in this school. One towel, two mugs, and one basin for the use of nearly seventy children, including Maoris ! — The continual strain on the tap causes a constant leakage, which it seems impossible to stop. The water cannot drip into the basin, and as there is no sink, it runs on the floor, which is always in a state of puddle. Very strong representations should be made to the Board on the subject. The towels are nearly worn out. Eight yards of strong crash are needed for four towels."

The N.Z. Herald's correspondent at Apia writes : — There is nothing of importance to report from this place. Everything is quiet, though there are occasional rumors of impending disturbances at Savaii. The portion of the town laid waste by the late firo is now being again built upon. The Council has seized the opportunity of wideniug the road very considerably, so the danger of an extensive conflagration in the future is greatly diminished. The Municipal Couucil has, in a moment of legislative panic, passed an ordinance which is the subject of universal ridicule. In view of the lamentable absence of appliances at the late fire, every householders is now required to hang up outside his house, in a conspicuous position, three buckets and a large axe, and it has been officially announced that kerosene tins will be considered buckets in the eye of the law."

In the course of a political address delivered at Blenheim recently Mr Buick, M.H.R. said ;— Two hundred Bills were presented last session, and 100 were brought into effect ; with the result that the sitting was twice as long as it should have been. The unfortunate illness of Mr Ward prior to the delivery of the Budget- was a drawback to the progress of the session. The present Government waß no worse than other Governments in the matter of delay, for it seemed to him that all were imbued with the idea that the more Bills they passed through Parliament the greater the services they had rendered the country. But something more was required than Acts of Parliament to evoke prosperity. If the prosperity of a country depeuded on the number of its Parliament's Bills and Acts, this country should be a happy one. (Laughter,) The Government should use discretion. Before one was sure of not missing any point in the law they must go carefully through the Statutes of the last eight years. In his opinion, the tactics of the Opposition did not materially lend to the length of the session. While they criticised the measures ot the Government, there was nothing fractious in their conduct. Excellent example was set by Captain Russell, who, whatever he was in politics, was at all times a gentleman ip

cure of a diphtheria patient almost at the last gasp, by means of anti-toxin and tracheotomy, is reported from Goulburn. The Timaru Herald says that on last Tuesday night a horse bolted into a house at

Kensington while the inmates were sitting at the fire. In entering it broke two tables, and then rushed into the bedroom, broke the toilet stand and ware, then got between a large double bed and the wall, and there' got pinned. It subsequently rolled on to the bed, kicked the wall, breaking the plaster, and smashed tho iron bedstead to pieces. It then plunged until it gob oub of the bed, and kicked and smashed the remainder of the furniture in the room ; then it got into the passage, smashed all around, breaking pictures, etc., and finally getting out galloped away. It is doubtful whether it can be identified or not, as the night was

very dark and the people left it sole occupant while it was in. The damage isjestimated at £12, and the owner of the horse is being anxiously inquired for to settle the account.

" The improvement in the wool market during the late public sales appears to be confirmed by the subsequent history of the industry to date (writes a London correspondent). It will be well to remember that the recovery has hinged ao far chiefly on the resumption of moreactive relations between the United States and European centres, and it is satisfactory to be able to note that up to the present moment there are no indications of slackening in the return to more normal conditions of the American trade. Perhaps the most immediately important feature of the situation is the fact that the recent movement has brought the supply into far healthier proportion to the current needg of consumption than for some time past, while a generally hopeful feeling as regards the outlook is observable — a disposition which may probably Dob be lessened by the prospect of a lasting peace, with the possible consequences of considerable trade development in the far East."

Great amusement was caused at the Full Court (New South Wales) recently during the reading of the affidavits in support of a rule ?iisi calling on Arthur Tredwell, of Grafton, to show cause why he should not be deemed guilty of contempt for practising as a solicitor without being a qualified member of the profession. • It was shown that Tredwell had advertised that he could be consulted upon all matters — temporal, spiritual, medical, legal, financial, commercial, matrimonial, controversial, theoretical, and actual ; past, present, and to come — and it was asserted that his advertisements had led to his being entrusted with legal business. When Tredwell was asked for an explanation by the secretary of the Law Institute he refused to comply with the request, saying he had nob contravened any known statute. He did not refuse out of a desire to show contempt for the institute, which he venerated, bub because he refused to give any explanation of his business " to gratify the dastard, the spirited cub your ftrformer, who would be a more eligible member of your august body if he would confine himself to his profession, which he is dishonoring by combining it with that of usurer and pettifogger.For the sacred majesty of the law it is a shame that her mantle covers such carrion." The rule was granted.

The medical staff of the Auckland hospital recently addressed a letter to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board as to the causes of friction between them, in which the following passage occurs:— "The withholding by the Board from the senior resident medical officer of authority which, according to the rules, should be given him. The neglect by the Board to consult the responsible heads of departments prior to effecting changes in these departments, and interference by the Board in the details of management. The frequent presence at the hospital of certain members known as the Fees Committee. The delay of the Board in defining the authority of the heads of departments. The neglect by the Board to provide suitable accommodation for special cases, resulting in a public scandal. False statements made in public by members of the Board reflecting on members of the honorary and resident medical staffs. The misappropriation of medical stores by members of the Board for their own use." The Herald in a teaming article suggest that the staff should withdraw the letter, and alluding to the last sentence says :— " This refers to the fact, we believe, that during the protracted sittings of the committee at the hospital, one or two of the members had on two or three occasions a little whisky and water, or a cup of tea or coffee, or whatever refreshment they were accustomed to."

A London correspondent writes: — Mr E. M. Leman, the organising secretary of the Agricultural Banks Association, who read an excellent paper on " Agricultural Credit BauUs " at the last meeting of the Surveyors' Institution,' did not meet with much encouragement from the members who took part in the discussion. Tho general opinion of his critics appeared to be that farming would not pay for credit which could not be given by village banks at much less than 6 per cent. It is certain that small farmers aud holders who need temporary loaus at certain times usually pay more than this rate of interest, whether they get them indirectly by long credit obtaiued from merchants or dealers, or from professional money-lenders. Even those who can' get credit from ordinary banks hardly get off with less interest and commission than 6 per cent. So far the Association with which Mr Leman is connected has limited its efforts to the establishment of village banks for small holders of land and tradesmen, because the law in its present state is unfavorable to the extension of the system of co-operative credit to banks suitable to large farmers. Even with regard to their limited purpose, the. Committee have had great difficulty in getting rules, such as they can recommend to those who desire to establish village banks, passed by the official authorities, certain formalities being in the way. Moreover, wonderful as the.sucoess of these institutions has been in several Continental countries, it must be confessed that the attempt to establish them in England has not been met with a great amount of encouragement hitherto.