SATURDAY, NOVEMBER. 17, 1883.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 24, 17 November 1883, Page 2

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER. 17, 1883.

A very general feeling of discontent prevails with regard to our postal service. The tri-weekly coach from Ham- 1 ilton, by which mails are always' despatched, rarely arrives before ten o'clock, and often urgent business letters have to remain four days for reply, and then the connection with Hamilton may fail through the late arrival of the coach at Hamilton. The importance of the Goldfield justifies us in demanding a daily mail. Whether this can be managed more satisfactorily via Waikato or by the Thames, or by both routes, must be left for the postal authorities to arrange. It is extraor-

dinary, however, that tlio Auckland postal authorities have yet made no use of the daily coach by way of the Thames. Steamers often leave Auckland at night which would connect easily with "tho morning coach arriving here about noon, yet tho post office makes no attempt to utilise this route in tho public interests. Thoro is nof reason why wo might not be put in daily communication with Auckland under existing means of transit, if the smallest amount of enterprise were displayed by tho Chief Postmaster. All that is required, is to arrange for tho transforonco of the mails from the Thames steamer to tho coach, a duty which could easily be looked after by tho Thames officials. In the re-arrange-ment of subsidies the postal wants of Te Aroha should not be placed second to those of Tanranga or any other district. Tho importance and permanence of the placo, which is now no mere mattor of expectation and hope, but a well established fact, warrants us in pressing this demand, not as ix matter of favour, but as a right. Tho closeness of our business relations with Auckland makes it a special and urgont necessity. It would be bad enough if tho present tri-weekly service were regularly performed and gave facilities for immediato exchange, but its irregularity and the briofnoss of tho interval for reply on the most favourable days, when tho coach delivers the mail at 8 p.m., and leaves at 7 on the following morning, makes tho system simply unendurable, and had we not been the most longsuftering of peoplo the matter would long ago have been represented at head quarters with an earnestness that could not have failed in achieving its object. The time has come when these representations must be made. Not only are private interests sacrificed daily, but the whole district is suffering through the prevalence of ludicrously vague ideas of its remoteness and inaccessibility. Its natural beamy would attract hundreds of visitors, if the people of Auckland were really aware of the ease with which the journey may be accomplished, and the attractions and conveniences of the place; but if we have not, as yet, succeeded in impressing these cogent facts on the mind of the Chiof Postmaster, hovv can we expect to do so with the crowd whose business rarely brings them directly in contact with Te Aroha. and who, on the rare occasions when they have occasion to write, find it takes about as long to get a reply as from Wellington. We hope the feeling which has now been aroused among Auckland people will accomplish what tho distant local protests have never beon able to effect, and that Mr Biss will become alive to the fact that in doaling with Te Aroha he has to do with a large and growing mining and agricultural community, whose commercial wants already employ several lines of coaches and steamers, and which cannot bo put oft' with a service barely adequate to the wants of an obscure country village.

The auriferous and permanent nature of the reefs in this district having been proved beyond a doubt, the summer season having actually arrived, and a largo influx of population set in, both in the town. 0 and surrounding districts, poiuts to the absolute necessity of immediate and much improved, communication between the Waiorongomai, and Aroha townships. Everyone who has lived in a district where roads have to be made, and maintained through 3wamp land, must be aware of the enormous expense necessary to keep swamp roads open for traffic; we have been liberally treated by the Government in tho shape of grants, and the Roads and Bridges votes, the County Council have from time to time done everything in their power to assist in keeping communication open between the townships, but we arc reluctantly compelled to state the fact that the road to-day, is very little belter than a bog frem end to end, even the coaches are unable to run their regular trips. It is usually considered that those who find fault, should supply a remedy, and we are now in the hap^y position of being able to supply a remedy. In the column of thi3 Journal on August 4th we advocated strongly the formation of a company for the construction of a tramway, the estimated cost of which would not exceed £5000, we are now of opinion from additional data to hand, the cost would not exceed £4000. We would suggest, the line of tramway should run from the bridge up Bridge street along Rewi street, branching off at Stony Creek, running along tho main road as far as the cross road from tho river. Arrangements would then have to be made for carrying it on to the Waiorongomai township, either along the main county road, or by running it through tho high school allotments, provided satisfactory arrangements could be come to with tho owners. A branch line could be run to the river from the main road through West and Murphey's lots. This scheme would command tho whole of the river and railway traffic, besides relieving the main road of all heavy carriage. The County Council would then be in a position to keep tho road in good repair, out of ordinary revenue, for light traffic, inhabitants of the surrounding district would bo able to make sure of getting their goods delivered without delay and at a cheaper cost. In placing a scheme such as this before the public in the shape of a company, and soliciting shares, being taken up as an investment, ifc must; of necessity b? shown, that a fair

interest will be paid on the capital invested. ()n tlio present occasion we will not go into the matter, but leave it for the promoters to advocate the quality of their own goods, sufficient for us to say on behalf of our selves we are confident that the speck would prove a highly payable one, ond is a legitimate investment for capital. Not a moment should bo lost in pushing forward the formation of the company, and issuing prospectuses for applications for shares. All who have the future advanceof thfs district at heart should not only take shares but should do everytning in their power to advance the project, as we feel sure the true interest of the townships lie in being brought as closely togcather as possible, by easy and cheap communication.

An instance of the confidence felt in the future- of this district is afforded by the satisfactory result of the sale of the balance of allotments in the Waiorongomai township. The sale, which was conducted by Mr James Craig, of the firm of Gellion and Co., took place at the Te Aroha Public Hall on Saturday. All the lots remaining were sold at prices ranging from f 4 5s to £33 each— size, 50 x 125 feet. The cash result of Saturday's sale was £1,068 10s, which, with the previous sale, makes a total of £2,809. The Thames High School, who own tho land, will receive one-third. Long Drive Walker appears, from the reports furnished to the various papers, to have come out of tho Makara goldfield fiasco, as the saying is " without a scratch." Tho, following 1 telegram from Wellington shows the old veteran miner was quite safe in wageiing £20 that a similar crushing could not betaken out: — 'The testing of the Queen of Beauty mine at Makara took place to-day. The referees were Messrs J. C. Harris, of the New Zealand Times, and 11. Blundell, of the Evening Post, and two mining experts were also present. Twenty-one dishes of stuff were washed with unsatisfactory results, only a few specks of gold being obtained. Cold water has been thrown on the ahareinarket in Aroha stock in the shape of cold water amalgam. When it became known that the amalgam had been treated in cold instead of hot water, a panic set in in stocks in the Auckland and Thames markets. Doubtless a wrong impression got about with ieferencc> to the treatment, but we venture to say no person at the Aroha thought for one moment that hot water hud been used. No doubt a few days of such steady returns as we have had for the past ton days will again give the investing public confidence, and set the ball rolliug again. X* It appears to be nobody's fault, and yet it must be someone's, that the baths are left in the really disgraceful stato they are at present. The inhabitants should cull a public meeting and find out who is to blame in the matter. When we apply for infoi rnation to the Domain Board, the blame is put on the shoulders of the Government. If it really is the fault of the Government, why is our member for the di.Ntrict not communicated with and asked to wire the Government urgently, pointing out the immediate necessity of providing a small additional sum' of money out of the vote of last session for Theimal Springs. The matter is now beyond joke ; a large number of visitors daily aiming, and no accommodation for them to enjoy one of nature's greatest panaceas. We trust immediate action will bo taken. J^ Mr Wells has taken a great deal of trouble in getting a petition signed and forwarded to the Chief Postmaster (Mr Biss), asking for a daily mail service I between here and Auckland. We have very little doubt the application will be acceded to, as the postal communication has increased very much of late. Owing to the late wet weather the contractor for the bridge has been unable to make the progress he expected. It has taken him all his time securing the timber to prevent it being carried away by the freshes Now the fine weather appears to have sot in, Mr Reid intends pushing on with tho work. Wo have to congratulate tho " Waikato " Consultation on the very successful drawing last week. Tho following aro the successful numbers that got horses :—: — 313 Dukedom, 143 Culmti, 218 Jessie, 235 Lesbia, 452 Magnet, 21 G Kinsrsdale, 475 Bordeaux, 426 Dirk Hattoriek" 133 First Demon, 202 Ma'tini-Uenry, 353 Pollio, 233 Kathleen Mavourneen, 439 Cunnamulla, 244 Stockwcll, 251 Le Grand, 457 Aide-de-Camp, 464 Sardius, 213 Sweet William, 315 Santa Clan*, 222 Bis Bis, 217 Off Colour, 531 Commotion, 466 Veinct, 241 Linda, 129 Recovery, 248 Anglesca, 435 Koh-i-noor, 440 Nicholas, 462 First Water, 210 Sir Mod rod, 362 Signor, 263 Archie, 473 Despot, 136 Chiptrop, 371 The Gem. There were 209 tickets drawn. " Waikato " has now ■ another consultation on the Auckland Cup, 300 members at 10s each. The Piince of Wales' Birthday was partially kept at Waiorongomai. The battery worked all day, as also the men at the mines and tramway ; a few of the stores closed during part of the day. As the hour for posting the returns on the bi ttcry at Waiorongomai approaches, a number of persons can be seen anxiously waiting tho result. Tho greatest excitement prevails when the paper containing the various returns is brought out to be inspected. A great demand still continues in the township for house accommodation. Any person having a little capital to lay out in such propcity would receive a splendid interest on the capital invested. Tho tramway is proving a great benefit to the miners locatod near. Goods can now be taken up the line of tram much ■ quicker, and without the knocking about they would get by being packod up on horses. Tho additions to Messrs Lawless and Kilian's Hotels, at Waioionjromai, aro being pushed ahead with all possible speed. Tho proprietors intend having every tiling ready for the travelling public when tho fine weather really sets in. A number of brethren mot in the Public Hall, Waiorongomai, on Wednesday, to arrange foi opening an Orange Lodge. There was a good muster. Tho officers were elected, and arrangements made for opening and installation at an early date, duo notice of which will bo given.

A Masterton baker, perplexed with the intaicacios of the new " Adultenition Prevention Act," wrote to the Government asking what wns ment by " French loaves '' In reply, (says the ' Evening Post') he got the following letter, and, it is needless to say, is as much mystified as ever: — " I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter, asking tho meaning of certain clauses of ' The Adulteration Prevention Act, 1883.' I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to recommend you to consult your own solicitor on these points, as it is not the practice of tho Government to interpret the law for private individuals. — G-. S. Cooper." It is reported in the district that the letter has niado the baker " crusty." Plans of licensed holdings, carefully compiled from official data, by Mr Purchas, and showing mining Surveys by Mr Balydon, &c, are now obtained. Mr Thomas Fenton, well and favorably known in mining circles for several years past, has joined the noble army of brokers. His advertisement appears in another column. At the next sitting of the Warden's Oourt, a case, involving the question of dissolution of mining partnerships, will be heard. Four persons were conjointly interested in a claim, one of them leaves the district, and having failed to make provision for the payment of his share in the expenses connected with their joint interest, his partners have taken the necessary action to get a dissolution of partnership, and also to obtain authority to sell defendants interest, in order to defray his debt due to the partnership. This question is one cf general interest, und the decision of the Warden will indicate the means necessary to be taken to compel partners to pay their just proportion of expenses incurred in woiking ground, and, failing to pay this, the legal remedy which is available.. Excellent stone from the Vermont mine as forwarded to Auckland on Monday, to the office of the Manager. The travelling public will be pleased to lea v n that arrangements are being made forjproviding more convenient facilities of travelling between Auckland and Te Aroha. The P S Annie Milbank is being refitted, and will run alternate days with the Enterprise, thereby establishing nightly trips, the time table is to be so arranged as to enable passengers to proceed at onco either by tho coach, or river steamer. The steam cranes now in use on tho property of tho Waikato Land Association aro proving valuable anxilliarics to the work of carrying off tho surplus water, and have enabled the manager, Mr Henry Reynolds, to thorougly deal with lowlying land, which has hitherto proved troublesome owing to the difficulty of cutting drains the required depth by hand labour. The cranes referred to have worked quite a revolution in this depaitment of the Company's operations. They were skilfully constructed by Messrs Fidserand Tinne, of the Phoenix Foundry, Auckland, and when their merits become known will no doubt be in great denvind throughout tho colony. Thomas Hector, was forwarded to the Thames on Wednesday last in charge of Sergeant Emerson, to do 14 days' iinpribonment for contempt of court, in refusing to leavo an allotment which he as as illegally occupying on an order of the Court. A A case of more than usual interest is set down for hearing on Tuesday noxt. Mr Campbell, solicitor, and Mr Cuff, solicitor, met to arrange some legal business for their clients. During the conversation which ensued, tho complainant, Mr Campbell, alleges that Mr Cu£r!, the defendant, used language calculated to cause a breach of the peace, to wit, " Campbell, you are a scoundrel." Should the affair come before his Worship, it will be for the defendant to prove his case, which will bo a veiy difficult undertaking to accomplish. We trust, for all parties concerned, the case will be amicably settled without going into Court. X Mr Lavery, Chairman of the Te Arohd School Committee, has received the following communication respecting the change of teachers :—": — " Referring to my previous correspondence on the subject of Mr O'Connor's removal from the Waiorongomai school, I am directed to inform you that the Board has instructed Mr Win. J. Murray, Probationary Teacher, attached to the Newton East School, to proceed at once to Te Aroha, and to take temporary charge of the Waiorongomai school until the end of the year. — Yours, &c, Vincent E. Rick." Yesterday the shuremarket here and in Auckland was decidedly firmer, and better prices ruled in the principal stocks.