EXCELSIOR BATTERY.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 44, 5 April 1884, Page 2

EXCELSIOR BATTERY.

The meeting called, ns per advertisement., for (ho purpose of discussing the proposed erection of the above battery, was hold in the Public Hull on Monday evening last. There was a very fair attendance of peisons interested in the prosperity of the gold field, and a unanimity of opinion prevailed with regar 1 to the necessity of furthering to the utmost the new undertaking. Mr Cuff was called to the chair, and dwelt briefly upon the grc.it necessity for increased crushing power and the advantages that would be derived thcivfrom. He referred to the working of quartz claims on ti.e S lUthern goldflelds where stuff of a ] relatively lower grade th.in much of that which is considered non-payable here was by means of cheap transit, and ' economical crushing charges nude to pay steady dividends, and saw no reason why the same might not be done here. More crushing power was what was required for this goldlield. The forty stamps at present erected were altogether insufficient. There were mines ; at Waiorongoin.li which could employ a battery each, provided those mines were opened up, and the quartz broken out. crushed at more reasonable rates. A gentleman wdio had lately visited the Ko^s, Ueefton, and other New Zealand goldtfelds told him he had seen nothing in iiis travels to compare with the Aroha gold mines. Down Houth. the poorest mines they had would be made payable, for by means of cheap transit and crushing power even ddwt-s were made to cover all expenses, and claims yielding Sdwts per ton gave monthly dividends of 2s ()d per scrip, Mr P. Ferguson, the convener of the meeting, was in attendance, ami explained in detail the oojects and intentions of the company. i.e pointed out the necessity for co-operation in the matter^ and urged upon those present to lend what aid they could, for if the people of the district showed by their willingness to help, that they were really desirous that the battery should be gone on with, the company would lose no time in commencing the work Mr Crump, the engineer, for the Company was present, and gave information regarding water power, &c, of a most satisfactory nature. After some discussion, it was resolved, " I hat a committee of three be appointed to canvass the district for the purpose of procuring the names of persons willing to become shareholders and of at once ascertaining the number of shares likely to be taken up." It was also resolved, " That the committee consist of Messrs Edward Peel, D. J. Frazer, and Thomas Wood." The usual Vote of thanks to the Chair terminated the proceedings.

A meeting for tue same object was held at Waiorongonirti on thia night

week, and was also well ntronded. The people there displayed a practical interest in the matter by taking 1 np ;i number of shares in the room, and roiiip 200 more had been subscribed r'<>r up to t lit* time of the mcefinQ 1 of Monday ni^'ic. ]t was stale I that if 1000 or 1'JtH) can l»e Hsposed of th-»nyr»iont (,'ie district the Company would at once be in a position to commence work, and before winter set in it would be well advanced. Tu a work of such vitd importance to every one we apprehend there will be no difficulty in bringing matter ton successful issue.