OHINEMURI.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2046, 17 May 1875, Page 3

OHINEMURI.

THE PROSPECTORS' JUMPED: FATAL ACCIDENT AT ROTOKOHU: PUBLIC WORKS ON "TICK." (fboii oun owk coe'kespondeht.) May 13. The principal topic of conversation to-day is tho jumping of two interests in the Prospectors' claim by Charles Mclean and Enlay McLiver. Plaints have been laid against Philip Holes and James Verrall for non-working, and the summonses were served yesterday. The cases will come on for hearing next Wednesday, and I believe that the legal talent of the Thames havo been invited to oomo up and take another dividend out of Ohinemuri. Tho Warden will doubtless have a busy time when he next visits us, as, besides the cases mentioned, plaints have been laid against shareholders in other claims, viz., three in the Totara claim, one in tho Home Rule, and five in the Just-in-Time (adjoining the Banyan). Objections havo also been lodged by the shareholders in the All Nations Amalgamated against the applications made by the shareholders in the Karangabakc Amalgamated for permission to tunnel and construct tramway, and they will probably have to be decided on tho ground. Other lawsuits aro looming in the distance. There is a dispute now pending between tho Mazeppa G.M.C. and the shareholders in the Totara claim in reference to an encroachment on that portion of the company's ground, originally taken up by Riordan and party, and, of course, until that is sotlled by process of law, the Mazeppa G.M.C, cannot be deemed to have a perfect title.

' I visited Botokohu yesterday, and besides getliug wet I had tho misfortune to lose my dog. It fell down a winze sunk in tho Star of the South drive, and was killed. There* are at • present only four parties working in that district. ?milh and party, of the Star of the South, have discontinued working on their lead, and aro now driviug iu a westerly direction from the bottom of tho winze. The shareholders in tho Ohinemuri daim are working hard, and are in good hope's of soon gelling a payable reef in hand. They havo lately _ been following up a run of ■gold by sinking several prospecting shafts. In the last sunk Ihey cut a leader and washed out some very good prospects from it, but, as the formation showed that it was only a slip, they have decided not to waste timo working it at present, and will therefore devote their energies towards tracing it into the solid. Snowden, late of the Star of the South, has joined their party. Shares iu the Evening Star have been changing hands', and I am informed that some of Hunt's party have taken tho place vacated by Skidmoro and Featon. Their- main tunnel is now in over 150 feet. A new party of six men have just taken up tho ground formerly known as the Morning Star. They have started to cross-cut from the drivo put in by tho former owners.:*

On tho Karangahako spur, the prospectors are still driviug in their main tunnel. Tho Mazeppa G.M. Co.'s shaft is'now down about 50 feet, but is not yet through the surface drift. The All Nations are still driviug in two levels, and are making good progress. The Golden Spur (Babe atid parly) hare cut a reef which they believo to be the Prospectors' Ih. 1. A machine site has boon ijaken up in connection, with this claim.

Prom Waitekauri I hear that the sluicing parties are still doing well. The shareholders iu the Golden Point (next but one to the Dan Leahy) intend to forward stone to tlio Ibames for a trial crushing.

There arc many who still have faith as to the future prosperity of this district, and building is going on both at Mackaytown and Paeroa. Amongst others may bo mentioued Mr P. Lipsoy, who is about to erect a substantial hotel at Fraservdlo (Mackaytown South). .', Most of the timber is already on the ground, but operations have been delayed'owing to an uncertainly as to the line of road. The township has been surveyed and streets laid off, but Mr Palmer, the Government surveyor at present in charge, does not approve of the original plan, and intends to alter it before any substantial buildings are' erected. Mr' Hurley, the bootmaker, who was lately located on Mr Mitchell's property, haa taken up an allotment in Normanby Eoad, Paoroa (opposite to Mr Hogg's store), and intends to make himself comfortable for the winter. •

The';late rain';has caused a fresh. in-.thel rivov to-day, but not sufficient:-.tpVstop' truffle, although the crossings';ar'efiiofc. cffectod without danger. TJie shaft hoi'so' iu Mr Dean's team lost .its. footing and fell at the crossing nearest Mackuytowo, and would probably /have been drowned but for the timely assistance rendered by several persons .'who witnessed the accident. .A-pack horse belongiog to Mr Boid.of Paeroa, which was loaded with provisions for parties at Hotokoku, stumbled and- fell 'at the same place. Everything got wet, and the young man in charge received a nasty blow, on the forehead while trying to savo the horse.

The new road round tho bend of the river is not yet finished. The men are still working, but I am informed that they have not been paid for several weeks past. Mr Mackay, I feel certain, has done his utmost to get the money for them, but the General nnd Provincial Governments are squabbling, and,talk " about principles " being involved. Meantime tho men may starve, for all they care. I understand that Mr Wallnutt does his best to remedy tho evil by giving certificates weekly to the men for amount of wages due, to which they can take to thoso storekeepers who are willing to advance goods on them. Of course, it is not to bo expected that cash will bo given iu .exchange for such orders, and therefore tho men, or somo of them, are occasionally placed iu very awkward positions. I have heard of ouo case in which n man wished to visit his family at tbo Thames, and could not raise enough to pay his expenses. If the Government cannot carry-out public works without compelling people to adopt something very like tho "truck" system, they had belter shut up shop. It would be far better for cither tho General or Provincial Government to knock off tho men, and pay them tho amounts duo to them. They could.then scttlo tho question as to liability between themselves at their leisure.

No steamer camo up to-day, and consequently we have no papers. Tlio ' Lalla Jioolth' and ' Pearl' camo up to Paeroa yesterday, and went down this morning, The 'Alert' has not put in an appearance, contrary to expectation; An elderly Maori womau, named Makcre, died at tho Opatito settlement lust night, and feasting and crying is again tho order of the day. .

[PER PIGEON EXPRESS,] Ohisbjiubi, funday, 3 p.m. The All Nations (No. 1 North) struck the prospectors' No, 2 reef last night, in their low level, at 212 feet from the mouth of the. drive. They cut through .it this morning, and it averages about tfro feet six inches thick, making larger in the bottom. Jll3 a well-defined lode, with nice pipeclay casing, and tho quartz is yery similar to that taken out of this reef in the prospectors' ground. Its course is still about north and south, but the dip has changed, and tho lodo is now nearly vertical, A small piece of stone was crushed, and when panned off it showed a little fine gold. After doing certain necessary work to improve tho ventilation, I expect the shareholders will for.ward stone to the Thames for a trial crushing.

The prospectors' had a meeting yesterday, to receive the report of the committee which had been appointed to negotiate the purchase of a battery. It was proposed to form a company, but after considerable discussion an amendment was moved by Mr M, Coleman, and seconded by Mr T. Arnold, to the effect'that it was not desirable to form a company as proposed. It was ultimately agreed to adjourn the meeting until Thursday next, and it is hoped that the objectors will, meanwhile, reconsider (heir decision.