THE OHINEMURI GOLDFIELD.

Thames Advertiser, Volume X, Issue 2626, 18 May 1877, Page 3

THE OHINEMURI GOLDFIELD.

(by OUR OWN BEPOBTEIl). Tnis district has within tho last few weeks assumed a brighter aspect, the population having increased, and, with numbers, the material wealth also increases. The principal cause, however, is the success attending working the Waitekauri mine, which means labour with good wages (being rather in demand than otherwise for miners), the tramway works employing others; and the'revival of interest in several of the leases at Waitekauri by the resuming or commencement of works. Tho works also lately undertaken and still in progress by the County Couucil assist to tho general prosperity, and a tone of selfreliance is generally manifested by the community. The townships of Paeroa and Mackaytown are mainly dependent upon the goldfield population, and it seems a pity that ever there were two townships, or that the Government made Mackaytown a centre by building their offices there, for now, after the lapse of two years, there is less business than then, with lit'le prospect of its resuscitation. At Waitekauri there is considerable activity, the supplies being packed up by horses for tho use of the population, except' sheep or oxen. Those are made to walk up to tho slaughterhouse. On the short road, tho Paeroa-Waitekauri route, considerable improvement is effected by corduroying tho worst places, and improvements are still in hand. There are many families living on the high ground adjacent to the principal mines; a school site has been approved of and tenders called for the erection of a school-house, but the road to it at present is impassable for children. The distance is not great, say a mile,—and if the bush was fallen and cleared from tho track for half a chain wide, it would be worthy of the County Council, who really appear to have studied to do the best with the worst of roads, they having also corduroyed the worst places on the Mackaytown route to the battery.—The company's battery is pounding away with full forco, and with satisfactory returns, while tho supply from the mine is almost unlimited, Tho'extent of good grade stone now worked from the bottom and intermediate levols ia large, and will continue a long time; the inference being that the bulk of the stone to bo taken out will pay well. It is expected that cleaning up at the battery will take place on the Ist proximo. The contractors for driving a level in the Quecu Company's ground havo started work, at a point that will not only prospect their ground, but enablo the Waitekauri Company to go 300 feet below their present working level without being incommoded with water. The great quartz reef running through both company's ground will act as a conduit to the lowest point it is opened on. Tho Queen lies to the north, tho Homeward Bound to the south," and this latter will bo found to contain tho continuation of roof southward. Thero can be no doubt, however, that the Waitekauri champion lodo is not the only one. Besides the works at the Welcome, Young Now Zealand, Perseveranco, and a few others, there are parlies now at work putting in prospecting drives into the Leahy and tho Herald. These aro situate nearer to tho battery than the company's mine, and appear to be well located; each have outcropping reefs, and the object is to prove their value,