Tairua Goldfield.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1968, 26 April 1875, Page 2

Tairua Goldfield.

(FEOM X COBBESPGNDENT.)

.-' ; Sunday". Meeting of Miners.

A meeting of miners was hold on Saturday night. There was a large attendances of men, and any quantity of mud. Mr Gillctt was put in the Chair.

Mr Rowley made some remarks, in which he assured the miners that he would protect their interest*., from the wily speculator. He spoke oil the stump of a tree, so it was indeed ktump oratory.

The following were the resolutions proposed for the occasion :— Proposed by Mr Montgomery, seconded by Mr Gorry, " That, in the opinion of this meeting, no leases should be granted on the new goldfield; and that His Honor's attention be drawn to the number of leases which remain unworked in the Hauraki district."

Proposed by Mr Woods, seconded bj Mr O'Neill, " That a Progress Committee be appointed to watch over the interests of the working men." Proposed by Mr Ferguson, seconded by Mr JBcrgin, " That a deputation be appointed to wait upon His Honor the Superintendent, to draw his attention to the foregoing resolutions " The following gentlemen were appointed as a deputation:—Messrs Woods, o'-iNeill, Robinson, Gorry, Montgwnery, Whitby, Sully and Rowley. A rote of thanks to Mr Rowley was proposed. There was an air of comicality about the meeting, and everybody did not look at all comfortable, and nobody looked presentable: the place ii in such a fearful condition, owing to the late two days rain. Mr Rowley did not confine himself to one stump, his equilibrium often being out; so he alternated betweem two stumps and the slush that divided them.

Scarcity of Bread is very much felt; loaves are selling at Is 6d each. The track has been rendered still worse by the late fall of rain,: and the journey now is indeed a sticker, inasmuch, as one gets stuck at every other step, and progress is consequently slow. Mr McPherson has brought up 31 head of sheep for consumption.

Commencing Work. Several parties have commenced to work in earnest, and all speak encouragingly of the prospects. There is very little business doing, however. A great many left on Saturday to spend the night in town—and in comfort. Pilgrimage by a Daughter of Eve.

The road to Tairua is looked upon as being rather rough fcr men who affect roughing it; but the journey has been performed by Miss Batcliffe, who arrived here in such a condition as surely lady was never in before. It is scarcely posible.to. keep.within the bounds.of propriety and tell of 'the various mishaps^ which befell our adventurous heroine from the time of starting £.t Tairua to her arrival at this place. The mishaps were manifold, and a detailed description ef them would involve a harrowing enumeration of the. mysterious wardrobe adjuncts thst wero lost, damaged, or rendered unrecognisable. I will not, therefore, anatomise. It would be painful. Suffice it itbat Miss Batcliffe behaved like a Joan of Arc might be supplied to do, wading through a sea of mud. The process of travelling is slow. Having made one step, your leg sinks down into the mud; you then make another step; i.and when that leg sinks too, you have to turn round and pull out the other before you can resume. It is slow. Miss Batcliffe arrived at Tairua and was provided with a tent, in which she reposed for the night, after having been assisted in the operations of purification with as much delicacy as circumstances would admit of.