Hokitika.

Star (Christchurch), 23 May 1895, Page 4

Hokitika.

f COBBESPONDEN* " CANTBBBUBY TIMEB."_I Hokitika, May 20. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

The several parties of experts are still scouring the country in connection with the Midland Railway arbitration. The big guns representing the GovernmentMessrs Mueller, Gully and 810w — left for the north this afternoon, having completed their duties here. I cannot say what the special duties of these experts are, but I am told the Midland Company have instructed their people to prepare statistical information respecting every mining block, the extent of the workings, the number of men engaged and the quantity and quality of timber available.

THE PREMIER. Mr Seddon is expected on the Coast this week, and it is currently reported amongst his friends that his name will be included in the list of recipients of Birthday honours, and that when h« lands in Greymouth on May 25 it .will be aa Sir Richard Seddon. Whether true or not, the rumour haa excited very mixed feelings even amongst some of his warmeet supporters, and one of your contemporaries, the West Coast Times, goes so far as to Bay his acceptance of the title will be a political suicide. Among those to interview the Premier on his arrival will be a deputation from the newlyformed Gold-mining League, who will invoke his assistance as member for the district.

MINING. We have a visitor here at present in the person of a Mr Zyman, a reputedly wealthy capitalist from Johannesburg. He purchased some freehold property in Wellington recently for JBBSOO, oblivious, apparently, of the fact that the single taxers are gaining in strength, and that a speculative value in land may soon have no existence. The Humphreys Gully Company have entered into negotiations with him with a view to the re-formation of the company in order to bring the Arahura River on to their claim. It! this water-race is constructed it means a great impetus to sluicing in .the locality, as hundreds of acres on the Arahura terraces would pay to sluice were an adquate | water supply brought on to them. Mr Zyman goes from here to Beef ton, where, I understand, proposals will be made to him for amalgamating a number of quartz claims at Crushington, and forming a big company to take them over. It ia stated that a suggestion of this nature was made by Mr Seddon in a letcer to Mr O'Began, the member for Inangahua. The rush at the Waiho Biver, South Westland, is turning out well, but the available ground is all marked ont, and there is no room for more men unless fresh finds are made. One party proposes to sink for the main bottom, an undertaking which has been fruitless so far owing to the quantity of water met with. The Waiho presents greater mining possibilities than any other alluvial .field on the Coast at the present time, and if the main bottom is struck and carries payable gold a very large mining district will be opened out. One share at the new rush, in a claim named the Londonderry, wae sold the other day for £150 — a sufficient evidence of the value of some parts of the ground.