GOLD-BEARING STONE AT NGARUAWAHIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1222, 29 April 1880, Page 2

GOLD-BEARING STONE AT NGARUAWAHIA.

(FROM OUtt SPECIAL REPORTER.) In Tuesday's issue we stated that stouebeai'ing gold had been discovered within five "miles of the township of Ngai*uaAvahia. Our first anxiety being ever te give the besfc and earliest information of all matters of interest we yesterday despatched a special reporter to Ngaruawahia, and from him learn that the stone was first discovered last September by men in the employ of Mr Davies (of Friar and Davies), when drawing timber out of the bush, for that gentleman. When seen by a ftw "knowing ones" they pronounced it to be likely looking stuff, and a parcel was forwarded to the Bank ofNew Zealand, Auckland, for testing purposes ; the Bank essayist reported it to be gold-bearing. On this report being received another sample was forwarded to Mr Heinrich Kohn, the well-known Jeweller, of Queen-street, Auckland, who, having tested it, pronounced it unmistakeably auriferous. Specimens were then submitted to experts at the Thames and others in Auckland, and the universal decision has been that the stone is gold-bearing. Besides the specimens forwarded as detailed, a bushman named Healey, living on the west side of the Waipa River, has, in the intervals of his work, done some prospecting in the vicinity, and is in possession of specimens unmistakeably gold-bearing. A fe.w gentlemen are now employing prospectors in order to set the question as to whether the stone is remunerative or not at rest ; but at present, from very careful enquiry, we fail to recognise any circumstance warranting undue excitement. We observe that yesterday's Heraltl contains a telegram from NgaruawaMa stating that nothing was known there Jabout the matter (gold find at Ngarnawahia) "\mfcil the Waikato Times was read," and that the " article " (it was only a paragraph ofleven and a-half lines) was " causing great annoyance." We have only to say to this, as we regret to be so constantly under the necessity of telling the old woman of Wyndham-street, that the Herald is again behind the times.

The Hon. the Native Minister has moat reluctantly postponed his visit to Waikato, and in company with the Honorable the Attorney-General leaves the Manukau this morning for Wellington.

It is rumored in Oamaru that Mr W. L. Rees will contest the seat for Waitaki, vacant through the resignation of Mr Hislop.

We clip the following from the Colonial Printers Register of this month regarding ourselves :—": — " From the files of the Waikato Times to hand, we observe a marked improvement in its get up ; in fact, it has quite changed in its appearance. Some few months ago the paper passed from the hands of Mr. F. Whitaker, member for Waikato, to Mr. E. M. Edgcumbe, a gentleman of considerable literary experience, and who so successfully cartied on the Bay of Plenty Times at Tauranga. The type is new, and the selection a most judicious one. The editorial ' chait is filled by the proprietor,: whilst Mr S. Ei, Smith, a journalist well-known in the South, occupies the position of travelling reporter. His articles and notes " Chats With Farmers " are highly appreciated by the community in the far ;North. Mr. George Edgecumbe is the able manager, whilst the printing and jobbing departments are under thecontrolof Mr. Richard Edwards, late of the Melbourne Argus."

In our mention of the grants promised to Mr J. IS. Whyte for this district during the late visit of the Minister fdr Works, Mr Oliver, we omitted a sum of £1500 for the Waikato and Tauranga road.

Yesterday Inspector Naden visited the Eureka Station of the Piako Land Association. Mr Reynolds accompanied him on an inspection of the herd of one hundred and fifty cattle, which is isolated from the rest and contained those most suspected of infection. Mr Naden looked carefully through th© herd, and expressed an opinion that they had considerably improved in appearance since his last visit.

The "European Mail" says that amongst the new companies just registered we note the Kapanga Gold Mining Company of New Zealand, with a capital of £50,000 in £ 1 shares.

We yesterday inspected the Ngaruawahia School, in charge of Colonel and Mrs Rookes. The children present a clean and healthy appearance, but we regret to see so sparse an attendance, only forty-three being present out of a roll of ninety. It is quite evident that the School Committee are not conscientiously performing their duties, or a larger attendance would be the rule. The Compulsory Clauses of the Education Act are fully stringent enough to all intents and purposes, and members .of School Committes should see them faithfully carried out. It is unfair alike to children and teachers that the desultory attendance should be the rule in our schools. The children we examined acquitted themselves very well indeed, in Reading, History and Geography, and under the evidently careful tutition of Colonel and Mrs Rooks, should prove themselves fit when their time comes to undergo the heat and burden of the day.

There is one requirement the Hamilton Borough Council might provide for the public convenience — and not a very costly affair either — and that is a weighbridge. Indeed so far from being expensive, it would produce a revenue and at once, and if placed near the toll gate, the east end of the bridge could be attended to by the toll keeper, a small fee being charged for its use. A public weighbridge would be a great convenience where hay, grain, potatoes, wool, and coal could be weighed in bulk. We know of no town of the same size and pretensions of Hamilton that does not possess one of these useful arrangements. At Gisborne indeed there are two of them.

Messrs Taylor and Freer have just completed the new police barracks Hamilton East, at the junction of Grey-st. and Eichmond-st, , and have made very excellent work of their contract. The house for police accommodation is a neat looking gabled five roomed cottage with verandah in the half front, bay windows and porch behind, comfortably lined and papered throughout. At the rear is a two-stalled stable and harness or forage room, and a small lock-up with separate accommodation for ladies and gentlemen. The house has been papered and painted by Mr. Lovegrove, who has established a reputation as a tradesman which has secured for him a large share of business ia and about Hamilton, Messrs Taylor and.

Freer have completed their work within the contract time *and in a manner which cannot hut be highly satisfactory.' jthough up to last week, we understand^ tHey had not reoeived evon' an installment' of the £448 15s the amount of the contract. Mr Lovegrove is, we see, now engaged in painting" the Hamilton Court House, and we should certainly recommend that the decayed woodwork at tte entrance be replaced before the work of painting is finished.

A mekting of the South Auckland Cattle Bostrd i» convened for Saturday next, at 10 a.m. A si'iici vl meeting of the Hamilton Contingent Te Awamutu Cavalry is convened for -Saturday next, at Gwynnc's hotel, at 7 p.m. The Hamilton Rifle Volunteers (with band) will parade for monthly inspection" this evening at half-past sc\en o'clocjc, at the Oddfellows' Hall. Nona? is given that it is intended, on the 15th proximo, to make a late of is in the £ on the rateable value of all lands in the Kirikiriroa Highway District for ensuing jcar. Thic meeting 1 of the Waikato Council, advertised to take place on the 7th May, is postponed to 14th May. No ncrc is given that the trustees oftheMangapiko Highway intend striking a rate of is in the £ for ensuing year.