TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1324, 23 December 1880, Page 2

TE A ROH A. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Everything is still progressing satisfactorily both in the Mines and Township and good indications are being found in nearly all the claims as the workings advance. The Don appears likely to meet with the success whic'i it>s proprietors deserve for the energetic manner in which work has been pushed on since the claim was firsc pegged out. On Monday the party working in the lower drive cut through the big reef which appears to be a good body of Btone, about four feet thick, and from its appearauce t»hould pay well for crushing. After taking out a trial parcel, it is the intention of the shareholders to put the drive in another thirty feet, in order to intersect the leader cut in the top drive. The Morning Star still continues to turn out encouraging prospects, and the result of the trial parcel which will soon be sent down, will be anxiously looked for. The Warden, Mr Kenrick, has paid a visit to the mine and appeared well pleased with the show. The Te Aroha Goldmining Company have let the contract for the extension of the drive another fifty feet to Murphy and party, for £1 12s per foot and the Contractors are pushing on with the work night and day. The Bonanza is meeting with first-class stone and the manager has a good many pounds of specimens on hand. Shares in this mine are firmly held here though an advance on Auckland rates is offered. The Tui is getting nice stone, and have sent thirty hundredweight to the Thames for crushing. The manager of the Waikato has taken clown half a ton of stone which he intends to have crushed under his own superintendance. Wherever stone from this leader has beeu tested, it has yielded a fair prospect, and the manager is of opinion that though not rich it will pay well for crushing. The following fresh claims have been pegged out. T. Roe and party, four men's ground ; one and a-half-miles south of the Prospectors. Evening Star, one mau's ground ; east of the United, John Fenton. Ruakaka No 2, fifteen men's ground adjoining the Black Angel, Hoani Ruharui and party. Another claim of thirteen men's ground, in the Waiharau Creek has, also been marked off by a party of natives. Applications for several other claims are expected m today. Mr. Kenrick's decision that all ground taken up must be fully manned is causing some dissatisfaction, but the majority of the diggers approve of the decision on the ground that some companies are holding large areas of land and only keeping one or two men at work, thus retarding the development of the field. In the township contracts have been let for a number of new buildings which are rapidly going up. Ample supplies of building materials are on the ground and a few weeks will shew a material alteration in the appearance of the streets. On Sunday we had visits from the Rev. Mr. Pinfold Wesleyan Minister and the Rev. Father O'Heilly who celebrated Mass in the Messrs Moore and Wilson's new building. Mr Pinfold preached twice, and all the services were well attended and respectfully listened to. The urgent necessity for a lock-up was demonstrated a day or two ag®, when a man named Coomey was arrested for drunkenness and obscenity. The police were under the necessity of keeping him handcuffed all night in one of their own tents much io their discomfort and annoyance. Ho was brought up befere Mr Kenrick and fined £2 aud costs, or in default seven days in tho Thames lock-up. In the Warden's Court several cases have been settled after a patient investigation, but as nothing of interest except to those immediately interested has transpired, I forbear to trouble you with the particulars. A notice has been issued that all claims, rights, and privileges will be protected from Friday the 24th inst., to January 3rd, and the men are already begiuing to clear out for their homes, the steamers and coaches being well patronized each trip.