TE AROHA.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1355, 8 March 1881, Page 3

TE AROHA.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Having seen to-day, for the first time, a letter in your valuable paper, signed "D.J.F.," I feel that the same should not go unanswered, as it is a tissue of falsehoods from beginning to end, as can be proved at the Warden's Court, Te Aroha, by the miner's rights taken out by Thames miners of practical experience and long standing, both on the Thames proper, Coromandel, Tapu, Hikutaia ? Ohmemuri, and the Te Aroha, who are still on the field, guiding the appren-tice-hands of the "anythingarians" of Waikato. With regard to the foolish remarks of "D. J.F." about tho old Thames hands, he must; be a new chum in the country as well as in mining, or, in the first place, he would have known that the Thames miners risked their lives to prospect Te Aroha. But it is patent to me it must have been years before he came out, very likely as an immigrant, and that the Thames gold duty paid his passage, or, at least, bhe interest on the borrowed money. Now, Sir, as regards what "D.J, t\" saj s about the old Thames wanting to get nd of her working men, he gives us greater credit than we deserve. If he only saw the prospects that I could wash out of the old Thames (almost anywhere), he would be for getting a white apron and kid gloves to pick it up straight. But it is a well-known fact that diggers, as a whole, like far-off fields, which are always supposed to be greener than their own ; but in a great many cases they find, as in the present instance, the "old love is better than the new," and they return sadder but wiser men. Not because this is '^duffered-up," for it is not so ; but it wants working with powder and gads, and some of it even wauts careful timbering at that, which very few Waikato people know anything about. Miners will not risk then lives with paper-collar gentlemen, and that is the real reason of a good many miners clearing out to their old mates, who, in a majority of cases, were half-shareholders with the so-called "worthless, moneyless, moraless miners." If "D.J.F." would inspect the tradesmen's books here, he would find Waikato stamped deeply thereon, and not old Thames. Now, Sir, a word of advice to "D.J.F." before I close. Touch not the old Thames, for you then touch Waikato. Touch not the miners, for they made both Auckland and Waikato— aye, and volunteered to go, and did go, to your protection, and made your roads, when you were in your infancy, and able neither to do the one nor the other. Take a bit of my advice. Thames and Waikato united, all will be well : but if disunited, it will be bad for both you and me.— l am, &c, Pbactioal Miweb, Te Aroha.