TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Te Aroha, Wednesday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1842, 26 April 1884, Page 2

TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Te Aroha, Wednesday.

No f withstanding the prognostications of the weather prophet the rain will persist in holding off and the sun shines out day after day with a brilliancy which is very delightful but which nevertheless is attended with certain drawbacks. Water, the sine qua non of all goldfields, and especially of those where crushing machinery is required, is again becoming a scarce commodity, and should the drought continue a while longer the immng industry on which our existence so largely depends will for the tune being be seriously crippled. Already the supply at our only batteiy (Messrs Firth and Clarks) has fallen off so much that it has been found necessary to hang up 10 head of stampeis, and if lain does not come quickly it is possible the crushing power will be still further 1 educed. The month's yield of gold is therefore likely to be largely affected, and in all probability the next retoiting will be the smallest that has yet taken place. The present force of the battery is distributed as follows : — Colonist 15 head, New Find 10, and Canadian 5. The weekly cleaning up on Monday last gave for the Colonist 29Goz. lOdwts. of amalgam, and for the New Find 2350z. lOdwts. A fair &tart has now been made with the new tailings plant and everything is working most satisfactory. As stated in a former letter the plant when completed will consist ot (54 bet dans. Of these only one half are now going, the New Find Company having 1(5 and the Colonist Company l(i. It will be some time yet before the other 32 can be slaited, as only two of that number are now in position. Had grinding opeiations commenced earlier in the month the yield of gold from the beidans would have gone a long w.iy towards making up for the reduced returns brought about by the shoit supply of water at the batteiy, but with only a week of the month now to uin, and with the little delay incidental to the fataiting of new machinery, it is not expected that the plant will on the first occasion add largely to the month's yield. The Hot Springs Hotel here has changed hands, Mr Coleman, the late proprietor, having given up the business, which has been taken o\ er by Mr Gr. S. O'Halloran, who was Mr Colenian's piedecessor in the house as he is now his successor. The experience formeily acquired by Mr and Mrs O'Halloran will no doubt enable them to carry on the business successfully, and fully maintain the popularity of the establishment, whicli in the hands of the late propuetor was second to none in the district. Preliminary steps have been taken by the Masonic bretht>rn (of whom there are a conside] able number resident in this neigh bourhood) for the erection of a lodge here. It is ovpected that the opening ceremonien (preparations for which are in progress) will take place m about three weeks fioni now, when a number of prominent member-) of the ciaft fiom Auckland and elsewhere will be present to give eclat to the proceedings. The dullness of the times does not seem to have any effect in abating the ardour of our young people amongst whom marrying and giving in mainage seeing to be the o» del of the day. Within the last week no fewer than five courageous bachelors have swelled the ranks of the Baiiodioks, and as many blu-hing dain-uls have thereby beon mide happy. Not bad this for .such a small community.