OHINEMURI. FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Paeroa, Thursday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2116, 30 January 1886, Page 3

OHINEMURI. FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Paeroa, Thursday.

The event of the week has undoubtedly been the advent of the welcome rain. The drought was getting serious previous to this. Swamp and bush fires were getting large by degrees and beautilessly more, ana only the day previous to the setting in of the rain a posse of men were endeavouring to stamp out a swamp tire that w.is blazing its way to a quantity of valuable fencing. The mining industry has cause also to rejoice. The batteries at Owharon, Waihi and Waitekauri were all idle, and although the copious downpour lasted some 24 hours there will hardly be enough to start them even now, at least to kesp going veiy long. Prospecting for iron-stone and limestone is still being eagerly prosecuted and two or three samples of iron ore have been brought in to be tested. The unemployed of Karangahake have been requested to make a road to one of the lodes and stand their chance of getting paid by the county council at the next meeting of that august body. The unemployed did not see the point however. It may not be generally known that we have arrived at the dignity of possessing that adjunct of civilisation, an "unemployed." According to Mr Henry George, we ought to consider ourselves in the very van of Progress, seeing the apparent Poverty which this word implies. Our unemployed however, bring us no such honour. They toil not, neither do they spin, but they manage somehow to live on the fat of the land, and departing leave behind them "little momentums, as Mr H. J. Byron calls them, on the left-hand side of the ledgers owned by the lamenting storekeepers. A good deal of amateur prospecting is going on now among people who are in an unaccountable hurry to get rich. A party of five started from Waihi on Sunday week to settle once for all the vexed question of whether there was payable gold or not in a certain bush. The question of the gold remains still a moot point, but on Thursday evening last there emerged from the depths of the forest primeval three forms, sans whiskey, sans gold, sans everything. Two more unfortunates, who however, have possession of a week's tucker and 6x. 8 tent, have not at latest reports made their appearance in the outer world, and the only ■pecimens forthcoming are said to have been of language which nineteenth century lexicographers term in conventional phraseology " more forcible than polite." Very little is being done at Waihi, owing to the lack of water. It is hoped that the battery will be able to start soon, however. At Waitekanui Mr Ralph has very nearly completed his new battery, and will, in a fortnight, be prepared to receive crushings. At Owharoa the stampers remain hung up. Mr Walsh is busy preparing to rebuild, and " resurgatn will soon be the word for the township. At Karangahake the manager of the Woodstock reports very good progress. The Maria reef, lately struck, shows very rich in both gold and silver. Silver, however, is the reigning power in this reef, which is from 3ft to sft thick. The manager, Mr W. Littlejohn, is making all the stuff up for the smelter. Crown.— The work is going on the same as at last reports on No. 2 Reef. Mr McGruer reports fair progress. Welcome.— Mr Bayidon's report as to the position of the reef is not yet to hand. Rose.— A third call has been made upon this claim for working expenses. The little 12-inch lode, however, shows itself worth a lot cf money yet. The manager is bagging for the smelter. Kenilwokth.— Five tons of fair grade ore are now on their way to the Thames Btnelter. There is to be a much larger parcel sent as soon as it can be got ready. The reef is about three feet thick. The jockey club held a meeting on Saturday, and finally decided to hold a race meeting on S. Patrick's Day. A very large attendance of both human and equine race ia anticipated,