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

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2122, 13 February 1886, Page 2

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

Thk delay in starting the Woodstock furnace U h ui^insr like a pall over Ohineuniri. It has been said that standing still is going back, and that is assuredly the case w ith this goldtield. People talk about the flepre.sMon, the bad look out, the gloomy prospect, &c, with pregnant shakings of the head and mournfully uplifted brows. The croakers already caw out their "I told you so," and those who were mo.st sanguine at the outlet refrain ftotn speaking. Looking all this in the face, it is difficult to understand the genesis of it. Why, not six months ago, the man who ventured to say a word dei oratory to the place — who, at least, warned people of the folly of relying too much on hope, would have been -Cdiited as a fool. And here we have the solution of the whole problem. Karangahake has not altered, tho leefs are as rich us ever they w en\ and the precious metals have not depreciated in value to such an extent as would be felt by the gold winners, but we overdrew our credit. The reaction has sot in and it is aggravated and u.ade t,o look more severe by the delay in the starting of the smelter. People begin to think that after all there is something more than the lack of flnv that is keeping it back, and this, combined with the fact that the parcel of qtuutz that went to the Thames smelter did not realise one quarter the Midas like piico that was braggingly expected, has brought about the present rate >»f thing*. Thfcse are the bare facts of the case— the unbiassed evidence — that the time when bogus claims would realise hard cush has gone, and that the fact of cash having been paid for bogus claims is appreciated : that the disappointment of speculators and mine managers at not having had their data- less anticipations realised is making itself felt, and that amid the reaction caused by these factors comes the unfortunate delay in the starting of operations. It must not be thought that this is caused by any forgetfulness on the part of the smelting people. On the Sydney side the stuff put through the smelter contains sufficient material in itself to fulfil all the fluxing, and it was not until the Thames furnace was started that they found that the quartz of this district would require the addition of iron-stone to facilitate the process of smelting. Ohineuiuri, however, despite the crackings the gloomy prophecies and the pessimistic " Didn't I tell you," will yet prove her genuineness to the world. Was not Bendigo pronounced a duffer, and did not many laugh at Colorado? These things only prove the fact that it is not the adventurer who comes and goes, and who is in a red hot hurry to make hw pile, nor the soft-headed youth who invests his savings in scrip, that '* substance of things not seen but hoped for," who suffers from that same yellow fever, who is to be relied upon, but it is the sterling hard-working mau who takes no notice of tho rise and 1 full of the market, having had good grounds for believing that the country is gold-bearing to a payable extent, that settles down to do his best. These men are not altogether ideal either. There are many such in Ohinemuri. Men who have been here for ten years, before the country was made up, who bure the heat aqd burden of the day, and paved the way for others more fortunate perhaps than they. These pioneers are tho men upon whom the success of a goldtield depends, and while we have them here hope may fatill be kept ali\e. There i& nothing of any consequence to report from Karangahake. In all the claims good steady work is going on. The Woodstock is ready to deliver quartz as soon as the furnace is ready to receive it, and it is to be hoped then that the diit tint Ins been coming from both tho Miuia and Woodstock reefs will give a goocj account of it-elf. In this part oj the hill they may say, " 'Tis not In mortals to qommand success, bnt we'll do moio Horatio, we'll deserve it." At Owharon, Stophonson, who is. one of

the pioneers just alluded to, having worked on faith for many weary month*, is still hard ut it in hm tunnul, which must bo now over 500 feet in. The township will soon be redivivu» Again, the contractors for re* building the various premises hay ing already got through preliminaries. At Waihi the uvinl work is going on. The Rospmont proprietors who had previously stated their intention of sending the 100 tons of dirt lying at the Thamen furnace to England for treatment, have filtered their mind, and it is now being passed through the stone crusher at the Thames preparatory to being assayed. Very little interest is being taken in the licencing election which in forthcoming immediately. Wo have in this sni.ill township tive hotels, within a hundred yards, bsaides four or five in the out-districts. It is a question, however, if by reducing the number the traffic in drink (which, con* sidering, is not so very great) would be commensurately reduced. Be«ide, a* the county councillors argue, it w all county revenue. Sp».iking of the county, it it beginning to "-hape." The new clerk, treasurer, &c, &c, «fee. h.is arrived, and he is undoubtedly the light man in the right place. H» duties, however, will be arduous, and will lequiro the utmost tension on his part. Mr J. Y. Cock* holds a triple sale here next Friday, when he sells inter alia the rights and privileges of the raoe meeting. This meeting takes place on the 17th March next. The natives are much exercised in their minds concerning the drowning of two natives, very well known in the district, which took place off the Miranda some week or so ago. If the bodies are found they will be the subjects of a great tangi. Tnsppetor fiood.all. newly appointed to this district, is passing through to T«u* ranga on a tour of inspection. He will be through Paeroa, en route to the Thamea next week on his return.