WISE WAIHI.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 638, 15 October 1909, Page 8

WISE WAIHI.

THE STOET OF A QUICK CONVEESION. 'Waihi is the great gold centre of the , north. Its prc6ent wealth is enormous; the wealth of its future is incalculable. All beneath ittheij lies a mass of gold-bearing feefs. v In 16S8.it was a .very dull, little, poverty-stricken township, composed chiclly of an accomrnodahonhouse and a'store.' - .-...''. ''' v . ■ ■ ' That was before the-great* reef-growth was skinned and probed. . To-day,- you*; have/at Waihi a town of- ten thousand inhabitants,■ and the great Waihi Mine is known throughout the world. Let -figures ■ \talk. • < Within eighteen months from now tho ,Waihi Mine will bo turning l out bullion of the value of,,a. million sterling a year—the equivalent of onetwentieth'of the total exports of the Dominion. And '■ this i 6 ■ only ■ tho beginning. ■'■ •*■■•." l'rior to that, tho work was slight, the output small. ~ Since then development, has, been active and "systematic. It must continue./ In this infant mining industry of Waihi over'a thousand men are permanently' employed. There are three large batteries and treatment plants at work. It is a good beginning, and it furnishes'abundant foo.d for thought. \ The Waihi folk, being prosperous and active, are very keen on sport. There is nothing to do in Waihi except, make money, unless you do take en interest' in: spur;. .Pot' thai 'reason,' the Waihi shooters are very. keen. ■ They ■an ■■ for ever competing with. each other and th« men of neighbouring districts. Often enough, at the Gun Club meetings, they fire tw.o thou ; sand cartridges in an-afternoon* Up'till a. vear or. so" ago, all: these : cartridges were imported. Tho.AYaihi men had a-fixed tradition that only imported cartH'ytes would give the best results. Being dec on the best results,, tho men of as stubborn aa inules. ~ ■ • , ■ Then Mr. :8.-.Burgess, an excellent 6hot who know the storting vduo of "C.A.C." ammunition, and could hot procure it in Waihi or the vicinity, wrote- to tho Colonial Ammunition Company at Auckland to send him some. Thecorajiiny replied that freight and charges on small'parcels would make .the .price nrohibi-. tive, and- that in atiy- caso they could only supply through a trader. But a complimcutary: coneigument was sent along. Mr. Burgess, used. some_ himself, and some ho dislrU buted among Waihi shooters." ... .', : ■'. ■'• ■That; in effect, is tho wholo story of Waihi's quick conversion. ,They all use "C.A.G.":cartI ridges iiow. Thoso : storekeepers ■ and dculerp who stocked imported stuff .'for. the season juet past have ■it left on -tliejtfi slielvcs now . tho seasfln has closed.' ■ \Yaihi' hns'.'.recoguisod tho truth that tteo is not'procurable in tho.Dbminion'..any ;other : , carlrldge so.gcoil 'and . bo trustworthy as; thoi "C.A.C," As • Waihi -liien aro as'keeii'as ever..oh gcttiiig i,the■ bost -results, they, will liavoY'C'A.C;",-.ammunition, or .none.-,:. , t ;- ? ; - - ; ,■,■■]■■'■.■., , '; ; -' ■■:.■ - v--- ■■ '■■ The position in Waihi furnishes an eicellenl lesson to conservative. Etorckeepers.: ,onot "C.A.C." cartridges' aru-'knoini .anil provedr.bj. shootinß ;inoii,' they, must''get the 'market.' When; facts- arei m nlanii the : mail: who, talks pei'oistcutly' in. praise ,df the .importeii article inerely:iWastes,'liis.;)vuMl. : ':. ■'.'..•■ -1355