MAEREWHENUA.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 158, 15 March 1872, Page 5

MAEREWHENUA.

(From our cwn dorrespoiifieiiti) Harvesting operations are';n#w. in this district, and with results much' '" better than were anticipated some two months back. The jieid of straw is* light, but the ears are weil filled and the grain heavy. In some |&ces.;4z]to|| season has been the best Province for gathering in large areas, of ground having beeii reaped i.i without rain or other impeding element or circumstance to-militate against harvesting. Men have been, on the whole,, very scarce and wages very high—even, as much as 12s. per;day,,with overtime. In some places,, where the work hasbeen taken by contract,, I am credibly informed that as mu<-h as £| per manper day has been realised: To me, in; spite of all that can-be urged to the contrary, I cannot imagine how thefa tuners can make both ends meet, with produce at its present low price. With regard to mining,, the very existence of the' place Las been fairly threatened by the present exceptionally dry season. Many parties- who were depending on the tributaries for, working supply while' extending their race to the river have been completely disappointed, and their prospects nearly ruined. Still, all are sanguine as : to the ultimate success of this place. The Mosquito Company are proceeding in earnest. The contractor has- already put twenty men on the work, and the enterprising proprietor has placed on an additional number, so that there areat present fully thirty men employed on this race. It is fully expected that the race will be completed before the-; ; winter sets in. Too much credit: cannot be given to Mr. Taylor for? the pluck and enterprise exhibited by him in coming to the rescue of this field . whenl deserted by nearly, the whole of V the Gamaru iiierenants. Mr. Taylor'sbered in connection .-with, the works of" this place,-, when,the memory of others • who inaugurated grand companies with—out the abilitv,tp give effect to them,.. will be indifference if not ridicule an* Icon tempt. If was these - persons— quasi energetic, quasi wealthy —who induced persons.of poorer means to join in these speculations and then left them to shift for themselves as best they might be able. Mr. Taylor is an honorable exception to this rule, and has now resolved to do for this field what will, ere long, make it one of the most wealthy and gold-producing fields in this part of the Province, or perhaps of New Zealand. Botting and Sons have now some thirteen miles of their race completed, and some good returns may confidently be anticipated this winter should the season prove favorable. The Band of Hope Company are pushing their race ahead from Stoney Creek, and expect to reach the head of their race in Bushy Creek before, the winter sets in. kead and Co. have their race levelled, and intend making a fair start shortly. The prospects of this party is considered highly satis- % factory and encouraging. A share was this sold in the Golden Hill race and claim for £175. M'Cann's party are pushing forward, having now brought their works as far as the Devil's Kitchen. They have still hard and continuous work before them. Nimo and party have completed their race to Sheep wash Creek, but there is no water at present. There has a misunderstanding in this compank the result of which has been that twoof the shareholders have bought out the other two for the sum of £360, which looks well for a race in such a state. Of the Ben Lomond race lam ' v unable to say anything to-dny, as the bearer waits. Mr. Taylor's prospects in mining speculations are considered, very satisfactory and encouraging, and it is to be hoped that it is so, as he honestly deserves and is sincerely wished all and everything he may obtain.