MAEREWHENUA.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 252, 2 January 1874, Page 3

MAEREWHENUA.

(From our own correspondent.) I hoped to have been able to let you kna'.v something definite concerning; the vexed question of the pollution of the' Maerewhenua liiver—a question which concerns the future prosperity of the Province, if not'of the Colony. I believe some of the squatters here think they have a rotten cause, and one not worth bothering about; others again are eager to.have the case gone into. It is indeed to be wished that they may continue their action, and let the mining know their real positiop. ' If they have no right in this country, the, sooner they know it the better. If Ithe country or the squatters are willing to ta'*e over our liabilities, so as to let miners away on a clear footing, no doubt many will leave for other countries, where equal rights. a,re to be enjoyed' by all. Legislatures that provide only for one class surely contain: no one worthy of the name of Statesman.

The country looks splendid at present, everything being green, although the late high- winds, have played great havoc with the gardens. It is extremely annoying to those who have a Tjood garden, to find it almost ruined. Several at Maerewhenua have had their crops fearfully cut up. The reports from Mou.nt tda speak of similar destruction.. I can only hope they are false. .

Mining matters are looking healthy, and greater confidence was never before shown in the value of the alluvial ground. Several washings-up have given ocular demonstraften of the payable. nature of the ground., . The only question now is, How! much water can be got? ... We have had' the ' Bruce Herald ' correspondent here. Kvid<|ptlya shrewd 'man.' with a nasal twang land a hard, keen eye, firm mouth, ..and, a wellshaped nose.—[ls this.the "awful reporter?"]— He said he had come to report on the field. All he wanted was fair play, tie would, if he found the Golrlfieid cocijeot, run the Ma*?rewheni:a field, against the pastoral interest. Money «vakno-rt\>je«t to I'.is,proprietor; he would give fthem, twelve months' crediti-iorj. if; thafr tiio'ulii,. not do, t\yp/ years —if' they wovAjd ;.;take his. pappr ; 'wad advised: themYtai go.. on putting their races, and trAit to gettiiug the gold. • a , , \ W-3 are to have a%vi.si|t from the.Secre I ary fof, Hie (3 oldfielrli» and Work s, accompanied' by the Pi ovinciai- jSngi- | neor, duriiig'this ffioftttf , to ascertain the requirement l ? of t>o place.. .It would be' wise on the/fjv: vrt of' the Mi-. : nera' Asaoaatiou, to t s}vthem round

the field, and then the requirements: coming afterwards will carry: "double weight-—weight from personal knowledge and impression, and information supplied. lam sure the claims themselves will be their best spokesmen, speaking better than volumes of letters in favor of the value of the Gold field.

Labor is very scarce in this locality, and a3 the harvest progresses this scarceness will increase.

The Mosquito Company are-busy building a large dam which, it is said, will cover ten acres of ground, and will be the making of their property. I have no hesitation in saying that shares in this race will be worth £I,OOO apiece before twelve months are over. The Maerewhenua Company's race is completed satisfactorily, is working well, and delivering over a Government head of water, which may be considered good for a new cut race. In about three ninths this company expect to be able to deliver three -Government heads, which will make the race a good property. Webb and party are progressing rapidly, and if the four or five miles of the race which is in working order is a sample of the whole, it will be a most valuable one—possessing, as it does, a lasting supply of water. Carlyle and party are washing up with, it is believed, good results. The Ben Lomond is getting on, and the race that the owner has cut is working cleverly. The Christmas sports'passed off very well. £3& and a silver medal were given away in prizes. If a considerable amount of business being effected oh the occasion at the hotels is any criterion of the progress of Maerewhenua, that progress must be most assured.