MAEREWHENUA.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 290, 19 September 1874, Page 3

MAEREWHENUA.

(From our own correspondent.)

I aw glad to inform you that the frost has at last broken up. The winter-lfaas been an unjjrecedently hard one, taking all by surprise, as previous experience led | us to expect mild winters and plenty of water ; but this year has proved, the truth of an old proverb, that "the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aftagley," | leaving nought but grief and pain for pro- ( "> mised joy. The water races have had a liard trial—-the new ones especially have suffered, and are* very leaky, but they will now improve. Thomas and party have "washed up. I have noi heard the result, but they nave, I hear, commenced to extend their tail race, and are going to put in more tussocks than they have done before, as they find stone paving not so good for saving the fine gold. Sotting and Sons' claim is turning out very well. The Mosquito Race is bringing in a splendid supply. I believe the Company intends, as spon as they get their side race and dam completed, to go in on a large scale. The Pioneer Water Race Company have made a start. The frost gave their race a severe racking, but it is now working very well, and bringing in a splendid supply ofwater. The shareholders are in hopes of soon pulling up their lost time. The Fiery Cross claim is encouraging the proprietors to go in, in hopes of a good thing. One third share was sold a few days ago in this claim for £3BO, the buyer being an old miner from Hamilton, by the name of Varco. New visitors declare this field right, bat say that more water is wanted for the wide extent of good ground there is. The Ben Lomond has a Heavy, face opened up. The water "is i slack at present;—the race having suffered in the frost is rather leaky, but no doubt ifc will soon take up. Tho Band of i,Hope Company are opening up in Cave Point. The Golden Hill is said to be getting on very well. The Maerevvh.eiiua. Race is now bringing in wator all right. What is wanted is rain, as there has been none for a very long time, and some of the races are as low as ever they have been —there having fallen no refreshers to keep up the supply for nearly twelve months. Should it turn out an open, wet

spring, I have no doubt that this place will give a good account of itself by Christmas. That every claim opened is going to prove payable is more than I can say, and would be contrary to all goldmining experience. The School Committee have accepted, as you already have learnt, Mr. Thomas Cooper's tender for the building. The contract price is £175. It is to be hoped the Committee will exercise judgment in the selection of a central site. On this depends the future success of the school. The Good Templars are making a strong effort here —no less than twenty new members having joined on the east side of the river. It is somewhat strange that none from the west side of the river should have joined. It might be worth while to the management to offer a premium for members from the west side. Perhaps, being out of the way of temptation, it is thought they need no reforming- . j .