Te Aroha News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 10, 11 August 1883, Page 2

Te Aroha News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

'This above all — to thine owu-belf bo true And it must follow as the night the Jay, Thou cunat not thou be false to any man.' — Shakespearo.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1883.

There can be no doubt that for some time past the mining regulations supposed to be in force in this district have been practically suspended, as far as those relating to the occupation of mining holdings go. The conditions have been systematically set at nought, and the men that they require, if strictly carried out, have in very few instances been employed. At the same time, nearly e\6y available yard of ground has been secured on the Waiorongomai side, and a great majority of tne clahna secured on pure speculation. Men utterly without means to work tliem have taken up holdings, depending on finding others with some capital to prove them, or by way of making a rise by the sale of shares-, and then clearing out. As these speculative shares have not of late been very readily purchased, the ground has lain idle, no work whatever, or nothing in the least degree calculated to test its value having been done on it. In fact a most extensive, as well as pernicious, system of shepherding lias bee.n carried on, owing to laxity in enforcing the regulations, ami a very large area of undoubtedly auriferous land has thereby been locked up. In the face of present prospects it is very clear that this state of things cannot he longer permitted, and the remarks of tiie Warden at the last Court will be hailed with grewt satisfaction by all who are interested in the progress and prosperity of the district. The Mining Inspector, we are also glad to notice, lias been actively exerting himself, and has caused confusion amongst the section speculators by the vigorous way in which he has brought them to task. As was truly stated by the Warden, the shepherding iioth of business sites and mining claims has close 1 Te Aroha in a great degree, to strangers who are anxious to obtain them for real occupation and working, auu it has inflicted great injury on the district generally. There, was reason in allowing .some latitude in the depth of feiie winter ami during bad weather, but yvith me iuuumiug spring au<i approach-

ing summer no excuse whatever slioulij'j be accepted as justifying holding-, sites--' of any description, idle and unused. It is not as though there is any question whatever as to the stability of t^ie fielder as to the'highly auriferous ■ area that the <UBtrict possesses. All the claims., that have been opened up; without exception,--have proved themselves in} the highest degree payable, and on the completion of the mining tramway, when the battery gets to work, results will be shown that will astonish not only the residents, but people at a distance in every portion of tlte colony. Tho mountain . has bten truly described as • hill of quartz, and there is not the slightest! doubt thafc*the majority of claims taken up will prove most valuable to the lucky owners. Though, as on every other field, there will be blanks as well as prizes, the latter will predominate, and no person or persons, on any pretence, should be permitted to hold interests unless they take immediate stups to develop the irround they are legally endowed with. There is no possiblo reason for doubting that the untouched claims are not in every degree as valuable us those on which much and profitable work has been done, and it is almost a crime to permit them to lie fallow, as of late. If the holders connot get men with money to join thorn and are not able to work their holdings themselves, they certainly must give them up voluntarily or under compulsion. It is not at all likely that ground promising to prove so valuable should be closed against those who are really prepared to work it, and comply with all reasonable requirements hi doing so. The reefs on the field are more than proved, and there will shortly be a large influx oE population ready and willing to go to work in earnest, and to them, as well as to residents, w>* specially commend the remarks of the Warden that appear in another column. Hv there, in theatrical parlance, suspends the free list, in this case the idle list, and int r mates that he will no longer permit areas to be held on which fair and reasonable mining work is not done. He was specially emphatic in saying that in no future case, where complaint of non-compliance with mining regulations was made and proved, would he grant the alternative of fine, but would, in every instance, adjudge forfeiture. That this is the proper course there cannot be a doubt, and that it will have a most beneficial effect, is unquestionable. Shepherding anywhere is a curse to a goldfield, but' hero there is not tho smallest excuse or justification, the ground having been tested and shown to be of the highest value. Those really ready for work should now cast their eyes about and keep i bright look-out on the unworked holdings 5 for if they do and lodge a complaint, they may be pqt in possession of a fortune. It is probable that the Mining Inspector will bo on the alert, and with the sprint; people will either have to comply strictly with the terms on which they hold privileges, or give them up to others who a,re prepared to do so. The resolution of the Warden has already struck terror into the hearts of many speculative shepherds, and it is to be hoped that he will carry out his pledge to t*ie uttermost. In that event, in a few weeks every bit of ground will be fully and properly tested, and a vast and salutary impetus given to mining throughout the district. Shepherding has had its day, and tho time lias arri/ed when energy and industry must, on this goldfield at least, take its place.

We are unavoidably compelled, through pressure of late advertisments, to condense reports, omit much local matter, and keep out at least a column and a half of telegrams received near midnight. We are taking steps to prevent a repetition of these omissions, an<l shall not have to crave the indulgence of our reideis in future. Cablegrams are to hand stating that Lord Derby has telegraphed to the Australiaian Governments that the Irish informers will bo sent back by the s. s. Pathan, and thai a full explanation will be offered by despatch shortly. A caWetpram dated, London, August 9th, states that the diflicultieH that had arisen out of the Tamalive outrage by the French Admiral on tie British Consul and naval officers, were likely to orrjve at a speedy and satisfactory apttip.ment.— Anti-Jewish riots have occurred in Peath. — An Italian squadron has been sent to Morocco to support claims against the Sultan.— By telegram from Auckland we learn that the shares iri the Frozen Meet Company have been taken up, - Mr W. Wr.p Vof the Thames, has an VTTfcisoment in another column to which., thb attention of horticulturists, maiket Gardeners, and agriculturists in especially dire, fc 1. As will be seen by an announcement els'Jwhero the Auckland Concert Company are about to pay Te Aroha a visit and give two entertainments, one this day week and another on the following Monday. Report spea 1 - s very favorably of the troupe, who are suit t meet wita a hearty and substantial welcome. i It will be seen that there has b«en a change in the proprietorship of the Palace Hotel, Mr James Warren having taken it, Mr Walker retiring. Without doubt it is one of. the beat upeountry hotels in the colony, and has, since jts building and occuptation by Mr Walcer maintained that well deserved reputation which in the new proprietor's hands, is not likely to suffer. In has excellent accommodation for those requiring a thoroughly oomfortable hotel, and in the summer season the new proprietor will doubtlessly be severely taxed to find room for all his patrons. MiWarren is well and most favorably known, and there is not a doubt that he will prosper greatly in his venture. A meeting of the Te Atoha Sohool C m ; miitee was held on Monday evening luoi, when there were present Messrs Livery (chairman.) Cocks, Mackie, Allen, Lawless, anl O'Halloran. The correspondence was approved of, and the sites offered for the Wiuoropgouuai Soliool were.takea imo,poasideratiorr,' 1 though no decision as" do' the acceptance ' of either was come to. It was reived to' request- the KdncWtion BoaH to appoint an extra pupil teaoher, of the three ytur's Ston lard, to the Te Aroha School, mo a tendance of ohiUien justifying one being gran '-a. Ifc wiw a<;re3l that the Board be asked to sanction the appointment of a

teaqher of singing for tie, schools, of 'the dißirioty on the tonio-sol-fa system, and that i^ they approve, advertisements be inserted in the papers calling 'for applications for the position. The account for .alterations Mind improvements at the' Waibrotogomai School, as well, as other -accounts, were passed fort, payment. "It was aftreed that irfpre graye'l ehonld be supplied to the , school as well as lamps,' Ac., applied for by Mr Matheson. A letter was receive/I from the Rev. G* T. Marshall asking for the usjafofsthe school-houee for one hour after school hours once, a week. This caused 'k rather warm discussion, but the request was refused, two being in- favor and four against. We very much doubt whether the refusal is iri accordance with the spirit of the Education Act, inasmuoh as any clergyman is supposed to be allowed to have the use of s«hool-houses at reasonable times and hours for religious instruction of children sent -to -him by their parents. There is rio specific clause to the effect beyond sob-section 3 of- clause 64, but this, we believe, is the first case in the oolony where such a request has been refused. An application has been made for letters patent for. an improved method of laying tramways and light railways by Messrs Harper and Dennison, engineers, of Oamaru. It will be heard next month. It is to be hoped that by that titrie some action will be taken towards the formation of a tramway between here and Waiorongoniai, ; in, which case the patent in question, if of value, may be of use. The same firm is also applying for a patent for the manufacture of Asphaltio concrete. l . ; The licensed holding known as Frasers Nos. 1, 2, and 3 were sold by auction by the Warden, in accordance with the Act, on Wednesday last. The first two were purchased for a guinea each by Mr. C. S. Stafford, but for No. 3 there was good competition and it was eventually knocked down to Mr. Matthew Vaughan for £20. It is supposed that it would have fetched more, as several had expressed their intention of bidding for it, but there was a misapprehension as to the place of sale, and therefore some bidders probably missed it. Mr George Wilson, Clerk of the Bench and Mining Inspector, has been appointed Registar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths for the newly created To Aroha district, and will commence duty on the Ist of September next. He is also appointed Vaccination hispecter. There could not have been a better or more suitable choice of a gentleman to fill these offices, and an officer of the kini has been long wanted here. All couples who wish to be joined in a lifelong partnership jun secure Mr Wilson's services for the purpose af te,r the above date, since, as Registrar, he can ' legally marry any who may be .lesirous of going through the ceremony. Another business has changed hands in this township. Mr Laidlaw, formerly of Te Awamutu, has purchased the business recently carried on by Mr Baskiville, known as ihe Premier Butchery. Advertisements appears elsewhere. The boundaries of the Te Aroha, Hamilton, Thames, Tauranga, and Cambridge, Jistriots, under the Marriage Act, are published in a gazette of the 2nd inst, Te Aroha now being proclaimed a separate district under tha Registration 'of Births and Deaths Act 1875. In connection with this subject Mr Cuff aa oue of the signatories to the petition on the subject, received the following loiter from the Regristrar-Generaru office, Wellington, early in the week : — Sir, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of a petition, dated the 4th inst, signed by yourself and other residents in Te Aroha, praying for the appointment of a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for tha^ district, aul in reply to inform you* that pftjkmations were forwarded to his Excellency the Governor on the 27th inst, for the appointment of Te Aroha as a Registration and Marriage, .district. — I have the honor, &c, B. B. Brown, RegistorGeneral, Wellington, July 30, 1883. Te Aroha is not the only township in par district well favoured with regard to hotel, accommo lation, Travellers to and frtar Morrinsville, Hamilton, and Bnrrounding districts con always rely on comfort and attention by calling at that deservedly popular hotel at Waitoa, known as the Te Aroha. The obliging proprietor, Mr John Moffifct, is known and respected, We are very glad to hear that the Acoident Relief Fund at Waiorongomai is^ now fully established, and the appeal for assistance has been most liberally responded to. This organisation will be Tn&pJ useful, and those who have takjen an active 'part in its formation deserve the best thanks of the community. A Quadrille Assembly has been formed at Waiorongomai, and held its first gathering, which was well attended, last evening. Mr Law o has undertaken the duties of Hon. Sec, nnd Mr Hussett those of chairman and hon Treasurer. Tenders are called by the Public Works Office for Te Aroha Block Drainage Contract No. 5. Full particulars appear in our advertising colums.