SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1884.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 57, 5 July 1884, Page 2

SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1884.

The inciease in the total yield of gold from last month's crushing at the battery, and the probability of a still further increase in those of the current month have given to mining matters a brighter Aspect than they have worn for some time. The lengthened period of depression nndei which the field has languished, and which had almost come to be regarded by many persons us its chronic state, at last dhows signs of giving way to better times, and the misgivings of the faint-heaited amongst uo who could discern in the outlook nothing but ruin and disabter, are h.ippily "till very far from being realised. Indeed it may with truth be said that at no previous time has the field generally been in n more sound or healthy state than at present, and never before lifts it held out more cheeiing prospects of steady and lasting prosperity. The -discovery of. payable quartz: in the low level of the New Find Co. should 'of itself disabuse the minds of the most sceptical as to the permanency of our reefs. In the ground opened up from that level to the surface, it is estimated that from what is now sei n a steady supply of quartz for twenty head of stampers will be obtainable for two yea's to come, and it« duration may be yet largely increased as the full extent of the payable portion of the lode has not yet been ascertained. There is no good reason to doubt that in othej mines also when fairly developed, the gold will be traced downward-, to a depth hardly yet believed in. The splendid yield from the stuff crushed last month from the New F ; nd shows no sign of falling off in going down, and the lower workings in the Colonist, Eureka, and other claims bear out the supposition. Whilst the older mines, such as the New Find and Colonist, continue to maintain their reputation, other claims have during the month come well to the front. The Eureka, the Canadian, the Inverness, the Di -unond Gull}', and other propeities have each given satisfactory proof of their richness, and with the large out-put of quaitz from these mines there arises the difficulty which has Jong been foreseen, viz., the lack of crushing power, for the force now at comm.ind is altogether insufficient to cope with the supply now obtainable. It is satisfactory, however, to know that this difficulty will soon be to some extent overcome by the erection of the now mill, the preliminary works for which have already been commericed. This undertaking affords a tangible proof j of the confidence which is steadily being ; established with regard to the future of the field, and doubtless it will in due time ibe followed by others. Indeed, it is already rumoured that Messrs Firth and Clark have it in contemplation to add another 40 head of stampers to their present battery, in order to meet the requirements of the claims? with which they have made arrangements, and that the erection will not be long delayed. With these additional crushing facilities and with the reduced charges that competition will in all likelihood be the means of bringing about whereby the poorer grades of quartz can be made to pay, the developement of the resources of the field will receive an enormous impetus, and the yield of gold be very largely increased. On a field such as this> where there are no sensational finds, an increased yield of gold means a corresponding increase of the working population, and this again a proportionately large amount of money paid in the shape of wages, &c, and thus put into calculation. It may be sa d that it is on this increase of the mining population that tingeneral welfare mainly depends, and that there is room for the profitable employment of a vastly greater number of men than are at present engaged, no one now entertains any doubt. The completion of the works referred to, and of others which we still hope to see taken in hand, wili largely aid in bringing about this result, and to their completion we look for the inauguration of that eve of prosperity which most of us have been patientl\ waiting for.

We are indeed sorry to know that Mi Lipsev has ilind still further serious losses, pensioned by dogs. During the pa^t .veek his sheep have been badly worrier 1 it night, a number of them being fuuno .lead m the mornin<\ and man)' other <everely bitten and otherwise injured The matter has become most seriouß, as ii not detected and at once destroyed, thest logs having now acquired this destructive habit will be sure to commit still further ravages, and prove a source oi terror to all sheep owners in the district, is it is not likely they will confine their operations to tho immediate vicinity of the township. To-night Miss Nelson and Company give an entertainment in the Public Hall. L'his company has been pronounced as being very complete by those who have : had an opportunity of being present at their performances elsewhere. Miss Nel- : son is an accomplished pianist and vocalist, 1 and by reference to the posters it will be i seen that a very varied programme is -I arranged. We are sure Miss Nelson will find a large audience awaiting her appearanco to-night, and be warmly received. On Monday evening next an entire change of programme is arranged for. £ " Tne Bankruptcy Act, 18^3," appears to be coining into general favour in this district of late ; no less than three parties ' connected with Te Aroha having filed ' their petitions within six days. We refer to Mr W. Bennett, carter, Te Aroha, who filed on the 27th ult.* Mr E. ll.idfieM, proprietor of the now hotel at Waiorongomai, known as the "Commercial," for which a license was granted at the recent sitting of the Licensing Commissioners; on the Ist inst ; and Mr J. W. Walker, late proprietor of the lai-ge hotel, Te Arohii (now so ably conducted bv Mr J. Warren) on 2nd inst. Probably there arc " more to follow." Mr J. Ilott has been appointed local agent for the South British Fire Insurance Company. This office has a capital of £2,000,00^ with branches all over the world. Parties desiring to insure against losses by fire cuinot do better than do so in the South British, whose diameter for reasonable rates and prompt settlement oi claims is so well established. The failure of a large Wellington merchant was announced on Saturday. We refer to William Waring Taylor, whose liabilities amount to £92,000, and assets to £70,000. In the days of provincialism Mr Taylor occupied a leading po&ition in politics. The road between here and Paeroa is now well-nigh impassable. Bradley and Co., contractor for conveying the dail}ni;iil, have been forced to again stop riming n vehicle and convey the mail on horseback, and unless active steps are at once taken to repair same, communication will completely stop as far as vehicles are concerned-. Only a few days since the mail coach came to grief about five miles I'rom here, and tho passengers had to finish their journey on foot. It does seem extraordinary that the authorities appear so indifferent with regard to the importance of keeping a main road like this in a reasonable state of repair. Many of the worht portions of the road were apparently not included in the contracts recently let, or if they were it does not say much for those in charge, seeing that they appear to have been entiioly passed over.""! Mr 11. Reids family have left for Dunedin. Mr Reid has let his house to Mr C. Ahicr. A sale of the household furniture took place on Thursday last, Mr James Craig officiating in his usual able manner as auctioneer. Satisfactory prices were realised. Parties requiring timber of every description — doors, sashes, mouldings, nuutlepieces, turnery, fretwork, &c, will find it to their advantage to purchase from the Auckland Timber Co., who will turnish on application sheets of: designs with price lists un application. Mr P. Ferguson is having several new houses erected at Waiorongomai. One neat five-room building for his own occupation is now almost finished, and another five-room ho'ise close by well in hand ; we understand Mr H. Buttle has applied for the latter m> tenant. Several other houses are also being erected by various parties. Mr Pennell, baker, Wuioroneromai) has disposed of his business to Mr Brown, by whom it is now being carried on. Messrs Smith and Seddon are giving a discount of twenty-five per cent to cash purchasers. A public meeting will be held in the school bouncy Waiorongomai, to-night at 8 o'clock. Business : To discuss several matters affecting the district, with a view of determining what action should be taken at the forthcoming election. We understand that the Revs. J. Mclnlosh and T. J. Wills> the Ministers of the Presbyterian and Wesleyan Churches, intern! to make the best of their time and strength. It is proposed so to arrange the Sabbath services thai the clergymen shall never be officiating at the same hour in any part of tho district. If this arrangement can be made the Wesleyans propose to discontinue their Jay services at the time of the Rev. Mr Mclntosh's service. There is at present a difficulty in the arrangement n£ the Waiorongomai matters, but it is hoped that the friends there will remove any obstacle in the way of an object so desirable. Next Sunday evening there will be no service in the Wesleyan Church, Te Aroha. Consequent upon Mr. Speight being a candidate for the Thames seat, he has vacated his position as editor of that paper. 100 shares in the Thames Newspaper and Printing Company were offered at public auction on Tuesday bilt there were no bidders for them. The Hdlcione Battery and Victor^ claim in the Karaka were sold on Tuesday foy .£l ls* The- investment includes the tehstamper battery 1 } mining license, and two cottages, besides mining implements, and was purchased at auction some 18 :igo for £670; We are informed that ft portion of the work of forming the road to the new battery Rite has beea let by contract. No time has been lost by Mr Petef tfergiison in preparing the way for ah early commencement with the erection of the' machinery, and much credit is duo to him tor tho~ zeal he has all along displayed in forwarding the new undertaking. Members of the Library are requested fco meet in the reading-room on Monday evening at 7.30.

Tho Sydney journals -record a very •>lucky act on the p;irt of a young hero o1 '4 On n Sunday afternoon a little boy Pell into deep water at Woolloomooloo Bay. Another youngster went to his assistance, but was not strong enough to rescue his friend, and both were sinking, when a youth named Arthur Milson, only 14 years of age, plunged in, and after a struggle succeeded in saving both the drowning lads. The gallant little fellow had thrown off Rome of his clothing before entering the water, and a mean thief took the opportunity of stealing his watch and chain. At the settling up at Tattorsall's on the Monday evening the members of the club subscribed sufficient to give the juvenile hero a new watch and chain, and the surplus will be devoted to providing tl>e other little fellows frith new suits of clothes. A rather curious application was made to the Bench at the Rangiora Resident Magistrate's Court recently by a man nami'd Richards. Ke stated that a prohibition order granted against him expired on May 21st, hut some of the Rangiora publicms refused to supply him with drink unless he could produce 'a 'certificate to the eifect that the term for which the order whs made had expired, and he would ask the bench to provide him with such certificate. Mr Ollivier, who whs on the Bench, after remarking upon the novelty of the application, pointed out to the applicant that thej has no power to accede to his request. He said further that evidently the man intended to reward himself for h'"s enforced virtue with a good drinking bout. The saw mills at Maryborough, Queensland have been reducing tho price of sawn timber. The Maryborough Chronicle says :— " It is on all sides admitted that a large trade in sawn timber has sprung up between New Zealand and the Northern ports. Queensland, and the low prices at which the New Zealanders are able to sell, in consequence of the superior railway and falling facilities accorded by their Government, have, for the present, driven Queensland millers out of any market except that cwntt ined within their own respective towns and districts.' There are SGB railway stations in London. It has also 10,000 iiour mills, which produce 30,000,00 U sacks of flour a year. A Government message was recently i>ent to the Agent-General, and an answer obtained within sixteen hours. This is said to have been the quickest time on record without previous arrangement. Valuable deposits of silver ore have been discovered at Silverton, 800 miles i'rom Sydney. At Faithfull's station at Brewarrina (N.S.W.) recently, a youth named William Joseph Stanly, aged eighteen years, went out on the run with his sister for the purpose of taking a bee's nest. The hive being obtained, u dog commenced licking the tin dish into which the honey was dripping. The youth ran at the dog with a whip, and in doing this stumbled over a small dry piece of wood. A slight branch, of not more than the thickness of a finger, and about a foot long^ projected, and the lad in falling met its somewhat sharp point on his light side, penetrating his body to a depth of about four inches. Lie cried out " iSn killed,*' drew the piece of wood out, when the blood poured out in a Rtream, and he died immediately. Mr W. Jurgens, blacksmith, of Tinkers, who was found dead in bed recently, has left a will, dated some four years back, by which he b. qu >athed the whole of his property to the Eureka Lodge of Good Templars for a sick and accident fund. His propei ty is estimated at £500. It is generally considered that he accumulated this amount since he became a Good Templar. — Dunedir* Herald. The Waiorongomai Band of Hope hold their next meeting on Tuesday evening, Bth inst, in the new school house, Waiorongomai. A number of Te Aroha friends purpose attending (weather and roads permitting) and caking part, and a large and successful meeting is expected; The value of rateable property in the Piako County has been set down ttt no less a sum than £1,003,022, of which £445,752's worth is in the Wai ton, Riding; It is* umoured that Mr De Lautour is coining out for Waiktlto. Chatters Towers. Queensland, has a population of 5000. It has 400 known reefs-, and its goldlield is GO miles long by 20 to 35 miles broad. During last year therp were crushed from it 47,151 tons of stone for 72,3970zs of gold. There was very little of interest at the monthly meeting of the Waitoa Board, held at Buck's hotel, Morrinsville, on Saturday. A rate of fd in the £ was struck, and the engineer, Mr T. G. Sandes, reported that he had forwarded to Wellington applications and plans for works for borrowing a sum of £2414 for district roacs, under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. The nominations of candidates for the representation of Waikato will take place at the Court-house, Cambridge, at noon on the lGth inst.-, and the poll, if necessary, will take place on the 22n J. The nominations of candidates for the Western Maori District will take place at Te Awaniutu at noon on the 7th inst. 1 , and the polling on the 21st inst. Lists of the polling places in this and the Wilipa dud Waikato districts are advertised.