The Aroha News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 98, 18 April 1885, Page 2

The Aro ha News AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

'This above all — to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canßt not then be false to any man.' Shafospeare.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1885. "*"

It was rumoured during the week that the Battery Co. had at last recognised tho folly of any longer levying such high charges for the treatment of quartz, seeing that so many mines, unable to pay same, had been obliged to discontinue work. It was stated they had reduced the rate for crushing from 13s 4d per t uck with one berdan allowed \o eacn 5 head ef stampers, to 8s per truck with 2 berdans. The report was the subject of general conversation in the district, and raised the hopes of many scrip-holders and miners, as, had such a reduction taken place, without a doubt several mines would have quickly resumed work again, which are now shut up, the owners prefering that work should cease rathpr than continue to work out their ground for the benefit of the Battery Co. We regret, however, to state that the reduction made, although a most liberal one as affecting low grade quartz, is not by any means such as was reported, or such as will cause any appreciable revival of work on the hill. The reduction is as folllows, and is to date as from March 16th :—: — For nil quartz yield ing under half-an ounce of gold per truck, the charge for crushing same will be 8s with two berdans instead of one as heretofore ; for each additionnl pennyweight won per t.uck (over and above tho half-ounce), an additional charge of sixpence will be levied np to l*2s per truck, which will be the highest rate chargeable. In other words, the new tariff represents a reduction on late rates equal to about 6s 4d per truck on dirt yielding lOdwts, 4s 4d on 14dwts dirt, and 2s 4d on dirt yielding 18dwts and over per truck. In addition to thi- , a reduction has been made with regar., to extra berdans required in' connection with new crushings, which will be charged 4s each instead of ss, but berdans needed for treating tailings, etc., already accumulated, will still be charged 5s each as heretofore. The reduction, therefore, being on the sliding scale system, and not a general one, will not, we believe, have the effect of caussim? many mines which have ceased working for the present to resume operation«,^.a^fche owners will probably prefer tflfJ wait and- Hee what inducements will be offered by the new battery now bding erected ; or sorrte; -other mode of treatment which may be introduced.

Mr D. M, Beere yetfterday inspected ,- and formally tcok over from the contractor, Mr H. Reid, the railway bridge, j A number of residents from Waiorongomai, Te Aroha, and district, have formed themselves into an naaociution, for the purpose of starting a special settlement under the recent regulations introduced I by Mr Ballance. Jt is to be called the " Gordon Special Settlament," and we are informed that already some 70 members are enrolled, about half of whom lmil from Waiorongomai. Mt -B. Montague was- chosen chairman, Mr Malcolm Robert «on secretary, and Mr Jas. Munro treasurer.

i. niinll first call, to cover preliminary s ex- , ptm^es, has b't»en mane. At a recant meeting* it was that the member* should offer their services to the Lovernment as a semi military settlement, seeing that tho Armed Constabulary have been withdrawn from country Nations to the centres 'of population. The offer was; however, declined, and the association therefore resolves itself into a special' settlement, as originally intended, It has been decided to adopt the rules recommended in the Government pamphlet. An application has been made for information as to what blocks of land are available for the purpose required. Jt has been decided by a large majority of the members that the settlement shall be a strictly teetotal one. Mr E. Y. O'Connor, Under-Secretary for Public Works, during his visit this week to Te Aroha, finally concluded arrangements with Mr Lipsey for the purchase o£ the land required for the Aroha Railway Station site, some 14^ acres in extent. The price to be paid for same is £550. The thanks of the community are, we consider, due to Mr Lipsey for the dis portion he has all along shown to meet the Government in a liberal way, and accept a reasonable price for the land, and, by so doing, help forward, as fur as lay in his power, the completion of the line to Aroha. Too often land-owners retardpublic work.s by seeking extravagant com penfdtion, and making unreasonable demands respecting land required by Government. Mr Strange, on whose property the lower Waitoa hot springs are situated, is about to greatly improve same in various ways. The land referred to abounds with hot spiings of various properties and temperatures, which no doubt will prove very valuable, as they become more developed and better, known. The healing propeties existing in some of those spring is is said to be really remarkable. We hear that Mrs Lawless, of Auck land, has purchased the large new building, Whitaker street, known as Tonge's boarding-house, and will shortly open same as a first-class boarding-house. The position is really good to attract visitor*, being right opposite the entr.ince to the hot springs domain. We have not the least doubt the new venture will prove a profitable one for the purchaser. The following paragraph has been handed us /or publication by Mr E. Y. Cox : — " Thomaß Criup, a labouring man whose family lives i» Shafteshury, died in Auckland Hospital froßp-inflivinnjation caused by working in water in connection with the reclamation works now in progress on the North Shore. As he had not regular work for some time past, he leaves his wife and children quite unprovided for. There being no probability of tho widow ; being able to support her family in Shaftesbury, she is to remove to Auckland, and it is proposed to raise a small fund to give the family a fresh start there. Contributions will be received by M«- Edward Y. Cox, Shaftesbury. No one is eligible for either a free or assisted passage to New Zealand unless first nominated by friends in New Zealand the nomination accepted by the Government of the colony and the person so nominated approved by the Agent General (Sir Francis Bell, 7 Westminster Chambers, London, S.W.) It has, however, been decided to limit future nominations to special occasions where the husbands are in the colony, and the families left behind. Mr E. Y. O'Connor, Under-Secretary for Public Works, accompanied by Mr Kenrick, R.M., arrived at Paeroa on Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning they visited the scene of coal-mining operations nt the Tarariki creek, and made a thorough examination of the different workings. They both expressed themselves as being highly pleased with what they saw, and Mr O'Connor thinks the prospects of tho mine sufficiently good to warrant the expense of surveying and grading a line for a tramway instead of a dray road, which latter is now being done by the Council. Upon returning to Paeroa Mr O'Connor was interviewed ;by a depution of the Ohinemuri Vigilance Committee, who desired to call his attention to the alleged slipshod manner in which road contracts in this district have been carried out under the auspices of the Thames County Council. The deputation produced a copy of specifications for work done under contract by Messrs Punch and Trainor on the township section of tho Thames-Tauranga. road. They asserted that the conditions of the contract had not been complied with, and that the County ofßcia's were cognisant of the fact. At Mr O'Connor's request the road in question, opposite Bennetts Hotel, was examined and it was found that instead of there being six inches of metal, according to the specifications, there was not an average of three inches, Mr o!Connor promised to inquire into the various matters complained of, and uccompanied by Mr Kenrick, lei't at noon for the Thames, where he intended remaining till Friday tnorning,Avhen he was to take the coach for Tauranga, and from thence proceed on through the different districts located upon the east coa.4. This is hiu first official vi*it of inspection to the northern portion of the North Island, and he speaks in glowing terms regarding the natural febourcdtf of tlio cuuiitry.— Advertiser.

'In another column 'we pjibjish a letter whK',l) appeared in a recent nfrinber of the N.Z.;sMothodififj testifying to tho wonderful enrotive prciperties of .ojir hot 'springs. It is from the \m of the Kiiv. T. J. Wills local resident Wesieyan Minister. As the paper referred to has a very large circulation, the article cannot' fail to attract considerable notice. * ' Great Britain's production of coal for 1883 was 154,184,300 tons, that of the United stijtes 76,184,000; Germany, 46,698.000; Prance. 19,909,000; Belgium, 1G',906,000; Austria- Hungary, 14,936,00*0; Llussia, 3,000,000 ;. India und Japan, 2,600,000 : Australia, 2,170,000 ; Cunadu, 1,416,000. j The tenders for the construction of the first sections of the North Island Trunk Railway were sent in on Wednesday the Bth inNt.,;ttmt of Mr Isaac Coates, of Hamilton, is the lowest for the Puniu contract, whilst thejPorewa contract at the Marton end has beai obtained by Messrs Wilkie and Co., of Waiganui. The respective priceß are : For tie Puniu contract, about £29,000; for tl»8 Porewa, £27,600. " No," said tho merchant, " I don't advertise n<w, I used to, but I got completely tired out waiting on customers. Since I stopped that advertisement I have had a • ntinual vacati n and been able to diacluuge two of uy clerks. The following lenders were received for the Waikato-Ttuuues Railway (Te Aroha contract; : — Part formation and permanent way : — Accepted : John Livingstone, Hamilton, £7373. Declined :A. and D. Wilkie and J. Wilson, Wanganui; £7878 ; Larkins and O'Brion, Auckland, £8041 ; Win. Foughey, Auckland, £8418 , Mullinger and Brett, Auckland, £9596; Hunt, White und Lovett, Auckland, £9973 ; Daniel Fallon, Auckland, £10,336; J. J. OBrien, Auckland, £10,950 ; Joseph Punch, Auckland, £11,918; Robert Martin, Auckland,. £12,561. Why is a young lady likft a bill of exchange ? Because she ought to be " settled" when she arrives at maturity. Atthe monthly meeting of the Thames Higii School Governors held on Monday afternoon at the Borough Chambers. Present: Messrs Brodie (Chairman), Bagnall, Marshall, McGowan, and Smith. A letter that he had been informed that the Goverwas received from Edwin Hadfield, stating nore purposed re-entering upon the sections of the endowment formerly hel-l by Thotna Murray, and, tor which the writer paid £50—The secretary said Mr Hadfiold was not officially known to the Board, and no steps had been taken in the direction of re-entering. — The Waiden forwarded a petition from holders of business sites at Waiorongomai. — praying for a rebate of jental of unoccupied township sectionsand those utilised ine % e'y for purpo>e^ of residence, — and rccomuieudcd that discretionary power be given him to make reductions to £1 in cases where it is considered advisable. The proposal was acceded; to. — The Governors have acted widely in granting so reasonable a requeßt, and their deicßsion will be a imtter for congratulation to the residents in the sister township. We would direct special attention to Mr John Farrell's new advertisement which appears in this issue, and by which it will be seen that his large stock of autumn and winter goods have ju»t arrived and are now opened up. Amongst the same will be found all the latest and most fashionable lines in ladies 1 dress materials, ulsters, dolmans, etc., etc. In the millinery department will be found a really choice selection of ribbons, feathers, and trimming in all shades and qualities. Large additions of newest goods have also just be«n made to the stock of men's and boys' clothing, and jwatei proofs. We strongly advise all intending purchasers to inspect Mr Farrell's new stock without delay. Prices will be found, as heretofore, most moderate in every department. Dr Fischer, from Sydney, who has been on a visit to our Hot Springs, expressed \ himself as being much pleased with the \ same, and has formed a very high opinion of their curative properties. Dr Fischer gives it as his opinion that in obstinate and long-standing cases of rheumatism, the application of electricity, whilst patients were in the baths, would probably prove most helpful. Acting on the sug gestion, we believe it is the intention of the Domain Board to apply to Dr Lemon, Superintendent of the Telegraph Departi ment, for the use of an electric battery, I they not having the means at their dispo^sal^to procure one. The exenvati >ns for No. 4 bath in the Domnin, and '-oncreting of same, have been completed. The water is found to rise most satisfactorily and in good supply, t?ie temperature bejng rather higher than that of No. 1 bath (at the rear of which it is situated). The contract for the bath-house has been let to Mr J. CorneH (labour who has already commented the work* | The sums of money received by those who kindly undertook to collect on behalf o<-' the widow and children of the late Walter ,'Ad.i'ir, who was accidentally killed some inontha hack by falling down the Prihce Imperial sh uft at Thames, will be found in our advertising columns. The list of donars is open for, inspection a Mr D. J. Frasjer'B should any one desir further particulars. The amount spi-o fifed whs ' ( th is week f orwa rded through' , ;the Bank of NeW 1 Zealand to Mr Marbney

(Mrs Ad ur^brother)^ Watyawa, Napier, on herbehajf; List, of Visitors to the ;Hot Baths since last' j&sue :— Miss • Belford, Mr and Mrs M. Davis, Mr G. Gilmer. Mr Leach and 6on, Mr Horton, Mr W. Wilson, Mr Cair, Rev. F, H. Long, Mr and Mrs Peacock and servant, Mr and Mrs flyers,. Mr G' Wood, Mr Cod I in, Mr and Mrs* Jagger,JVtr and Mrs Tay, Mr Herris, Mr Fairbourn, Miss Fairbourn, Mr and Mrs Taylor, Mrs Smith, Mrs Leslie, Mrs Leyer, Mr .Tas Dacre, Mr Geo. Dacre, Mr Broadman, Mr Downs, Mr Hamley, Mr Haebuck, Mrs Winter, Mr Nicholson, Mr Thos. MacFarlane, (Mr Wickham, Miss t>. Dair, Mr Pearson, Auckland ; Mr Kenrick, R.M., Mr Jas. Craig, jun., Mr und Mrs Mears, Mr Josiah Hartley, Misses (2) Hamilton, Mr J. Findley, Mr Hepton, Mr E. W. Cleveland, Miss Ellis, Miss E. A. Rowe, Mr W. H. Taipari, Mr Balcke, Thames ; Dr Fischer, Sydney j Dr and Miss Ferrell, Tauranga ! Mr and Mrs Slade, Mr and Mrs Phillips, Mips Riddel, Mr D. M. Beere, Mr Franklin, Waikato ; Mr Soutter, Mrs Hedgcock, Miss Nixon, Cambridge ,* Mr Craig, England ; Mr E. Y. O'Connor, (Under-Sec. Public Works), Wellington ; Mr D. McDougall, Mr U. L. Simpson' Queensland ; Miss Law, Dunedin ; Mr JP. Mac Donald, Melbourne ; Mr P. T. Cosgrave, Wanganui ; Mr H. McKay, Mr A. B. Cameron, Turakina ; Mr Fairburn, Otahuhu ; Mr W. Good, Rangiora, Canterbury ; Mr Spencer, Sherie ; Mra G. Win ter ; MiRB Orr, Waikato.