W\z Jlvolta $to0 AND tfPPtffl THAMES ADVOCATE.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 117, 29 August 1885, Page 6

W\z Jlvolta $too AND tfPPtffl THAMES ADVOCATE.

•This abo\ c all — to thine own self c true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not the be false tOAiiy mam. Shakenprare.

SATUKDAV, AUGUST 29, 1885.

Tflß dividual decline of gold mining in this district during the la*<t twelve month?, ik not by rtny means entirely due to *c«roJty of the precious m til. -True, TMuuy oE. the.ui-rK'B opened within the past two ur t!»rec years have bceu disappoint-

ii>g rt I>nt\whsn we confer tfte s Bil^aU •n^a^ure of enterprise that has bb x «*en "orded,, the industry compared with tfre -Treat Werrh* of tK« field, ' tl»6\ verj; 'imited Amount of crushing "frower'SVaiP •»Me^ and tKe manner in which tliat .hn«« beeYj monopolised ; perhnps the wondfcf i« th it even *»o much has been achieved. The wide feeling of dissatisfaction which has long been felt with respect to the Firth and Clarkes battery- (inaugurated by the "no ndmittanoo-' trt |battery",' ; interim retort in tr, »ftnd» «coldfc water squeezinsf of nmnicrnm business) to<jethor with tho excessively hisrh clmrses which have been levied for the treatment of quartz, hns had much to do with the divorcement of both capital and lal>onr ; fioin our district ; and it will take considerable persuasive power to bfwig them toufether ' narain. Thi^ is in<ie»ul a matter fof regret. There is a widn field left for enterprise on onr cfohlfieln in the way of pro ppctinu" for new reefs, and working 1 on old ones, especially now that extensive additional crushing power, and that of a very complete'character, will shortly be av/iilabl •; and tlie m mopuly winch has so lo"£ oxi^tod, to tlie irreat detriment of the place, be at length broken down, in spite of all the efforts that have been put tortU from time to tiny to nnintain it : Also, as there ennr be no doubt whatever that rich argentiferous reefs are to be found hero f->r the Bi*ekin#, webuliovethe daxis not far distant wken the "smelter" mode of treitment willbe at work in our mid^t. It is a- matter for rejrret' that the craz^ for. compnnies with thousands of shares, bus of late years so greatly o/ercrme the old disposition to inv.est small sums in supporting p"ospectin.irpnt'ties. The greater portion of the now; valuable reefs of'Viutoria were developed bymeunBof thegoodold system under which, practical minei-s while prospecting, • were well satisfied ta work for half, .wages. A' small company of twelve share holders would be formed, ten of whom would contribute 5s or 6s each, to be paid as wages to the remaining two, who would w»b, The formation amongst us of a few companies such as we refer to would, without the Bmal!e«t doubt, soon have a beneficial eff «ct upoji our mining industry. Them are hundreds of localities in the district thntaie what miirht be termed "likely spot*," and the public are yet speculative inclined, as is plainly demonstrated by what is now taking place in adjoining mining districts. If re*iiden*s in mining townships took such matters in hand, capitalists would soon come to their aid. Supervision should be conducted by local shareholders, and expenses kept down as low as possible. By adopting such a plan tlit: expenditure of comparatively small sums might bo productive of very important results.

The large main driving pulley at Feguson's battery is now completed, and was placed in position yesteiday. It is made entirely of kauri, over 1000 ft. of which was used in constructing it. Mr Gordon carefully inspected it when at the battery this week, and pronounced it a splendid piece of workmanship. Mr McKay, engineer for the erection of the battery, was the builder. Mr H. A. Gordon, Inspecting Engineer Mines Department, Wellington, paid Te Aroha a flying visit on Saturday last for the put pose of reporting upon the Te Aroha Thermal Springs, and also on the trmn way now under construction to. con* nect Fergusons battery with the' Coilnty tiamway. Mr Gordon went fully into particulars in respect to the springs and their overflow, taking notes as to quantity, and also with respect to the improvements suggested by the Domain Board as needful. He expressed himself as being well pleased with the manner in which the money hud been expended since his previouH visit.- We may add the amount of grant wh ; ch may be alloted' to Te Aroha from the sum recently voted for expenditure on developing and improving thermal springs, will greatly depend upon the re. port Mr Gordon will furnish to Govern•nent. The Domain Board desire to return thanks for a consignment of young trees and shrubs ■ from Knorpp's Estate, Waikato, and also to H. W, Northcroft, Esq., for a present of a similar character. Mr H. W. Northcroft, R.M , left here on Thunsd/iy morning for Thames, wheiv he will conduct the R.M. and Warden's business, in the absence of Mi Kenrick. >lr Northcroft will hold Court at Pauroa on Monday, and preside nt the local Court House on Tuesd.iy next. The only mine now making use ,of Firth and Clarkes battery, in the ordinary way, is the New Find. 'i. his company have now opened up a large extent of ground, which promises to give a satisfac tory rf turn for working. From the Colonist mine, now in the hands of the Battery Company, really good quartz is being obtained, und 20 stampers are kept employed upon dirt from this mine. The Canadian mine is also being worked by the Battery Company. Several fresh samples of quartz taken from reefs in the immediate vicinity of Te Aroha township, and which are believed to be highly argentiferous, were ' this week despatched to Auckland for assay. Some new comers have lately put in an appearance amongst us, in the form of < several experienced miners who are busily engaged prospecting the ranges on this side the hill, principally for silver. Messrs Booth and West were the successful tenderers for No. 3 contract, which is to complete Forg.uson's battery connection j tenders closed on this day w^ek f and the con tract price is £31 las. The following other tenders were sent in :—: — Alessvs H. Hyde and Erasmun, £39 ; Law-U-s» iin<r Lrtillugliur, v £13; Stewart und tfuuro, £48 - t Young, JTursman, and party, £83. We understand, th.it the dwellinghotue erected by Mr Win. Bennett ahoitiy

jiefori^ his bankruptcy, and Bi|nfjteu\in, • cljtse f&bximity tc^he HotSprin^Domtiiii^ luuKbqefy diajpo«ed,'of by tho trustees, in the* esta)|£,*t6>Mr DArcy McDougallf*who,r.ha«now':\)een r resident nt Te Arojin for a, considerable time, in order to >'vail of the hot baths. 1 The local poundkeeper Jias beon Imxing a. 'ytotyL,hmy>ihire{ofril the 'lust co^npleVof , weeks ; '.quite, 4 a ).a,rge mutn]her ana homes" having been committe \ to hi-i charge ; most of which,- however, were, claimed within- three days from date of impounding. Wairakau \\fm contributed most o* the ho'vsoa, Mr Downos bringing in u batch of' no loss than nine on on 3 day (Tuesday last), some of them being of a good stamp." '"* * £*#■*':'' - With respect to the Thames Valley Railway the Hon. B. Richardson said in delivering Jus-Public Works Ht'irement that at the time last years atatcnrrnt wnV mule, this railway was .completed and opened for traffic from Hamilton to Morrjnsville^lB miles, and the formation of the section from Morrinaville to Te Aroha, 12 miletf, and also the construction of the bridge over tho Thames river, wa^ irf hand. These works have boeiv completed, and the plate-laying on the* line i* now in progress, anil it is anticipated that the railway wiU be opened to Te Arpha about February or March next. At tho Thames or Grahmstown end of the line, rails have been laid on the 4£ miles previously formed, and the formation of the Mikutaia section, being a further length of 8 miles towards Te Aroha, h now under contract. The bridges on this length will shortly be erected, and plan* will be prepared for the remaining portionof the line to Te Aroha. In addition to these works, it is also proposed during th • current year to complete the station accommodation between Morrinsville and Te Aroha, and to generally equip that portion of the railway .for traffic. With respect to the necessity for the Goldfiolds Tracks the Hon Minister said " The rough, mountainous character of the country where gold and Other materials exist, renders the construction of l'oudri and tracks imperative before the mineral resources of the colony can be developed, and it ;s impossible to expect that individual miners, or even mining companies, can do this work without considerable aid I from Government. The expenditure during the year on work of this character has been £15,640, and the liabilities ut tlie end ut the year were £33,122. Of these amounts a considerable portion is represented by subsidies to local bodies, who have undertaken to do the works required on the principle of receiving £2 to £1 on the cost of construction. ! The Advertiser says :— Mr Edward Cameron, formerly ' manager of the Russell Battery, Tararu, and more recently of Waiorongomai, returned to the Thames on Tuesday, after some months' sojourn at Silverton, during which he has acquired practical knowledge concerning the working of argentiferous lodes. that should prove serviceable here at the present juncture. Mr Cameron describes Silverton as an extensive district, the lodes being opened to a greater or lessdegree for a distance of about 60 miles. The mining laws permit of claims of 40 acres being taken up, the cost of survey license, and one year's rent being defrayed by a deposit of £15, while the employment of two men on each is sufficient to. meet the requirements of • the stati t , Silver is found in the reefs chiefly in tfye form of chlorides, and many of them have been proved to be very rich in the metal. Several of the La Monte smelting furnaces have, been erected in this district, and when Mr Cameron left their success had just been established by the expuri merits at the Pinnacles clairt, while another at the Hen and Chickens mine was just ut the point of completion. The isolated position of the district and the scarcity of 1 water, are, however, the serious drawbacks and theae alone have militated against it* progress. As regards the former difficulty, the railway does not yet approach nearer than the town of Torowie, 150 miles from the scene of operations, und coke for smelting purposes costs £9 per ton when delivered at Silvertoni There are no steamers witliin convenient distance of the mines, and in order to supply the furnaces, water is brought in tanks, nine und sixteen miles, and evbn greater distances' and even then is brackish an.i unfit for domestic use. Uuder these circumstances it is not surprising tlmt many working men are obliged to leave the district, and wait for the greater facilities which railway communication will eventually provide. One of the effects of the futneß emitted by the smelting furnace is to destroy all vegetation within a consider able radius. Judging from samples of quartz that he has seen, and from bin previous krowledge of the district, , Mr. Cameron forms a high estimite of the capabilities of Kurungahake, as a silver producing neighbourhood, and of the utility of the smelters he is full> convinced. Jtfr Gordon, Inspecting Engineer 'of Mines, thiw week paid u vint of inspection to the works now in pi ogress in con nee tiou with the additional crushing plant beintr erected at Waioiongoinui. Having carefully examined the battery plant, which is now, complete with the exception of minor details, he expressed himself us well pleaat-d with butli the *'■. ' * ? machinery and the waUr wheel, '(which 1 is

dhe of Phl tori'B). '"< Hie paid the .Bite ; wn* ' an excellent hn^fo^ftibattery^and remhrke<T f Hhat iss&o si iiiiSB^lien<lp 6t water were:*aynilnbJe,rAre «n'rtrtld r > tie ampja power for all requirements, with the porf pendicii lar full of SQO'f Lwhich exists. He also inspected the whole line of tramway now under construction, and.' also a.ll the platans prepare^ JbyVMfc. J&vilt for the.' work*, and..ap'proved,of c jme.'i lie suggested JTn improvement with respect to the construction of the breaks 'which it \Va« intended to have made similar Lo thosn in operation on the County tram, and the neceWry steps are now hoing 1 taken to' avail of his Btigfre«tionB referred to. Mr Gordon .expressed his intention of co.ninj? up a<?ain in a couple of months' tiw% when it was expected the works would" be completed. . muring his recent visit to Te Aroha Mi' Gordon, In-spoctinj? Engineer, Mines Depiirtmtfnt, phi.d a visit to Messrs Pirth and Chrko's battery. He suggested to the manager the, advisability, of getting a fltone-brpii^fM' for reducing the qu>rrt/< before boin^; -conveyed to the stampers, work which is now pyrfonuod by, manuaf labour. -„'«' l< Pp'jfjHfirtlf oftt is till fie ra^e at Karan^al h»ike jiistLiloif, also at. Waihi ; and all h life and jwtivity in!, these distrirK A larjfe number of men .are, profitably Qiri^' ployed in carryinjsr on therriirtnerous works in progress ; and Kwan^ahake especially presents such an anlm ited ''appearance as •\voiild hivisVoen considered almost iniposaibje a short time back. The building for the La Monte furnace is being pushed on with speed, and will shortly be\com pleted ; and" the other woiks.jn conjunction therewith are also in a very forward* state. ' , The misunderstanding between- Messrs LivfntfsCone, contractor for completing the railway to Te . Aroha, and Quintan, sub-contractor for constructing tha embankment approach across the sWamp to the bridge, has been set 'right. Mr Livin'^tone gave Mr Quintan seven dayt»' notice to pay all wages due to his workmen, or he s.hould,re-enter on the work. Mr Quinlan, we ara informed, has complied with the terras of notice, and will make a fresh start with the embankment next week. ' ' ■ In the reply which appeared to a correspondent signing himself "A Looker on" last week. "it is not premature," etc., should have read "is it not premature,' 1 etc., with r .-spect to query Ko. 4. Te Aroha School . Committee meet at 7.30 on Wednesday evening next. Mr E..CookBon, tramway nnnager, who had his shoulder dislocated last week, 'is progressing favourably and able to superintend the working of the tram' every day, having his arm in a sling. It is little less than n mi^ucle *hat he was not killed on the sp6t, as when thrown off the trucks he was afcji 1 ? time attempting to 'break,' they were going at tremendous speed. The accident occurred just on this,side of the trestle bt'id^e, below Butler's Spur. Seed potatoes in variety at Messrs Brigham and Harris. As will be seen by advertisement Mr Qt, M. Burke has arranged to take over Messrs Smith and Seddon's butchery business ; and will start on September Ist in the shop formerly occupied by' that firm* There i& plenty of scope for a second butcher's shop in Te Aroha, and Mr Burke will no. doubt keep first-class meat and meet with a fair 'share of support. In the construction of the tramway to connect Fergusons battery with the ! County tram, some seven or eight thousand yards pf stuff will have to be shifted in forming the embankments and cuttings. The contractors" ai'e* making good progress with, the work,, although .the weather .onseveral days of late vas against them Most of the rails, which are of steel 281 bs to. the yard, have- already been con yeyed to the-ground ready, for laying, ai d the contractors for supplying the 1 sleepers have now jready to deliver about a fuurth of the reqtyred number ; they will b« principally heart of rium, and all of ex.cellent quality.