THE AROHA NEWS AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 118, 5 September 1885, Page 2

THE AROHA NEWS AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

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

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1885.

In another column we have referred to the question of constructing a better road from To Aroha to Katikati than now exists ; one which Cvjuld be availed of for wheel traffic at all reasons of the year. It is tie one link required to connect this district and Waikato with Tauranga ; and is we consider of much importance. By means of such, direct communication -would be at once provided with a seaport, and Katikati settlers would gain the advantage of being able to obtain better markets for their surplus stock and produce. Now that direct railway communication betveen Auckland and Te Aroha is almost established, and with a comparatively good road already existing between Tauranga and Katikati, and also between Te Aroha, Hamilton, and Cambri *ge, it is of the greatest importance that a road should be opened up between Katikati and Te Aroha. The result of having such would be a great increase of traffic through this district, to the benefit of Te Aroha, which would quickly become a most important centre. We know also for a fact that we lose many visitors to our hot springs from Tauranga and district through lack of better direct communication.

As will be seen by our mining report there is a great improvement in the gold returns for this month, the yield being close on 140oza more than for the month previous, although but two mines are at present crushing. Some really excellent s-tone has been coming to band from the Colonist mine of late, which must give a handsome return for treatment. A large number of sleepers have been this week discharged on the opposite bank of the river for the Rotorua Railway. They were conveyed from Hikutaia in barges towed by the steam launches '• Rero Rero" and "La Bona Venture," the former having made two trips during the week f und Mr P Quinlan is now engaged carting them on to the terrace, where they wil' be loaded on trucks and conveyed to Morrinsville by the contractor's engine. Flock owners in the Waitoa district report favourably of the lambiug season, which has we ate informed been unusually : prolific on some properties with regard to | the number of twins. The quarterly meeting of the Te Aroha Licenhiug Committee will be held at the Court House this clay at noon, The only business to come before the meeting is an application for transfer of license of the Robin Hood and Little John Hotel from Win. Quinlan to Mr W. H. Ritoheson. : Prospecting for silver is still being et adily pursued on both sides of the hill, j and several now claims have been pugged off with the past few days. The ground until recently held by the B ittery Com puny and known as the Alphabet jhiim •, has been attracting a good deal of atte n tion ; also Moa No 1 and 2 ground. The rails for Fcguson's buttery con nection are row being conveyed from the Waiorongomai lunding to the scene of operations. Justice Gillies delivered judgment on Thursday in the case brought by the Official Assi^noe to recover £200 from the Board of Education, being salary paid to a Board Inspector aftr-r he had filed n petition of insolvency, and the Afsignoe, claimed the money for the creditors. His Honor held that tne members of the Boaid were personally liable to pay the £200, md gHve judgment accordingly. A company, called the Pirongia Mineral Association, h;is been formed to prospect he King Country for gold ; capital, £250,

in 1000 share*. Throe exporien<nd Thames prospectors have been engaged. Id connection with the total eclipse of the sun which takes place on September 9th, a telegrirn from Wellington Rtate* that tho Surrey Department will undertake the obswvathn* nf the approaching eclipse from Otahona Hill, about six mile* from Masterton, Wellington, when photograph* of tho corona will be taken, and every endeavour made to contribute to tho elucidations of this phenomenon. For Auckland the phases are : — H. M. S. Bnffinning of the eclipse ... 6 24 30 a.m. Middle ... ... 7 29 56 a.m End ... 8 39 30 n.m. Macrnitude CSolnr diameter— l). 0.854. The eclipse will be total at Wellington, Nelson, Caatlepoint, Mastorton, and at placew adjacent to these portion*. The greatest duration of totality is at Cattlepoint, where the Run will be invisible for lm. 38*. At Kurangahake the works in connection with the LaMonte smelter iabeinff pushed on with all possible despatch ; the building in which the furnace will be constructed is in an advanced stare, and a start has already been made with the foundation for tho furnace itself. At Waihi the bitt^ry is now working full time, and sotno excellent stone is being obtained from the Mai tha mine. At Waitekaun a return of 1450z5. has been realised by Kioly and party from 100 tons of stone. Mr A. Hogg has just laid in a large stock of new goods at hia new store at Karangahake, and will no doubt do a large and lucrative trade. The chimney stack for tho La Monte smelter at Thames is completed, and the other work being pushed on with all pos sible despatch. V~At Tauranga great depression exists just now, and business has been bad for some time past ; nevertheless it boasts three newspapers and also three barbers; l how they exist is surprising. I It is anticipated the ballasting of the line to Morrinsville will be completed in a couple of months. The meeting held at Cambridge on Thursday last for purpose of establishing a Jam and Pickle Factory was largely attended. It was resolved that it was desirable to form a company for the above purpose, and a committee were appointed to canvass for the placing of shares. A farewell banquet given at Thames on Thursday evening to Mr Ebrenfried, who j is about to reside in Auckland, was largely attended. A very valuable bracelet was given to Mr Ehrenfried on behalf of Mrs Ehrenfried together with an address, as a token of regard and appreciation of her many charitable actions. List of Visitors to Hot Baths (two weeks) : — Mr Oxl ey, Mr Miere, Mr Houghton, Mr Broomhall, Mrs [and Miss Robinson, Miss A. Ilott, Auckland ; Mrs Wiseman and daughter, Mr and Mrs J. A. Miller, Mr Douglas, Mrs Coutts, Misa S. J. Hetherington, Mr and Mrs Symington, Miss Gamer, Mr Alley, Mr Hethrington, Mr Anderson, Rev. Mr Potter, Thames ; Mr DArcy McDougall and servant, Queensland ; Mrs and Miss Westley, Melbourne ; Miss Law, Mr Smith, Dunedin ; Mr Wills, Mr Baldwin, Christcburch ; Mr Moody, Mr H. W. Northcroft, R.M., Mr Ferguson, Waikato ; Mr Sandes, Mr Livingstone, Mr McG. Hay, Mr and Mrs Stevens, Mr Lees, Mr Beere, Hamilton ; Mr Downey, Otago ; Mr Bickerton, Christchurch ; Mr Gordon, Wellington ; Mr Chalmers, Mor* rinsville ; Mra McCaul, Newmarket ; Mr Carruthers, Westport ; Mr and JMrs Rockliff, Mrs Grey, Piako ; Mrs Richardson, Sydney ; Mr Jansen, Northcote ; etc., etc. On Tuesday evening next an entertainment of an interesting character will be given in the Te Aroha Public Hall, consisting of a magic lantern exhibition, which will embrace scenery of a very varied character, and comic slides in variety. Songs, readings, and recitations will be given at intervals. The charge for admission has been fixed very low, viz., Is for adults, 6d for children. See advertisement.

Rich Returns. — The Sydney Mail correspondent writing from Silverton says :— "The Day Dream Smelter, which was first put in blast on August 6, has been running well ever since. In working the smelter one ton of coke is used to five of ore. Thursday, August 13, was the first anniversary of the start of the D ly Dream works in 1881. Up to that date 4000 ton« of ore had beeu raised, which, when smelted and refined, will produce 20 tons of silver. Out cf thin ore 1000 tons were shipped to Europe, which gave an average clear retur after leaving the mine of L3O per ton, in all L 30,000. From reliable assays made daily the remaining 3000 tons of ore will probably turn oat L 70,000 worth of silver, making a total of LlOO.OOO. The number of hands employed on the mine— men and boy-— regularly is 80, the w;igds of whom, together with other working expenses, arc about L 10,000, and the sum of L 20,000 is calculated to be spent in the ore r leaving a balance of about L 70,000 to the good for the first year. During the ya;ir 1100 feet of sinking an.l 2000 feet of driving have been accomplished, no steam power having been used j in ?act the whole plant used for working the mine barely exceeds in value LI 0. On the

Hill rich ore i" still hein>? ra'aad showing chlorides very f reel y. From No. t shaft, 60 feet d<*ep. a hulk assay was ••econtly marie, giving a result of 2-tROos! to the ton ; and in No. 3 24 Im-js averaged 'iOOoz to the ton.'' A great outcry is Ining mide h^re in reference to the prohibition of dynamite ; and with overv reason, as it will not be al lowed in unless from New South Wales. It is extremely hurl to got it at all; throe tons i* the largest quantity nllowod to he shipped f.-om the hulks »t Newcastle, and when obtained it is difficult to get boat*} of: any kind to ciutv it. A Sydney comnnnyhavp jnst p'lid L7O per ton for cartage of some* from TTay, or work would have had to he stopped, nnd in another instance a company has had to pay 5* per foot extra for sinking: a shaft, as they could not gnprantee to supply the contractors with dynamite. A large quantity is used on the field, and the expense and trouble of setting it from the metropolis is great. At the next sitting of the Warden's Court, to be held on Tuesday, loth inst, some mining cases of more than usual interest are set down for hearing. In one cane the plaintiff desires to bo prtt in possession of the ground lately m irked out and believed to be valuable for its silver ore, known as the PilverKin.e^, Wuiorong'omai, on the plea that the present holder marked out same in an illegal manner with respect to the pegging, etc. Mr J. A. Miller has, we underntand, been retained for the defence. Some five tons of ore from this claim has just been broken out and b/gged with the intention of sending it to Melbourne to be smelted, in order to practically test the Value of the quartz ; but now that litigation has been started with regard to the possession of the claim, it will probably be kept back pending the result of the action. It is the intention of some local residents, interested in mining, to erect a small testing furnace, for the purpose of testing for themselves samples of ore from time to time. The usual monthly meeting of the Waihou School Committee was held on Wednesday evening last. Present : Messrs R. Pan*, (chairman), Moffatt, fl. Ross, T. Rowe and Voysey A lettsr was received from the Board of Education recommending a Mr NettleBhip as Teacher for the Te Arolia West and Waihou halftime schools, as successor to Mr W. H. [ Hawkins, whom the Beard had dismissed j paying him the balance of salary for the unexpired term of the three months' notice recently given. It was resolved that the recommendation of the Board with respect to a new teacher be approved of. We may add that Mr Nettleship has only been we believe about a month in the employ of the Board, but has had considerable previous experience as a teacher, and is highly recommended. The contractor for completing the railway to Te Aroha has erected a tank near the terrace on the opposite side of the river, for storing water for the engine) and is now erecting close by an engine shed. It is to be hoped the vexed question of opening the bridge to traffic, and respecting which bo much unnecessary red tapeism was shown, has been at last satisfactorily settled. On Wednesday last Mr Everitt, who is in charge, received written instructions from the Resident Engineer to throw the bridge open for traffic from that date, which was at once done. The woik of ballasting the line of rail way to Morrinsville is now in full pro., gress, and a number of men are at present thus engaged. The contractor (Mr Livingstone), has been fortunate in finding excellent gravel for ballasting on the Government land about three-quarters of a mile from the river bank, to which a branch lino of rail has been laid down, and several pits have been opened. Bal- ' lusting as a matter of course being commenced this end of the line* The usual monthly meeting erf the Te Aroha School Committee was held on Wednesday evening last. The business before the meeting was of a routine character. The master's report showed a considerable improvement in the attendance of children of late. Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs Hugh Ross, Thos. L. Green, and H. J. Hawkins for gifts of young trees for the school grounds. Tho machinery by which the " London Times" is printed can print, fold, and deliver ready for publication 10 miles of piper per hour. In order to provide for the steadily increasing passenger traffic between the Thames and Ohinemuri, Llie manager of the Thames River Ste.au Navigation Co. has tU'Culed to place another fat»t steamer on the riv«r next week, making three regular weekly trips. The p.s< Putiki will return to her old trade to Te Aroha, ami a8 passengers oun always land at the Junction if they choo«e, vl.iily bteam-boat communication with the Ohinemuri district will thus be provided. Mr Warden Kermck returned to Thames on Monday hint, and will carry on the dnties connected with his office throughout this month. The enquiry cotuniibßion upon .vhich he was engaged, will resume its work at Hokitika on October sth. Mr George Augustus Sala was to eni f o New Zealand on Thi rsday last.

The Thames correspondent of t Herald thin wriVs :—": — " From what T h^'ir on nil sid^s T believe pegging out at Oliinemnri has been veiy much overdone. Even the swamps at Waihi have been converted into silver mines by the Rame process that the land 'auctioneer conjures up the church, school, hotel, and village upon the one sheep to ton acre 'block, which he is praising in glowing phrases to a gullible audience A nicely got np plan works wonders. The concentration of capital upon the most likely ventures, would probably prove more beneficial in the long run than spending money wildly on promotor*' share 5 ! in ol>rinr»s a vast number of which aro not likely t> be worked, or if nr all, only the money originally subscribed, wholly inadequate to the requirements, will be expended. Money is being frit- [ tered away jußt now, and this will cause depression hereafter." "vsroM The postal notes to be issued in New Zealand will be for sums ranging from Is to £1. These notes will circulate all through the colony, and will constitute a new paper currency. The m'ning population in Victoria fa estimated at 27,479, and the value of the machinery employed on the goldfields is stated at £1,906*285. In the House on Monday last The Municipal Coiporations Bill and Representative Act Amendment Bill were discharged from the Order Pfper on the motion of Mr Stout ; whilst the State Forests Bill, Stamp Bill, and Deceased Person's Estate Bill were passed. j Having in view the probability of a large increase of passenger traffic in this district ere long, Mensrs Bradley and Fer- | guson have of late been making preparations for same. Within the la^t few days two really splendid new buggies (one single and one double) have been placed amongst the vehicles for hire at their stables at Te Aroha, and several fresh j horses of a good stamp have also been added. The firm have also been engaged J in improving their line of coaches for the carrying of passengers from Thames to Paeroa and Karangahake, upon which line business has greatly extended of late ; and appear determined to spare no efforts to deserve a large share of public support, by supplying thoroughly efficient modes of conveyance. The following tenders were received by the Waitoa Road Board on Saturday last for the construction of seven bridges on Maungakawa - Waiorongoraai road : — J. Heathcote, £239 (accepted) ; Collins and Voysey, £271 10s ; Lavery, £292 ; Mills and O'Connor, £325 ; Martin Brothers, £328 10s ; Booth and West, £338. Tenders will shortly be required for road works and bridges at Richmond, Shaftes bury, and Morrinsville. Since writing the above we are informed both Messrs Heathcote, and also Collins and Voysey, have forfeited their deposits and declined to carry out the work, which will now be executed by Mr JaB, Lavery, who when applied to said he was quite prepared to perform the work he had tendered for. Two Irishmen, one sultry night, immediately after their arrival in India, took refuge underneath the bedclothes from a skirmishing party of mosquitoes. At last one of them, gasping from beat, ventured to peep beyond the bulwarks, and by chance espied a firefly which had strayed into the room. Arousing his companion with a punch, he said, " Fergus, Fergus, it's no use. Ye might as well come out* Here's one of the craythurs searchin' for us with a lantern 1" Josh Billings remarked in his philosophizings ; " A reputashun once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the apot whe r e the kraek wuV* The Spectator (Auckland) newspaper has been purchased by the proprietors of the Waitemata Messenger, wiftk which it is to be incorporated. Amongst old Thamesites seen at Silverton recently were Messrs Walter Sully, formerly well known in mining circles at Thames, who has an extensive store; M* Vaughan, late proprietor Queen's Hotel, Thames; J. Bullock, and C, H. Wilson. We are informed Mr Gordon said during his recent visit that he considered it was a great pity much more attention was not being paid to the prospecting for and saving of silver here, as it would probabl} be found to be as plentiful us at Karangahake. Unanswerable.— Priest : 'Pat. I undirstand you are going to be married again. 1 Disconsolate Widower : • Vis, your rivVence.' Priest : * But your wife, Pat. has been dead only two weeks. 7 Discon-. aolate Widower ; 4 Yes, your riv'renoe ' but sure ain't she as dead now as she iver will be V "Kind words can never dii." How bitterly does a man realise that terriblitruth where he sees all the kindest wordhe ever said in his life glaring at him from his published letters in a breach of promise suit. j To get the whole of the alphabet into » short sentence of six word* is something out of the common, but here it is: — "John quickly extemporized .five tow bags." Teacher - <( Why are you I«te ?" Little girl, dropping her head — u We've got u little baby at our house." " Dou'L lot it huppen again," said the teacher.

Several claims haVe just been pegged out in the vicinity of Rotokulin, near Paeron. The ground is said to be towards the trig station, and about two miles from the Te A rob a road. Ditiiug tlie past week quite a large number of claims have been pegged out at Waitekauw ; but no find of importance has taken place there, and there does not appear to be any good ground for the rush in the direction referred to. *