THE AROHA NEWS AND UPPER THAMES ADVOCATE.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 119, 12 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 bo fulse to any man. Shakespeare.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1885. The return from the Ivanhoe (Knrarigahake), shipment of seventy tons oF quartz recently forwarded to Melbourne, for treatment by the La Monte process, particulars of which will be found amongst our telegraphic news in this issue, is of * highly gratifying character ; and will greatly tend 10 confirm and strengthen the high expectation* entertained cf the resources of Ohinenniri goldfield. The yield of silver is very small, and much less than was an ticipated, but judging from the value of the return j er ton, the gold must be of unusually good quality. So satisfactory a return from a large parcel of quartz such as that referred to, is indeed most encouraging. i

Two excellent tennis courts were this week completed in the grounds of the Hot Springs Domain. The ground surface is composed of sand. By the formation of these courts a new attraction, and a pleasant means of recreation, has been added to our township ; one, too, which we are sure will be greatly appreciated both by local residents and also by many of the visitors. To MrGeo. Wilson (chairman of the Board), the excellent manner in which the work has been carried out is greatly due, Mr Wilson having spared no trouble to have the courts constructed in the best possible way. The Te Aroha Skating Rink will bo opened on Thun»d.iy evLiiing of next w eek instead of Wednesday, the alteration having been made to permit Professor Baldwin the use of the hall for the purpose of his entertainment on both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Mr S. Bawden (of Messrs Bawden and Climo, Thames), paid a flying visit to Te Aroha during the first of the week. Mr Bawden is an experienced metallurgist and practical assayer, was most favour- ■ ably impressed with the mineral resources of our district, and purposes returning at an early date for the purpose of more fully examining and testing Jth« value of our reefs. As will be seen by adrertisement tenders are about being called for extensive additions to the fiot Springs Hotel. That monument of reckless expenditure, the tramway engine, which cost about £800 and was never even put together, being practically Useless for the Waiorongomai tramway, was this week carted to Morrinsville for conveyance thence by train to Auckland, where it will be offered for sale. Rail charges and cost of carting will be something considerable. Excellent progress is being made with ballasting the line of railway. Prospecting for silver ore and testing of small parcels of stone by every conceivable process, is all the rage just new. Pegging out, too, has been also carried on to a considerable extent, some six or seven new claims having been pegged out during the week, and several parties are contemplating a further move in that direction. Mobt of the claims this week have been marked out in the vicinity of the Tui Creek at the rear of Mr Pavitt's house, and here also a valuable water right has been pegged out and applied for, A number of samples have been despatched for assay to Thames and elsewlure, the results from which will be eagerly looked for. On next Wednesday evening at the weekly meeting of the Debating Class some interesting information will be given respecting mining ; and )Mr McKay, who has had long and practical experience in mining on various fields, and has the sole resand responsibility and management in the erection of Fergusons new battery, has kindly consented to attend and give some information respecting the use of the blow-pipe and testing of ores, which will jiut now prove of special interestMr J. W. Walker (better known as " Long Drive"), aud Mr B. K. Davis arrived here yesterday. Waiorongomai Hotel, Waiorongomai to be sold by public auction this day week |at Te Aroha. See advertisement. I Colonel Fraser is reported to have said in the House with respect to Mr Warden Kernick, that complaints had been made by the Thames local bodies about him. and at the meeting of the Thames Borough Council on Thursday la,t the matter was discussed at length. The Chairman stated he could not recollect an} resolution having been ever passed which reflected upon Mr Eenrick r and the Clerk was desired to look up the minutes respecting the nmtter. We believe very general regret would be felt at Thames ! and we are certain such would be the case in this district were- MrKenrick KermovetL He has ever shown himself a roost painstaking and consistent official in the discharge o(! his d .ties amongst us, courteous and obliging, and U deservedly held in high esteem.

The Thames Star of Monday lust has the following :— A large nurn'>er of person^ including several mine managers, assembled on the beach near' the Big Pump mullock tip this mornirm: to witnows the exhibition by Mr W. T. Firth of the w Electric "'Exploder," or " Igniting: Dynamo." The machine weighs about 201bs, and is in a compact box. It is very win pie, and can be worked by anyone without the slightest danger. The experiments proved very satisfactory, and clearly demonstrated the usefulness of tie machine as an exploder. The modus operandi may n ay be uescribed as follows : — The charge of dynamite is placed in the hole, and the ordinary detonator, in which a couple of wires are insorted, ia supplied, tnd the detonator stopped up. The two wires are then attached to two others which are connected with the battery, care of course being taken to keep the wires seper.ite. All that is then noceesary to discharge the shot i« to press down the handle of the machine, wben the explosion is instantaneous. The detonators are equally as cheap as the ordinary dynamite c;>p<, and are sealed so as to be impervious to water. The wires can bo placed alon£ the bottom or sides of a drive as desired, the only thing to be observed being that they do not come in contact with the iron rails. One of the principal features in connection with the machine is that the fact of the wire being placed under water has not the least injurious effect, as the charge can still be exploded ; while any number of holes can be discharged at once. In the experiments this morning, two charges of the ordinary dynamite were placed in two huge pieces of iron, and the wires of the machine attached soire thirty or forty yards away, with the result that the explosion followed directly the handle of the machine was pushed downwards, and the iron broken into fragments. A trial was also made with a log of firewood, with the same satisfactory result. The experiments clearly showed that a hole charged with dynamite could be exploded from any distance without danger. Thu price of the machine is almost nominal, and we ha/c no doubt will comraoud itself to mine managers and others by its usefnlncss. The August number of " Once a Month," an illustrated magazine for Australia, is to hand ; and is fully equal to any previous numbers of this interesting and carefully brought out periodical. In addition to a number of other illustrations, are two excellent steel engravings, one representing *•' The Hon. Sam. Griffiths, Q.C., Premier of Queensland," accompanied by a most interesting sketch of his life and political career ; the other represents " Santa Barbara." A brief sketch of the life of Victor Hugo is well worth perusing. Much interesting matter w»ll also be found under the headings ; " Our Gardener ;' " Our Doctor ;" " Wanderings in a Fern Country ;" monthly notes on sciencej literature and art, etc., etc., together with well-written tales, The magazine is excellent value for Ib. Mr H. Tapp agent for the London Gold Amalgamator Syndicate, will proceed to England via San Francisco by the 8. a. Australia, which leaves Auckland on Tuesday next, his business being chiefly in connection with the working of the foreshore allotment which he has leased from the Harbonr Board. Mr Tapp states that that it is intended to remove the electroamalgamator appliances now at the New Prince Imperial battery and erect a suitable plant on the foreshore for the treatment of tailings by the process of which his principals are patentees. — Advertiser. From the following we may see that the cry of bad times and depression has two Bides, and that when v, c enquire more deeply into the matter, things are possibly not so bad as they seem ;—"; — " At the anuual meeting of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, Mr G. G. Stead said he considered ' that ds a period of exceptional depression is generally followed by a corresponding period of activity, we may be certain thiit the depression would not long continue. He quoted statistics to show that notwithstanding the severe depression from which individually we were suffering, the national wealth of the colony had not been seriously effected. With the superabundance of food, the many valuable minerals, and the inexhaustible supply of raw material, we were able to carry on almost every known manufacturing industry. He did not thiuk, if the colonists were loyal to themselves, there would be any fear of the future." The Insurance Companies Association has issued new tariff rates for the Auckland District (Gisborne excluded) to apply to all new Polices and Renewals from the Ist September, 1885, by which rates for certain classes of risks are considerably increased. The County Engineer for this district, Mr Pavitt, has had a substantial bridge erected across the creek known as Jausen's, where it crosses the road to Shaftesbury near Mr W. F. Hunt's farm. This was much needed, as the culvert hitherto ex isting at this spot, was altogether inidequate to convey the rush of water after heavy rains, and was almost invariably carried away every time a flood occurred. Mr J, P. Hall, late of the Tokatea mine, Coromandel, has been app< inted.Nirpervi.sor of the Talisman company's claim, Karanguhake, with instructions to bogin operations forthwith.

A Colonial Failing.— -Too great a greed for land (says the Queenslander) has caused hnndreds to fail tt* fannem-in this Colony. The simple fenoing required by a large Mock has absorbed more money than would have sufficed to enrich and bring in a good return from a smaller area. The adage that a small farm well tilled inenns a pocket well filled is a truism. Many a selector has lost heart through spreading his labour and capital dyer 320 acres in the bush, when, if he had been content with 32 acres near a market, he could have made a competency. Our agricultural reporter mentions in another column of this issue several instances of farmers rising to comfort, amounting almost to affluence, by b"ing content with Bto 12 acres of good land near to a market. We know of similar successes from a few acres of pineapples, from j orchards, from vineyards, and from garden produce. In general it is the man who concentrates his energies and his capital upon a small area that lives the moßt comfortably, and is most free from the worrying cares of life The September number of the N.Z. Fanner, Bee, ami Poultry Journal is, like its predeaessois, Full of useful and interesting matter, accompanied with a variety of excellent illustrations. The various operations in connection with farm and garden work, bee and poultry keeping, are dealt within a masterly manner, and so simplified that the novice cannot fail to comprehend the information it is desired to impart ; whilst olum 8 specially set apart for the ladies, and m ttters connected with the household geteially, are all that could be desired. No homo should be without this useful and i tteresting journal published at the low price of Is, or 10* pf»r annum. The Undor-Secretary of the Gold fields Department has replied to the request of the Thames County Council that a sum of £10,000 should be placed on the Estimates for the construction of a tramway to Karangahake, to the effect that the Minister of Minos is unable to agree to contribute towards the work to the extent applied for. Sharp frosts have prevailed at night recently. On yesterday morning standing water waa completely covered with ice. | Several meetings of shareholders in Karanarahake mines have been recently held in Auckland with the following results :—lmperial: — Imperial Licensed Holding, decided to form a company with a nominal capital of £12,000 vi 24,000 shares of 10s each, nothing paid up ; 6000 shares to be reserved by the company. Directors :P # Comiskey, H. T. Gorrie, A. Kidd, C. G. McMillan, and R. Spratt ; legal manager, D. G. McDonnell. — Argentine Licensed Holding : Decided to form a company with the nominal capital at £13,200 in 26,000 shares of 10s each, nothing paid up, 7200 shares to be reserved for the company's benefit. Directors: P. Comiskey C. C. McMillan, T. Simons, R. Spratt, and W, S. Wilson ; solicitor, S. Jackson, jun.; legal manager, D. G. McDonnell ; auditor, T. L. White ; and on Saturday last the Woodstock Licensed Holding decided to form a company with a capital of £36,000 in 36,000 shares of 20s each. The ap- j pointinent of a legal manager, etc., being adjourned till a future meeting. The usual monthly meeting of the Piako County Council will be held on Thursday next, when, as will be seen by advertisement, a general county rate of f d in the £ will be struck. The following shows the division of the rate over the various ridiugs : -Waitou riding rute&ble value, £414,789 ; amount of rate, £1296 4s 3|d Patetere rateable value, £356,204 ; amount of rate, £1113 2s 9d. Matamata rateable value, £179,408 ; amount of rate, £560 13s. Te A'oha rateable value, 107,134; amount of rate, £334 15s 10£ d. Taota.>roa rateable value, £103,580 ; am >unl of rate, £323 13s 9d. Total amount of rate, £3628 9s B£d. In addition to this theie is the rate on Crown lands, amounting to £41 12s 3d, and on native lands to £171 128 2£d, which brings the total of the rate up to £3841 14s l£d. The Auckland Agricultural Company are the highest ratepayers in the county, their contribution being £600. The Patetere Company and Mr J. C. Firth being next in order. On Tuesday evening next Professor and Mrs Baldwin, the American thought readers, clairvoyants, mesmerists, and mirth makers, commence a short season of two nights only at the Public Hall T<* Aroha. The entertainment is spoken of by our colonial exchanges as being extiemely laughable, keeping the audience in screams of laughter aba it half the time. Pr< . Baldwin id said to give all the peculiar miud-roadin^ tests of W. Irving Bishop ami Stuart Cumberland, that have creat-'tl so much talk iv (ire.it Britiau. lie is taken from the hal I and securely blindfolded, and in this condition finds a small pin that has bsen hidden by one of the committee. Mrs Baldwin's clairvoyancy ia weird and woud.jif.iil. People in the audience merely think of questions of any kinu that they wish answered and upon Mrs Baldwin being mesmerised and placed in a trance conation, she gives correct replies to the mental question, and then tells the question itself. All sorts of questions are answered — about deaths, marriages, lost or stolen goods, the whereabouts of absent friend -! f etc., until the Audience are in a state of maze and bewilderment Whan Prof, and Mrs Baldwin were in New Zealand, six years

ago, .they drew immense audiences, and recently, in Auckland they have been attracting much attention. Speaking of the entertainment in Melbourne the Arg.w says: "The clairvoyant performance was .most . extraordinary. Mrs Baldwin answered questions merely thought of by the audience. The answers were very startling, accurately telling the past, and fore-telling the future. There was no means of her knowing these mental questions, and the standing of the many pro minent people whose mental questions were thus answered prevented any suspicion of collusion. During all this time she was in a deep mesmeric trance." English and European mail via 'Frisco closes at the local post-office to-day (Saturday) at 8 p.m., and for Post-office Orders at 10.15 a.m. We acknowledge receipt of the August number of " The Illustrated N.Z. News." The issue referred to is exceedingly well brought out, and deserves a wide sale. A coloure I supplement is issued with this number entitled " Young Prospectors," and represents two very juvenile prospectors, one of whom is busily engaged panning-out a trial, whilst the other and a little girl are watching for the result of the test with great earnestness. If the juvenile miners really obtained as good a " colour" as is represented by the artibt. they must have struck " a patch.'' The other illustrations are — " St. Paul's Church, Christchurch ;" h The Military Court Martial ;" " The Grand National Meeting at Flemington ;" " A Teamster's Camp ;" " Scene near Taupiri ;" " The Barque Maroon in a hurricane ;" " Township of Mercer ;" " Nugget Point Lighthouse ;" the celebrited greyhound "Bod.mthe ;" " Incidents in the Life of u Street Boy," etc., etc., the whole forming a very interesting number of the News. At tlie monthly mooting of the Th.unes High School Board of Governors on Monday last, permission whs granted Mr Win, Wilson to transfer his lease of number six of the Thames High School Endowment, Waiorongomai, to Mr A. W. Edwards. An advertisement appears in the Auckland Herald to the effect that a bonus of £500 per annum for four years will be paid to any individual company, or firm, who will in conformity to certain conditions carry on the business of- meat preserving, etc., at or near Patea, West Coast N.Z.