NOTES BY A NEW ARRIVAL. (From A Special Correspondent). (Continued.)

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 196, 26 March 1887, Page 3

NOTES BY A NEW ARRIVAL. ( From A Special Correspondent). (Continued.)

At (ho end of a brief but pleasant ride the Waitekauri battery was reached ; this i* one of two wry impoitant works in the district, and is rery complete. About eleven years ago Mr E. M. Corbett, whose lesulenee is adjoining, =niperintended the cicrtioii of the battery, ami designed the cnoimovn water wheel which woik== the sta-inpeis and berdan*, tin's wheel is said to be the largest in th" colonies, its diameter is 3G feet, and when t hero is a full supply of water available it is equal to SO horse power. In the battery there are -11 head of stampers and 10 large berdans. The tributers of the mine are at present putting tailings through the berdans on account of their inability to crush owing to want of water. On leaving this scene of enterpii?e I proceeded up the Waiteluuiri hill, a not very small mountain, and saw at various points evidences of mining operations being pursued. The Waitekauri, Welcome, Mangakeri, and Diamond arc manned, and all, ] was informed, getting some gold. Over the hill on the Mangakeri Cieek is another battery bearing the name of ihe Watercourse, this was e:ected 10 oi 11 years ago by a Mr Jury for Mr H. 0. Wick, and is now owned by Mr J. G. Ralph. There arc? rine stampers and two berdans. Waitekauii is said to have a very promising future before it. On leaving here I wended my way towards Karangaliake, by way of Owharoa and Mackaytown. At Owharoa a stay was made tor a rest and inspection of the surroundings. Prospecting is being carried on, and great things are ex pected by Greenville and party in the "Me and Rowe" claim. The most noticeable work is that in connection with the water supply provided for battery purposes. Some time ago a fire devastated this small settlement, destroying a hotel, store, and damaging the battery, since then rebuilding has greatly altered Ihe face of the whole township. After leaving Owharoa an undulating road was traversed with a variety of scenery, hero a lull towering with foliage, at times beautifully variegated, there a broad expanse of plain showing where the ploughman had trodden, and in another direction roads with strpams constantly crossing with unsystematic peisistency. We next reach Mackaytown, an unpretentious hamlet, that is as far as appearance goes. A temporary call at Nasli's for recuperative purposes was made, and a wind made round by the Waitawheta river towards the Karangaliake gold field. On turning the corner bringing the valley in view, a charming scene presents itself, the towering range on the right and the smaller one the left were somewhat imposing, as we wended our way along the hill-side road, made chiefly by a (.'lilting process. The Waitawheta

river runs somewhat interruptedly between the rising ground, on either side, and on each, bush scenery harmonises with the pebbly stream, which flows in the valley beneath. Karangahuke reached, we have a really charming viow. Two vallcj's branch out before us ; lising almost, perpendicularly wo see the Ivanhoe lull and the steep leading up to Railey s battery. Two tramways run down from a great height, one on the right and the other on the left line of 9ight from the (irst vie.v of the township. 1 crossed by a suspension bridge from the Paeroa side to the mining side of tho township. Although the mining industry here is not at present flourishing there is good promise of increasing prosperity dawning upon this district. The erection of Jlailoy's new plant, and the satisfactory results obtained from ore tieated thereat, has been productive of a large amount *)f good to the whole district. I was greatly pleased with this plant, its magnificent water supply, and the general style of the concern generally. After visiting tho Adeline, Crown, Sutro, Woodstock, Monastery, and other mines, I returned to thetjv\nship of Karangahake, and from thence proceeded to Paeroa, and embarked for Auckland via To Aroha by one of liradlev's coaches.