Visit to Mr J. B. Smith's.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 199, 16 April 1887, Page 3

Visit to Mr J. B. Smith's.

On Thursday morning 1 Hon. Mr Larnach, accompanied by Messrs Mitchell and Gordon left To Arolia .it 10 o'clock in one of Bradley and LYrguscn's conveyances for Mr J. 13. Smith's, Waitoa, where a large deposit of an auriferous naturo was recently discovered ; several local residents accompanying the party. Mr Larpach, on arrival, at oiicg went to see the deposit, and Mr Gordon carefully inspected the various place 1 ? whore work had been done, taking samples from each. Mr Gordon expressed the opinion that the deposit was a very extensive one, of a distinctly volcanic nature, carrying quartz in a crystalins st.tte. As j to whether the find would prove of a payable nature to work systematically or not, would so greatly depend on the cost of treatment, and a number of other circumstances yet to bo enquired into that Mr Gordon naturally did not care, on such slight knowledge as ho had yet obtained, to express an opinion. He, however, advised Mr Smith to ship parcels of ten to twenty hundred- weight each to some of the well- known test works in America, and also to Swansea and Fricbcrg ; and requested that several samples bo forwarded to Wellington lo be tested by the Mines Department, and recommended Mr Smith to have the deposit tested in every possible way. Mr Larnach said the Mines Department would be pleased to afford any information they could on the subject. After partaking of lunch, the Ministerial party in the afternoon proceeded to Matamata, where they had arranged to spend the night, Mr Larnach being desirous of seeing Mr J. C. Firth's special settlement, etc. From Matamata they will proceed to Oxford and thence to Napier.