THE HIKUTAIA FIND.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 221, 24 September 1887, Page 4

THE HIKUTAIA FIND.

Pakiiua, September 17th. Tin; extract from the Wellington " Even ing Tress anenb the "new find" ab " Maritoto," which appeared in your issue of Tuebday last, takes the cake from all previous productions on the subject of gold mining in thK region, and it has been the means" of alibi ding considerable amusement to those who have examined the reef in question, and who ate acquainted with the circumstances that led up to its disco veiy. At the very outset the writer of the article alluded to damns himself in the estimation of all practical men by his reference to the " Official Repoi b of the Geological Department for 1370. "' Those who have had 25 years' experience of that Department's reports in relations, to goldfields will doubtless have a lively recollection of other "official geological reports" dated a few years previous, and which reflected infinite credit on that Department. One of these reports, written in or aboub 1866 or 1867, dealt with the present Thames goldfield, which it pronounced to be a "duffer," and, if my memory serves me right, warned the Government of the day against throwing that district open for gold-mining purposes. It is needless for me to add that subsequent developments have proved the Thames to be the lichesfa quartz goldfield that has ever yet been discovered, and who will venture to say that even now there is nob a grand future before it ? Bub to return to the Wellington " Evening Press " article. The writer was evidently labouring under the hallucination that the newly discovered lino of reef country is located near to " Hikutaia," and in all probability he confounds it with the scene of the " bogus " rush which took place in that neighbourhood about 14 years since. Small wonder that he should display so much ignorance as to the exact locality of the " new find" when it is taken into consideration that every journal in the Auckland province, where one would naturally suppose writers had some some slight knowledge of the subject, has consistently headed all references thereto as the "New Find at Hikutaia," "Latest from Hikutaia," etc. Now, in reality, Mcßrinn's discovery is located ab Maritoto, which, even as the crow flies, is distant fully seven miles from Hikutaia, and there is nothing common between the two places. Regarding the continuity of Mcßrinn's reef, there can be no two opinions aboub it, for it has been traced fully three miles, and ib is a clearly-defined body of quartz averaging 7ft. in thickness, and carrying more or less gold and silver at every point of intersection for the whole of that distance. As to whether ib will be payable righb through, or otherwise, is a question which no practical man would attempt to answer, simply because he cannot see the fractional part of an inch intoa body of stone, and nothing short of genuine development will determine the future of the 1 place. — Star Correspondent

Proclamation of Marriages in Markets. —The Barebones, or Little Parliament'of 1653, first introduced those regulations for registration to which we have reverted of late years. Marriage was declared to beTa civil contract, and was legally solemnized by a justice of the peace. Marriage by a clergyman was optional. The banns were published on three successive Sundays after morning service, or the proclamation was made in the market-place by the bellman on three succeesive market rlayp. The parish register of Boston, Lincolnshire, furnishos the number of marriages proclaimed in both places : —

In 1058, persons were allowed to adopt the religious cecemony if they preferred it.

fear. Markot-placo. ChurcJ 1656 102 48 1G57 104 31 1658 108 62 ih.