OHINEMURI. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 284, 25 July 1888, Page 2

OHINEMURI. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

A person visiting the bleak and windy Waihi plains a year ago and returning at this present time would observe n vast difference in the aspect of affairs thereyi On riding on to the Waihi G.M. Go's ground, one cannot but be struck with Ihe enormous and valuable quantity of building material, machinery, etc., that lies strewn around. The number of people that are employed on the works, too, gives the place quite a lively appearance. There are throe or four forges at work, a large number of carpenter s*,5 *, brick layers, etc., as well as those actually employed in the mine itself, The main engine and machine house when complete will contain five floors over sixty feet in height. On each of these floors different portions of the combined process for reducing the ore will be fixed. The bricklayers are well forward with their work. The large Cornish boiler is now being placed in position, and the carpenters are busy framing the bed for the engine. Mr E. M. Corbett is controlling matters, and under him Mr Harrison, who was sent from Home to arrange and fix the plant, is looking after the details. The assay house and furnace is now complete. Mr E. Bain is just starting his contrac 1 . for sinking tho pump shaft 130 feet deep, for which he has the excellent price of £2 15s fid per foot. Mr Gco, Colebrook has the labour contract for the poppet heads, hoppers, and tramways for £92 10s. On Monday, Professor Brown and Mr MacGregor, Engineer to Auckland Harbour Board, paid a visit of inspection to Waihi and took great Interest in the plant, etc. Worth and party, who ai*e driving on tho reef in the Rosernont section, are getting first-class ore to grass, Farmor, Powell, and party cleaned up at Owharoa Battery on Saturday, for 1520zs retorted gold from aboutlSO tons, On melting only a small loss occurred, and the gold was valued at about 50s. They are getting out another crushing immediately. Louis Dihars is on good stuff in this district. At Karangahake there is nothing new to report. The furnace is being rapidly proceeded with. It is currently reportel that the Ciown has been placed on the London market. The news from Marototo is not so encouraging. Very little good stuff is being saved, and the manager, Mr J. H. Moore, has been compelled to send adverse reports to his directors in {Sydney. At his request Mr Plumb, the chairman of directors, is on his way from Sydney to inspect tho mine. Hoera te Mimihu, the native recently released from Mount Eden gaol, returned to Paefoa on Saturday. His incarceration does not appear to have damaged him. Preparations arc being made to start the Junction flax mills, It is expected that a large quantity cf flax will be manufactured this year and that prices will still improve. The County Council have been making praiseworthy efforts to keep the road in as good order as possible. Mr J. W. Walker recently Kent TI7 bags of lioseuionfc drive ore to Messrs Vvazav and Finne, Auckland, for treatment. The stuff appeared to be of very good grade and the result is looked forward to with much interest. Mr Ralph is putting a staff oil hand at his mine at Waitekauri. The Tawa and Darwin claims have boen sold with the Arizona to Mr Quayle of Sydney.