ENCOURAGING PROSPECTS. MR HOBBS, M.H.R., INTERVIEWED. Auckland, Dec. 3.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 426, 7 December 1889, Page 4

ENCOURAGING PROSPECTS. MR HOBBS, M.H.R., INTERVIEWED. Auckland, Dec. 3.

Mb Hobbs, M.H.R., returned from Whangarei by bho steamer Wellington this morning, after having satisfied himself by personal inspection of the value of the Puhipuhi .silver di?covcries. Tho Wellington brought from Whangarei two or three hundredweight of stone from Puhipuhi, to be forwarded to Wellington for inspection by the School of Mines, and also 4cwt of stone to bo sent to Rutherford's, at Limestone Island, to be crushed and afterwards treated by various processes. During Mr Hobbs'sabjencefrom Auckland he visited the Puhiouhi silver field, and personally inspected tho reefs which are now being operated upon. The character of the reefs was fully shown, and Mr Hobba was very much surprised at their faize and definiteness. He says that although well acquainted with mining at both tho Thames and Coromandel in the early days, he never saw as promising a show of mineral in a new field as he observed at Puhipuhi. He says the latter is a wonderful reefing country, and anticipates great results when it is properly worked. Feeling at Whangarei is very strong against the Government for refusing authority lo bo?ut fide prospecting parties to test the value of the country, and a stronglyworded protest was wired to the Government yesterday by Mr Hobbs and JSJr R. Thompson. There i.s very little reason to doubt that somo piospecting parties have gone out to Puhipuhi, in spite of the prohibition imposed by the Government ; but this is, of course, altogether unsatisfactory, and the proper course would be for the Government to isfcue licenses to bona Ade, prospecting parties, under proper restrictions, by which means reliable tests would be arrived at. This morning Mr Hobbs went to the Crown Lands Office to interview Mr Humphreys, Commissioner of Crown Lands, with roference to Puhipuhi affairs, but, unfortunately, was unable to see that officer. It appears that Mr Humphreys is away at Rotorua, and that nobody can icsue any licenses, or act in any way in connection with the new silver field but him. The Department appear to be resolved to stringently enforce the prohibition of prospecting, and affairs connected with the field appear to be drifting into a etate of confusion, and it is feared that unless the Government change the attitude they have taken up very quickly Puhipuhi will be rushed, and it is impossible to say what the consequences will bo. It i 3 equally certoin that the present state of feeling with regard to the exclusion of prospectors renders it impossible to prevent people from going through the country, and that the Government will sooner or later have to make provision for prospect-" ing under some recognised system.