OHINEMURI.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1928, 9 March 1875, Page 2

OHINEMURI.

(from a cohhespondent.)

Mackaytown, Monday.

There is very little to report since yesterday's letter. A rush has set in to'j Waitekauri, but it is difficult to learn whether the rushers are most attracted by gold or gum. As regards the latter I am told the deposits are unusually rich, and that experienced bSincfs can make more at gum' digging than-niost of them expected from the gold. This morning swagmen were to be seen on the wallaby for Waitekauri, and you could see a long stream in Indian file toiling'over tho hills. Some of them are well rationed, which looks as if, they had something definite in view, whether prospecting or gum digging. J _ It was raining heavily in Mackaytown today, while at the Paeroa it appeared to be quite fine. I fancy that this will be a very vet place in the winter, and. if there should be much traffic the roads will be in a stale to which the streets of Shortland in old times were as nothing. I hear complaints from storekeepers and others about a practice which prevails of appropriating other people's goods. If a publican, for instance, has some beer consigned to him, and is not there when the steamer arrives to take delivery, the chances are that another in the trade, who is getting short, perhaps, will collar the keg (the beer aU comes up in kegs) and cart it to his own place. This free and easy way of appropriating the goods of others has caused a great deal of inconvenience to some persons. Many persons are running away with the idea that there is no gold here. Well, I can't say I have seen much, but I am constantly tearing about it Not gold

that has bef n got since this was a proclaimed goldfield, but "prospects" obtained at different times since '67. 'As for what has been done siace Wednesday last, it is nothing; I would wager my existence that not three score men have put their picks into the ground since the proclamation was read ; many of them had not been on the field a week when it was cpened; and yet these same persons are loudest in the'.r croaking and condemnation of the district. One old hand remarked to me the other day—"l haven't seen no gold, but I can sec a——— likely -looking country, and its worth prospecting." The sooner the croakers go back to their gum digging and their odd-job-work the better for themselves and the field. I may remark that one person interested in a reef from which tests Inve been made tells'; me that if the crushings will give? a twentieth of the yield indicated by the tests the reef will be a splendidly payable one.