The Prospecting Claim.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1939, 22 March 1875, Page 2

The Prospecting Claim.

Editors, reporters, and Government officials -nil unite in proclaiming that there has not been, any prospecting claim granted to any persons in Ohinemui. I. belong to none of these classes, and I say most positively there has been one granted, and in a most extraordinary, especial manner. What is a prospecting claim ? It is a certain area of ground given to some person or persons for a special purpose. Generally, that special purpose is to reward those who have prospected and found payable gold in the locality or immediate area where the ground is awarded. Here, a " reserve "is made— for what purpose—solely to reward those persona who first found gold therein. Although the manner in which this in this instance has been done is. not according to the usual custom, the object is the same, and therefore the result.and its obligations should be equally so. That this isi not the case, I have hesitation in saying; it is not only a private and public injury, but that it is also a part and parcel of the whole farce enacted in connection with " Reserve A." You, air, blame persons for not going to prospect here and try for themselves. Just so. But know you that many persons came here and have left again—men who would be an acquisition to the field —men who had the means and came ..to prospect, if they saw any hope of success. Bear in mind that "prospecting," and "prospecting blindly,", are two different things.. And those men referred to, their position was much worse than the alternative ; when they came here they heard of glowing prospects, here there and everywhere. Well they remained until the greater number of "those prospects turned put .to be myths. In truth the lend of them was. sufficient" to disgust the most credulous Gentiles, (as for the Jews they had enough of Wangamata,) and I, maintain that they were fully justified in leaving. Not that I for one moment condemn the field or its resources. I do not, because I still believe that notwithstanding all that l has been ■ said and done to damn it, not only privately but officially, it 4 will yet realise the most sanguine wishes of those who have fuith in its hidden treasures.

Your issue of last night lias just come to han^|. I see you have copied from the Cress what is presumed to bo a true report of nhut took place at the prospectors' claim on the 13th instant. Whoever the reporter is, it is only fair to him to say that hs is riot the only individual who has made himself a conspicuous liar. about what, took place on that occasion I will now, as briefly" as I 'can, deal with the report as given in your leading column on Thursday last The correspondent states " there were 500 or 600 people assembled." It is a lie ; there were not over 200. "That Mr Thorpe was knocked down," is another lie, as* no such thing happened; "that a big boulder was rolled down off the hill by the roughs "to crush Mr Thorpe," is equally so a lie ; " that the police quelled the disturbance," as said in another report, is also untrue, as there were no police there at the.time. I was present when Captain Newell came on the ground, unaccompanied by any policeman, and, I for all'f the good he- had to do in" that j respect, he might as well hare been in "Howick." Last, though not, least, the Cross ' reporter states " that Dennis Hogan came forward with a rope, but did not make any use of it." This, of course, insinuates that Dennis meant the rope to hang somebody. Here the arch demon seems to have completely taken possession of that amiable reporter. In reference to this accusation, I can find no words to brand the villain who wrote it with, the infamy which he deserves. The true facts are as . follows:— Colemnn (one of the real prospectors), when a sked to shew the gold, said " it, was there, but he.could not get at.it," i pointing to a winze which was full of water. Dennis Hogan, then,'with praise- ! worthy zeal, went a long distance, to a j store aad got a bucket and rope (a.clothes ; line)"; the line, I believe, he paid for out i of his tfwn pocket, for the purpose of | baling out the winze. When he camel on the ground with those, he took the ; first spell himself at baling, then called ' on others to assist him. They did so, j until the water was down to about 18' inches of the bottom. The sides and roof of the winze seemed flaky and not safe to work in any longer. Other persons then went down and took some stuff out of the sides and roof, ,but could get no itone with gold in it;and then all hands cleared away completely disappointed. I wish to remaifk here, that, although the gold was noithen foutid, I do not share m the Ibelief that itisiiot in it. - 1

Wha.t I have herein stated, I vouch for to be true, and, further, have no hesitation in asserting, that the report referred to—a more lying, malicious, and ruffianly, account of any transaction I have never read before. I forgot to mention about the " ssissors." Well, I did not see it,

and therefore know nothing of it; but, if I was in this gentleman's boots, who says he did see it, I should certainly, for the safety of my own ears, keep my eye on it.