Ohinemuri.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1989, 20 May 1875, Page 2

Ohinemuri.

(fbom a coebespondent.)

I visited Fern Flat, and found two or three parties at work there—in strong hopes of coming on something good. Moore and party are putting in a tunnel on the opposite side of the river to that where Clarkson and Cobley's claim was situated at a low level, and through very hard country. They have been using lithofracteur, but owing to some cause or other they could not get it to answer their purpose. ; Another^ party are following up the alluvial run of gold by sluicing it, with the expectation of coming on the reef it came from. '■■.

. In the Banyan claim they cut the reef, which is about six feet thick, and in which they hare seen gold. They are still driving towards their, boundary for the purpose of intersecting everything running through their ground. In the NilDesperandum McGregor and party are driving for the reef, which they expect to cut in another shift or two ; they are in with one tunnel at present 135 feet, through good driving country ; they are also putting in a ' lower level tunnel, which is now in about 30 feet, and through hard solid country. This party are all hard working men with capital, and it is their intention to give the ground a fair trial. Next claim higher up the spur is the Treaty of Waitangi, out of which a payable test was crushed, The shareholders are now getting out stuff with the intention of sending it to Shortland to be crushed. Here I may remark that it is a .wonder to me that j some of the owners of machines that are now lying idle do not shift up(here. lain sure they would find the speculation a remunerative one. " ;.....

The Prospectors are still - driving through the hill. The All Nations have cut the reef. Gold is visible. Report is here, that -two shares in the Propecting Claim are applied for, on the grounds of non-working. I hear Mr McLean is one of the applicants. No talk of late of the Prospectors' machinery. It has died a natural death. ; '{

Business is very dull. The road men has not yet received their pay, and Mackaytown wiil soon be as full of paper money, in the shape of orderi on Jas. Mackay, junr., as ever the COnited States was with greenbacks during the American war. ■ -.:■ : -■:'■-: '.■■. . 'V#f

The storm of Monday the 17th took the roof off P. A. Jones' barbering and lodging establishment; > Several of the road party have pitched their tents inside the zinc building lately erected, I hear, by Mr Peter Norbury; and although it has been a convenience to them through the stormy weather, they are dissatisfied with Mr Norbury for not putting a floor in it, as they say it would add to their comfort. .

Several men are in here from the "Waitekauri, and they all speak very favorably of the prospects that has been got in some of the claims. :