WAITEKAURI.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2166, 13 December 1875, Page 3

WAITEKAURI.

(FBOM X COBEESPONDENT.)

December 8,

W© have been honored by a visit from the amiable and accomplished hostess of the Eatcliffe Arms, Mackayiown. The lady walked out from Mackaytown last Monday in company with two or three of our leading men. On her arrival she was welcomed by the assembled diggers with cheers—and presented witb an address complimenting her upon the pluck and perseverance she had displayed in. undertaking such' an arduous task as walking out to the Waitekauri. Miss Katcliffe in a few well chosen words thanked the diggers present for their expressions of kindness, and also hoped it would not be taken amiss if she gave them a few words of advice on the foolishness lately displayed in so much money being thrown away in laying plaints against one another, as she thought it would benefit; 'both themselves and the place more if it was expended iv. working the different claims. The distinguished visitor also iutimated that she would have the pleasure of inspecting the different claims next day. The_ only orator we have in the district being at present on a visit to tbe Thames no suitable reply was made to the lady's eloquence. She was accommodated wilh a well furnished apartment in one of the mansions situated on the Young Colonial claim. Yesterday Miss Batcliffe had a look round the Nova Scotia and Welcome portions of the field, and to-day I hear she is going to honor the machine site and sawyers with a visit. Everybody _is loud in praise of the manner in which she climbs the steep bush tracks from the different claims, and I expect the business of the Eatcliffe Arms will not lose anything from the visit the hostess has paid vs.

Two or three new claims have been taken, up on the eastern side of the Welcome and Fergus claims. In one called the True Briton the cap of a reef has been uncovered. In the loose stuff surrounding it a fairish prospect can be washed. The shareholders have started a drive to cut the reef at a depth of thirty feet. I have not heard of anything being found in either of the others. In the Sir George Grey a reef has just been cut in one of their drives which is supposed to be the Welcome reef. For all the new claims that have been taken up lately I see but very few new men at work. The protection of the Homeward Bound and Queen of Beauty claims having expired at the end of last week, both claims are in full swing again. Last week a gentleman in the interest of Mr Gibbons was endeavoring to get signatures to a requisition for that gentleman to staud for the General Assembly, but without success, as all the miners here are in favor of Mr C. F. Mitchell, who is largely interested in this district, and. therefore would use his best endeavors to advance it.