The Te Aroha Goldfleld.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3692, 25 October 1880, Page 2

The Te Aroha Goldfleld.

BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.

AM ABOABD.

The morning of Saturday, the 23rd October, in the year of grace 1880, broke dull and calm, and those who had decided to make a trip to the Upper Thames by the special trip of the smart river steamboat Te Aroha, as they stood on the rickety old Grahamstown Wharf wondered whether the appearance of the sky predicted the voyage would be made under the auspices of King Sol or Jupiter Pluvius. The passengers numbered about 15 all told, and were a motley crowd, the list showing a publican, a schoolmaster,, an itinerant preacher, a few prospectors,a sharebroker, a telegraphist, a police constable, while an odd pressman or two made up the heterogeneous assemblage. Time was pretty dull on our hands, and the conversation chiefly turned on the new goldfield and its prospects. It was surprising the number of contradictory stories and reports that were in circulation, and numberless bets arose, to be settled on arrival at the land of promise. On reaching the Ohinemuri junction we landed from the steamer for a few minutes, and in the course of conversation with the few persons on the wharf we were led to believe that " great work" had been going on at the Aroha; " a patch of gold found" and " jumping and what not" being some of the terms used. We all, however, took everything cum gram sails, some rich specimens which were shown mysteriously to one of the passengers by a Faeroa resident. Capt. Dalton presently gave the order to cast off, and in a few moments we were ploughing the tortuous, turbid Waihou, with cloudcapped Te Aroha rearing its head proudly, in the distance. The skill of our navigators in getting round sharp bends and avoiding barely visible snags was something wonderful. We were not at all sorry when we reached the Omahu landing, and were all safe in Mr Dibsell's comfortable and hospitable hotel. This hostelry a visit to the Aroha; It is situated within twenty minutes walk of the Hot Springs, and though separated from the mountain by the river it is no drawback as there are two excellent punts. The proprietor is one of the jolliest of fellows, and all visitors to his place can depend on having what is commonly known as a " high old : time. Those who were cute enough went straight off to bed, and when the, balance came to look for a place on which to lay their weary heads, they found there was nothing available but a long table and a corner of the dining room. Those places were speedily occupied. I relate this to pave the way for telling

AN AMUSING OCCURRENCE that happened daring the night. A Press man, who is an inveterate practical joker, was unable to enjoy the sleep* of just himself, and he was determined that Mr James Baggot, who was sleeping calmly on the table, should not either. He therefore placed his back under the' table and the next moment the bewildered: sharebroker was lying on the floor. He soon espied our friend, and concluded that that gentleman had something to do with his downfall, and the remembrance of the sight of the nimble Press "man dodging the infuriated Baggott will lopg irritate my risible faculties. I may mention here that Mr Baggott, was the life of the party, and throughput the whole of the trip created much amuiement by his unavailing, attempts to pronounce Mr Onyon's name. "Ingin *'' was the nearest he could get to the correct pronunciation of that gentleman's patronymic.;

THE HOT SPRINGS. On Sunday morning we~ were all early astir, and finding that the weather had cleared up a bit, a visit to the celebrated Hot Springs was determined on. These lie at the base of the main ridge of the mountain, and directly behind O'Halloran's hotel. Primitive structures hare been erected over the principal pools/ which are of various degrees of temperature. For yards around the springs hot water bubbles from the spongy soil—in' places bo hot as almost to scald the hand. The springs are largely used by the natives of the vicinity for medicinal purposes, as during our short visit several natives afflioted with cutaneous diseases oanae and bathed in the modern Pool of Siloam. Fortunately, we had our dip before the arrival of these natives, or the chances are that we would have done without it. The effects of a dip in these springs is wonderful—the body being greatly refreshed, while the whole system appears to be rejuvenated for the time being. > FACTS CONCERNING THE 60LDFIEID. The party then attempted to find the prospector's claim, but being informed it was a good two hours' walk to the spot, ■ and up a precipitious and trackless hillside, and none of the prospectors being on the ground it would be difficult to find the reefs, it was decided to return to, O'Halloran's Hotel. Here were assembled a motley assemblage of natives and Europeans, all eagerly talking about the goldfield and its prospects. Old Morgan or Mokohinau, the principal rangatir of the district was among this number, likewise his sons and a native known as "Johnny," the latter being the chief prospector. I found " Johnny " and Davy Morgan, a son of the chief s, very intelligent natives, and able to converse in fluent English. When they learned the object of my mission it was exceedingly difficult to bring them out of their shell. I argued with Johnny, and showed him th« advantage of letting the public of th> Thames become well-informed concerning the goldfield, reading them extracts from different papers as instances of the contradictory nature of the reports respecting the goldfield. When I referred to the "200 ounces to the ton" of the Advertiser's correspondent, the natives grinned and said "gammon." Johnny said, " Sou think because I'm black that you can have me soft. No fear, cocky! when I was in Auckland they charged mo

sixpence for a newspaper, and the news ' that I could give you would sell a lot of papers for you. You must give me something," and the other natire grunted in consent. We parleyed for some time, and it was not until tome rigorous " shouting " , at O'Halloran's had been done that they could be induced to loosen their tongues a little. I then found out the following facts:—The Te Aroha block, including the mountain, has been purchased by the Government, but at the time payable gold first began to be talked about, the position of the native reserve had not' been fixed, indeed I hare good reason for believing that there was a dispute over.it,, the natives wanting some of the best portions of the flat. On the natives finding that there was a chance of the mountainous portion, of the country containing gold, they resolved that :tt should be their reserre. Of course, 1 will not vouch for this, but it is what I heard, and what I believe to be true. As far back as 1877 "Johnny," who I may mention was one of the original prospectors of the Long Drive claim here, ptospeoted the Te Aroha mountain and found auriferous indications. At this time he was stopped by the owners of the land, as he was not a member of the hapu, and it was not until some abort time ago that he was allowed to resume his investigations. He found rich specimens in the boulders, and had discovered the outcrop of a reef about twenty feet thick. He led me to understand that no gold had beea found in this, but there had been a little seen in a small cross-lode about six inches thick, a piece of the stone from which he showed me. One of the party offered him a pound if he would take him to this leader and show him gold in it, but the , native declined—for what reason Ido not {know, unless it was that he feared the palteha making the offer had sinister designs on his claim. From what I myself heard, I am exceedingly dubiouß that any gold has been yet obtained from a reef, and this opinion was.joined in by many disinterested persons, who being on the spot, should be able to have a pretty good idea of how matters are going. ."Johnny's" mates were originally Germans and Davy Morgan, but despite the national virtue of patience, the Teutons got tired out, and left ia disgust; leaving the natives by themselves—when, through the exertions of Adam Porter, they receired the promise of aid from'the Government. From "Johnny's" description I hare prepared a rough plan of the position of the claims, and give it below— , \., ...... V. ..-, "... ••

N Iftveiy's. W | ! *«*«*«*• I £ ■■ a / I : < Morgan's. Springs. . O'Halloran 1 . S . , |\ ■ Hotel. O J X IHlieU'a Motel. S

I heard from one of the prospectors of another claim that each of them had a permit to prospect from Morgan, and from what I subsequently learnt from another individual, the complications incidental to the taking up of claims on a new goldfield hare already begun to make their appearance. Two well known Thames miners hare been prospecting for some months,- and hare pegged out as a claim a piece of the ground also pegged out by a party acting under Morgan's permits I heard this from one of the men themselves, and afterwards from another source found that these pegs were to be seen. The men referred to say that it is Government land, and that they have as much right to peg out a claim as anyone else, so it will be seen there are already premonitions of trouble. BAOGOTT IN TBOUBLB. Finding that it was impossible to get any of the prospectors to guide me to the reef, and the hour being too late to start and look for it on my own account, I asked Davy Morgan if he could show me any stone. He cheerfully assented, and brought over from the whare about a dozen pieces of quartz, evidently surface stone, and all of which showed gold more or less. The natives said that these were chiefly from boulders, and only one piece did they assert to have been obtained from a lode. , While (the pieces were being handed round Mr Baggott, desirous of obtaining a souvenir of his visit, clandestinely broke a small piece from one of the specimens. The natives speedily missed it and became' very angry, whereupon the stone was dropped on the ; ground and was speedily discovered, by a lynx-eyed Maori. After some trouble I managed to obtain this piece of stone, which shows a little gold from, Morgan, and the curious can inspect it at this office. During my stay at O'Halloran's, I learnt from Mr Frank Home that; he. some weeks ago discovered gold in boulders in a gully perhaps two or three miles from the other claims, and he intends prospecting on behalf of himself and some Thames people. . ■;;<-;>

HOMBWABD BOUND. Having — metaphorically speaking— milked everyone as dry as they eared to be milked—of information I mean of coarse —we returned to Debsell's, andhaving enjoyed an excellent dinner we said good bye to our host, and re-embarked for the Thames. On the way down we passed the Vivid, having on board Mr Kenrick, the Warden, Mr G. T. Wilkinson, Mr Frank Puckey, interpreter, and others, but of course to us then the object of these gentlemen's visit was a mutter for ' speculation. At 10 o'clock last night we moored at Shortland wharf, all being heartily pleased with the trip. In oon* eluding I would strongly advise no one to think of going to Te Aroha until somethins: more definite it known. Probably Mr Kenrick's visit will greatly assist in bringing nutters to a head.