PIGEONGRAMS

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3698, 1 November 1880, Page 2

PIGEONGRAMS

(FXOM OU» SPECIAL UPOKTIB.)

TB ABOEA,

THIS DAY;

Noon.

In company with about a dbsen others I left the Grahamstown Wharf in the smart little£steamer. Blanche at 6.30 a.m. on Sunday, and armed here at about three in the afternoon, the party putting ! up at Mr O'Halloran'g hotel, in which commodious and comfortable hostelrie I soon forgot the tedium of the long river royage.' Knocking about amongst the miners after tea, I soon found that nothing of any importance had transpire*! { since my last visit, and a great many appear to be playing a waiting game, for which, however, they cannot be blamed, considering the present state of things. The principal topic of conversation is the Warden's visit on Monday last, and 1 from, what I heard, I feel pretty oonfideat that the following is a pretty . correct, account of the part Mitchell played, on that .eventful occasion:—Kenriet met the miners in front of O'Halloran's at 11.30 a.m., and presently Mitchell was seeii coming up on horseback. One in the 1 crowd said to Kenriok, " Here's Mitchell who discovered the 200ozs reef." This 1 raised a derisive laugh, and on Mitchell ooming up Mr Kenriek said," Can you show me this reef that you showed me the specimens from and wrote the applioa< tion about." The Warden, with Mitchell as guide, and followed by the miners, proceeded to the prospectors' camp, when Mitchell said he could not find the reef without the Maori boy .(meaning Davy Morgan), who had broken the stone from the reef with him. When Mitchell said this, Quinn, Home and others sat down, and Quinn said to Mitohell, " If you were od another goldfield you would have the ears cropped off you. Mitchell appealed to the Warden for protection. Quinn and others then sat down and refused to go further, but Maguire and others went on, and to the former I am indebted for the report of what then took place. When Mitchell aririfed on the spot he looked round, but soon admitted he oould'nt find the reef, saying there was a cabbage tree he used as a landmark, but which he could not discern. Mitchell kept fossicking without success for two hours, and then after seeing the prospectors' claim, all hands returned to the flat. .

There appears to bare been some dissatisfaction at the Warden and Porter visiting the prospector^ claim early on the Monday morning, and before the time arranged on the previous evening. The miners think prospectors, miners and all should .hare accompanied the Warden on his first risit, as is the practice on other goldfields. .. There appears to be an impression abroad up here that the Warden will not open the field until he is satisfied that there it a payable goldfield, which of course he cannot be yet. At' Monday's meeting the miners, by resolution,! promised not to interfere with the pros- J peetbrs—in that consists, I believe all the so-called protection. Well, I heard from several parties that there is likely to be some fun on Monday next when the fortnight expires, as there will be a general pegging out, and perhaps some heads broken. It is also stated that 30

Tauranga. Maories who came over yesterday, presumably for eels, are really here for the purpose of protecting, the interests of the native prospectors. I give this as I heard, though 1 must say, for myself, I don't know whether there is any truth in it or not. Hone showed me about 701bs af stone obtained from the surface a few days ago, several' of the pieces being worth fully \ an ounce per pound. Hone, and his mate Sweeney, both told me that, they feel confident that the stone Grant exhibited in Grahatnstown was a piece they obtained and " planted," and this impression is pretty generally shared in. They say that Grant was seen going on to their ground, and that he refused to show them the stone, when they, hearing he had found one, went' to see it.

Old Morgan said that he has thrown open 1400 acres, Crown Granted to himself and his tribe for prospecting, and free to all. He does not want to invite anyone tip, as if it proved a duffer they would blame him, but he would like to see them all the same. So that your readers will see there is nothing to prevent them ai far as the Maoris are concerned from participating in the yet to be obtained riches of the Te Aroha. I visited the prospectors' claim this morning, and found Hone and his mates busy trenching. Hone showed me the leader from which the crashing was taken, and I obtained a few pieces of stone from it for a mortar test. No gold is visible, but the stone is not unlikely- looking quarts. I think it would repay driving on, which, no doubt will be done eventually. Johnnie discovered most of the sorfaee stone by burning off the fern and scrub. One of another party of prospectors told me to-day that he had discovered a reef 7 feet thick, at a distance of 3 miles from the prospector's but it doe* not show gold, There are, however, good mineral iodiea<tions, and they are determined to further I prospect. '