OVERLAND TO TE AROHA.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3716, 22 November 1880, Page 2

OVERLAND TO TE AROHA.

(By Otrß Special.)

The Time Taken.

Mr T. L. Murray, of the Bank of New Zealand, and Mr MoCullough left Grahamstown yesterday for Te Aroha at 5.30 a.m. The road with the exception of a. piece at Komata is very good, and Faeroa was reached in two and a half hours. After a rest of half an hour, during which time Mr Bobson had, fresh horses saddled, another start was made for Te Aroha. From Paeroa to O'Haljoran's Hotel was done in one and three quarter hours, making the time in the saddle from Grahamstown to Te Aroha four and a quarter hours.

The Current News of the Day.

The uppermost topic of conversation was how was the warden going to manage npon the day of opening; and which party was the most likely' to secure the favorite pieces. The general <$irikm was that some very serious ;4i*turbanceß might be anticipated, for several parties of men were equally determined to aeeure a certain piece of ground adjoining the prospectors. It was even said that one or two ( of the parties had so arranged (hat while some of the men were to do tbVpegging oat, the duty of tf^Mi&trf #oijkld be to keep their rivals aw^: fitftffctji* ground. Of course there is little dppendance to be placed on a, great deal pH what is said; bat the qqijAw~bQW are to be afgpttj&Wsiipt so far been satisfactoirily^itiigwered. Bumours are 'current that gold has been discovered two miles each side of the Prospectors' Claim, and stone is shown said to come from several other localities besides the Prospectors' Spur. It appeared to be the universal opinion that the country was worth a good deal of prospecting, and that their was every indication that the district was highly auriferous; in fact, one miner of experience, who had been on many goldfields, remarked that he never saw more favorable indications upon a new field.

The Value of the Shares.

It was stated that a half share in the Prospectors' had been sold for £60, and that considering the work done on the ground and the Show, it was a fair* price. There is every prospect of their being a lawsuit over the sale of some of the shares by Hone, as Mr Lipsey and the Morgans left on Saturday night to consult a solicitor in Hamilton, intending to procoed against the prospector for disposing of property in which others had an interest, and without consulting them. It would appear that air the prospectors promised more than they can now give, and the warden in curtailing the area has interfered with their proposals- It is probable that a company will be formed to work the ground. Hone is reported to have disposed of three shares out of his interest and Porter of one.

The Township.

The flat lying between O'Halloran's and the river, a portion of which has been laid out for a township, is the favorite camping ground, and already the frame work of several large buildings are to be seen in course of erection. Mr Veale's new store and bake-house is a conspicious 'object, and the frame work of Mr Clotworthy's building may also be easily distinguished. This well-known pioneer is determined to have the first license, and intends to fulfil the conditions laid down by Mr Kenrick.

It being Sunday a number of visitors from the Waikato were over, some from Cambridge, others from Alexandra and Hamilton. A great many persons went up to the prospectors, but as the face of the drives were covered up little was Rained for the climb up the hill. At Fraterville D. Mclntyre, Ferguson, Frater, and a number of Thames men are camped, while a little further up the hill is the tent of Hone and Corbett, the manager of the claim. The reef in the prospectors is said to run north* east and south-west, and in the ground it is supposed there are three reefs, besides a larger reef of a barren quality of stone. Messrs Frater, Burgess, and other young men went to the top of the mountain, and and it being a fine day, the view from there was said to be very fine. The warden is reported to intend to declare the field open from the prospectors claim, and from there pegging parties will have to start. The Roads. The County Council are most energetically attending to the condition of the roads. At Hikutaia a very bad bit of swamp is being fascined and bridged, and the track widened through ! tho pieces of bush. Beyond Faeroa the line of road through the large swamp is being laid out, and over the fiotokohu the track is being widened, and the small stream bridged. On the Te Aroha flat the swamps and creeks are getting properly bridged and the small hills cut down. In fact in a few weeks there will be little difficulty in getting fro;n Grahamstown to Te Aroha. The greatest drawback on the line of road is the Eomata piece, and certainly now energetic ' steps should be taken to have the road properly formed. The time is passed for allowing Tukukino to be an obstructionist, the public convenience requires a good road, and steps should be teken to supply the demand.