THE Evening Star. PUBLISED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3720, 26 November 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1880.

The opening of the Te Aroha Goldfield has at last become au fait accompli, and we may now fairly expect that much of the mystery that has surrounded the district for years will be cleared offThat the majority of those who know anything about goldmining beliere the field to be gold producing, there can be no question, from the number of miners' rights issued, and the magnitude of the excitement, at the opening yesterday. We consequently have good reason to believing that the field Will be speedily proved, and its real value as a gold producer demonstrated at once. We have all along entertained the opinion that the beautiful plains under the shadow of the Aroha were destined to bear a large population of the agricultural class, and this opinion is coincided in by all who have seen the splendid tract of fertile country, watered by the Waihou. Now, however, ,that there is every proba* bility of a goldfield in the heart of the district it requires no prophetic intuition to foresee that a large centre of population will speedily arise. One of the arguments used by the Sail way Commissioners in condemning the Thames Valley Eailway was the sparseness of population and the undeveloped nature of the resources of the district. This, however, can no longer be urged, and we repeat what we said in a previous issue, if the Te Aroha is to do the Thames any immediate and general good we must have railway communication at once. Every man in our community should keep this truth unceasingly before his eyes, and the most strenuous endeavors should be made to have our desires in this matter gratified. Every other question sinks into insignificance now besides this, the great want of our people. 'We have neighbors with the inclination and the power to divert all the benefits derivable from the Aroha to themselves, and if we are not up and doing we will find that instead of doing us good, the new goldfieldl will have a positively injurious effect on the Thames. In conclusion we would suggest that as a fitting preface to his elevation to the Mayoral chair that Mr Wilkinson should summon a meeting to consider the railway question. It is an imperative necessity that we have a railway to Te Aroha, whether it be made from the general revenue of the colony or by private

enterpise.