Owharoa Goldfield.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3774, 1 February 1881, Page 2

Owharoa Goldfield.

Owhabo£, Monday

There is nothing of much importance to write about from this district at present. We are all steadily at work and hopeful of success. The Badical mine continues to look well, and though the leader is small, it is easily worked, goes through fine country, and crushes profitably. There are several tribute, parties, but as yet only Campbell's are getting first class stuff, the others are, however,, sanguine, and from the appearance of their work they have every reason to be. Mr Hosie I think deserves the thanks of every one for his pluck and perseverance in sticking to the .Radical through good and bad times. The amount of hard work in the shape of prospecting which he has done is simply marvellous, as anyone can see who visits the ground. The adjoining mine, the Golden Hill, lately purchased by Hosie from Lawyer Campbell stands a very good show of getting the leader on which Campbell and party are working in the Eadical. Hosie has already let a tribute in the Golden Hill to Wingate and party, who are sanguine of success. They can only work their ground through a tunnel used by Campbell and party, and the latter object to Wingate using the tunnel without compensation. This difficulty is likely soon to be adjusted, and when it is I expect good gold yields from both. The Smile of. Fortune tributers are also hard at work, and with every prospect of payable gold. Several of the old claims on the Waitekauri side of the Eadical are again taken up, and if vigorously worked will no-doubt give a good account" of themselves as gold producers. The old .Morning Light, on the opposite bank of the Ohinem'uri, is re-pegged by Cassrels ''and. party; who are confident of success. TJ^ reports from the new find on the Waibi^FfainjsVare most encouraging. The rgef where opened is about six miles from Owharoa. You leave the latter place, by the Tauranga new road, and after a,ride of about three miles turn off and ride for about another three on a track to 'the .'left. The hill in which the reef is opened is in a somewhat squat conical hill on the edge of the Waihi Plain, about half a mile from the Ohinemuri river, and about midway between Compton and

Walmsley's clearings. The reef is opened in one or two places by Niccoi and party, the ntw proprietors. McCombie's old drive is in a good state of preservation, and both here and where lately opened the reef looks well, large, kindly looking and defined, and wherever tested, both stone and mullock give a fair show of gold. A battery will be needed if the reef is to be worked, as the distance' to Owharoa precludes crushing. To justify capitalists in Erecting a battery the present prospectors will require to put in a low level tunnel, and drive and prospect the reef for one or two hundred feet. From what I can judge Niccoi and party are the right sort for work, and no doubt will give every trial to prove the ground. It would have been perhaps more encouraging had the hill been higher and larger, but the reef is not confined to the hill, but seems to go through across the plain, and its line caa be easily^traced by the blocks of white quartz all'along its visible length. The County, on the application of Niccoi and party, have already issued instructions to make' a road to Owharoa battery fit to cart about 50 or 60 tons o| for a trial. Ido not blow about our district, but I think we oan show a large amount of substantial mining and prospecting, and we are beginnning to reap the of diligence and persevefence. If aRSf, our Thames friends can find time t»/^K up the district I am sure they will be pleased. They can find good clean hospitable acoomodation for man and beast at Heed's Hotel, Owharoa. We were favored with a visit yesterday from some representative men-from your district and. one young 1 lisfdy—the' firat I Have seen who' rode direct from the Thctrf^i^. : They all appeared to enjoy their tr^p'' and their visit to this, Waihi and Waitekauri., l