TE AROHA.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3825, 1 April 1881, Page 2

TE AROHA.

The prospects of this district are gradually improving, and the miners are sanguine of the future of the district. The near approach of the battery to completion helps much to encourage prospecting. lam sorry to have to say that the much thought of Piako County Council has not, up to the present, made any attempt to connect the mines with the ma:'n road. This neglect is the less to be pardoned, for some time ago a better was sent offering to pay one f half the cost of a road from the Morning Star spur to the main road, but no reply has been received, nor has any attention been given to the district. I should recommend to this Council to t-ike a leaf out of the book of the Thames County Council, and look beiler after the interests of the district, ard at once apply for a portion of the vot3 of £10,000 fcr goldfields roads and tracks. A sum from the Government, with that in hand from this distilst, would enable all the ror.dg required for the next year to be at once proceeded with.

The riss in the boundary of the Morning Star and Smile of Fortune mines is bein^ pushed oa rapidly, the leader being still about 18 ?ncbes thick, and showing gold freely. About 50 tons are to hand from the Smile, and 40 tons from the Morning Star uppar level. In the Waitoa the lode is still being driven on, and small prospects are occasiona^y obtained. Fro'n the Prospectors some very good sione has come to hand dcring the last few days. . In the Princa of Wales the paddock of quartz is still being added to, and in the Shotover £ood prospects have been ob tamed, buf the leader is smrH and in hard country.

At Omahu several parties have set to work in ground forfeited for non-working. The prospects are very encouraging. While on my raaibles I heard many remark :not at aU complimentary to the Governors of the High School, and their proposals re dealing with. the reserve. Leasing land in New Zealand at the present time is out of the question, and while some may be forced to occupy landv,qn such terms, yefc the day may not be for distant when a bit of Boycotting may be done by tenants. Much the better plan would be to offer portions of the land for positive sale; this might in the end be the most advantageous to the Board, for it would encourage settlement and enhance the value of the unsold portions.