THE OPENING OF THE WAIORONGOMAI BATTERY.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4657, 7 December 1883, Page 2

THE OPENING OF THE WAIORONGOMAI BATTERY.

(By our Special Keporter.)

Te Aroha, This day.

Great preparations were made by the Battery Company to celebrate the opening; of the 40-head mill erected at Waiorongomai. A large number of invitations were issued to gentlemen in Auckland,! Thames, Waikato, and districts nearer Te Aroha. The greater portion of these arrived here on Wednesday by the Waitoa, and yesterday they visited the battery and some of the mines. After a thorough inspection of the miil, the party, some on horseback, others on foot, proceeded up the creek. All reached Wells' and Souter's refreshment store, where some remained, having had quite enough climbing. The rest pushed forward to the Premier mine, where they were shown through the workings. Here again the" force of the invaders was diminished, only a few reaching the Colonist, and fewer still the New Find. In honor of the occasion the miners were granted a-half-holiday, and refreshments supplied theoa. While the party were on the route a slight accident happened to a man named Murphy, employed on the tramway. While walking beside a truck, one of the wheels broke, and the truck fell over, striking Murphy on the side. His injuries are not believed to be serious. The party reached the battery again about half-past three, and were much pleased to hear of the amount of gold obtained from the month's crushing. THE BANQUET.

A grand and thoroughly successful banquet was given in the evening at Warren's large hotel, Te Aroha. The guests, who numbered about 130, included Messrs F. A. Whitaker, J. B. Whyte, and G.B. Morris, M.H.E.'s, the Mayor,Mayorelect, several City Councillors, and Town Clerk of Auckland, Mr Griffin (U.S. Consul at Auckland), Messrs Price, Watson, Bagnall, Vaughan, Hennelly, Gellion, of the Thames, and numbers of others of whom I cannot send the names. The banquet was held in the large room of the hotel, the guests being seated at three tables. The repast was an excellent one. On the centre table were two dishes containing four large lumps of retorted gold, the bulk of the recent crushing, and specimens of gold-bearing quartz were also on view. Mr J. C. Firth occupied the Chair, Mr Clark, Mayor of Auckland, Vice-chair, and MUssrs H. Kenrick, Warden of Thames, and H. E. Campbell presided at the other tables. After the good things had been done full justice to,

The usual loyal toast of " The Queen," was proposed by the Chairman, and duly honored.

The Chairman also proposed #t His Excellency the Governor," speaking highly of that gentleman's abilities, and the interest he took in the well being of the Colony. The toast was drunk with honors.

The Vice-chairman proposed "The General Assembly," and in speaking to it, referred to the assistance rendered to local industries, especially noticing the goldfields. The Government votes for this purpose did good, as was instanced by the Waiorongomai tramway which many of them had visited that day, and he was satisfied no money laid out else* where would give a better return.

Mr J. B. Whyte, member for Waikato, responded, saying that his natural bashfulness led him to try and get out of speaking, but when he remembered that he represented the most rising district in the colony he would do his best. It had been suggested that tto? goldfiejds from Te Aroha to the Thames should have a member to themselves, and he thought this was a good plan, as although he I would not then have the honor of representing them.lie would secure a colleague. Though responding on behalf of the General Assembly, he was not going to take credit for their virtues or burden himself with their iniquities, but he would say that they were a very decent set, especially on his side of the House. (Laughter.) There were in the House about 50 Englishmen, 9 Irishmen, 7 or 8 Colonials, 3 foreigners, 4 Maoris, and 25 Scotchmen. The Englishmen were strong enough to look after themselves ; he was glad they had no more Irish, as when a real good Irishman was got hold of he was not easily beaten down ; and of the Scotchmen his natural modesty would not allow him to say much, though their pressure in the House had no doubt assisted in making it practical. As for the Ministry, he might say his policy would be to follow them to the grave so long as they always asked and followed his advice, save him all be asked for, and favored the rising district of Te Aroha.

Mr Morris, M.H.R., for Tauranga, spoke on the importance of Government affording all possible help to open up goldfields. The gold mining industry was one of great importance, which fact was just beginning to be recognised by Government.

Mr Whitaker responded for the Le^is ■ lative Council', expressing his opinion that the Council should remain as it wa?. He was awaro that this was an unpopular view of ;the matter, but if a representative Council was introduced, there would be no need for it at all, as it would clash with the functions of the lower House. Two years ago four gentlemen, of whom he was one, had travelled through the Te Aroha district, for the purpose of seeing the best way of opening it up. These four had formed themselves into a com* mittee, and a portion of their scheme, the Waiorongomai tramway, had been completed. He had also hoped to have had the railway through from the Thames to Te Aroha, but this had not yet been done, though he still hoped to see it an accomplished fact.

The Chairman, in proposing the toast of the evening, "The Te Aroha Goldfield," said few things had done more to facilitate the progress of the Australian colonies than the discovery of gold, which had in fact pushed them ahead a quarter of a century. All districts wanted to have a goldfield near them, and he was glad to be able to congratulate so large an assemblage on another goldfield having been discovered, which, though the last, would not be least. So much money had been spent in the prospecting of supv posed goldfieids, that some distrust was always manifested when afield was said to hare been discovered, but be thought

Te Arofaa bad now got beyond this. They had met to celebrate the commencement of the development of a field, the first month's crushing from which had given 17030zs gold, a very tangible proof of its genuineness, and one which could not be gainsaid. When it was remembered that this gold had b.en extracted from four or five claims, extending over an area of about If miles, it was a matter for congratulation, as showing that the gold was widely distributed. A patchy field afforded more scope for speculation and swindling than one where the returns were steady. He hoped Te Aroba would afford an opening for investors, giving no opportunity for swindling, and that it would be worked in the interests of the shareholders, and not of brokers or speculators. The field was not established without difficulty, as could easily be understood when it was remembered that the reefs were situated from 1500 to 2500 ft above the sea level, and in a precipitous country ; the work of opening up which would not be done without unswerving preseverance. There would have been no field at the present time but for the wise and liberal treatment of the Government. Messrs A. .Porter and H. E. Whitaker also deserved a large measure of praise for their efforts to advance the field. He wished Hone Werahiko, the discoverer of the field, had lived to be present. They had to congratulate themselves in having had Mr ELenrick, Warden, at the head of affairs, as his long experience in mining matters, ! and his wise administration had been of great service—(applause)—and his efforts for the welfare of the district were highly valued. He might also mention that it was Mr Kenrick's report which had first drawn his attention to the district. To the Piako County Council the field was under deep obligations, for the way f bey had assisted in opening it up. In Victoria, and also in Otago, on gold being discovered, the land had been locked up from the common people, and a simillar state of things in a modified degree had also been the case at the Thames, but at Te Aroha, he was glad to say, there was plenty of land on which every miner, if he'chose, could settle as a small farmer. Taking all into consideration they had reason to congratulate themselves on the prospect in view. .

The toast was enthusiastically drunk.

I Mr Warden Kenrick, in responding, referred to the first opening of the field to call to the recollection of the field that it was owing to Hone Werahiko's indomitable perseverance and " never say die " policy that they were able to meet there that night. In all Hone's prospecting his pluck, endurance, and faith ia the field never failed, and it was while out hunting for gold that the disease which brought on his death was contracted. Ever since he had first inspected the discovery of gold at Waiorongomai, he had great faith in its payabie and permanent character. It was a field, how« ever, which required developing, and one too which would not make a great show at first. Messrs J. C. Firth, H. E. Whitaker, and C. S. Stafford had done much to help the field, and the Piako County Council had followed a wise policy in reference to the district by opening up the road to the mines. He had no interest in the field, but his opinion was that in Te Aroha they had a large, permanent, and payable field. The country too. from its precipitous nature, was admirably suited for mining, doing away with the necessity for winding machinery. As " faith without works is dead,' 1 he looked to them to prove their faith in the field by working it and erecting additional crushing power. The time would come in the nat far distant future when the grand old hill which had for ages looked down on a wilderness would do so on smiling homesteads and reclaimed swamps, fertilised by the life given out from its own reins. (Applause). The Vice-Chairman proposed " The Piako County Council." He. heartily endorsed the opinion that the district was the moat progressive in the colony, and if they could look forward into the future they would see the immense valley of the Thames studded wi'h homesteads. The Council, though having a lot to do in the way of road making, had postponed this work, and had at a cost of £18,000 made the Waiorongomai tramway. It was a lot of money to spend, but he considered they had made a good investment. Mr K. E. Campbell responded, saying that he felt gratified at the way the toast had. been received. The cost of the tramway was first estimated at only £10,000, and the work was entered on with trepidation, but since the necessity for it, the members one atd all determined to push it through. He then gave a sketch of the tramway's progress, giving credit to Messrs JVC. Firth and H. E. Whitaker for carrying out their duties as members of the tramway committee, The Chairman here said that they must not forget Mr Stewart, who laid the line out, and Mr H. Adams, who constructed the tramway.

Mr Griffia proposed " The Captains of Industry," and in a neat speech, after referring to the great men of the past and present, eulogised the prospects of New Zealand in general and Te Aroha in particular, saying, in conclusion, that he believed the captains of industry in New Zealand would yet make her the workshop of the southern hemisphere.—Drunk with honors, the company joining three times three cheers and singing " For they are jolly good fellows."

Mr A. Porter proposed " The Press," which was responded to by Messrs W. Berry, senr. (Auckland Herald), T. W. Leys (Auckland Star), W, J. Speight (Thames Advertiser), and. — Smith (Waikato Times).

The Chairman proposed " The Working Men," saying that tlie clearest intellect, the strongest will, were all dependent on the strong arms of the working men, and it was to them as much as to anyone that the success of the enterprise they were celebrating to-night was due. % Mr T. Gavin, manager of. the Premier, responded.

Tho toasits of the " Host and Hostess" (Mr and Mrs Warren), and " The Chairman, Vice Chairman, atid their wives and families " were also honored, and a - very pleasant evening was brought to a close by singing the National Anthem.