THE THAMES GOLDFIELDS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 457, 26 January 1869, Page 2

THE THAMES GOLDFIELDS.

(EROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Shortland, Jan 9. Affairs in this part of the country are even worse than I expected. A great number of claims which were taken up some timeagohave since been abandoned and there are some hundreds protected, but the holders of most of them don't seem to care if they ever see them again. At the same time I must say that there are some of the finest claims that have ever been opened in the Southern Hemisphere, but they are few and far between. I have seen hundreds of miners from the West Coast since I came here, and I have only seen one who has done any good. It is true that there are plenty of them who had got claims, and some of them might have sold out a short time ago and made some money by so doing, but that day is now past, for the Auckland people have their bands full at present, and, what is more, they have got no cash if they would buy. There has been no new ground opened here for some months, and I do not think there is any prospect of any being opened for some time. Certainly there is some talk of their opening up the Upper Thames, but some of the people are getting wearied of waiting. As for myselt I intend to go up and see some of the Maoris, and see if there is any chance of it being opened. There is a report going about that a certain Government official is trying to serve his own ends by getting grants from the Natives, and by erecting some sort of a steammill to supply the miners and others with timber, before it is opened, but I don't think there is any truth in the report. There was a bit of fun here the other evening. It seems that there are two parties here. One is for the removal of the present Superintendent. The other is for keeping them in office. When the Williamson party were getting the petition signed the other night, one of the other party ran off with it and tore it up. A general fight began, ending in some of the lads finding themselves in the gaol. So far as I can hear at present, the Superintendent is anything but in high favor with the miners of this place. I start to-morrow for the Upper Thames with some of the Maoris. I shall send you the full particulars of the journey on my return.