SPECIAL TELEGRAMS OHINEMURI. From the Daily Southern Cross.)

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 446, 27 March 1875, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS OHINEMURI. From the Daily Southern Cross.)

\j \ Mackaytown, Thursday. The general Sttojgct of conversation, here is about the mysttf^Lis^issue of miners' rights. It appears i now that iW ihKcjfee of Blake's party the miners' | rights have passed through Dillons hands, and he positively declines to state how he became possessed j of them. Mahony also has been questioned. His I only answer is that he got the rights from Dillon j and gave them to Blake. It is a dirty business, and j eveiybody here applauds Warden Frasers determination to sift the matter to the bottom, and I believe he has already taken preliminary steps in thiri direction ; sympathy is also felt for him on account of his position at the head of a department, in which the public can now have no confidence. The decision in the case heard yesterday will be reserved until an official inquiry is held to ascertain how these men became possessed of miners' rights before they were allowed to issue legally from the office. Matters here to-day, after the excitement yesterday, are very quiet. vProt^ction for the Easter holidays extends from Friday .until Monday, both days inclusive, and many have already commenced their holidays and started fov^rivh amsto wn. There was a rumour here to-day that a rush for alluvial gold had set in to the Rotokohu basin, but from careful inquiry I have ascertained that the rumour only originated in the fact that a number of miners, interested in the Rotokohu (jlaims, have been seen starting back to the ground this morning. The prospectors have closed up the drive in which the reef was cufc, and are pushing in that from the opposite side of the spur, which will cut the reef 40 feet lower down. Mr McLaren has Onished surveying three waterraces, one on the Waitawheta, another for the prospectors at the junction of the Ohinemuri and Waitawheta, and the third on the Ohinemuri Itiver. I understand that the prospectors will at once commence tho erection of a crushing mill. "Warden Fraser starts to-day for Tauranga overland. It is understood, that he will go on to Maketu if Sir Donald McLean is still there. "In Rotokohu the claimholders have fairly started operations. Gold has been found in the claim next the prospectors, in a shaft sunk on top of the hole, and the show is considered as good as that in Snowdens claim. Hennelly's party have started a few men to open up the coal seam while the boundary lines are being cut. A report from Waitekauri to-day gives more favorable accounts of that place. Tom Carroll today registered a claim of seven men's ground, adjoining Dan Leahey's claim. He reports good gold in it. Dan Leal.ey is likely to contest his right to three men's ground, alleging he had pegged it in. Only live claims registered from Waitekauri district so far. This afternoon the place wears a holiday appearance. Offices are closed and streets deserted, and many clairn holders have already departed for the holidays. No work will be done until after tho holidays. Mr. Mackay has not yet returned from the Waikato, but he is expected tomorrow. He did not go to Te Kuiti as reported, i but will return here from Cambridge with Captain Tinnier, after examining the road. Many of the miners in Rotokohu are pushing preliminary works ahead, -while others are building huts, (fee. ; but here 1 as elsewhere, there will be little work done until tho holidays cease. A report has just come in that in Banyan's claim a fair show of gold has been I struck, I gtmuot yet verify the report, but the

tractors for erecting „ uuvernuiouv o*~ — „. „ made a fair start, and will hare one hfyise in a habitable condition before the bolic|iyß aye over. This ia a great boon to the officers for, although owing to the kindness of the proprietors of the National Hotel they have received accomodation, they have carried on- the work at great disadvantage. A memorial is being got up to» the Government for a post-office-, but Mr Mackay has already taken steps to secure the necessary accommodation. Two Auckland ladies, Miss Dobson and Mrs. Ellis visited prospectors reserve. Other ladies went as far as Mackaytown. Remarkable revelations about the issue of miners' rights before 10 a.m. are anticipated by the trial for the piece of ground between Porter and Catran's parties. The latter had their rights before ten, and a Government officer is blamed for conniving at the swindle. It is a most disgraceful affair, and the "Warden ia indignant, as it reflects on tho integrity of the whole department. The miners demand a searching enquiry, as they have not confidence in the official one

New South Wales, March 20. The Hon. J. F. Burns, Postmaster-General, has made an agreement with the Postmaster-General of Victoria respecting the mail services. It is proposed to make the Suez and San Francisco services alternate as ntuch as possible. * \ The Anni^'O^e has been wrecked on the coast. Part of the vessel has-been found near Sluoky Cape. It is feared that the crew vye all lost. The annual meeting of th& New South "Wales Auxiliary to the London Missionary Society was held at the Congregational Church, Pitt-sfree^Jast Thursday evening, the Rev JohA Graham in the chair. On the 17th instant, there was a ball on board the large steamship Whampoa. The schooner Europa, of Sydney, is broken on tlie rocks near Sandon River, at the Clarence. The later news received from Fiji is very unfavourable. Business dull, and many natives are dying of measles. Fine marble —suitable for mantlepieces — found at Tarrabandra. A report has just reached Queanbeyan that the mail from here to-day was stuck-up between Gundaroo and Collector, about 1 o'clock. The mailman was fired at, and he bolted, leaving the mails and buggy on the road. He returned to Gundaroo and reported the matter to the police.