TE AROHA. (BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1303, 4 November 1880, Page 2

TE AROHA. ( BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

I was much surprised on coming within view of the mountain above named a couple of days ago, to see it in exactly the same place and condition as when last I saw its regal grandeur. The tents of the numerous piospoctors and expectant diggers I sought in vain. They were not ; although lam positive I taw it stated iv print that such thitigs were dotted all around the Hot Springs. On arriving at the hotel I found everything quiet 111 the extreme, and evidently not the slightest excitement going on, except that caused by the pissing- through at that moment of a mob of about 120 splendid steers just arrived from Napier after a three week's trip, to the order of Mr Stafford who has leased the Wairakau run from the natives. They were the best mob I have seen for many a long day, all being well-bred and well framed. Well, to the gold. I found on buz/ing round that theie were absolutely some fifteen men in the hill, prospecting I suppose, and there are three or four at work on the prospectors claim putting a trench right up the face of the hill. That they have got several rich golden stones is a ceitdinty, as every body here has seen them, and they still keep finding them as they go on up, but tiny are all surface stoves, nothing of the sort having been found in the small leader, Avhich was tested at Grahamstown to run loz. some dwts. to the ton. Of the value of that test I must leave your readers to judge. I myholf do not believe in it, as gold is always to be got from a single stamper, specimen battery. I do not s<iy that I am sceptical as to the existence of gold in it, far from that. But Ido say that the value of the stone cannot be decided by a small crushing in a specimen battery. So far this work of the p ospectors is all that has been done, and there is nothing hcie to wauunt a rush of any sort Systematic prospecting is the thing required. I am glad to see this has been started, as an association has been formed called " The Waitoa Propecting Association," for the purpose of starting work immediately on the hills. Messrs F. Larkworthy, R. Parr, J. B. Smith, Howe, Misstn, Lavery, etc., also Mr T. G Sandes, of Waikato, are members, and all the shares have been taken up. The work is> to be carried out by Mr D. Mclntyre, who will himself superintend the prospecting operations; and from this gentleman's long experience as a miuer and mine manager I feel .sure that work will be the order of the day, and that the prospecting will be done oil the rauges and not around the Hot Springs Hotel. It is proposed to get all the tools, etc., at once and start the men off, the locality io be started on to be fixed on at a meeting to be held in a week or so. This looks like business, and I think our Waikato friends might follow suit. The great thing, in fact the only thing, is to get the right man as manager and then success may probably follow. I might mention that Mr Mclntyre himself is a paying shareholder in the Association. I can really give you no more news about the find at present, except to state that the prospectors' claim is entirely on Morgan's native reserve and just outside the 20 acres reserved for the Hot Spi ings. Another small item : Mrs Potts, of Canterbury, accompanied by her husband and Mr Stafford, climbed to the top of Te Aroha the other day, she being the first lady who has accomplished the feat. They took the day to do it. The weather was as lovely as New Zealand could produce — you know what that is ; and I believe tlie impression left will never be effaced. Now, ladies of Waikato, why not make Te Aroha mountain top the locale of your summer picnics. One of your Southern sisters has shewn yon the lead. Follow it. — [Waihou, Nov. 3.]