TE AROHA GOLDFIELDS.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1316, 4 December 1880, Page 2

TE AROHA GOLDFIELDS.

Wk are indebted to a gentleman who arrived at Cambridge the afternoon of Tuesday, for the following information : The population is set down in round numbers at 800. Building operations were rather slack, but it is expected that when the question of ownership to the allotments is decided, the trade in that line will be brisk. The township can already boast of four butcher's shops, a bakery, two stores, a blacksmith's shop, a bootmaker's establishment, and a timber yard. In about a fortnight's time a commodious hotel will be finished, that will be a great convenience to the place as at present travellers and others are put to sore shifts for obtaining shelter of the most meagre description. The following are also in course of erection. A large store for occupation by Mr G. S. 0' rialloran, and two shops — one for Capt. Moore, and the other for Mr W. Wilson. The chief Postmaster, Thames, had arrived on the field, and completed arrangements for a portal service. Tuesday's, Te Aroha Mail reports :— • ' A little excitement was caused here on Saturday morning by the announcement that William Woods and party, of the Morning Star claim, on the Matamata side of the prospectors' claim, had intersected a body of quartz on the previous evening. I have made enquiries re the truth of the report, and find that it is true. The size of the lode has not yet been ascertained, but it is gold bearing, as colours of the precious metal are plainly discernible in the dish after pounding up the stone. Saturday morning the reef was also found in the adjoining claim, the Moi'ning Light, in which Mr H. R. Jones, Mr W. Tregoweth, and other Thames men are shareholders. The owners of both claims are jubilant over their discoveries, and intend to commence vigorous work on the lode at once. Work was resumed in the prospectors' claim yesterday, and some very nice looking picked stone taken out from the leader. The contractors have started to drive on the lead. A report has reached here that shares in the company are selling at 15s. and those persons who purchased them at half that figure are jubilant over the reported price. I learnt this morning that a quarter of a promoter's share has been disposed of for £20, the purchaser being a gentleman connected with a river steamer. The agreement to sell was made a week ago, hence the low figure at which the share sold compared with what it would fetch now. Discoveries of gold two miles on each side of the township have been made during the past day or two, and as the prospectors are men on whose words reliance can be placed, there is a probability that claims equally as good as those behind Morgantown are likely soon to be taken up at a considerable distance from the locality which is now engaging the attention of gold diggers. Fine gold is reported to have been discovered in the neighbourhood of the Maugaiti, Waitoki and Wairakau creeks. Work has becpn started in those claims not concerned in the dispute, and the face of the spur behind O'Halloran's hotel is evidence of that; fact. Ne u-ly the whole of that eminence has been pegged out ; two parties of Waikato men, I am informed, have started ta put in tunnels. The earth taken out so far has been thrown down th* hill, and is conspicuous against the burnt fern. Two claims to the east of Mr Oribble's have already obtained 100-je gold, and are confident of picking up a lode shortly. Several others have also started work" above the prospectors. All the clalrnholders intend, I think, to jrive their respective pieces of ground a fair trial, and in ii few weeks we shall no doubt know sufficient to form on opinion as to the value of that p.irt of the field pegured. The towuhMp does not look quite *o lively as it did on the openiny day, in consequence of many of tho.se who where pro&eut on that ocoabion bavins: taken their drpu'tur^. » larjjc number of t«nti have been removed to the ranges, in order th.it their oi'oupnnts may l>e near the scene of th'ur labours. Tiioie is no doubt thit after wo; k has beeu coav.nenoed in all the claims that more of the dijrgorb "will hbitt their quarters ne irar their el iim<, as il i-, uo joke having to climb up the hilU before starting work.