TE AROHA.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1318, 9 December 1880, Page 2

TE AROHA.

The news which has come from the new goldfield during the last few days is of a most encouraging character. In many of the claims work has been commenced in earnest, and whatever the result may be, the country is certain to be thoroughly prospected. Several new reefs are reported to have been found, but little definite information regarding them has come to hand. It is rumoured that an auriferous reef has been discovered towards Ruakaka, but the knowledge id being j kept quiet. The Miner says : — "The Te Aroha No. 1 South, under Mr Gavin's management, made a fair start on Tuesday morning. An upper level will be put in to cut the Prospectors' leader, which it is expected will be reached in twentyfive or thirty feet A lower drive has likewise been started to intersect the big reef from -which good prospects have been reported from time to time. About sixteen feet should bring the lode into the face. The shareholders are evidently determined to test the mine on its merits, as they have already subscribed a considerable sum as a preliminary call. In the Te Aroha G.M.C.'s mine, according to ths same paper, the only work at present in progress is the driving of the low level, which is now in about forty feet. The country is hard blue sandstone, closely resembling that met with at the Caledonian and Cvi c Companies' mines at the Thames. We consider this a first-class indication, as it holds out a prospect of the lode traversing, it being of some permanent value. On Mr Moor taking charge, he found that a lot of time was lost through the men having to carry their tools to the flac to be sharpened, and he has in consequence started cutting out the ground foundation for a blacksmith's shop on the side of the hill. In the low level drive, he expects to have to drive fifty feet before the lode is intersected. The cutting of the lode here will be looked forward to with great interest. We hear that a nice-looking leader was yesterday intersected in the Te Aroha No. 2 South. The shareholders of the Prince of Wales claim (Martin and party), one day last week sent down a trial parcel to the Thames from a reef about 3ft. thick in that claim. The result is now to hand, and is very gratifying — namely, at the rate of loz. 9dwts. per ton. The stuff is of a cemented character, and a few colors of gold were seen in panning oft. Their working is an open cutting, and two other leaders have also been uncovered, but very little is known concerning them. It is likely that a meeting of shareholders will shortly be held for the purpose of considering the advisability of forming a company to work the ground. Mr \ John Goldsworthy, manager of the Bonanza, is expected to arrive at Te Aroha to-night, and operations will be started at the mine to-morrow. At the Thames on Saturday night the Prospectors' shares closed at 7s 6d (sales). We are informed that Mr Gribbie, of the United, intends prospecting the country towards the Waiharakeke during the present summer." Result of the Prospectors' Trial Crushing.

On Saturday last the Aroha Company (Prospectors) sent down a two ton parcel of quartz to the Thames, and on Monday it was taken to the Alburnia battery. A start was not made till late in the day, and consequently the cleaning up was not commenced till Tuesday morninj?. The quartz did not include any specimens, but amongst it was about 1 cwt. of very rich picked stone. The result, as learned by telegram on Tuesday, turned out to be 20ozs. lOchvts. of retorted gold, or nearly lOozs. to the ton. This is a splendid return, and, making all allowances for the picked stuff, must be allowed to afford the greatest encouragement.

Indications of Previous Operations. For some time past, says the local paper, rumours have been current of evidences of sluicing operations having been carried on in one of the creeks towards Wairakau. One day last week these were verified by a prospector coming on an old sluice box in the bed of the creek, while axe-felled trees show that at one time civilization had penetrated these forest clad solitudes. The sluice box was completely rotten, and might have been 1 5 or 20 years old. The locality is kept dark just now, the reason being, we understand, that the finder intends pegging out in the neighbourhood. It was reported on Tuesday night that a reef, bearing gold, had been met with on the bald spur close to the Hot Springs, where the flagstaff stood on the opening day, and yesterday morning at daylight there was a perfect stampede from the township in. that direction. We understand that the report was based on fact.

TE AROHA OOLDMINIXQ COMPACT. A meeting of the owners of the Prospectors' Claim at Te Aroha was held on Monday at the office of Mr Y. A White, Shortland-atreet. There was a moderate attendance of Thames and Auckland shareholders, and Mr Adam Porter was called to the chair. The advertisement convening the meeting was read; also, the minutes of a meeting 1 hold at the Thames, at which the articles of association were adopted, and tho result of which has been published. The Chairman said the whole of the shares had now been transferred to the Company, and the license was now on the table. All the shaves wore oa tho same level. The

original shareholders got £1800 and 6000 shares for their interest. It wan resolved "That the (shareholders of the Aroha property form themselves into a Company under the Mining Companies Act, 1872, to be called the Aroha Goldmining Company, Limited; that the capital of the Company be £12,C00 in 12,009 shares of £1 eaoh, nil paid up." It was agreed that the number of directors nhould bo six, any shareholder holding fifty shares to be eligible as director, three to form a quorum. The articles of the association were adopted seriatim. The date of general meeting was fixed for the month of December; two directors to retire annually, but to be eligible for re-election. The following gentlemen were nominated and elected as directors : — Messrs J. Howard, J. B. Whyte, C. J. Stone, A. Porter, M. Vaughan, and L. D. Nathan. This gave three directors to Auckland, one at GrahamHtown, one at Te Aroha, and one at Hamilton. Mr F. A. White was appointed Manager, and the Bank of New Zealand bankers ; Mr T. L. White, auditor. An extraordinary meeting may be called by shareholders not holding less than 2000 shares. Five shareholders was fixed as the quorum at the general meeting, exclusive of proxies. Calls were limited to Is per share. The rules as read were adopted as the rules of the Company. On the motion of Mr F. A. White, the directors were empowered to pay the expenses of forming the Company. At the conclusion of the regular business, the Chairman gave some information to the shareholders as to the position of the mine at present. A crushing of two tons was now going on at the Alburnia battery, and he had just received a telegram stating that it was looking well. In his opinion it was good for 8 or lOozs. to the ton, but if they got half that it would be highly payable. They had only started to take this quartz out on Thursday and it was at the Thames on Saturday night. There had not been as much done in the mine as there might have been. A considerable quantity of specimens had been taken away by people visiting the mine, but that would be stopped in future now that people who were responsible were appointed to prevent it. A drive was going in at a depth of 90" feet below their present working. The object with which it was started was to cut another reef from which the gold was supposed to come, but his opinion was that it all came from the same leader and th«it this large leader was payable. A small leader had also been cut in the in the surface drive, which showed gold. In reply to questions, he explained that gold had been got on the northern ami southern boundaries of the claim. He would post the result of the crushing in the company's office for the information of the shareholders. They might not be able to declare dividends immediately, as they would require machinery, but there was no danger of calls for the next four or five months as the company had funds in hand. A vote of thanks to Mr Porter concluded the meeting. — Hi raid.