[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1329, 6 January 1881, Page 2

[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT .]

The holiday^ are now over. and,,sie field-, i*T gradually busy asjpeet ft had.befj)iVX'hr.istinas. For theJast.tw^ or three days the coaches and Bteamers lrive been crowded with passengers, but it wilt be^the end of the wee'< before r the whole of, the men return? and steady work is reaumfccl.' Tliure is as "yet notoi tug fresh to report; from the mines. Work has been suspended during the holidays in nearly every claim, butpThope soon to have to report «• more energetic working of the field than .has hitherto taken place, for though a large number of men are already working the ground systematically, and intend to thoroughly test it, yet there 'are a great number of claims pegged off in which little or no work has been done, but are beinjrheld in the hope that something gwd may turn up in their vicinity which will enable them to sell. It is stated that the regulations for fully manning and working the ground will be enforced strictly, both against leased ground and private claims, and all thoae who are really interested in the development of the field sincerely trust it will be so. The £ • eat want at present is a battery, which it was hoped private enterprise would have taken steps to supply ere this. This want, however, is not likely to be felt much longer. Mr T. &. SandeK, and some other* of the more energetic townspeople, have taken the matter in hand, and are determined that a small battery shall be erected forthwith. A public meeting i« to be called on Saturday afternoon to form a comp°ny for the purpose, and from the favour with which the project is viewed both by miners and business people, there is no doubt the shares will he taken up immediately. Ifc is reckoned that a suitable battery, with all the necessary appliances, can be placed on the ground for a thousand pounds. Some of our Waikato capitalists should look to this matter, as there is likely to be a large and profitable outlet for capital in the erection of the necessary crushing plant on this field. Indeed, the development of the district will depend greatly upon the support which will be accorded by Waikato and Auckland people, for from the Thames nothing is to be expected. They appear to be jealous of the establishment of a prosperous fynldfipld so near $hem, the greater part of the trade of which they know will pro to benefit the Waikato district. No opportunity appears to be lost by some of the Thames business people to decry the prospects of the field and prevent capital being invested ; but there are plenty of practical men on the pronntl who have confidence in it, and who will spend both time and money in testing its recourses, heedless of the cold water which is being thrown upon it by interested parties. A successful programme of athletic sports was gone through on Monday at the Waihou Township, in front of Missen's Hotel. There was a large number of people from the jroldfields, Piako, and' all parts of the district. The arrangements ' were under the control of Messrs Mis^en, H. Kirkwood, Craig, Cogswell, Howe, and Roes, and weie carried out in a thoroughly efficient manner. The prizes were substantial and well-contested for. In the evening a dance took place in the Public Hall, which was kept up to a late or rather an early hour. January 3. I