TE AROHA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1368, 7 April 1881, Page 2

TE AROHA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Why should a set of very decent tradesman's sons, mechanics or lardydardy London shopboys, who think; it the mark of a real gentleman to talk' a 'good deal about their paipe, pull out a Brummagen silver watch every five minutes, and hold their knives and forks between their second and^third, fingers to, their mortal inconvenience, why should all these good folks, as soon as they commence a diggers life of gold hunting, think.it neceasary to assume the ways of a' bold buccaneer, a filibustering ' roaring freedom from all civilized ways, the dross and manner? of a Shorjditch Theatre bandit, or the remorseless bloodstained pirate of a schoolboy's novel, why should thoy who are mostly timid or even cowardly fellows enough, think it absolutely indispensable when grabbing for gold to swear as hugely as Bobadil, and forswear soap and water, smoke clays that make, them sick, and put on the manners of a Leicester Square bully with any quiet looking man, who doe* not seem likely to turn upon them? Why do they walk about with a coupe la gorge sort of swagger, Chew tobacco when it. does'nt kill them at once, drink potato whiskey and play euchre till one in the morning, sing a good deal in chorai, and affect the manners of extreme- good' fellowship of roughest description towards one another though showing at the same time . the ferocity and strength .and readiness of fist, proper to the swashbuckler, when it can be shown without danger ? Why should all this be 1 more necessary, even than comical nigger or slouching hats, moleskin trousers strapped' round the waist and at the knees, straps round the wrists, red " belcher ankerchers" worn thief fashion, tied Joose round the neck ? Do they get more 'gold by these means, or are these merely the idiotic affectations of a set of silly asses flattering them* selves that they are reaJ working men, new chums going in for free lawless, colonial life ? At any r«ite, they would be hurt to learn that their ways more resemble those of a footman K or counterjumper than a navvy, or even a gentleman. I wouder how many such blusterers would be aa ready to eat his leek if held under his nose with a stout stick' over it, as Ancient Pistol himself. The class in question generally goes by the name amongst old hands of the "swell covey," and one can pretty clearly predict their career. They land with front £10 up to £50 or £100, the hard savings of some defunct butler's widow who has striven to bring up her son genteel, or the proceeds of some old clerk's life insurance ; and while the money lasts, they cannot brag and lie loudly enough about their rank in life and their titled connections. They go to work in the acting style, the dress being all their claim to the character of a working man, and in a few weeks or months they run through their capital : when thoy have to go into the mill in earnest as bairmen stablemen, dairymen, swell shopmen, in which 'branch their beautiful manners and genteel bringing up are generally succesful, or more frequently as " loafers," and they either get ground into shape in a year or two and are ready to commence life again with legs pretensions as barbers, or eating-house keepers, when the coupe la gorge manner of the "swell covey" has been thoroughly wiped out, or they go to keep up the supply of gaolbirds, .mainly recruited from the "swell covey" class. It is amusing to see how faithfully this class sticks more ' particularly to New Zealand, and how' exactly alike they all are, and how unfailingly they all run the same course. - So let the world go round as it will, and Te Aroha is ' waiting for ' its ' battery. There have been 199 chains pegged Out in Te Aroha, "but 73 only hatabeen registered. Some of these have been protected, and their owners have suspended operations for the present, till the commencement of work by the battery introduces new life into the place again, and restores the suspended animation with compound interest. Mr Kenrick'and Mr Burgess arrived here -last night to conduct the duties of the "Warden's and* Police courts; •■ > ' " ' vi . The weather has changed here, and during the last day or so ' we have had a succession of most refreshing passjng showers, which will be of inestimable benefit to the estates in the Waitba and Piako. There are reports flying about of finds that far ■urpass all hitherto reported in richness, the owners of claims are sanguine on all hands. I may report the fullest confidence |n|the highest expectations of the immediate advance' of Te 'Aroha. ' I find that ths wonderful new" finds must not be mentioned rashly. It is distressing to be obliged to contradict rash assertions as some of your contemporaries enjoy doing and rather' than do so 1 will wait till something 1 definite id known,' andu £hat will not be till some of the produce of the much-talked-of. 'reefs has been crushed and tested. However, two and a half ounces- to the ton are talked of in. connection with some of the claim* ,as positive, though so far it must be all pure guess wqrX: agd ~I am assured that it does no good to the place to state every vague, rumour; ;f or] the- 'truth,, a*d; after exciting anticipations to be obliged to say perhaps that they are not well, founded. The amount of material being sent down r or the battery's;op«^tiftn« is exceedingly imited so far, .owing to the bad state of the reads.; ;|n;fjpc&tlger6.wjll , Jhave to be something, done at "^once , toward* providing' thOjSettlemeftt .with/ proper^r&ds >efore ttid 'necessity 1 for them increases, i So far thY amount of Vbr6 r aorie on the place is simply of the prospecting order, and 'absolutely ; nothing , at. alphas yet been done towards really working the resources -of 'the goldfield. * That 1 <H >will turn out one bf the richest there' can' be littledoubt, but which claims; are going to be the prize-winners in the lottery is all » mystery.