TE AROHA. (from our own correspondent.)

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1371, 14 April 1881, Page 2

TE AROHA. (from our own correspondent.)

In mentioning- tho work that has been done on auy of the claims at Te Arohs, it must be borne in mind that in reality the work so far has been all mere prospecting, and that very little has been hitherto done to te<t tho productiveness of any claim or the richne.-s of the material got out. As soon at the crushing operations commence, and auy one claim can show that it will yield a large return, there will bo an immediate push in all directions to tear, the merits of all other claims now working, or on which operations have been suspended for a time. One of the most promising claims on which the work has been steadily proceeding 1 from the commencement is tho Prospectors', and as they will be one of the first to come to the fore with a sho\r of results, it may be as well to say a word on what has been dove on it, though there may be others equally, or even more, deserving of mention, which will be noted in due course. The Prospectors, after sinking the winze, for 50 feet found that tho lead got rather small, and sinking was discontinued for the time as well as the drive. On the low level that wai being carried through to nut the lead at at 100 feet deep, the manager being under the impression that the loader would not carry down through tho hard country met with. They therofore opened ont at the depth mentioned, and stoped the leader out to the surface. They have also a drive on the surface level of about 60 feet cutting the leader at 25 feet, after which they come again on the hard rock and they have a third drive of 60 feet on a big reef of about 5 or 6 feet in width. It is intended to continue prospecting at this point, the quarts being of a likely nature to contain gold, and bhould a patch of gold be met with they would be able to turn out a large amount of crushing stuff. There are about eight tons of material, from which good prospects have been obtained, ready for the battery ; and the stuff turned out every day shows promising and steady traces that may, according to very trustworthy judges, justify confident expectations of an aver* age continued yield of from two to two and a-half ounces p<jr ton. "Wonderfully fine patches have been found near the surface, but stray specimens are not taken into account in the estimate of what may be expected as a return. The reefs that have given the largest returns in the Thames diggings have been those that have given a steady average of 2£ozs., rather than from others with patches yielding from 19ozs. to 20ozs. Near the Prospectors', or about a mile away from it, the Morning Star and the Smile of Fortune claims are two that may be considered likely to give steady returns. The Morning Star has opened the reef in three different places, and found it to maintain its size and carry gold right through, the average thickness being about two feet, in an easily- worked sandstone country. They are laying a tramway from the bottom level of the Smile of Fortune, and they intend to -work both mines from this low level. Both these mines are getting material ready to test the value of the stuff, and if it proves payable they will at once lay a self-acting tramway from this level down to the foot of the gully, by -which they will save considerably, doing away with tho necessity for sledging, the drays taking 1\ tons each to the battery along the level road they will have. The gold shown in the stone from the prospects of these claims may pretty suely justify expectations of one ounce to the ton — a return that, considering the favourable position of the claims, will be of more value than a larger yield from others. Adjoining the Prospectors' is the Bonanza, a claim of which high expectations were at one time entertained, though it is not at present being worked. The Number One South Claim is another close at hand, and on this work is going on, and they are expecting to cut the loader in a few more feet- of driving. These and the Prospectors lie high up on the side of the bush-covered range, while lower dcjwn, beyond th§

gully at the foot, is tlio Prince of Wales, a well-spoken-of claim that I will lose no time in visiting. The Waitoa Gold Mining Company are steadily at work, and I hear tnat they have cttt "a good-looking leader to-day of about a foat in thickness, showing gold, and in ».;da£ or two I hope to visit the claim andY give full particulars. — April 13.