TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] The Battery, &c.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1390, 31 May 1881, Page 2

TE AR O HA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT .] The Battery, &c.

The long continued want of rain has air am caused a scarcity of water in the creek from which the battery draws its supply, and the woik of crushing was btopped on SatuuUy. The return shown from the 15 load^ of the Morning Star quaiU already operated upon is 4oz. lldwts., Of a very hcfcle under 7 dwfcs to the ton, while the Little Jessie shows lldwtb. to three loads. The flguies are somewhat less than anticipated in the Morning Star at all events, but they are sufficient to piove that theie is gold heie. and all experienced miners know that wheie gold is found, even in the smallest quantities, perseverance may be rewaided at any moment by success. The most successful claims at the pieseut moment at the Thames prove this, and the rising value of the Waihi field, so long looked upou as valueless, is another instance. No one cm judjre of a goldnold by the small return of a fir-it or soconcl trial. Tales <ue told eveiy day of claims woiked for months unsuccessfully and abandoned in de-pair, or ior want of capital, being taken up by a fresh company, and turning out immediately an enormous yield, either through a little more skill or care m the working, or the chances that is always the main feature of gold digging. If the Morning Star or the Piospectois', or the Shotover have turned out 7 or lOdwts. on a hist tnal, theie is no reason why they should not be steadily worked, or why they should not turn out far largei yields at one time or another. There has been l eally nothing done here to judge by, t,o far, but what an old digger calls "mere scratching ;" but it is proved that the gold is there, and it must be worked by capitalists and managers of piactical experience, who will not tlnow away a chance or waste money in mistakes. No tiadesman ever judges of his business by one day's returns, or throws it up in disgust if he is still out of pocket at the end of the fiist si\ months. The fiist comers aie most frequently the losers in al) goldfields, and those who learn by expenence to piofit by the mistakes of the unfortunate pioneers are those who come afterwards and reap the benefits Gold-digging to be worked profitably must not be considered by any means a mere reckless "laik" for nice young rowdies to indulge in as a brilliant change of excitement in their raio intervals of sobriety, or as a little more profitable than euchre. It must be worked with perseverance above all, and with system and hard labour, and like everything clso it will pay the best men and leave the worst out in the cold. If the capital is found to carry on the claims which have proved productive here, they will undoubtedly pay, but it is equally certain that they will not pay without working. The Morning Star for instance having made loads and canied on perhaps the most work in the best style of any of the claims here, will not think any the worse of the prospects of success, because it has not turned out ounces to the ton at first venture, the working manager as a sensible man, will know too well the changes of fortune, and as he very truly says, the stuff first sent down has been lying on the ground since the first opening of the work, and has not been picked, and therefore includes some of the worst that is ever likely to come out of it. We shall next see what the Smile of Fortune will do, and it is to be hoped that the Napier, one of most promising looking claims on the field, will not delay bringing down the product of its upper level, fiom which such excellent prospects were obtained. There is a great deal of justifiible grambling at the unfairness of allowing leased claims to remain unworked. It is a fact that many of the best claims have been left unworked for months, and will reap all the benefit of the success of a hard workinaf neighbour without any expense or labour. It rather naturally discourages those who da work

and lay out their money, and they ask why the old miner.* law that a claim if left un worked by at least half its gang for twenty-four hours should be forfeited, should not be utill enforced.

Scarlatina. The scarlet fever is still prevalent her« but I have no further serious cases to report.

Proposed ScaoolA meetinjr was held last week at Mr Reynolds' Waihau farm, with reference to the schools to be erected 'on 11 and 12 blocks, and a oommittee, was duly appointed. ' x ,

Religious ServicesThe Rev. Mr Pinfold wiJlies such of his friends as may see this letter to know that by an arrangement with the Rev. Mr Norrey he will not hold bis appoiqt^d bervice at Matamata on June sth. &