TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Te Aroha, Wednesday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1851, 17 May 1884, Page 2

TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Te Aroha , Wednesday.

The consecration and erection of the Masonic Lodge, Te Aiolia, S.C., an event wlucn hid been looked forward to with lively inteicst by the membeis of the order in this distiict, took place j esterday e\ cuing. There was a large gathering of tlio bietluen of the "mystic tie," nearly GO being present, amongst whom weie m.my \isitors from Auckland, Thames, and elsewhere. The Provincial Grand Lodge was well represented, sc\eral officers of that body ha\ing come up to take pait in the proceedings. The P.GJ.W. Bro. Malcolm Niccol, acting under commission from the P.lx.M. Sir F. Whitaker, conducted the ceiemonies, which were of the usual impressive character, and the address delivered by that gentleman on the natuie and objects of Freemasonry was the theme of general admiration. After the installation of the officers of the new lodge, the brethren adjourned to Mr Warren's hotel, where, to the number of about 50, they sat down to an excellent repast catered for by the host. The toasts usual on such occasions vrere duly proposed and responded to, and general gratification was expressed on the success that from beginning to end had attended the proceedings. Much satisfaction is felt here with the progress made on the Eureka section of the railway that is to connect us with Waikato. The rails are now linked in neatly to Morrinsville, and it is hoped that in two, or at most three months, the line to that place w ill be in full operation. The remaining thirteen miles from theie to this township will still take many months to complete, but the opening of the Euieka portion will be an immense boon to the travelling public. Those who had occasion to journey by coach between here and Hamilton last winter will h.ive a vivid lecollection of the miseries of the trip, and it will be a matter for percial lejoicing when coaching becomes a thing ot tho past. Another of our clergymen is about to take leave of us. The Rev. W. Ferguson, who, for the last IS months, has held the Presbytenan ch.nge in this district, announces his faiewell sermon for Sunday next. His depaituie will be a cause ot considerable iet;iet, as during his residence hcie he h.u> by his unostentatious beating and his genial manners made himself gieatly ic&peotcd and esteemed. He proceeds to Auckland to act as assistant to the Rev. Mr. Oanick, of S Andiew's Chuich there, an appointment which, on account of delicate health and other reasons, lie lias deemed it advib.ible to accept. Mr J. C. Firth had a meeting on Fndciy last with the managers of some of the most important mines on the hill. A number of matters were discussed lelating chiefly to economy in working the claims. Measures were devised for a reduction of expenditure, and in one or two of the mines these measures will have a fair trial, but it has yet to be proved that they will be of any real benefit. Past experience leads to the conclusion that they will not. Theie is a likelihood at last of a break in the long spell of dry weather. A stiffisli gale is now blowing from the N.E , and a downpour of rain is looked for. It will do a large amount of good, and bigger batteiy returns may then be expected. The v eekly cleaning up of amalgam on Monday resulted as follows :— Colonist, 163 ozs". ; New Find, 1530z5. The jield is small, but owing to want of power only a small number of stampers could be worked, and these at a slow late. The Canadian tiial cruahing yielded 520/s. 7d\vts. of gold from 4S loads of stuff, a return winch is very satisfactory, seeing that the reef is nearly fix c feet in width.