OHINEMURI NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2366, 8 September 1887, Page 3

OHINEMURI NEWS.

(FROM OUU OWN OORBESrOXDKXT.) f’AKHOA, Tuesday. . OuiNEMl’Bl is just now in its element—it lias plenty to talk about. The public-house politicians and (he corner grocery statesmen have an embarrassment of riches to choose from in the shape of gossip. The general election, the county, election, the Hikutuia rush, the villainous action of the Thames Harbour Board in netting their jurisdiction extended, and a mine of other topics dear to the soul of the free and independent, await public criticism ; and he —the said free and independent—is the person to settle these matters. One shudders to think what would become of the average politician if Government and those in authority should ever attain that perfection that needs no criticism. They would be like a pair of millstones grinding away with nothing to grind. Of the first of these topics there is little to be said. Both candidates have come and gone, and have said their say, Mr Mackay has undoubtedly the confidence of the electors, if votes of thanks and confidence have any weight. Mr Cad man only obtained one such, i. e.,. at Waihi. They are both good men, however, and Ohineniuri, like the hero in Guy’s “ Beggar’s Opera,” could he happy with either. The Hikutaia rush is of far more interest to Ohinemuri folk than electioneer iag matters. .There is “ the promise and potency ”of a great Held in the district. It is not so very far away, and: will in a little while ho accessible from Pacroa in about two and a half hours. It is situated between the Kmnata Creek and Waitekauri, and not very far from a reef district lately opened ui), which, in the simple language of the noble savage, is called Wharokoiraupungu. The quartz partakes of the nature of the Waitekauri ore, being of a finable nature, and carrying a good deal of visible gold. liven, although there was not a colour to be seen, the stone found iu .the three veins on the hanging wall of the prospector’s reef would be extremely valuable, owing to the large proportion of gold and silver in chlorides and antimnnides, &c. Some assays of picked stuff are almost incredible in their returns'. -The local assayer of the Bank of, New Zealand assures your correspondent that duo assay returned 115 per cent, of bullion, or DDHOoz.s. biillion to the ton. Another taken by Mr H. H. Adams returned oven more. These assays, however, although no doubt absolutely correct, must not be regarded as a criterion of the general stuff. Some'Waihi stuff shine months ago was assayed,for still larger results than those ; but it must be borne in mind that if one assayed a piece of gold pure and simple, it would return 100 per cent, of gold. What is necessary is to get two or three tons dry ; crush it, mix, sift and sample it, and thou get an average assay of the whole. The county council is making no less than three tracks into the Held, two from Komata, and one from Waitekauri. The latter will most likely ho the one used;’as it is an easy grade, and over lairly good country. The Tareriki coal scam, to which the Government put in a track about a couple of years ago’, runs through this district, It will bo remembered that the coal was scarcely good chough for commercial purposes. There may, however, bo better in the district. .At the Ohinemuri Licensing Committen’s quarterly meeting on Thursday last, Messrs Lipsey (chairman), Mitchell, Logan and Edwards wore present. Mr .1, H. Walsh’s transfer of the Karangahake Hotel to Mr' ,T. Kelly was granted, and the nisi license fof au.accnuiniodatidn house to Mr Hosio at Owharoa’made absolute. An application from Phillip Bennett for an accommodation license at the new rush was held by the chairman as, not .before the bench, being informal in several details. . " !•

■The county council dat all day on Saturday for tho customary much ado : about nothing. Little o£- : outside interest was doucM The overdraft at the Bank-of Now Zealand was reported as.paid up, and there, was an actual credit balance of. 14s in hand. ~ : . '

A meeting in reference to tho extension of the Thames Harbour Board jurisdiction was held at Faeroa on Saturday evening, Mr J. M. Hobson presiding. There was a fair attendance,, and opinion was much divided on the subject. Several thought that thcro was much good argument on the side of the Harbour Board, and as a general principle, the body having control of the mouth of a river should have control to its source. It is slated,that thousands of tons’ of river debris, kahikatoa refuse, sawdust, &e., is annually deposited at the mouth of tho Thames river, and that the fishing industry is being destroyed thereby. It is certainly simple nonsense to state that the board have any more power than before to tax, residents on tho river, It merely wishes to prevent mill-owners and others from spoiling tho natural highway! The meeting protested tamely against the Harbour Board, !\nd broke up. The local football team played a match with tho Thames United Club on Saturday, beating the visitors by five points to nil.

Inv T'KLBGIiAEH—(IWN OOItBRSPONDENT,) P4EUCU. Wednesday.

Wikiriwhi Hautonga, a Native Assessor, died this morning. It is stated by the natives that the deceased was bewitched by another chief, who has killed throe other natives by tho sumo occult process. The natives ate much excited over tho matter,