OHINEMURI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2419, 12 January 1888, Page 2

OHINEMURI.

Expout oi' Ork.—Shippers of ore from Ohinemuri are finding that the game is not all profit. Some months ago it was believed that ore could be shipped to Europe at an almost nominal charge, indeed it was su;'.? that the Tui dirt could be sent Home as ballast and that if a regular thing was made of it the Shaw Saville line \yould actually pay for tho privilege of taking it. These visions are now however dispelled and what with bagging, carting, wharfage dues at both ends freight to Auckland, storage, duty, freight Home rail and other charges on arrival Homo it will tako all of £8 per ton out of the value of the ore. The latest charge that has been put upon it is the bullion duty which is paid on gold and which the Customs authorities have decided shall be paid on gold ore. In one sense the Customs are perfectly right inasmuch as the cartage of quartz over County roads greatly cut them up and it would be hard for the County Council to lose the gold duty (which is passed through to them) for road maintenance. At the same time however taking into consideration the fact that the export of good ore is likely to prove a means nf introducing capital into tho country and that oxporters are scarcely making a pile out of it, some slight concessions ought to be made. Mixing Prospects.—One scarcely likes to be dogmatic, or in anyway positive as concerns the success or otherwise of anything connected with gold-mining. If it is the unexpected that happens in politics it is so a, fortiori in mining, and usually the event is an unfortunate one when it does happen. Still, I will venture to prophecy that before the pondulUm of time gives another swing ticking out 18S8, that two, if not three or more, of our local mining properties will be. placed on tho English market successfully. The Mammoth mine, Karangahake, upon which £5000 is now being expended in prospecting, is likely to be one of these. The terms are, that if during the expenditure of this money, which has been subscribed by a number of Londoner* interested in mining. 20 tons of £20 ore shall be unearthed, with fair prospects of a continuation, that the mine shall be bnight, the price being £30,000, in cash. Good dirt has alroady been dropped on in two reefs, and it is likely that better will bo found in tho third reef, now being driven for. The floating of tho Union at Wai hi of course is nil fait accompli as the world knows. We are now only awaiting the advunt of Mr "Long" Walker and tho michinoiy for the mine, which will probibly be here next month. Tho Jubilee.' Crown and Silverton are three other mines that in .-ill likelihood will meet with support on tho part of English capitalists. Mr Kersey Cooper, promoter of the first named, left for London last month with about 10 tuns of ore from the mine. Two gentlemen, one. of whom is a mining expert from Ballarat, named Gibson, visitod tho Crown last week on business referring to the s\le of the mine. Nothing has transpired as to the results. County Council. — The Ohinemuri County Council sat on Saturday last, when a large amount of business was got through. Mr Lindsay Jackson was offered the appointment of resident engineer at a salary of £120 per annum and an office, to be allowed an outside practice, Mr Francis l'avitt having sent in his resignation as engineer to the county. The Minister of Mines wrote, saying that no moneys were available for aid' to prospecting this year. Constable Mitchell wrote, stating that sever.i' butchers in the district were persistently ignoring ths provisions of "The. Slaughter-house, Act, 1887," and asked leave to sue, which was granted. Tiie Under-Secretary of tho Treasury wrote, saying that payments under " The Crown and Native Lands Rating Act" would ceaso after Murcli next, and warned the council not to enter into any liabilities on account of such. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr. (Juinn, to make enquiries as to the existence of any available subsidy for the KarangahakeAroha road. The clerk reported 500 ratepayers as defaulters. Resolved that iminediato proceedings be taken by the council against the same. All resolutions referring to travelling expenses of councillors attending meetings were then rescinded by notice of motion, and it was resolved that Is per mile be the amount paid, the maximum payment per meeting to any one councillor being £1. Mr .Tacksonhaving decided to accept tho position, he was duly appointed engineer to the county. Mr Edwin Edwards was appointed inspector of nuisances and registrar of dogs, and Mr J. H. M. Lush county solicitor, at an annual retainer of £2 2s, The Chairman—Mr W. G. Nicholls—wa3 empowered to take the necessary steps to borrow a sum of £1000 from the Government to pay off part of the award to the Thames Council. R.M. Court.—A very heavy Court day will be taken by Mr H. A. Stratford, R.M., this week. There are several assault cases and a charge of cattle stealing against a local butcher, beside innumerable smaller police and civil oases. Ohinomuri is attaining an unenviable notoriety for large charge sheets.