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SITE OF CHURCH AND HOSPITAL. 51
tions
; for numerous basin-shaped hollows have been made on these exposed
outcrops, which served them as mortars, in which they have ground down
broken pieces of quartz; whilst small channels cut in the ground have
supplied them with water for washing. Here, at any rate, is evidence
that gold-mining has been carried on, even to a recent date; and
judging from the pieces I was shown, these rough* operations must have
been tolerably successful.
We
next rode through the Limerick estate, and reached the high road to
Devala, in sight of the gap in the hills where, I was informed, Rhodes
Reef is situated.
Near
the lofty Needlerock Peak, close to which we were now riding, we saw
the site of the proposed new church, the foundations being already in
process of excavation. The hospital is also here. This is the
old Government dispensary. It has recently been enlarged to afford
increased accommodation for European patients; the expense having been
defrayed by contributions from several of the new mining companies.
From
an elevated point near the hospital, we had an excellent bird's-eye
view over the " Tre-velyan " estate, upon which part of that company's
property no mining operations had yet been commenced.
Returning by the road to the north of Athikanu, we entered the South Indian estates at Bittusal, and
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