THE LONGWOOD REEFS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 850, 2 August 1878, Page 3

THE LONGWOOD REEFS.

—o— The prospectors’ claim has been locked up during the week, and no visitors were allowed to go and inspect it. It is reported that negotiations for a battery have been entered into by Hayes Bros, and it is probable little will be done in the claim until this is on the ground. Mr Boniface’s contract for cutting a track to within a short distance of this claim is now. completed, the work is well and faithfully done, and the communication with the reefs is thereby now greatly facilitated. Some idea of the value of this track may bo gathered from the fact that Mr Grey' succeeded in taking up a good load of surveyors’ luggage on a sledge, on Thursday last. The trip was performed there and back in one day. The honor, therefore, of being the first to take a sledge to the reefs belongs to Mr Grey. Of course if there was much traffic on the track it would soon become impassable, especially in wet weather, so that undoubtedly the proper thing to do is to lay down a tramway. This could be done at a trilling expense compared to the great ad- ■ vantage it would prove. The survey of the leases is progressing slowly, Mr Murray being engaged on the fifth only ; but as Mr May’s party arc now on I'm ground, some of the other leases will shortly have the theodolite on them. As nothing like general prospecting will bo carried on until the surveys are completed, it is highly important that these should be proceeded with ns rapidly as possible. Allowing for a certain amount of weather during which it will be impossible the surveyors will be able to go on the ground, it will bo at' least three months before they are all compacted. As leaseholders arc not compelled to break ground or-employ the stipulated number of four men until after survey, it is apparent that a considerable delay will occur before work is general in the claims. Capital is attempted to be inade by the opponents of leases out of the present state of affairs, and comparisons are freely tnado as to lbs advanced stage the workings would probably bo in by tin's time had the ground been taken up under miners’ rights Time will show, however, that the.debt is of a nature which can only be developed by capital. The conditions of the leases are such as will cheek any attempt at shepherding—that is to say provided these conditions are observed by the lessees. U has been hinted jhat this is not the case in some of the leases already granted and surveyed. In the interests of the field it is advisable that supervision should bo exercised in regard to this matter, and that an officer should be appointed to inspect the claims regularly and see that the conditions of lease are complied with. Unless this is immediately done the development of the field will be indefinitely retarded, as in some cases the condition of employing four men is being very liberally interpreted. A Visit from Professor Ulrich at the present time would be opportune, as several of the claims are now sufficiently opened to allow of bis expressing an opinion after an examination of the same with some degree of confidence. A gieat want has been supplied by Mr Lynch, who has created a comfortable Louse at the Purapnrakino landing, for which hr. intends to apply for a license at the next quarterly licensing meeting. Mr Lynch formerly applied for a license before he had the house built, but the Commissioners would not grant a license under these conditions. In view of there shortly being considerable traffic to the reefs this house will be a necessity. The following are the claims which our reporter has visited during tie week,

The Longvvood (Hayes Bros.)—As already mentioned nothing has been done in this claim during the week, anil no one has been allowed down the shaft till yesterday, when a party of Invercargill gentlemen interested in the reefs visited and inspected thd fclaim. They depress themselves as thoroughly satisfied with the genuineness of the discovery. Queenstown Company (Malaghau’s).— Hut building and procuring slabs for timbering is the only work gone on with.

The Princess (France’s party).—A shaft 40 feet deep has been sunk in this claim. The country is very similar to that of the prospectors’ claim. They have now reached the bed rook, and intend sinking another six feet, and from that level putting in a T drive. They also purpose testing the ground at another point by putting in a tunnel. Daniels No. 1. —Only one man is working in this claim, but lie has succeeded in putting in a drive some sixty feet, which is securely timbered.

Alpine (Ford and Petchells).—Nothing has been done m this claim, beyond getting ready' a quantity of slabs and props. Giant’s Glory (M‘Caugbau’a). A good face has been got oh this claim, and the two men employed have driven "in a' workmanlike manner a tunnel some sixty feet, which is .most securely' timbered. The country' traversed is a nuillooky reef, with plenty' of clayey veins interspersed. Wallace Prospecting Company.—There arc four men working this ground, under Mr Douglas’ directions. A meeting of the Company will be held next week, when a report will he uiven.—Western Star.