MINING NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 721, 1 September 1870, Page 4

MINING NEWS.

BULLER DISTRICT. [WESTPORT TIMES, AUGUST 27.] The people of Addison's Flat have been wisely moving in the matter of Government, aid; to works, for supplying water to the gold fields. Through one of their number they have communicated with Mr Kynnersley, M.H.R., on the subject, and that gentleman has readily furnished all the information he can with regard to the probable method of expending the money which the General Government propose to procure for these works. A preliminary meeting was held at the Flab a few nights ago, and we understand that a general meeting of the residents is to be held this evening in connection with the same matter. There is considerable wisdom in the inhabitants of mining districts thus taking time by the forelock. A party, just returned from the Matakitaki furnishes a few particulars respecting the workings above the Lyell. He describes the track between that locality and the Lyell as execrable. The surrounding country is, however, favorably spoken of as an agricultural district, and a great many notices are posted of intention to apply for agricultural leases in the neighborhood of Fern Flat. About 70 or 80 miners are estimated to be at present located on the Matakitaki, but comparatively little gold *is getting. Provisions and other necessaries are supplied by two stores at the Junction, while a third is situated about two miles above the Junction. Between uhe Lyell and the Matakitaki a few parties have set in and completed works of considerable magnitude. Stewart and party have been engaged from five to six months in bringing in a race, capable of carrying six heads of watei\ and they expect to complete the work in a month. Three miles lower, Moran and party are constructing fluming to convey four heads of water. The raca will be carried across the Buller river, which will be spanned by wire ropes upon which the boxes will be laid. The undertaking is a considerable one, at the same time, the party express themselves very hopefully as to their future prospects. The ground is estimated to yield from L 4 to LlO weekly per man, and their present area will afford remunerative labor for two to three years. A few parties are working up the Maruia and other tributaries of the Buller, with results sufficiently remunera- . tive to compensate them for their labor, in addition to the increased cost of living and difficulty in obtaiuing provisions and mining necessaries. Both on the Lyell township and on the reefs everything is very quiet, everybody is looking forward to the arrival of the machinery in port, which is daily expected by the Mary from Melbourne. Mr Mangle, storekeeper at the Lyell, has taken the contract from the prospectors for the delivery of the same at their machine site, at the foot of Irishman Creek. 1 believe it is his intention to convey it up the creek by boat, which, if. practicable, will undoubtedly be less expense than cutting a track for its going overland. It certainly is, however, to be regretted that nothing has s»s yet been done by the Government towards employing the small sum that has been voted for making the road up the Lyell, which, with the united efforts of those immediately interested, might have done much towards making a good pack track as. far as Irishman Creek. An application tor a free license at the crossing of the creek on condition that the applicant constructs a substantial bridge over the same, has been put in. This will be, if granted, a saving of about eighty pounds, and under any circumstances is a work very much needed. Of the ultimate importance of the place, however much delay there may be in the development of its resources, the rapidly progressing improvements for the accommodation of travellers up the Buller that are. being made, and the amouut of agricultural ground that is being cleared, for the growtli of produce in the district, speaks well for the high estimation that the locality commands, as one capablo of becoming a largely populated area. Among tho former, Mr Freuch, of the Ohiki, is putting up a large weather-board house on the other side of the tributary of the Buller. At the Black water, another houso is going to be put .up by Mr Brandon, who has lately put a ferry on that troublesome crossing. I hear, too, that three or four miles beyond this again there is likely to be an accommodation house. A lease has also been taken up at the junction of the Inangahua. This, with a boat at this point, would cut off about two miles of the road to the Lyell.