THE INANGAHUA DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1292, 19 September 1872, Page 2

THE INANGAHUA DISTRICT.

[from our own correspondent.] September 19. There is nothing striking to report this week, and the same humdrum that has characterised Reefton for weeks past has existed for the last seven days. The shaking that the failure of the Westland Crushing Company's first attempt has never been got over, and to make matters worse the dishonored floating cheques pertaining to the company have engendered a feeling of distrust in even the best companies. It is somewhat disgraceful on the part of the persons liable, for someone must be liable, that tradesmen in this town should have been permitted to suffer loss for so long a time, and hold a lot of valueless pieces of paper for which they have given valuable consideration. There are people in this town who hold cheques issued by the manager of the Westland Company for large sums. These were cashed in all good faith, and yet the ; "influential" directory have not had, up to the present time, the decency to"; even communicate witk their victims. What the end will be remains to be seen, but whatever it may be there are few in the district but deplore the fact of the Westland Crushing Company ever having been called into existence, for not only has it been, so far, a failure, but it has created a want of confidence in all other companies in the district, and the result is comparative collapse. Notwithstanding all the drawbacks, _the district generally is gradually advancing, ; and in a very short time all the old belief in its riches will be fully restored. There are some splendid "shows" yet to be found, and in spite of all Australian attractions, I venture to predict that at no distant day the Inangahua will prove an equal magnet. Boatman's promises to be a first-class field. Already many claims, such as the Just in Time, &c, have been proved valuable beyond all doubt, and every day increases their value unquestionably. The other, day stone from a leader, evidently trending to the main reef, from the Lancaster claim was tested, and though, on examination, even with the aid of a good glass, no gold was visible, on being crushed by the primitive appliance of an iron pestle and mortar gold in profusion -was manifest. Other stone from the same locality shows gold throughout, and it will be strange if Boatmon's does not yet turn out one of the leading reefing parts of the district. At Larry's, the work goes on slowly, and in the prospecting claim work is not carried on half as briskly as the evidently valuable mineral would justify. Comparatively little work has been done, probably owing to waiting for machinery, which 1 understand has been arranged for, and the want of it is that this inertness on the part of the prospectors has a depressing effect on other claimholders. Under any circumstances it would be thought thai the company would get as much stone oui as possible, in order to supply the machine when it arrives on the ground, but sucli is not the fact. The trial crushing at the Inglewood or the Murray Creek is looked forward to with considerable interest, and if it is as successful as anticipated some considerable impetus will be giyen tc quartz-mining in that quarter. T;he invincible crushing will also be 'regarded 'with some anxiety, and the establishment of Anderson's machinery will be an eveni in the history of the district. It is almosl completed, and will be duly and ceremoniously christened in about a fortnight. The Black's Point tramway is progressing after a long spell pi inactivity. Mer are at work at the upper end, and then is every inclination evidently to pus! matters briskly on. The company is tc hold one thousand shares, of which seven hundred have already been taken up, and there can be no doubt of the balance feeing secured. When finished, it will be of vast service to the district. The supposed Costello murder has been still a disturbing matter in our midst. The men in custody accused of the crime have been before the Bench and remanded, but their discharge is certain, inasmuch as there is no evidence againsi them" that could justify a Magistrate ir sending them before a jury. That grave suspicion is attached to them is certain, but there is nothing more. In my last, ] made an error in stating that Sibree's clothes had been submitted to Dr Bulmei for analysis, in reference to some stains upon them supposed to be blood. The clothes were those of Barton, aliai Yorkey, and not Sibreo'B. The search party sent looking for the body, gave jn on Saturdry la3t, and it is now riot likely that 'it will ever be recovered, and the matter will remain involved in the game mystery that has hung over it from the first. The Magistrate has had a tolerably busy time of it lately. Civil summones have cropped up, and criminal matters, ir addition to that referred to above, have not been wanting. The alleged shooting case brought by Williams, of Fern Flat, against Roberts and M'Shane, came on for hearing on Monday again. The police ■dated that they had no evidence to offer against Roberts, and he was then discharged. With reference to M 'Shane, at his request, the case was again postponed, in order to allow him an opportunity of obtaining legal . assistance. Another case arising out of free and easy marriage obligations was heard on the same day, in which a gay Lothario named John Williams was committed for trial on a charge of shooting at ablate hotelkeeper yclept Quadri. From the evidence given at the investigation, it seems that the wife of the prosecutor was supposed to have become improperly familiar with the prisoner, and it was apparent that there were strong grounds for the suspicion. The prosecutor and his. brother-in-law watched Williams's house, and found proof positive of the adultery, on which the prisoner fired through a door at them, and was committed in consequence. There was no evidence against him, but his own confession was conclusive. The lady in question, it seems, has a propensity for tomahawks and other dangerous weapons, and her own brother in Court volunteered a statement that she once chopped a man's arm off, at the Roaring Meg, in, Otago. The gaol is is more disgraceful than ever, owing to prisoners coming in comparatively thickly. If the Government do not enlarge the accommodation, there will be fever and death between the walls before the summer has gone. The preBurned resignation of Mr Curtis as Superintendent has given the most unqualffied satisfaction to all Residents here; and really, such a happy release from the

jlutches of the Old Man of the Sea almost 3eetus to compensate for the indefinitely postponed " unification ". of the ; Coast. In -religious matters, Reefton is rather eminent, and individuals of all creeds can find a pastor according to their ideas. The Church of England services have for some time been conducted by lay .-readers* with an occasional clergyman and twice a bishop, doing duty. In a few weeks, however, this denomination will have the services of the Rev. — Flavell, who has accepted the charge of the district, and is expected to become a permanent resident* very shortly. At the same time, the VVesleyan body have riot been idle, and have a most earnest and zealous minister in R9eftbn, who holds weekly services in the Oddfellows Hsll. „ The Roman Catholics are, however, ' most entitled, to credit,, for. riot only does x their pastor pay periodical visits, but they have commenced, indeed almost completed, a handsome church, which Mr Parer has the contract for, and which will be completed in a few days. A concert in aid of the building fund is to be given within its walls next Friday three weeks," and services will be held on the following Sunday. There can be no doubt that two suns cannot shine in one hemisphere, but the converse is the case as far as two lawyers 50. For some time past Mr Home has been alone in his glory, Mr Pitt, our only other legal luminary, having had a professional call to Hokitika. The consequence has been that justice, or at least law, has halted, and evidence/ has: been given that one ; lawyer cannot live alone. Several cases have been postponed consequent on the one lawyer only being available, and it is to be. hoped either that the truant Pitt will return, or that some; sucking legal practitioner will have mercy: on the Reefton public, and- assuage' the legal drought from which it is at present 1 suffering. The concert at Black's Point, in aid of the Reef ton Hospital, comes off on Friday next (to-morrow), * and will be an undoubted success. A large number of amateur lady vocalists and a still larger band of gentlemen have tendered their services, the supplies are all gratuitous, and ho charges are to be made by anyone. The consequence is that the receipts will be nett profit, and at,' least L7O or LBO will be added to the fund. Two more claims oh 'Kelly's line, viz., the United Band of Hope and the liiglewood Leise, are entirely 1 engaged in conveying quartzto the Westland machine. The former company intend crushing from 40 to 50 tons ; the iatter only 20 tons, their stone having to be carried by pack horses, making it, of course, very expensive, and this ia the reason that they have decided to put through such a small qu dntity . The claim is about half a mile from the machine site. No doubt, ii satisfactory arrangements can be inacU with the Westland, .they will lay down a tramway. Their reef is 4ft thick,' witl gold visible in all parts. ; The stone it transit promises a good payable crushing, In the Victoria claim, on the same line of reef, the contractors started work today in connection with the r . tramway. They -are also sawing; timber for shoqtj $c. They have agreed with the above machine to crush . QOO tons of stone^o] which 70* tons are f;o grass, They antipi- : pate a crushing in about six weeks. \ Kelly's. — This party have already finished their tramway, and will crush as soon as the machine has finished the stone from the United Band of Hope and Inglewood Lease. Westland Claim.— All work has been discontinued in this claim, the managei having received instructions to pay off all the men, Rumor says that this step is preparatory to winding up the aflfyirs oi the company. ' ' With respect to Shiel's line, lam glad to report that the North British' have resumed work, and are now continuing the tunnel from the bottom of the shaft. They confidently expect to strike the reef in about 50ft. Golden Fleece — otherwise known as "Paddy Hunt's" — are at present sinking on the reef with the view of connecting the workings on the upper arid 'lower levels. The work has been let to contractors. ■■■'-. ■■'•-. The Ajax Co. are still crushing their own stone, and continue to speak hopefully of . the result. Band of Hope.— The wheel at this claim was nearly finished this afternoon. The castings for the machine are being conveyed as fast as possible up the creek. Anderson's. — In all probability this company will commence crushing 411 'leas than three weeks. ; and I feel pertain they will ba amply rewarded for. all' their weary waiting and pluck. They own; the best machine in the district, and their stone is, judging from appearance, quite up to the average. . , Golden Ledge. — This claim is one' not generally known. It is situated about a quarter of a mile south-east from the Wealth of Nations. They have not been working long, but have already got some really astonishing stone. The reef is 3ft thick, with; gold freely distributed throughout. The party are working in a tunnel, out of which they have got at present about 20 tons stone. boatman's. , Caples and party are putting in a tunnel to catch the reef at the 150 ft level. They are in 192 ft, and expect to strike at 220 ft. The reef is visible on the surface, where it is from 3ft to sft thick. The Just in Time N. 2 and 3 south (amalgamated) are sinking a shaft in their tunnel, following the reef down,and keeping good stone. In fact, the stone they are working looks as rich as any through' which they have passed,' which is speaking volumes for the claim. No. 1. north and No. 1 south of Caples' are both putting in tunnels to strike the reef at the lower level. No. 1 north has a fine thickness of reef on the surface. Thompson and party are going to sink on the reef where it is exposed, near their tunnel. : ! An extraordinary meeting' of the sharesholders of the Golden Hill has been called for the purpose of considering the propriety of removing the legal management, &c, to Greymouth.