THE INANGAHUA DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1318, 19 October 1872, Page 2

THE INANGAHUA DISTRICT.

(FROM OUK OWX CORRESPONDEirr.) October 15. The Ministerial changes that have been lately taking place have roused probably more political feeling than has ever arisen on the Gold Fields of this Coast, and the result has given the most unbounded satisfaction to all but the Curtis sympathisers, who form a very small fraction indeed of our population. The Ministry, as at present constituted, has every claim to public confidence, and there is a general feeling of relief at finding that the business of the country is not to be delayed - by a dissolution, but will at once be vigorously proceeded with. At the same time, there is some disappointment evinced at the Treasurer's readinesi, to adopt the Shephard bantling as a panacea, for the evils that the West Coast has. so long suffered from, and it is fervently hoped that some, better measure may be substituted and become law before the session closes. Any change, however, will be better than the present condition of affairs, and if we cannot have the whole loaf we must fain- be content with one-half. Considerable anxiety is felt to future governance,^ and may it be for the \ better. ■ .^Jk The Lyell's golden stone still drajwtffl many of our population, and reallyNH^^' stories that are told- of the wealth of Bon« i. of the claims there are sufficient justification for the flitting. There is no doubt that some of the richest quartz ever got out of the soil in this Colony is now being obtained in the district in question, and when the crushing now going on from the Alpine claim is done, the yield will prove equal to the best that even the far-famed Caledonian mine ever gave. In this district mining matters continue to improve, and every week fresh encouragement is given to those who have been plucky enough to stick to their venV tnres through good report and evil report, *nd the " great expectations that were :-'

formed some months ago will yet be realised in a majority of instances. As is notorious the Westland Company's failure was a heavy blow to the prosperity of the district, and Kelly's line was condemned at once by the public generally as a " duffer.™ Since that time, however, the IngleWood Company has crashed within a fraction of 2oz to the ton from the despised reef, the United Band of Hope has done so, the All Nations, the Victoria, the Gulden Hill, all on the same line, show excellent stone and any quantity of it. The tfnited Band of Hope's yield, I may Remind your readers, was 27dwt t« the ton. The Golden Hill Company's crashing is proceeding at the Westland Company's mill, and a little over 100 tons out of the 500 tons contracted for, have passed under the stampers. Only a very few weeks ago the shares in this company were treated as though worthless, and could not be sold at any price. They have since risen more than 100 per cent., and with good reason. Already the plates are well covered for the stone put through* and it is expected now, that the yield will be little if anything short of loz to the ton, far more than was anticipated. This claim is the very next to that of the Westland Company, and the others abovementioned adjoin that of that ill-fated enterprise. Thus it will be seen that just as one swallow does not indicate the summer, so one temporary break down does not prove the w«rthlessness of a line of reef." It is probable that every other claim opened up on this one will yet prove payable. The Westland mill, though not fortunate on its own stone, has more work offered than it can get through for months to come. The Victoria people have made arrangements for it to crush 800 tons after the Golden Hill is finished, and there are sundry others anxious to take the next chance. The Ajax Company will crash for the Golden Fleece (Paddy Hunt's) very shortly, but I have not learned the quantity nor the terms. The preliminaries were agreed on at a meeting held on Saturday Lost. The great coming event is the opening of Anderson's machine, and, as I have stated on a previous occasion, considerable anxiety is felt on the snbject. The proprietors give a grand dejeuner on Saturday next, and commence operations in earnest on the following Monday. Neither pains nor expense have been spared in this work, and there seems every prospect of it proving most remunerative to the shareholder* as well as beneficial to the district. Through the very complete appliances at their command and cheap water power a small yield wll pay, and an ounce to the ton give a handsome dividend to shareholders. From present indications that is the least that the stone ready for the batteries will give, and there are many sanguine enough to expect double that amount. They propose to put 600 tons through as a trial. The want of a bank is felt more and more in this town. All the cash seems to be withdrawn from it, and cheques are flying about in all directions without anyone having cash to change them. I heard of a small cheque for L 2 given by a well knownandhighlyrespectableHokitikaciti•an being offered for 30s The individual's credit is beyond suspicion, but money is is scarce that paper of the most undoubted kind cannot be melted. In another instance, a marked cheque for L2l) deposited with the Government as security for the due performance of a work, was returned to him at its completion, but he vainly attempted to change it into notes or coin, and had to send it to Greymouth. The inconveniences occasioned are legion, and it is greatly to be hoped, if the Bank of Australasia is not fettered by any compact, that a branch will be started hero. The early bird catches the worm, and the first bank in the field will assuredly reap a profitable harvest.

The concert given in aid of the Catholic chapel, on Friday last, was a great success, and resulted in a little over LSO being netted. In addition to this, USA was collected on Sunday at the opening services, and what with private subscriptions in addition, the chapel debt will be reduced to about L7O or LBO. The building is finished very well, and is an ornament to the town, as well as a sign of social progress. The new Court House is now completed, and handed over, and the Resi-

dent Magistrate and Warden will sit there to-morrow (Wednesday) for the first time. Though small it is a great improvement on the billiard-room that has hitherto done duty as a Court, and will no doubt prove amply large enough for present requirements. A mining community is never satisfied. Only a very short time ago complaints of the wet weather were incessant, and with good cause. Now, on the other hand, some grumbling has commenced on the long spell of fino weather that we have enjoyed. Many of the dams aro very low, and a day's rain wftuld be hailed as a boon. Together with the dry warm weather, dust, sandflies, and mosquitoes have come in, and the insect pests have been amazingly and uncomfortably busy. For some weeks past a singular malady has been prevalent here amongst infants, and young children under five years of age. It is neither cramp nor the whooping cough, but a kind of compound of both and its visitation has been attended with most fatal results. Several children have already succumbed to it, and many more are ailing— some with but little hope of recovery. What is the predisposing cause no one seems to know, out that the disease is here is too painfully apparent. A narrow escape from drowning occurred on Monday night. A woman named M'Cnlloch alias Hawkins, managed to get exceedingly drunk, and in that state attempted to ford the Inangahua, opposite to the township. She had not got far before she stumbled and fell, the current rolling her over and over. Fortunately she capsized in a very shallow part, and the ferryman hearing her cries, arriv ed in time to drag her out, the only return for which was a volley of curses and a quantity of bad language. From Boatman's, Larry's, and Rainy Creek there is little to tell. At the firstnamed place things aro looking very healthy, and are steadily progressing. At Larry's matters are rather at a standstill. The original shareholders have not means to pay their share of the requisite machinery, and the other shareholders do not care to put it on the ground excepting on such terms as the others will not agree to. Thus these differences retard the development of one of the most valuable reefs in the district, but it is to be hoped that they will shortly be arranged. At Rainy Creek the prospectors are endeavoring to obtain machinery, and there is no doubt that they will succeed, as the stone is of the highest quality. October 16. A steady rain set in late last evening, aud continues now with every chance of lasting. There is indeed a great probability of a flood, as the warm rain has melted the snow remaining on the highest ranges, and bids fair to fall all day. I omitted to say that at the Courts held by the Warden and Resident Magistrate since my last, nothing of the slightest public importance has been brought forward, a few civil cases and mining disputes only having beon tried. The Black's Point tramway is proceeding, and will probably be completed in about two months. The company is about to apply to the Superintendent for additional protection under the following circumstances :— At tl cII ick's Point end they found it absolutely necessary to put a tunnel through a very ugly slip, in order to make a good job of the work, and they now ask, in addition to previous privileges, protection for this tunnel, which will enable them to make a charge on persons walking through it. It will be an expensive item in the construction, and the public will have the benefit of the whole line for pedestrian purposes with this exception, and travellers can take the old track at the mouth of the proposed cutting ; but, at the same time, looking at it from a general point of view, it may be doubtful whether further privileges or concessions are politic or necessary. The existence of the tramway will preclude the formation of a dray road, which in a very short time will be greatly needed, and as the companj will have a monopoly of what must be a very large and profitable traffic, it scarcely seems reasonable to allow them power to impose what appears at the first flush to be a vexatious and unreasonable impost. The tunnel is made, not for the public, but for their own convenience, and it seems somewhat hard that wayfarers, either unable or unwilling to pay the tramway shilling, should be compelled to mount a very nasty piece of track of treble the length when a few chains would land them at their destination. A memorial to tho Superintendent in favor of the protection has been going round town the last few days, and has been hastily and inconsiderately signed by many who can scarcely have reflected on the matter, and certainly did not recognise the fact that they were making a whip for their own backs.