THE INANGAHUA DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1447, 21 March 1873, Page 2

THE INANGAHUA DISTRICT.

(tfßO'il OUR OWN COESfiSPONDENT.) Rbbfton", March 16. Already three of the districts of the Inangahuahave elected the delegates who are to represent them at the Mining Oon^ ference that is about to sit at Reefton. Boatman's was the first to move in the matter, and they made an excellent choice in their representative, who was uuaoimously voted to be the most fit and proper person. In fact, although there is reason to believe that a certain coterie had intended the seat for a different person, yei; those who attended on their behalf had the good sense to abstaiu from even nominating their man. They received a slight check at the commencement of the proceedings, and then had the discretion to perceive that the majority was against them. Mr P. J. Caples, the Boatman's representative, is one of the early prospectors of the district, has met with many <>f the disappointments which are so inseparably connected with oold-mining, and fromjhaviny himself "felt the shoe pinch " knows full well which of the regnlations press heavily on the industry with which he is identified. Mr Caples is at oresent one of the largest, shareholders in hi the Boat-nan's district. At Lirry's he people cMisullel their interests by re"urnino one of the R -effcon mining agents, vlio will probably be able to supply cerain elocutionary requirements, wuhont which the Board would no doubt be Miisidered incomplete. For Black's Point, Messrs Carreras, Br^nnan, Gu.l ne, md Bray have been returned, and on the A'hole the election may be deemed to be very satisfactory. Mr P. Brennan must i perforce be well up in the deficiencies of < the present Act. Messrs Bray and Gal.

line are two of the most experienced and most efficient of tbe mining manners, and Mr Carreras will brin^ much valuable experience to tbe consultations. The Lyell representatives have not yet been ' returned. St. Patrick's Diy was observed a* Reefton as a public holiday, and a cricket inarch was played on Fern Flat between the pla.ers of Uetft-in arid Dial man's. The wickets were pitched about 11 n.m. Boatman's went in lirst, and scored 22, including 10 wides and two byes, only two of their men making any runs. Th« Reeftonites then wont to the wickets, and scored 34. In the second innings the men from Boatman's scored 54, including 12 wides, while their opponents made only 23, and therefore lost the match by 19. The new suspension bridge over the Inansrahua is to be opened by Mr Dolton on Wednesday next. Besides promising to be a very great public convenience, it is a- great ornament t<> that portion of the town, and is the first object seen on reaching the town alon/j' the G reymouth road. The occasion is to be celebrated by a ball, and the bridge for the day is to be free of toll. The whole of the companies took advantage of the slight rainfall of Tuesday and Wednesday to recommence crushing, I but the batteries have since been hung up again, the promise of rain having been simply illusory. The Anderson Creek Company are getting out some remarkably good stone, and since the last start was made the batteries have been kept steadily at work. At the lowest level the quality of the stone has forborne time steadily improved, and the face has got much wider. They are about getting out stone from the neighborhood of the Invincible boundary, and great expectations are entertained as to its payable nature. Altogether the prospects of the company are much brighter than they were, and I have heard that their scrip has already shewn an upward tendency. They do not intend washing up until about 600 tons have been put through. On Thursday, the Westland commenced crushing for the Inglewood, who have got 600 tons waiting for the mill. At the United Band of Hope driving is being continued in the tunnel. The Wealth of Nations and Band of Hope machine are idle. Your readers will no doubt remember a rush I reported as having set in to some alluvial ground near " Due North Creek," in the Boatman's district. After the first excitement was over but little was thought of the place, and the majority of the men left again. Those, however, who remained succeeded, after a little prospecting, in finding a run of gold which is likely to amply remunerate them. The average earnings are reported as from L 3 10s to L 5 per week, and it would in all probability be found to be greater but for the scarcity nf water. At Redman's nearly all work has been suspended from the above cause. Parties who have incurred the expense and trouble of making large and long* head and tail races find them to be perfectly useless. A few claims manage to work for a few hours in the early morning, but the water is very soon exhausted. Reefton retains its chronic state of dulness, or rather the disease shows unraistakeable signs of becoming worse instead of better. One hears now, on all sides, nought but runi'irs of intending departures, and of buildings which have been sold for at least a fourth of their original cost. The place is even yet tremendously over-built, and over-full of business peop'e. ■No fortunes will be made here until the weeding-out piocess has been continued for some time longer. It is simply a struggle in which the weakest must go to the wall. The six machines that are now in working order will, of course, keep a certain number of men in constant work, and with regular pay in their pockets, at any rate during the winter months, so that a certain quantity of trade will be done. But at present it is divided between far too many to fairly remunerate any.