REEFTON LETTER.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 254, 2 January 1886, Page 2

REEFTON LETTER.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Work being suspended for the holidays the community has given itself up to the delights of horse-racing. Roast beef and plum pudding, unlimited beer, and a devotion to bazaars, interspersed with suph frailties as under-and-over, raffles, sweeps and impromptu dancing. Admitting that the times are slow, and the population scant, there has been a fair attendance on the racecourse, and broadway of an evening though far from being thronged, wears an air of bustle from the many passers too and fro. The coaches have deposited visitors from all points of the compass, and ere the holidays commenced the stores and drapers shops from the unusual number ot customers, and the selection of toys, suitable presents in the fancy guod.- s':ops, all betokened there

was a something approaching out of the usual line of events ; while the display o! prime joints in the butchers' stalls ami the decimation of fat geese and poultry indicated it was also to be a time of good cheer. Fortunately the weather, so far, has been a success, though it is exceedingly rare for the festivities to pass away without a visit from Jupiter Pluinus whose long absence this season has dried our streams, and reduced the river to a babbling brook. In Murray Creek, the supply lasted just long enough for the Golden Treasure to liuish their crushing, the lirst portion of GO tons yielding the excellent return of lUOozs retorted gold.

This was from what is known as the north block, a small lode, difficult to follow, as it occasionally disappears ai the time the stone looks most promising. It has been traced downwards for about 250 feet, and through most of that distance had a strong strike to the north. Of late it has taken two successful jumps to the southwards in the form of steps, being lost altogether for a while and found again many feet south of where it disappeared. The manager reports hav ing again picked it up after one of those erratic jumps and has now three shifts driving for it from a lower level. The Inglewood cleaned up for the holidays with a return of 13d wts to the ton. In the mine the lode is looking larger and more promising, and crushing will le resumed shortly after work is started at New Year. The weather being so eminently favorable for outside work, good progress is being made with the aerial line to connect the Venus mine and battery. A good pack track has been finished up the face of the hill to the tunnel, and i on rails and portion of the machinery for the line are being packed up.

The stone the Globe has been sending to the mill previous to this last week or two, has not realised expectations. It is believed now that the stone thus operated upon was a portion of the old Union reef which hereabouts was expected to junction with the Globe line, and which has been driven on in the low level. Thirty-six feet up the shaft stoue is found with a strike contrary to that in the level and altogether showing a more promising appearance. This is the spot where they have now opened out, and an impression prevails that they have touched the right stone at last.

A couple of miles further to the north at a place known as Merrijig's there is a claim called the Happy Valley. It is about nine months since operations were started here and work commenced to open up the mine. The surface being stripped off, a large reef was visible for over 100 feet in length, and in parts of this, excellent prospects could be obtained and gold seen freely. Though lyiug high above the surrounding country, the deT ~ - TT-l|loT7 which it is situated, prevents it being pierced by a tunnel and sinking had at once to be resorted. A shaft was sunk following the stone to a depth of 114 feit, the underlie being at first slightly to the east and then becoming almost upright. The quality of the stone for the first 40 feet was very good, stone equal to two ounces to the ton being passed through ; nothing so good was met with below though stone more or less was carried all the way. In driving south from the shaft a distance of 40 l'eet, a strong body of stone has been met with which is gradually improving in appearance, and ii is expected the shoot ot gold met with i m the shaft has come from this direction, and will shortly be encountered.

Within a few chains of this claim is the old Merrijig's lead, its great peculiarity being that it is situated on a high hill overlooking the surrounding country in all directions but one, the ground sloping off towards all points but the north, and along this hill is scoured a deep narrow gutter in bedrock, filled to the surface with auriferous wash, the gold being what is known as specimen gold, having pieces of quartz adhering to it. The portion remaining of this old lead is less

than half-a-mile in length. The bottom of the gutter was driven out many years ago, and paid handsomely. From (50 to 80 feet lies above it, which has been

partly worked by hydraulic sluicing, but owing to the elevated situation of the ground water from any running creeks could not be obtained, and the rainfall had to be depended on ; that is work for three or four months in an average year. About three years ago an attempt was made to float a company and bring water from the Big River. Elaberate surveys and estimates were made ; it was found that the race would be at least seven miles long and a wide depression of over half-a-mile would have to be crossed by using iron piping. The supply of water was good, and a site selected for a dam, where the expenditure ef about £'2oo would have raised an embankmcut backing the water over 10 or 12 acres and forming a magnificent reservoir. The affair was somewhat expensive and hun" fire too long, and times becoming depressed nothing more was heard of it. Of late, it has passed from the hands of its former proprietors, M'Gee Brothers, into the possession of Chinamen, who under the present system have an everlasting seat of work before them. The tributers of the Hopeful cleaued up with the return of 20tiozs of gold from 110 tons of stop.®, or close upon 2ozs to the ton, 20 per cent, goes to the Company. A good deal of dead work had to be done by the tributers before they were in a position to break stone, but the excellent return has paid them handsomely.

is still extending the level to connect with their second winze currying good stone varying in thickness the whole way. Early in the coming year crushing will be resumed, and it is anticipated will he steadily maintained.

The welcome, in No. 8, is still driving on the lode and also sloping, the stona from the north being ot superior quality. On the 18th instant, Mr Menteath, M.H.Ik, the member for the district, addressed the electors at the Oddfellow Hall, and gave a clear and lucid position of the history of the session, its faults and failures, the cause of the existing depression, for a railway, tho reasons for severing his connection with the district in Wellington, and other interesting to his cous iiueuts. A hearty vote of renewed confidence terminated tile proceedings. Thady.