REEFTON LETTER.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 261, 20 February 1886, Page 2

REEFTON LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.) February 17th.

During the sultry sunny days we have had lately traffic in Broadway is reduced to a minimum. A brewer's cart may occasionally be seen cutting the line of street, or a vendor of aerated waters be met prespiring under his load of summer drinks. On both sides of the street the proprietors are at the doorways listlessly inhaling the gentle breeze that is stirring, or mentally calculating the object a stray passer by may have in breaking the noon-tide solitude. The quick step of a sharebroker awakens a moments interest as to whether he has a good thing on, but dies as he disappears. As the sundeclines, and shadows lengthen, small groups of men may be seen under the verandahs detailing the latest item of mining news just brought in by some energetic townsman. If we had the usual accompaniements of flies and mosquitoes we should begin to realise the delights of an Australian summer; fortunately we are spared these accessories and find the charm sufficient without. Even John Chinaman, who used to regale us at this time of the year with crackers innumerable and fireworks galore, even he is quenched by the drought fiend, and John's New Year dawned in a melancholy mauner. Even his feasting had to be curtailed ; sucking pig and poultry remained unmolested, and he has instead being doing heavy execution with chopsticks and rice.

The last day or two has been cloudy and threatening, but the rainfall has been trifling and made little impression on our creeks, so little that the Inkerman battery is still idle for want of water, and most of the hands are off.

At the Happy Valley a surface lode, carrying antimony, has lately engaged the bauds, but the reef broke off abruptly when driving to the south, and the prospects being not very brilliant work has been discontinued there for the present, and recommenced in the shaft, the managei having just opened out on some splendid stone tiiat, when sinking

through it, appeared to li ve a strike to tue north. It will be driven on, both

north and south, and ils direction and contiuuance will thus be soon established.

The B g River Company having decided upon erecting machinery, the complete plant of the Golden Point company has been offered them for the exceedingly low figure of £l3O. This included a 10 head battery of 7cwt. stamps two berdans, turbine, iron pressure pipes, tables, shed and all the requisites for a thorough fit-out; and has the further advantage of being a mile from Roefton on the road it is wanted. There is a good road the whole distance now, about 10 miles, hard and solid from the prolonged dry wetther ; the narrowest parts of a width sufficient to work a trolly on which the plant could easily be conveyed. No doubt, if the directors are earnest in this matter, they will close with the offer, and the fine season be taken advantage of to remove the plant. Possession was taken last week of the Golden Fleece mine by the new proprietor. Mr Frank Hamilton. A reorganised company will, no doubt, be evolved out of this transaction, and a further search made for payable lodes. Works connected with the Venus atrial fine are on the eve of completion. Alterations had to be made in some parts, which has caused a delay, unavoidable in all new ventures,.but next week everything will be in full swing and the twenty heads at the battery crushing away merrily. Some four or five hundred tons are ready for the mill, and stopes are opened to keep up a liberal supply of stone when crushing is started.

The Golden Treasure has chanced upon a continuation of the stone from which such good returns were obtained before Christinas. Its continuance, however, does not seem promis ng, as from an apparent disturbance of the country the stone is now striking almost horizontally to the South, or iu the opposite direction to its former strike, and until more settled country is reached the permanency of the blocks can scarcely be expected. The Inglewood has again started crushing, though the supply of water will soon want supplementing. About 800 tons of stoue are to grass, and from the present appearances of the stopes crushing should be continued for at least three months before the battery overtakes the mine.

The mills are idle at Boatman's, and the chief centre of attraction there is the Reform, which is steadily rising in the market. The lode looks very promising, goM being freely seen, while iu size it is somewhat large for this locality, it having widened out to six feet, although its average bulk is not so capacious. Unlike the reefs in Boatman's generally it has not pinched but kept a pretty uniform width throughout, gradually improving in size, and up to the present being free of those sudden squeezes that are so disappointing to shareholders. Tins find will likely give au impetus to prospecting along the southern end of the line.

The South Hopeful, adjoining to the south, is in dispute, an application for cancellation having been heard in the Warden's Court; decision not yet given. The Fiery is still driving to connect their two winzes and are carrying a good reef in the level.

Thady.