OWEN REEFS DISTRICT.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 272, 8 May 1886, Page 2

OWEN REEFS DISTRICT.

(from our own correspondent.) Owen, May sth. The survey staff, under Mr Wright, have completed their survey of the claims, ami wo now await their report. The claims inspected are: —Buhner Creek, Lyell, Wakatu, Uno, Comstock, Golden Fleece, Morning Star, Bonanza, Owen River, Zealandia, Broken Hill, Enterprise, Golden Point, and Golden Crown. Most of these claims have already got stone, and it is intended to take a prospect from each for the purpose of making a trial, and sending in a report to Government. The work is nearly completed, and we can look forward to the report at an early date. The reef has been traced on this line for a length of three miles, the direction being north-west by south-east. The Enterprise, at one -end southshows a very large reef, in fact a moun. tain of stone, and prospects well all over While at the other end, north, the prospecting claim, the Bulmer Creek

Extended, also contains a very large body of stone, and prospects well. The work going on at present in the Buhner Creek is the continuation of the lower cross-cut to intercept the reef in a deeper level. The cross-cut is now in about 80 feet, and indications of a reef are showing favourable. The Enterprise contains a reef fully 30 feet wide, and stone taken from 21 different places on being crushed yielded extraordinarily rich prospects. There should be very little difficulty in placing machinery on this claim, owing to the natural facilities offered by the locality with respect to water, machine site, &c.

The Wakatu United are still getting out stone, and contemplate taking in a lower level tunnel. This claim is situated about a quarter of a mile up Bulmer Creek from the Owen River. The stone already to grass is estimated at about 200 tons, and is of very good quality. Opinions seem to be divided as to the route for a road to these reefs from the Nelson main road, and I think it would not be acting wisely in the matter to quarrel over it, thereby possibly giving the authorities an excuse to shelve ii altogether, or in any event delay its construction.