REEFTON LETTER.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 279, 26 June 1886, Page 2

REEFTON LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.)

Wednesday, June 23.

The news from Kimberley has already drawn a few away from our community. Like the blast of the trumpet to the old war-horse, so news of a new gold region acts on the old digger, the hero of a hundred rushes, the argonaut cf the fifties, now often bald and grey-headed, yet eager as ever to win another golden fleece. Fever or swampy alligator or sand blight, have no terrors ; once satisfied gold in quantity is to be obtained all impediments vanish. But he is not alone in his enthusiasm. If all go who threaten to do so there will be few left to build the Midland Railway, and the company will have to import their men, or call in the aid of our business people, and bonifaces, who would have no customers and are threatened to be left behind. Fancy some of our short-minded citizens in heavy boots, and pants turned up, wheeling a loaded barrow over a spring plank, or slinging muck at so many shillings a day. Better do without the railway than such degredation befall them, and so, on second thoughts, we hear those who had been brimful of an immediate intention to go, qualifying their hesitation by such phrases as, " I'll wait

till I hear from Bob," or " 'Tis no use going till the rams set in," and so on, evidently thinking discretion the better part of valor, and mentally resolving to fill in the next census returns in New Zealand, or die in the attempt. The Pelton wheels at the Keep-it-Dark battery are in position. The simplicity of the design can be imagined when it took longer to dismantle the old waterwheel and take it to pieces, than to place the new ones. The height of the column of water when the race is full will be about 28 feet, causing the water to impinge on the buckets with a force equal to 131bs. to the square inch. The wheels are expected to attain a velocity of 85 revolutions a minute, and will be conconnected with the battery gearing by a belt. The two wheels for the battery are placed together on the same axle and occupy one side of the wheel-pit, a third for driving the air compressor being placed on the other. The principle seems to be a modification of the turbine and overshot wheel, with this advantage over the turbine, that all the parts are readily inspected being simply cased with wood to keep the belting dry, and where the position allows it can be geared direct. The battery itsolf is getting a thorough overhaul, and advantage has been taken of the stoppage to lay new tables for the top copper-plates, and replace a damaged column with a new one. By the beginning of next month all things are expected to be ready for a fresh start. In the mine the contractors for sinking main shaft are putting in the opening set for the chamber at the next level, and will then have the well to sink and other work which will occupy about three weeks. The distance from the floor of the present working level to the one below will be about 106 feet.

The only work going on in the Nil Desperandum at present is the sinking of the main shaft, and the contractors are making good headway.

At the Globe a cross-cut to the most is being carried in from the end of the southern drive, to out the line of the old Union reef. This, where worked, had a moderate underlie to the west, and the approximate distance will soon be reached. Should the track be cut without obtaining stone it will be followed to the south to meet with the expected strike cf the reef.

The rope for the Venus aerial line I mentioned as likely to come from Wellington, was found upon further enquiry to be id sections and of different number of strands; it was therefore unsuitable, and the company had to fall back on the old rope of the Globe line, which the directors of that company had generously proffered, the best parts of which were taken and spliced together, making apparently an excellent substitute until the arrival of the new rope from home. A re-start has just been effected, the last of the buckets being secured on the rope today r and the battery will be put in motion to-morrow. At the mine the few hands engaged have been filling in, and continuing the level on stone to the south. A contract was let a short time since to Thomas and party to drive a tunnel 200 feet to cut what is known as the western reef. Stone on this line has been prospected on the surface, but this is the first attempt to develop it. The Inglewood is still crushing and will probably clean up at the end of the month. The contract for low level tunnel, lately let to Docherty and party of Westport, is proceeding well, they having met with excellent driving ground. Our local tenderers were exceedingly high in their estimates, evidently anticipating a continuance of the same rock through which the present tunnel is driven. The men now engaged are demonstrating the fallacy of those estimates, by making good headway.

The battery at the Inkerman Is hung up for a time, the block exposed by the present levels being pretty well exhausted. Prospecting with a small staff is now being carried on. The late mine manager, Mr Stephen Vivian, has resigned, and Mr John Gilbert is appointed in his stead. Owing to the strike another check has been placed on the output of the Welcome, and Just-in-Time mines. The former has been particularly unfortunate lately in the number of stoppages arising from unforseen causes. It was reported at the end of last week that the men had acceeded to the company's terms, but a hitch has occurred since, as work has not started and the company are asking for tenders for stoping by the fathom. The men in the Just have re-started on the old terms, and crushing commenced on Saturday last. From the supply of stone visible, and its quality, a long and successful crushing is anticipated. The yields from this mine have as a rule equaled expectations, and its stock therefore on such occasions is in lively demand.

The yield from the Reform of nearly 200 tons gave a trifle over Hdwts. to the ton. A better average was anticipated and would no doubt have been realized but owing to the pinching of the lode in the stopes, the battery was stopped. The strike o{ the reef to the north is evidently flatter than usual and in stoping upwards they rose through the stone. The southern stopes are all in the reef and are being driven further south where the main body of the reef is antacipatea to be found.

The South Hopeful are now sinking in their tunnel some 50 or 60 feet from the boundary of the Reform. Excellent stone, though small as yet, has been encountered, and general opinion favors the idea of this being the continuation of the Reform block.

The Fiery continues crushing with every appearance of an excellent yield, and the stopes maintain a good show of stone. Thady.