REEFTON LETTER.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 283, 24 July 1886, Page 2

REEFTON LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.) Wednesday, July 21. The past fortnight has not developed any startling symptoms of a change, mining, as a whole, wears an improved appearance, which is likely to strengthen, but the change is too recent to make any visible improvement in business, which is quiet. " Alarming sacrifices" are the order of the day. As our winters aro known to be damp and chill, and thorough protection from the frosts and snows of the season can only be obtained by securing effectual coverings for the body, to meet the requirements of the public in that matter, three philanthropists in the boot and shoo business, and one draper announce the sale of their goods at an enormous reduction in prices. This is a boon the public readily recognise, King Frost will have to encounter a heavy battery of ulstors, great-coats, and hob nail boots. At the Globe driving southwards on the track is the work going on. A crosscut from tills line to cut the track of tho Union reef was extended to tho west a distance of IGO feet, but nothing of the kind was met with, it being all hard country. The present drive, from the manner the walls are gradually turning to the westward, is now expected to lead them on to the track for which they were cross-cutting, and prove what has been | before thought probable, that the Globe

and Union lines are one and the same. In verification of this, news is just to hand of a reef eight feet in width and carrying gold being struck in the face of the drive. In the mine at the Keep-it-Dark, the stopes aro again fully manned, and the usUal quantity of stone is being regularly supplied to tho mill. The contractors for sinking main shaft have finished, and they are now engaged on wages cutting out chamber, preparatory to iho lower level being started. Tho Pelton wheels at tho battery are driving the 20 heads and be I'd ail s at the accustomed spe< d, but with an excessive supply of water, the capacity of tho race being tested to the utmost, aud much above tho quantity to be depended on during the summer months. Various improvements liavo been made but the limit of efficiency seems to have been reached unless radical alterations are carried out. There aro at present four jets playing on the wheels; two from the base of the column strike the bottom buckets horizontally, these alone can drive 15 heads ; the two upper jets exert a force partly downwards with about two feet less pressure, these added, nearly tho whole of tho water in the race is used, tho 20 heads and berdcus are set going and the supply disappears which should drive tho compressor wheel. From this it would appear as if the upper jets were not fully efficient, and probably disturb the stroke of the lower jets. By placing a third wheel in position by the side of the present two, and using only the lower jets, water would be saved, and the power of the wheels greatl) increased ; the remedy seems to lie in this direction. The contractors in the Nil Desperandum are making good headway in sinking the main shaft. The contract is for 150 feet, the point started from being 70 feet down the old shaft. The new portion is 6 inches longer and 6 inches wider than the old, which is Gx3 in the clear; and this portion will therefore require to be made the same size, before cages can with advantage be used in it. At tho Venus from the length of block already driven in, and the number of stopes opened, no difficulty is experienced in keeping 15 heads going. In this mine the men all work single handed, the nature of the country admitting a good deal of pick-work in the " dig," that forms along the walls; while the stone itself is of a "kindly" nature, and is not difficult to break down. The contractors driving for tho western reef have about half th>* distance driven. Pieces of stone from this line, taken at the surface, have yielded excelleut prospects when crushed. The striking of such stone iu this tunnel will add considerably to the value of shares, and be the means of causing holders of leases, north and south, to start operations on their own hook. Tho Royal Oak, south and adjoining the Venus, is in process of registration. When the necessary preliminary is concluded so that calls can bo legally mado and payment demanded, work will bo commenced. ' At the Inglewood stone is being accumulated for another crushing; whilst the south block, which has always carried the largest body and best stone in tho mine, having apparently hidden itself in the foot wall, the manager is now devoting his energies to unearth it. The contractors for the new tunnel are making good progress being still in fair driving ground. There is a probability of the Phcenix Extended resuming operations. Having added the Victoria lease to their property, ground in which some fair stone was obtained iu days gone by, the plan intended to be adopted to prospect their ground southwards is to drive from the PlicenixInglewood tunnel at the spot where the reef-track crosses it. As this line has never been thoroughly prospected, beforo reaching the Victoria ground the probabilities of meeting with stone are great, and tho height of backs when the Victoria is reached must be considerable. The Company are joint owners in the Phoenix Inglewood battery, which is connected with this tunnel by shoots and trams, and have thus every facility for successful operations. The dividond of sixpence by the Just-in-Time was quite a pleasing surprise to shareholder?, to many of whom it came unexpected. The stopes from the intermediate upwaids are looking healthy and betoken further divs.; and should the reef be cut in the low level going north tho value of the property will be greatly enhanced, as the stone in the Just has been always of a high quality, and its procoeds rarely disappointing. Mr James Wilson has resigned the management of the mine, and Mr Thomas Naysmith, from the Reform, has taken his place. The ;Fiory is crushing and by all accounts is likely to maintaiu its reputation. Thcro is an excellent show of stone in the mine both as regards quantity and quality, and the supply to the mill is maintained with great regularity. The working of this block indicatos steady dividends to the shareholders and may they long continue. All hands are again on wages in the Welcome, Macquarie and party, contractors hy the fathom, finding their price too low threw up the job, but were retained and placed on wages. Experience teaches tLat breaking stone on contract is rarely satisfactory. If let by the ton, no matter how strict and careful the supervision, a large per centage of mullock will be sure to find its way to the mill with the quartv; and if let by the fathom, many valuable payments of the lode will unquestionably be buried. The faces in the mine aro looking well and with tho mill again iu operation successful results must soon follow. In the Reform a winze has been started in the floor of the level, and a second one further south will also U. sunk on the stone. Rising and stopinj is also going on. Tkady.