Lyell Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1886.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 285, 7 August 1886, Page 2

Lyell Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1886.

The report of Mr Wright, the Government surveyor, on the Owen reefs, has been anxiously looked for and has now been published in the Nelson Evening Mail. The one feature in it is its evident sincerity. Mr Wright distinctly believes all he says, and does not endeavour like most professional men to disguise what he is ignorant of by a cloud of scientific verbiage, unintelligible to most people, and intended to hide the want of knowledge of the writer. The report is very satisfactory, and shows that another important gold mining centre is to be added to our district, and that it is likely to be capable of carrying a large population for a lengthened period. At the same time Mr Wright states that the geological formation of the country is a strange one to him, that .the. general character of it exhibits quartz in huge detached blocks more than in defined reefs, although it is more than probable that extensive reefs of a payable character exist

there. Nothing, however, can be said with any degree of certainty until stamps are erected, and the starting of them to work will at once settle any doubt which might exist; as the visible quartz is so plentiful that prospecting is not so necessary on this field as in other mining districts. Two other pleasant features in connexion with the report are the facts that there is land there fit for settlement, and that the construction of a dray road is not a difficult undertaking. The favourable character of this report ought to have the effect of encouraging enterprise among speculators during the coming spring, with eventually a brisk trade between Nelson and the Upper Buller. We select the following extracts from Mr Wright's report, being unable to publish it in its entirety:—" The area described is contained by the water shed of the Owen river and its tributaries, and is in length twelve, and in width eight miles. It is enclosed on the north, east, and west by lofty mountains, and on the south by the Buller river. The Owen junctions with the Buller on the coach road from Nelson to Eeefton at a point distant sixty miles from the latter, and seventy-six from the former place. The quartz lodes, which are found cropping to the surface at almost every spur and which are as frequently exposed by the creeks and rivers, are in systems of parallel roefs. The crops are frequently immense bodies of stone, and the hanging-wall well defined, with a strong selvage of a greyish clay. Their strike is about 33 degrees N.W., and their underlie conforms nearly with the dip of the strata. The foot-wall varies in every case, both in strike and underlie, in some places bearing nearly north and southland standing almost vertical. From this peculiarity it is evident that the reefs will not be found lying between two regular and almost parallel walls, but in the shape of blocks of quartz, forming in the S.E. probably, and dropping into the hanging wall as they are traced northward—a formation difficult to follow where the blocks are small, but on this field the blocks appear to be of immense size, and the quantity of stone, if it contains sufficient gold, should compensate for the trouble of prospecting for them. In every case where I could test the hanging wall I found it to be richer in gold than any other part of the reef, and other minerals that usually accompany gold, oxide of iron, pyrites, magnetic iron ore, lime, &c, have given a peculiar honeycomb character to the stone in that direction; the quartz on the foot wall is more frequently found hard and massive, and contains much less gold and very little other mineral. The gold is of one character in all the different reefs, being granular and heavy; it makes no show in the stone even in hand specimens that will yield eight to ten ounces to the ton, but it will be easily saved in passing through the battery. There will be no necessity for steam power in any part of the district, for the rivers send down a constant and very considerable supply of water; the fall is great, being three feet per chain in the vicinity of the mines, and good machine sites can be had in plenty. There is a considerable area of land fit for settlement between the Buller and the head of the valley, probably four thousand acres, which could be leased and occupied so as in no way to interfere with mining, and there is an excellent site for a township on " Flowers Flat" two miles south of Bulmer Creek. The line of road laid off by Mr Jackson of the Public Works Department is the best in every way, for grade, shortness of route, and economy of construction, and it will open a considerable extent of land for settlement which the Owen Biver line would not; about two miles at either end require to be thoroughly made, when traffic could pass over the remainder, with a little clearing, without difficulty.

Mr Lewis, manager of the National Bank, Keefton, will arrive in Lyell to-day for the transaction of usual banking business.

The monthly cleaning np took place at the Alpine battery on Wednesday, and resulted in 487 ounces of retorted gold from 798 tons of stone treated. The directors met on Thursday and decided, owing to the large outlay now going on in connexion with existing contracts, that it would not be advisable to declare the usual dividend this month, and preferred meeting these liabilities and carrying forward a substantial sura to the reserve fund. In the mine at the north end the reef is getting narrower and longer, and shows about the same quantity of stone. The new make in the centre is looking well, rising slightly coming south. In the south end the reel' is much broken, being intersected with horses of mullock. The crosscut to the east from No. 6 level is now driven a distance ol 40 feet, and the face at the present time shows very favourable indications of a reef being met

with at any moment. According to survey the extension of this drive another ten feet should cut the block at present being worked, or strike the extreme south end of the north block.

We hold over the Murchison Court report until next issue.

The directors in the Tyr Connell met on Wednesday last and accepted tenders for conveyance of stone trom the mine to the Croesus battery, and Messrs Campbell add Kearns were the successful tenderers at 10/- per ton. It is anticipated that about 40 tons will be sent to the mill, and crushing will be commenced about the end of the present month.

The entertainment and ball in connexion with the Irish National League took place yesterday evening, and was in every respect a most successful affair. The concert portion of the amusement gaye general satisfaction, and the arrangements for the ball, under the management of Mr Con Neville as master of the ceremonies, were in every way complete. We hold over a full report of both entertainment and ball for next issue, when we will give a description of some of the principal dresses worn. The electoral rolls for the Lyell Riding of the Buller County are now open for inspection at Mr James InghV office, and the county office, Westport. Mr Thompson, Buller County overseer, arrived in Lyell during the week on his usual inspection of county works in the Riding. The principal object of his visit was to report on the works now going on in the Manuka Flat claim in connection with the county subsidy to that work. The Inangahua County overseer, Mr E. B. Garven, visited Hampden during the week in connection with county works now being prosecuted there. The contractors for widening Matakitaki road will make a start with the work during next week.

We are compelled to hold over our fortnightly Reefton letter, balance of Koran's notes, and other matter, owing to unusual influx of late advertisements—a very cheerful and rare occurrence to us. Harry Kenrick, Warden and Resident Magistrate, died in Auckland on Saturday afternoon, July 31st. The news has caused a profound sensation, and is received with a feeling of the most sincere regret by all classes of the community. Lyell has been making great strides lately, especially in the direction of musical matters. We refer to the introduction of pianofortes, Mr Fennell, of the Empire Hotel, having supplied his hall with an instrument, and Mr Youngman, of the telegraph department, also receiving an excellent instrument last week. This will now total up four pianos in the town, but unfortunately we do not possess as many performers. Not yet. Almost any* thing can be overcome by patience and' perseverance, so that with the former extended by the inhabitants and latter from the owners Of the instruments, we may yet have a fair show of haying our savage breasts soothed. An unregenerated specimen of the " Lost Tribe," was standing around when the last one arrived, and made remark thereon as follows:—" Why don't they send for one of them there pianos wot has a handle, and then we could all have ago at it." Immediately a dozen pair of optics were directed on that unfortunate man with one withering gaze. He is still in town, and lives, but we would advise him to hie him away to the bosom of his family as soon as possible. We extract the following from the Kumwra Times of last Saturday:—Dr. M'Brearty reports that Miss Sweeney, who has been an inmate of the Hospital for some weeks, a victim to consumption, is sinking rapidly, and life with her hangs upon a slender thread. The young lady is well known and greatly respected in Lyell and Reefton. In order to do a cash trade, J. Brown, bootmaker, is now offering all his wellassorted stock of Factory and English Goods cheaper than ever. All goods booked will be charged the usual price. None but best quality goods kept, and inspection invited.—Advt.