REEFTON LETTER.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 286, 14 August 1886, Page 2

REEFTON LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.) Wednesday, August 4. A little excitement occurred lately, a report having got abroad that tho Wealth of Nations liad struck stone in their tunnel. It was to a certain extent true, boulders and blocks of stone carrying gold having been met with, but no defined body. This tunnel is being driven in the direction of the old Wealth ground, and is at present passing through the old Enterprise lease, ou the boundary of which excellent stone was met with near the surface, and the track they are now following is expected to lead to a continuation of the same vein. Sinking of the main shaft is not yet resumed, but the ropes for winding are being placed in position, and the brake fixed. The winding wheel and its fixings being completed. The Eclipse company have retimbered the old tunnel of the Wealth which is close to their boundary, and have reached the winze, out of which the Wealth raised some very fair stone : they are at present engaged in bailing it out, and intend at the depth of 80 feet to drive along tho track into their own ground. The water in the winze is the accumulation of years, the ground being remarkably dry when worked, and once got rid of, the amount of bailing will be trivial.

In No. 2 Dark the contractors have finished their job, but the face at present shows no stone. This tunnel has been driven about 500 feet ou the track of a reef, meeting in one place a vein stone about 40 feet long carrying fair gold; upon being sunk on howeyer, it disappeared in a few feet. Driving was again started but up to the present without success. The tunnel is now approaching the rise of the terrace, in fact just entering the foot of the range and an impression prevails that any change now will be for the better.

There is a small staff at the Inkerman engaged in cutting out a chamber preparatory to sinking in search of a continuation of the block that so suddenly cut out some time ago. All other work is suspended. For a few days, while the drive was being timbered up, the Globe had an excellent show of stone fully eight feet in width ; upon resuming operations in the face however, it became " small and beautifully less," finally disappearing. The next block to the south is expected to be of .superior dimensions.

The Keep-it-Dark is pursuing its usual steady course, the twenty heads being kept constantly at work. The Pelton wheels are driving the battery smoothly, but the air compressor cannot be hitched on until further alterations are made. The company is calling for tenders for low-level, and the rock-drill is essentially necessary to ensure its steady completion. The Venus has declared another sixpenny dividend, and is pegging away with the evident intention to repeat the same at the end of this month. The mine bears an improved appearance iroin the length of stone, about 340 feet, opened up in the level, its steady continuance and payable character. All the passes in the mine and the paddocks ou the surface being blocked with stone, another five heads at the battery, making twenty in all, will shortly be added so as to reduce the accumulation.

Work is suspended for a time in the Golden Treasure. Operations when resumed will probably be in the northern portion of the mine where payable stone has already been worked, on the same line but detached from that of the Golden Treasure.

The Inglewood will shortly resume crushing. The southern block being operated on an improved yield is expectod. It will be the endeavour of the directors to let the upper levels on tribute. The North Star block, the portion alluded to, has not been searched for by the present company; it yielded some excellent stone on the surface, and the levels now open are in close contiguity to the line as marked on plan. The contractors for low leyel are in 200 feet. The Low Level Tunnel at Blacks' Point is still being pushed ahead, but from want of that great assistant tli ecorn-pressed-air rock drill, it moves but slowlyVery few of the present generation will live to see it through to the left-hand branch at its present rate of progression, for it has not reached the line of the Energetic though it is now in close prox imifcy to it. An unusual quantity of water coming out of the face lately, raises in some the belief that it is approaching a favourable change.

The return from the Welcome last week of 814ozs. of amalgam from 70 tons reminded one of the continued succession of such yields from the same mine a few years ago. Evidently another era of prosperity has dawned in Boatmans', for the Welcome and Fiery have both gone through a zone of country irregular and ill-defined, in which the lode was broken small, and disjointed, and after passing through it are again in solid country with the stone regular and solid. Probably this disturbed country will be found to extend along the whole line, but with the experience already gained it ought not to check or depreciate mining operations. Stone is again coming forward freely, and the Welcome battery was expeeted to resume crushing last night. The returns from the Fiery are good, and a cleaning up preparatory to a dividend will shortly take place. The stopes wear a healthy appearance and the supply of stone to the mill is readily maintained.

The Reform has just finished a small crushing of about 00 tons, realising half an ounce to the ton. Work in the mine is confined to sinking on the lode, the stone raised from the winze being of a superior character, and indicating with the knowledge gained whilst driving the level, that the reef under foot when worked will considerably enhance the value of the mine.

The Just in Time will shortly take its turn at the battery. Inconvenience is sometimes caused through a scant supply of water. Whilst the creek runs in part flood the race conveys sufficient water for winding from the Just shaft, and to drive the twenty-five heads at the battery, 10 for the Fiery and 15 for the Just. Three berdans have just been added to the Fiery, which require an increase of power and an extra day of fine weather, or frost is scon detected in the lifting of stampers. In the mine a new horse ot mullock dividing the block has caused some delay in sending stone to the surface, this being now well got rid of the supply will be better and longer maintained. Thady.