REEFTON LETTER.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 287, 21 August 1886, Page 2

REEFTON LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.) Wednesday, August 18. Good Templarism has gained converts lately. Many of the good hard drinkers who conscientiously applied to this matter the scriptural injunction, " Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might," have seceded from the ranks ot imbibers and donned the blue ribbon. There is a disconsolate feeling among the pubs., and no wonder. When a friend has been calling on you frequently for years, and you have become acquainted with his weakness, and invariably kept a supply of his peculiar tipple; when such a friend absents himself, apparently without cause, and his example is followed by others, regret and dismay are engendered, and smothered inyectives are vented in the back parlor. It has been remarked by some that this is but another phase of the depression, and like it will pass away. Hope, is not dead, however. There are still goodly paunches that crave their daily modicum of beer, and refuse to be comforted with a blue ribbon. Human nature is frail; and the dispensers of medicinal comforts, though fiuding their occupation quiet for a time, have buoyant and trusting spirits amongst them who, in spite of the teachings of Matthew Burnett and his compeers, for whom they pretend a mighty contempt, look forward to a return of the prodigals on the first wave of prosperity. From the appearance of the Hall last Friday night, it would adpear as if amateur concerts had lost their attraction. Time was when snch an announcement, no matter for what object, would have brought crowds to fill the house. It was therefore the more surprising, this being the annnal Hospital concert, the lack of sympathy shown by the general public for the support of such a noble institution. It is true the night was dreary, and this partially accounts for the thinness of attendance, but its main cause must be looked for;in a listlessnesa and indifference engendered by the dullness and monotony of doing nothing, of which all folk 9 about town complain. But it is not confined to concerts; church or chapel is the same. A few soatterd devotees, and large spaces of empty benches. A Micawber-like feeling of " waiting for something to turn up " is abroad, and until that happens, whether it be a big flood, a fire,|a volcanic eruption, a railway, an election, or a spurt, things will remain much as they are. The Just-in-Time started crushing on Monday morning. News of the reef being intersected at the low level reached town yesterday and caused some motion in the share market. Should the stone prove as large as that in the intermediate, a profitable period of operations is in store for the shareholders. The Reform is sinking on stone, and have a very healthy-looking reef in the winze, showing good gold. The depth attained is about 30 feet, it being the intention to carry it to 100 feet, or as deep as it can be profitably taken. The reef m the Fiery is strong and continues, and from the appearance of the faces another and larger dividend may be expected at the end of the month. The supply of water for winding from the present depth of shaft, 450 feet, is found to be limited, and often causes a loss of time. For the working of future levels steam will likely be utilised as more eifective and speedy. The splendid yields of the Welcome lately are a criterion that the lodes in Boatmans' do not decrease in value as they descend. This should give heart to to the holders of ground to the north and east, and stir them into renewed action. The large chamber for the Homeward Bound is still unfinished, it is from this a shaft is intended to be sunk, whilst the Eureka Company are taking full advantage of their term of protection and biding their time. The crushing of 20 tons for the Lone Star is now proceeding at the Specimen i Hill battery. The proceeds will likely be known in a day or two. The conveying of the machinery for the Big Kiver Company has proved to be one of the most ticklish jobs of the-kind undertrken in the district; the lighter portions of the battery were managed without any unusual exertions, but the conveying of the stamper boxes has been a continuous chapter of mishaps. The road is narrow and in many places cut along sidlings, while the turns round the points of the spurs are extremely short. A few frosty mornings that had hardened the surface enabled the contractors to make good headway during the time, but it broke up too soon, and during thaw or wet they were either stuck in. a hole or hauling the boxes up a sidling down which they had disappeared. Pulling 30 cwt of iron in one piece up an incline in the bush is slow work, but patience and perseverance, and good tackling will accomplish even this and Messrs Cochrane and Quigley possess ail three. The contractors in Nil Desperandum shaft, have met with hard country, and a large increase of water, consequently they are not sinking so quickly as at first; but, having the wheel to wind all their dirt and water, they are making good headway. The first 250 feet from the shaft chamber, Keep-it-Dark low level, was le

to Williams and party at 28/6 per foot. The ropk drill is still awaiting alterations in the Pelton wheels, and is not therefore available at present for tunnelling. Nothing of note has occurred lately in the mine, stone coming forward with the usual regularity. The Eclipse Company having bailed out the winze of the Wealth contiguous to their boundary, are now driving into their own ground on a well-defined track of reef. The ground is promising looking and has every appearance of being lode carrying. The Venus is crushing away with fifteen heads, keeping them steadily going, night and day. This is now looked upon as an established dividend paying mine, and one that is likely to yield a steady income to shareholders. The drive towards the western reef is in 150 feet, and news of the reef being cut may be expected any day. The Inglewood started crushing at the beginning of the week. After this crushing, which will probably last a month, the hands will be shortened, as all available stone will be put through the battery. Some time must elapse before the lower level is driven to the line of reef; in the meantime tributers are invited to search for the North Star block: Thady.