Lyell Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1886.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 288, 28 August 1886, Page 2

Lyell Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1886.

The usual weekly cleaning at the Alpine battery took place yesterday, and resulted in 878 ounces ot amalgam from the plates, berdans, and ripples. The battery has been running lor days and reduced 212 tons of stone. The Owen has been proclaimed a special licensing district and Frank Bird, Esq., has been appointed Commissioner. YVe received this information yesterday through the courtesy of Frank Bird, Esq., K. M., and were also informed that an early date would be fixed for hearing applications.

The ReV. Mr Innes- Jones informed his congregation last Sunday that services will be held morning and evening on the sth proximo.. We believe that it is the intention of the Catholic residents of Lyell and district to establish a day school in connection with St. Joseph's Church at an early date, negotiations being now entered into for that object. The Tyr Connell Company have just completed their crushing of 38* tons of stone at the Croesus battery. The result of the yield was not known at the time of our going to press, the battery hands being then busily engaged cleaning up. In another column the Inangahna Junction School Committee invite tenders for the erection of a schoolhouse.

The annual meeting of St. Matthew's Church parishoners was held in the church on August 20th, the Rev. Mr A. S. Innes-Jones in the chair. The balance sheet was read and confirmed, and the chairman made a few explanatory remarks about the items, and also gave a review of past years' proceedings, concluding his remarks by thanking the retiring churchwardens and committee for their hearty co-operation during the past year. The reverend gentleman nominated Mr J.JBrown as his churchwarden and Mr J. Peck was re-elected peoples' churchwarden. The following were elected as a church committee lor the ensuing year : Messrs J. Young, J. Bray, F. Harrison, W. Burns, F. G. Rotton, A. Mairs, F. Sorrensen, T. Waters, C. Bowden, and H. G. Youngman, the two latter to occupy the positions of secretary and treasurer respectively. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Youngman for the energetic manner in which he performed the duties of treasurer for the past year. Proposed by Mr Bowden, seconded by Mr Youngman, and carried, "That a cone rt be held on 9th October next, being the anniversary of the church, the proceeds to be devoted to the Building Fund debt." The following were elected as a concert committee: Messrs Atkin, Corfield, Waters Youngman, and Bowden. The meeting then terminated.

The weather for the past week has been of the most wretched description, accompanied by almost incessant cold rains aud interspersed by juvenile tornados. On Sunday last Newman's coach was detained in Lyell owing to a flood in the Buller river. On Thursday moaning a heavy fall of snow took place, which however did not remain long on the ground. In fact lately we have had almost everything outside of a good sound earthquake and we won't be astonished now if that comes along.

We draw attention to an advertisement appearing in another column calling for tenders for purchase of the most valuable ferry property on the West Coast. This crossing is on the main Nelson West Coast road, and at the present time doing a considerable business, with the certainty of a very large increase during the summer months, not only for the amount of attention likely to be bestowed upon our local reefing claims, but the prominence the Owen river field is sure to command as a reefing district when the weather admits travelling to and from that locality with less discomfort than at present obtains. The property will be sold in one or fiye lots as purchasers may desire, although the first lot embraces the entire ferry business with land, punt, boat, house, outbuildings, &c., the remaining four lots are merely requirements for the carrying on a lucrative farming and dairy business now being in full working order under the present proprietor, Mr L. Larsen. Tenders will close next Saturday, September 4th, at Mr James Inglis' office, were all information can be obtained, as also inquires can be instituted at Mr Larsen's hotel, Westport. The amount of land attached to the property, outside of freehold, is contained in a ferry reserve of 85 acres. At the Alpine mine there has been no material change during the past week, with the exception of a horse of mullock having entered into the new make of stone in the centre, but the reef looks as well as formerly and shows favourably for making solid again. The mining manager, Mr Martin Conradson, has discontinued the crosscut to the east, in consequence of the country getting harder, and started one from the top stope, which is now driven about 15 feet through easier country. The two men engaged constructing tailrace at No. 3 level are making fair progress, 30 feet, or nearly half of the entire length being constructed. The contractors for No.'V level are also making good headway, the driving being easier than was anticipated. Had the weather been more favourable the contract in connection with the headrace would have been completed before this week; however, yesterday afternoon all works in connection with same were finished and handed over. At the last directors meeting of the Crcesus Company it was decided to call tenders for 70 feet of a winze, starting from No. 2 level, and following the reef down. We understand that special arrangemems can be made with contractors for this work, particulars of which can be obtained at the office of the legal manager, where specifications can be seen, and tenders will close on the 7th proximo. From indications already encountered this mine is decidedly worth prospecting, and we hope that during the coming summer sufficient inducement will be found to enable the directors to man the mine and keep their ten-head battery constantly crushing.

We make the following extract from the Auckland Herald's London letter 2nd Jiilv: —The contract with Messrs McKeoue anil liobinson, for the first thirty miles of the Mew Zealand Midland Railway, has

not yet been signed. News appears to have been received of a difficulty, which may, it is feared, turn out to be of a somewhat serions character to the enterprise. It is said that the objection raised by the West Coast diggers to the employment ot Chinese labour in the execution of the contract is likely to result in an obstacle which may wreck the concern. It was never anticipated that such an objection would be raised, and it is to be hoped that some solution of the difficulty may be found. An accident, fortunately unattended with any serious consequences, occurred last Tuesday on the road from the Alpine, close to Lyell. One of Mr John Campbell's drivers was returning with an unloaded dray, and horse, when the animal became restive and shieing overturned the dray about ten feet down a rather abrupt portion of the road, where it became firmly fixed against a large tree, stopping a further descent of fully 200 feet into Lyell Creek. Being close to the town a number of willing hands supplied with ropes and taekle soon extricated the horse and dray, the latter with some slight injury, and the former apparently none the worse for the adventure. Some attention is beiug directed lately by alluvial miners to a piece of ground situated about five miles up New Creek. The ground is described as a fair sized flat, containing a payable run of gold, close in to the terrace. At the end where the parties are now setting in a company of Chinese have a claim opened out and are reported to be doing well. There are now some five or six claims pegged out, the owners of which seem confident of the payable character of the ground. It is necessary in order to get into the ground to bring up tailraces, and the gold obtained in construction of these have been in some instauces found to pay expenses. As soon as the weather moderates more will be known from the locality. At present considerable inconvenience is being experienced in getting to the place in consequence of a distance of about three miles of the first part of the road being unmade ; however, should the workings turn out of any importance the Buller County Council will no doubt see' that this is rectified.