Lyell Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1886.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 289, 4 September 1886, Page 2

Lyell Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1886.

Services will be held to-morrow morning and evening, at the usual hours, in St. Matthews' Church. In another column an entertainment is announced for 9th October next, having for its object the purpose of raising funds for the liquidation of the debt on St. Matthews' Church, Lyell. Tenders close this evening, at Mr J. Inglis' office, for the purchase of Larson's Lyell Ferry. A representative of the National Bank, Reefton, will be in attendance at Lyell next Saturday. The usual monthly meetings in the Alpine and Croesus Companies will be held on Tuesday next, 7th instant, as also the extraordinary meeting in the latter. The sittings of the Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts to be held at Murchison, on Tuesday 29th September, have also been adjourned till October 26th.

A severe shock of earthquake was felt in Lyell yesterday at 12 o'clock noon, the course being apparently about north and south. We are satisfied now, as we stated in last issue that this was all we required to complete our misery in connection with the inclement weather which has obtained for the last two months. We have made arrangements for regular fortnightly mining reports trom the Owen Reefs, and other matters of interest affecting that distiict. The first report appears in this issue. Mr J. W. D. Foley announces in another column his intention of giving a farewell performance in Lyell next Saturday. The programme is entirely new, and one which has given considerable satisfaction in Westport lately, where Mr Foley has just concluded a successful season. The usual sittings of the Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts appointed to be held at Lyell on Wednesday last were adjourned till Wednesday the 15th instant, owing to the severe indisposition of Mr Bird, R. M. and Warden.

The usual weekly partial cleaning at the Alpine battery was not proceeded with yesterday, owing to the monthly cleaning up taking place next Wednesday. Although the contract works in connection with the head-race for battery are now out of hand, there is yet a piece offluming of about four chains to connect with the battery from the tunnel, and when everything is ready for the connection a delay of only two or three days will suffice to complete the work. At the mine during the week the usual output of stone has been maintained. At the south end of the workings the small reef is showing indications of giving out, which is not considered of much consequence by the mine manager, as it has always been small and the country very hard. There is no sign of any stone yet in the small crosscut which is being driven trom the top stope ; the country is easy, but not yet like the lower crosscut where the stone was got formerly.

The cleaning up and retorting in connection with the Tyr Connell crushing took place last Saturday at the Croesus battery. The quantity of stone treated was 38| tons yielding 3130z5. retorted gold averaging a little over eight ounces per ton, at a value of £3 19s 4d. per ounce. The directors met on Tuesday last and declared a dividend of eighteenpence per 24,000 th share, equal to £BOO. There has occurred a long interval between the present crushing and the last which took place in October, but it must be remembered that a large amount of dead work has been done, amounting in a monetary value to fully £6OO, and the mine is now in thorough working order. Operations are now in full swing for taking out next crushing, and it is intended to drive the No. 5 level 20 feet further before sinking on the spur. The manager anticipates being ready with the next crushing about Christmas. During the week two men have been engaged at the battery putting tailings through the berdana from the recent crushing, and if the result, which will be known tonight, should prove an inducement for their further treatment, the Company intend to put through about 30 tons now stacked.

At the extraordinary meeting of the shareholders in the United Italy Quartz Mining Company, held on the 31st nit. it was resolved to re-allot the 7761 shares now in the hands of the Company pro rata, and circulars to that effect have been issued from the manager's office. After the rectifications of the Register it is the intention of the directors to invite tenders for cross cutting 100 feet to the eastward out of Potter's level. The contractors in the Larnach, Messrs Melville and Fellowes, have driven 30ft. sicce work on the track of the reef. At the start of driving a leader was cut in the face and passed, while at the present time another leader has come in from the hanging wall, averaging three inches in thickness, and they are now taking it along with them in the drive showing a tendency to make. We have heen favoured with the following from a Fern Flat correspondent : A boat race took place on the Buller river between J. Reid and J. Adamson, on Saturday last, August 28th, the course being from Smith's Hotel, Fern Flat, to O'Rourke's, Hampden, and back, a distance of about 13 miles. The weather was all that could be desired, and the great mteve.it that was taken in the match

was evident from the crowd that attended to witness the start. Mr Smith acted as starter and judge, and got the men away at 10/25 a.m. Reid took the lead, 'which he maintained throughout. It was only after one or two desperate efforts that Adamson succeeded in overcoming the first fail, which, by the way, was about the worst they had to contend with, but once over it he set after his opponent with a determination which " never says die." Anyone acquainted with the nature of the river that had to be traversed in the ascending journey, and the many obstacles in the way of falls that had to be encountered, will not be surprised to learn that it was 31 hours before the first man reached O'llourke's, and that the first man was also the last, as only one appeared at the turning point to contest the down journey, and who was treated to hearty cheers by the Hampden spectators who had collected to witness the turning point in the contest, both on his arrival and departure from Hampden. Reid, the winner, has had severaßears' experience boating on the Buller "river, and thoroughly understands his work, whereas his opponent is not acquainted with this particular description of river navigation ; he may be an expert rower under different circumstances, but the possession ot that skill was impracticable for at least half the distance up. The victory was an easy one for Reid, who had the down-stream race to himself and seemed to be thoroughly master of the situation, managing his boat with considerable skill. The race occupied 4| hours, but it is only fair to add that the winner was never pushed, or otherwise he could have considerably beaten the time.

The following business was 'transacted at the last meeting of the Inangahua County Council:—From the SurveyorGeneral with reference to the northern boundaries of the county, and stating that the Chief Surveyor would forward a tracing showing the boundaries in question. From W. Hanna claiming £35 for loss of a horse at Inangahua Junction; a memo was attached to the claim by the County Engineer stating that he never heard of the claim before. From Thomas North, solicitor for J. Oxenham, cloning £2OO on account of an accident It the Newton bridge. From J. Lynch County Solicitor, re Flannigan and Kennedy's claim. From H. Newman, mail contractor, complaining of the state of the road from Fern Flat to Gibb's accomodation house, and requesting attention thereto ; the Engineer said that one portion was in a rather bad state, but as a whole it was in fair order; Engineer instructed to attend to the matter. The County Engineer's report was read. The road from Reefton to Owen was in fair order. On the motion of Cr. Gardner it was carried that the minute passed at a previous meeting " That no new works be undertaken till the Council ir in £ better financial position'" be rescinded ; Cr. Campbell knew perfectly well that the moment the resolution was resciuded there would be a flood of applications before the Council for new works; he understood that no new works were to be commenced until the Council wa3 out of difficulties, and he thought it was unwise to rescind the motion ; he had been asked to move for several works, but had refused to do so in the face of that motion; the Chairman said the Council was now in a fairly good position, and its income next year would be quite equal to last year ; the motion in question had served its purpose.

The Wellington papers referring to the speedy abolition of the District Courts state that in view of that event the position of Resident Magistrate at Wellington has been offered to three District Judges, as Mr Wardell the present R. M. is about to remove to the Wairarapa. We are in a position to state that the offer has at all events been made to Jud»e Broad, of Nelson, who has not however yet stated whether he will refuse or accept it. The emoluments of the office are to be the same as those now received by District Judges. It is not, we beleive, generally undestood which section of the Midland Railway has been contracted for by Messrs Robinson and M'Keone. The point of divergence of the Canterbury and Nelson lines is about two miles on this side of Brunnerton, and it is from there towards Canterbury that the work will be commenced, the contract being for 25 miles. The next section to be let will be from the same point to Reefton, a distance of 42 miles, so that the works will be proceeded with in both directions simultaneously. This wouldphave been let at the same time as tke other, but that the working plans were not in so forward a state, but as soon as these are prepard tenders will be called for the work. These two contracts should be the means of finding employment for a large number of men. The following story is related in the Napier Telegraph :—lt is not often that Napier supplies a thoroughly genuine and sensational romance, but the following too true tale may prove of interest to our readers, Many mouths ago a young tradesman of the place was keeping company with one of those charming girls for which Napier is so famous, thanks to what the Mayor would call our magnificent climate. He was young in years, only nineteen, aud the father gettiug a wrinkle of how the land lay, got an introduction to the sweetheart and, to make a long story short soon succeeded in displacing the son from his position, and eventually married the fair one. About ten days ago the husband had in the course of business to spend some time in the country, and took his departure, leaving his wife and son in charge of the household goods. His back had not been long turned, when, as if by magic, the old atLucLmem between the son and his now

step-mother revived, aud the husband had scarcely reached his destination when the pair packed up their belongings and made tracks south, where they are now. The fond father and doting husband acquired the valuable information some three days ago so what the upshot of the elopement may be we know not, though a divorce suit with a son as co-respondent would be a decided novelty.