MINING NEWS.

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

MINING NEWS.

OWEN REEFS DISTRICT. (from our own correspondent.) Owen, September Ist. Mining in this district is slowly but steadily improving, and marked progress is being made in the development of the resources of the claims at present in operation.

Bulmer Creek Company.—Have two men driving No. 1 tunnel, which is on a good gold-bearing reef, and is gradually widening out and showing better prospects than when first met with. No. 2 drive was started on a leader a little to the west of a large reef, and 90 feet west of the lode in No. I tunnel. This leader was only six inches thick at the outcrop, showing splendid gold, and after driving 45 feet three leaders each eight inches thick showed in the face, where the metal is plainly to be seen. The manager, Mr Ellery, informs me that the stone is coming to grass so freely that it will soon be necessary to construct receiving paddocks, and get everything ready for the incline tramway to the battery site. Wakatu United.—Seven hands are now employed driving for the reef, which is supposed to be a continuation of the Bulmer Creek lode. The country is promising, and showing better indications the farther the hill is pierced. A reef may be met with at any moment in this ground, as there can be no doubt of the existence of one if not more in the vicinity of the present drive. Enterprise.—Now known as the Enterprise Extended, having been amalgamated with the Golden Point, Broken Hill, and Progress claims, representing an area of about 63 acres, and as each of these leases coutain several gold-bearing lodes of large dimensions, there is ample scope for the Company's future operations' Two men started yesterday to drive a tunnel to cut the Enterprise reef at a low level which will settle the question as to whether the reefs in this locality exist at great depths; a winze was sunk on the hanging wall of this reef and its proportions did not seem to diminish in the slightest degree. This is a grand project, and if she only turns out half as well as she prospects, then I reckon her a pile claim.

Surprise.—A new application on the Enterprise line, and west of the Zealandia, is being prospected by two men, and good stone has been discovered and traced for some distance on the surface. According to tests this reef should turn out about to the ton. Golden Fleece.—Have not yet made a start to work, but I hear that it is proposed to commence operations when the Company is registered. There is nothing else doing in any of the other claims, but as soon as the leases are executed, which I expect will be about the commencement of summer, a start will be made in the majority of them. A coal seam has been discovered in the Left Hand Branch of the Owen River. It is 12 feet thick, and a mineral area has been pegged off. The coal is of good quality. The new track is now formed a distance of four miles from the main road to Baigent's station. The remaining five and a quarter miles is now let and the several contractors are busy on their sections. The bush is felled a chain wide all through and the road formed eight feet wide, which is no more than a bridle track. The prices obtained for this work are exceptionally low, 27/6 per chain for side cuttings, bush felling and stumping ; and 7/6 par chain for clearing bush and stumpimj on flat land. I think these prices would frighten our Lyeli friends, and yet these men tell me they can make fair wages. I shall be very glad when the road is completed as the present track is something diabolical. The charges for packing in provisions are consequently very high, being £lO per ton ; this added to the original cost of tucker delivered at the mouth of the Owen renders living very expensive at present in this locality, However, the new road will soon be as bid if not worse than the old track if it is not metalled, as the formation is composed mostly of stiff yellow elay which adheres most tenaciously to ones nuclei-standings during ;locomotion. The weather has been anything but favourable for some time past, which has been greatly instrumental in retarding works of every kind, prospecting for reefs included. Mr S. Baigant has managed to bring in a plough and is now breaking up a portion of his run, and intends to crop a good size area with potatoes, swedes, carrots, oats, &c. That gentleman also intends having another portion of the station laid off into a township for sale, and as this will be the only chance the public can obtain of securing a piece of freehold ground, I think the speculation a good one. A branch post office is now established by the Government at Bnlmer Creek; this will prove a great convenience. I hear that an hotel is about being built at Flowers' Flat, in fact the sawyers will be in next week to cut the timber, so this looks like business, and as the new field has been proclaimed a special licencing district, there will be no fear of running short of the needful " medical comforts " onajourn?y to the reefs: as it is there is not a licensed house between Fern Flat and Motupiko, a distance of over 59 miles.