REEFTON LETTER.

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

REEFTON LETTER.

-—. + (from our own correspondent.) Wednesday, September 1. It was an excellent idea of Carey's the sending an account of the Big Bay expedition to the Minister of Mines. It became known at once the whole length and breadth of the Colony, but I doubt if it would have attracted much notice if the line, " In all these cresks there is plenty of gold," had been omitted* Naturally, to a gold-digger this was the pith and marrow of his letter, and has been the cause of much commotion in Dunediu, Invercargill, and other places, where large meetings have been held with the object of sending out prospecting parties. It is true that the country is also described as mineral bearing, but this we know would not of itself cause much enthusiasm, and a sad damper must have come over the affair when the telegram from Carey was received announcing " quartz " should be read in place of gold "In all these creeks there is plenty of quartz." That does'nt read half so well, and indeed we need'nt travel to Big Bay to find creeks of that kind. Although we should all like to hear of the Bed Hill district eclipsing even the French legend attached to it, it must be admitted the first move towards it has been made under the impulse of a sell, inadvertenly perhaps, but no less, a sell. A gratifying change appears to be coming over mining matters, and we are now experiencing one of those flashes which for a time tend to brighten things up. I trust it may be lasting; at any rate a renewed feeling of confidence pervades the place, for which the returns, some of them excellent, for the last few weeks have to be thanked. The share market has been somewhat busy, local capital, having faith in the future of the place, seeking what it considers favourable outlets. Boatmans' stock is chieflly in demand, but business is being done in va;ious lines.

At the Venus the output is steady, and maintained with regularity. The aerial line during the day is kept going, sending down quartz, a few odd hours now and again being taken advantage of to repair the weaker portions; this is the wire rope which it will be recollected was obtained from the Globe as a temporary makeshift until a new one arrived from home ; this was heard ot last week at Hobart and will therefore shortly be landed here. The drive for the western reef is in 165 ft. This has been stopped for the present, and the hands set to sink on the stone from the surface ; the stone was supposed to be undelying to the west, but from the little work done it has a grade to the east; if so the tunnel will have to be extended. The present leyel in the Inglewood being worked out the hands are discharged. The stone in the paddocks will keep the battery running until the end of next week, when there will be a final cleaning up. The level that is now in hand will take at least 15 months to reach the line of reef. Tenders for tribute were sent in, but as the specifications would require to be remodelled to accept them, the decision is not yet known. Mr Gardner is making a survey of the Royal Oak to determine the position in which the line of the western and eastern reefs of the Venus may be looked for in this claim. Favourable reef-tracks are showing in the Oak, but the ground being at a much lower elevation than the Venus, measurements will only show if these are the right ones.

As jet there is nothing important to report from the Eclipse. Cross-cutting into foot wall from the bottom of the winze was first resorted to, after it was bailed out, but without any change- Particulars of the depth, or strike of the stone worked from this winze are difficult to obtain, but it is generally understood that at 60ft. the stone when near the boundary aud striking to the north went out. At this point therefore the track should be at its best, and would likely repay following. In the Wealth of Nations, driving to the north on the track has been suspended for a time, it being the intention to let this by contract. Boulders and portions of reef-stone are occasionally met with which invariably carry payable gold; these indications lead the sanguine to believe the reef itself will be met some day. The wages hands will be employed sinking the Bhaft, the winding wheel and connections being arranged satisfactorily. There is no change to chronicle in the Keep-it-Dark. If the crushing during the first weeks of a month be below the average, the closing ones are invariably an improvement, and the result is the usual dividend. The contractors for low level tunnel are making good headway. As a result of the late excellent yields the Welcome has declared a dividend of four shillings. This is as it should be. The appearance of the mine warrants a repitition of good dividends; and although the stone is small the quantity of gold per square foot of stope is as great as when the reef is larger. The returns from the Fiery were also very good. The returns for the first fortnight were delayed owing to the breakage of a chain-pulley which drove the berdans, this is now remedied and the accumulated sand is being passed through. It is safe to say that the appearance of the reef in the stopes has not been surpassed, and the quality of the crushing is among the best. In Fiery's numerous transactions have taken place, and they are firmly held for higher figures. The stoue lately from the Just-in-Time has not come up to expectations. Owing to a break in the reef, where the stone had been good, the quantity of inferior stone coming from other parts of the mine preponderated, and lessened the

yield. The reef in the loft level is described as of good quality, but some weeks will elapse before it can largely supply the mill.

The 21 toils of stone crushed from the Lone Star, yielded at the rate of 34dwts. to the ton. Tbe intention now, as it would have teen wisdom months ago to do, is to float a company and work the mine. As a largfe expenditure under any circumstances is required for battery or for conveying, by"eerial line, stone to the battery, the testing of the continuance of the reef by driving aud sinking will be tbe first matter in hand. Should this prove permanent other claims on the line will then come rapidly to the front. Thady*