REEFTON LETTER.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 291, 18 September 1886, Page 2

REEFTON LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.) Wednesday, September 15. The head of Murray Creek is not very lively now, for besides the Inglewood, which though not exactly idle having two tnnnel contracts under way, there is the Phoenix and also the Golden Treasure laid up in ordinary, both claims having created a sensation in their day, but unfortunately it could not be maintained. In the Phoenix there is a likelieood of work being resumed shortly, by prospecting to the south towards the Victoria ground. A portion of the Golden Treasure will probably be offered on tribute should the company decide on not resuming work themselves. During the past winter the coal mines at the head of Murray Creek have furnished nearly all the coal consumed in Reefton and neighbourhood. Its qualities as a domestic fuel cannot be surpassed, and numbers of tons have found their w y even to Greymouth, where from the glowing accounts we read of it, one would suppose the local productions could have no rival. Reeftonites, however, who have settled in the Grey know better, and are willing to pay an extra price to bask in the brightness and cheeriness of their old love. Should the line ever be constructed between here to Brunnertoa the output of coal would be insignificant to what will then be demanded. Owing to strong competition the price of coal has gradually been reduced from £1 per ton to 25/ and the coal from one pit is selling in Reefton at 22/6. At these figures it in found to be cheaper than wood, so wood carters have turned coal-carriers, but the wood hearth being not altogether suitable for the new fuel, the demand for grates and ranges by such a large community as ours (see last Census) should give a great fillip to the iron trade of the old country. The crushing, just finished, from the Inglewood averaged 13dwts. to the ton which will all be absorbed in the expense of obtaining it. The level now worked out has realised a three-penny dividend which is again being called up to help clear off arrears. There were no acceptances for tribute, so the company have let a coutract to drive 100 feet in the di rection the North Star stone isjsupposed to be making. Headway in the low level is not so rapid as at first, but good progress is being made. The Venus has been crushing away steadily until Monday last when it was decided to stop, the rope forming the serial line having become defective as to render it unsafe to work longer. News of the now rope being in Wellington has reached here, so the stoppage will not be a lengthy one, and will be taken advantage of to make some repairs in the battery and other necessary woiks. Several of the hands are discharged temporarily, and during.the lull the level wil! be extended both north and south, a fairsized reef showing in both faces. The position of the new low level is being marked off, and a commencement will soon be made with this necessary work. Gold for the crushing 3390z5. A dividend of 3d wasjdeclared.

The level in No. 2 Dark is'still being extended, but nothing of any consequence ha 3 been met with except a large inflow of water. Mr Bowman has resigned the management of this company, and Mr Nash has been elected in his stead. The contractors in the Nil Desperandum have nearly finished their contract, they being now sinking what was at first intended to be the well, but the directors have since decided to sink another 150 feet before stopping, and be thus deep enough to open up an entirely new level. This- decision may be considered a wise one and the value of shares will advance steadily as they approach the line of reef at the new level. There seems to be a doubt now that the extension of the Globe tuunel has been carried into the block of stone known as the old Union, for upon first touching the reef a large quantity of water was met with, which after a while became insig nificant, whilst the standing water in a shallow winze of the Union workings was found to have disappeared. There is a silence as to the gold-bearing qualities of the stone which does not augur well, but, we wait and hope. The Just-in-Time has resumed crushing and is showing an immense improvement over the last one. The stopes are now in better stone, and the reef in the low level is reported to be looking excellent. Shares are rising and the general feeling is that the Just will soon regain her old reputation. In the Reform the winze that was sunk towards the end of the block went

through the stone at 42 feet. The quality of the sic.' 1 -" was excellent, unl it is now the inteution to t>ink another towards the north, where the strike of the stone will allow it to b- carried a great depth. The tributers in the Just have lately finished a crushing of 40 tons which yielded 107ozs. of gold. Since the last cruslnug they have driven 300 feet uf a tunnel, and are therefore now in a position to get stone readiiy and take a turn oftener at the battery. The Lone Star is now in the market at 2/ per 24,000 th share. It is reported that they are going off readily, and thatlikely when the list closes on the Gth proximo, they will be at a premium. The Welcome is crushing away without interruption, the supply of stouo from its increased thickness having improved. an. I there is less difficulty in keeping the mill going. The returns the last week or two though not up to the average of the previous mouth were still excellent. The Homeward Bound Company have ordered all the machinery and appliances necessary for hauling out of a shaft GOO feet d'-cp. This machinery will be driven by compressed air, and is of the latestimproved deigns. The Fiery Cross is claiming a share of attention now. The excellent yiell, combined with the solidity of the lodes, and also as the pioneer claim of the district, being 220 feet deeper than the Welcome, brings it into great prominence, for it is argued that as the blocks now working in the other mines attain the present depth of the Fiery, they too will beco:ne more connected and solid, and yield better. The battery has been steadily kept going ; a dividend of 1/6 was declared last mouth ami the returns are good for the present one. TiiADY.