MINING NEWS.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 294, 9 October 1886, Page 2

MINING NEWS.

o OWEN REEFS DISTRICT. (from oue own CORRESPONDENT.) Owen, October 7th. The weather for the past few days has been such as to prevent outside work of any kind being proceeded with. The Owen River and tributaries have been bank high, and communication has consequent been suspended, to-day being the first we have been able to get about. Of the three mines working there is not much new to report, operations proceeding very slowly. Bulmer Creek Company.—Have cut out a paddock at the mouth of the No. 2 level calculated to hold about 70 tons of quartz. The manager has commenced a a crosscut from the end of this level to the east in order to intersect the big reef which is calculated to be about 25 distant from the start. The drive is now in 22 feet, and four leaders have been met with in the course of the tunnel, one of which contains a fair sample of gold. In the present face there is another leader about a foot thick and the manager thinks he is now in the proximity of the hanging wall of the reef sought for. Wakatu United.—The main crosscut in No. 2 level is being proceeded with by six men working three shifts. This tunnel is now in 205 feet and is being driven in brown slate country. Two reefs haye been cut in this drive one three feet and the other four feet thick. It is expected to catch the underlie of the Wakatu reef in about 180 feet from the present face. The northern drive is abandoned for the present, but operations will be resumed shortly. Enterprise.—The two men engaged on this claim have shown great energy in prosecuting the work they are engaged in.

A tunnel was started on the reef at a depth of 40 feet from the Cap and has now been driven G3 feet, on stone all the way till daylight was reached on the northern slope of the spur. A crosscut at right angles to the reef is now being put in at a depth of 100 feet from the outcrop. This will,prove the reef so far. I may mention that fair prospects ot gold from time to time during the progress of the top drive. The new road is progressing slowly, like everything else in this part of the world. Some hard bluffs of rock are to be removed, the present rate of progress'l think it will bo some considerable time before we can venture to drive our buggy to Buhner Creek. Flower's Flat is just now about the most lively place on the river, quite a little township has sprung up, inhabited by sawyers and roadmen. Two sawpits have been erected and a regular slaughter has taken place iu the white pine bush. Two hotels are about being built here and I hear several licenses are applied for in this new district. All we want crushing machinery to give a more permanent character to the field. The stone is here, the metal is here, and all that is required is a battery or two to develop the undeniably great resources of this young and promising district. I observe that a movement i 3 being set on foot in Nelson to float a Public Crushing Company for this field. A good idea, and I hope it will succeed. I am sorry to say a very nasty accident happened here our.Monday last. Mr Myles Dixon, the well-known bridge-con-tractor, was adzing a piece of timber when his foot slipped and the adze descending at the same time cut through the boot and nearly severed two of his toes, one only hanging by a sinew. I am afraid he will be laid up for some time. A log rolled over on another man'sj legs and he is placed hors de combat for a lengthened period, the wonder beiug that the limbs were not smashed entirely. Another man sprained his foot. So you see we have had a chapter of "accidents. We will soon want a medico and an hospital if civilisation progresses with such rapid strides.