Lyell Times. AND CENTEAL BULLER GAZETTE.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 295, 16 October 1886, Page 2

Lyell Times. AND CENTEAL BULLER GAZETTE.

Mails for tbe United Kingdom (per DirectijMail Service) close to-day at 1.30 pm. All correspondence must be specially addressed " per direct mail service " Due in London December 2nd.

Mails for United Kingdom, Continent of Europe, and United States of America, Via San Francisco, close on Thursday, 4th November, at 1.30 pm. Money orders to catch this mail will be issued up to 4 p.m. on Tuesday. 2nd November. At a meeting held in Nelson last week it was decided to form a company with a capital of £6OOO in £1 shares, to be called the Owen Crushing Company. The following gentlemen were proposed at the provisional directors: Messrs B. S. Chisholm, Byrne, Wix, Park?r, Miller, Saxton, Moutray, Phillips, J. A. Harley, Marsden, Whiting, Noble, Merrick, Tatton, and M'Galfin. Mr S. J. Reeves was elected hon secretary. There will shortly be issued under the authority of the Hon- The Minister of Mines, a Handbook on New Zealand Mining. The compilation of information concerning the Buller district is in good hands.

On Monday last the Lyell State School underwent the Usual annual examination and though the numbers on the roll had been considerably reduced during the last month owing to a denominational school having been started in the locality yet the 31 scolars who put in an appearance out of a possible 32 acquitted themselves in a manner which gave Mr Inspector Hodgson every satisfaction. The average number of passes according to the new system of calculation being as good as obtained in former years under the old method.

Mr E. Teague, photographic artist, intends visiting Fern Flat on Tuesday next, where he will make a short stay for the purpose of taking likenesses. During this gentleman's professional visit to Lyell he has given every satisfaction, and we can recommend his work to our upcountry friends.

The usual scraping of the plates took place yesterday at the Alpine battery when, for 6£ days crushing of 234 tons of stone, a yield of 3940z5. of amalgam was obtained. A slight delay occurred at the battery during the week in consequence of taking down a cam shaft to fasten the coupling and fitting a new shank in No. 1 box. At the mine everything is going on as usual, and the manager does not expect to reach the lately found north block, by the intermediate level now being driven, before the middle part of next week. The contractors in No. 7 level are making fair progress considering the increased hardness of the ground being pierced. It is intended to make application lor water right from Irishman's Creek for the purpose of bringing in a small water race to provide motive power for working an air blast to send a better supply of air into the face of No. 7 level, as it is not expected that operations can be carried on much longer until some provision is made in this direction.

The contractor for driving crosscut in the United Italy Company's claim (Richard Morgan) is making good progress with the drive from Potter's level, having driven 20 feet Bince commencing operations.

We refer onr readers to the advertisement appearing at the head of this column, which announces that the General Manager of the National Bank of New Zealand, Limited, has decided to open business permanently in L) ell. MiLewis, the Reefton Manager, is here now, and will transact business to-day, after which the agency will be under the charge of Mr Oliver. The establishment of a Bank Agency in Lyell is a want which has been felt for some time past and this step on the part of the National Bank will we have no doubt meet with the encouragement and support it deserves.

Several holders of interests in the Owen reefs from Lyell have visited that locality during the week and have all returned very favourably impressed with the prospects and ultimate prosperity of the district following the advent of crushing power.

Mr Scott has returned to Christchurch after a number of lengthy interviews with the authorities on the subject of the Midland railway, in order to get the contract drawn up in accordance with the Act of last session. Everything will then be ready for a start.