Lyell Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1886.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 304, 18 December 1886, Page 2

Lyell Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1886.

The very pleasing intelligence was brought to l6wn on Thursday from the United Alpine Company's mine that excellent gold was found in the reef in the uprise on the north block, which appears to be still widening out. The stone on view at the Company's office is a really grand sample, from where it was taken the reef was about 8 feet in width. The directors have made arrangemements with Mr W. Prince, electrical engineer, lor the supply ot electrical machinery needed for the transmission of ten indicated horse power from the battery house to their No. 1 level in order to work an air compressor tor rock boring purposes, also to light the mine and battery with 40 Swan's lamps of 20 nominal candle-power each. The order for the machinery referred to has already been cabled for. On Satnrday evening, the directors also accepted the tender of J. Bray for the extension of No. 7 level 200 ieet at the sum of £1 183 9d. per foot. This contract has been so let that in the event of the arrival of the rock boring apparatus before that distance has been driven, it will terminate at 150 feet. There was no partial cleaning up at the battery yesterdaj' as it is intended to make a final cleaning up on the 24th inst. when the battery will cease crushing, for about 10 days to undergo a thorough overhauling, the connection of the 'new race with the battery will also be made during that period. As an instance of the apathy displayed by the Lyell public, here we are, within a few days of the Christmas holidays and not a single effort has yet been made to provide any amusement whatever for the occasion. We notice by our files that Lyell is thef only town on the Coast where a matter of this sort has been entirely ignored or overlooked. Truly our neighbours in other towns will think that we are fast becoming antiquated fossils, or must be degenerating into

miserable hypochondriacs. The adjourned sitting of the Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts will be held to-day at 10 o'clock noon. The sale of the property known as C. Cullen's premises, already announced in our columns which was postponed'on Wednesday last will take place to-day at the Court HoUse, at 12 o'clock p.m We observe that a notice appears on the Court House intimating that all claims, rights, privileges &c., are to be deemed protected from the 22nd December 1886, to the sth January 1887.

Dr. Bruen announces his intention of paying Lyell a visit on Tuesday next. He may be eonsultel at the Empire hotel.

The examination of candidates for the Nelson College Scholarship for Lyell will take place on Wednesday and Thursday 22nd and 23rd instant. We believe two candidates will compete for the same at Lyell. Mr Oliver has been appointed supervisor. Messrs Newman Brothers in another column signify their intention of reducing their fares to and from Nelson, Lyell, Reefton, and Westport up to the Ist January 1887. The booking office for persons intending to avail themselves of the excursion rates is at Mr Fennell's Empire hotel. Mr John Rait of Murchison notifies that he will give a Grand Free Ball at his hotel, Murchison, on the night of the Central Buller Race meeting, to which all are invited. j The proposed crushing of a parcel «§ stone by the Tyr Connell Company at tbfi Croesus battery, has been abandoned fori the present, pending repairs to the Eightmile road which suffered serious damage in the neighbourhood of Murphy's creek during the recent inclement weather. Messrs Ritchie of the Bon Accord mine have arranged to have their stone crushed at the United Italy Company's battery. The following acceptances have been received for the Jockey Club Handicap at the forthcoming Central Buller race meeting, Catesby, Regret, and Jilt; for the District Handicap only two horses came forward to compete viz., Catesby and Jilt, this event will therefore fall through. The booths have been disposed of as follows : No. 1 booth to Mr A. Smith, for the sum of .£10: No. 2 booth was purchased* by Mr C. Trower, at the same figure. The right to purchase the gates will close on 22nd December. Mining matters at Owen reefs are still progressing as favourably as circumstances will permit. The road to the reefs is still in a disordered state although the process of corduroying is being pushed ahead as rapidly as possible. It is rumoured that the Government intend laying off a township at Flowers' Fiat which is about two and a-half miles from the reefs, One of the applicants for licenses at the last sitting of the Licensing Court lor the district of Owen, (Mr E. Carroll), is constructing a really first rate hotel on this Flat that would do, credit to a more settled district; it is now fast approaching completion. The crosscut in the Enterprise is now driven about 108 feet. In the Wakatu United a tunnel is being driven from the surface of the hill to. intersect main crosscut, the object of which being to provide air. Three men are still engaged at the Bulmer Creek Company's mine following the track of the reef that was discovered in the crosscut some 20 feet odd above their first level.

Th 6 Nelson Evening Mail of tbe 6th instant says it has been arranged that Misßrodie Hoare, the Chairman -of the Midland Railway Company, accompanied by Mr Alan Scott and as many of the Board of Advice as can make it convenient to do so, will leave Nelson for the West Coast on a tour of inspection on Monday, the 20ih instant. They will if possible—and it is to be hoped they will be able to manage it —visit the owen reefs on the way. Qur contemporary couiiders the time badly chosen. [We learo by later advices that the visit of the gentlemen referred to above has boen postponed till sometime in January.]