THE LYELL REEF.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 167, 18 July 1870, Page 2

THE LYELL REEF.

[We are indebted for the followiug communication to a gentleman who has very recently performed the journey from Westport to the Lyell under circumstances of no. ordinary difficulty and danger.] Having determined to visit the Lyell and WaimangaVoareef, about which we have heard such gloomy, accounts of late, I proceeded' to the retiring little towu of Westport,.. hoping to render the journey overland less arduous by radiating from that particular spot. On arriving there however I was unfortunately detained by the .inclemency of the weather for four days, during which time I had an opportunity of witnessing the progress of such Town works as river embankments and beach defences, aiid, what was moreamusing and unusual, the flights of sundry houses from tbeir original sites to positions of greater immunity from the encroaching surf. As is usual, I discovered myself to be not'alone in misfortune^ inasmuch as some eight or nine others,- chiefly Lyell residents, were delayed by muddy roads and swelling streams. Although all goods are conveyed to the Lyell in boats up the river Buller, yet the overland journey is more inviting to pedestrians, as the up river journey is performed iu open boats and is usually very protracted — occupying on an average four day'. Takiug advantage of the first break in the weather 1 and my nine fellow-prisoners effected a start, reaching, on the eve of the first day ap accommodation house known as "Mickey French's,"' where (as is the usual custom), we were regaled with the natural productions of the country, viz., woodhens and kakas, and were then despatched to rest our weary limb3 as we best could in a room, or enclosed space, in which were erected some four or five bunks of limited proportions. As hunger sharpened our appetites, so necessity sharpened our. ingenuity, ami thus eleven of us succeeded in disposing of ourselves for the night in this limited space iu various ludicrous attitudes. , : On the following morning, refreshed, and "eager for the fray," but with ardour a little damped by a down-pouring rain, we again- proceeded, and after overcoming no trivial difficulties - such ias crossing flooded and dangerous rivers, climbing mountains, walking- round precipices, rendered glbbmy- and impressive by their

association with tragical occurrences, and extricating ourselves from quagmires, we succeeded iu reaching the Inangahua in a somewhat dilapidated aud washed out condition. Here we spent the night chiefly in the amusing but awkward occupation — rendered necessary by the fact pf our not possessing more than one set of garments — of drying our clothes before a huge bush fire. The morning of the third day did not, however, mend matters, as we had again to confront a drenching rain, but, nothing dauuted, we started and ouce more after experiencing a repetition of the previous day's difficulties, succeeded in reaching tlie very picturesque but somewhat limiied township of the Lyell, where something approaching to refinement, so far as our domestic requir ments were concerned, was obtainable. Early on the followiu morning I commenced the journey up to the prospector's claim — I say " up" advisedly for I soon fouud that I might appropriately have armed myself with au Alpine staff, and shouldered a banner wilh the word "Excelsior" emblazoned thereon, wliich would have beeu fittingly waved in the breeze as I underwent a solid hour of real hard labor iu travelling over what could hardly be described as one of her M.-ijesty'd roads. Having attained the ne plus ultra of tbe journey, I was introduced to the Messrs. Zfda and parly, the original prospectors, who hold 16 acres under lease, whereon they are prosecuting their mining work with vigor. Other claims are taken up by parlies North and South of the prospectors for a considerable distance, all the proprietors beiug seriously and energetically bent ou proving their ground. lat once proceeded to gather some particulars of the extent and richness of these reefs, which briefly are as follows : — That in addition to numerous small and undoubtedly gold-bearing leaders, of more or les value chiefly composed of hard white solid quartz, there exists an apparently main reef, averaging, perhaps, 12 feet in width, ruuning N.E. aud S.W. and dipping slightly to the West, traceable on the surface from No. 2 South to No. 1 north. This is composed of a blueish-white quartz and solid outer slaie wall on either side. The stone is exceedingly easily broken out, as wheu disturbed with the pick it assumes very much the small audit-regular form of stoue when broken by a stone breaker, and has a similar appearance both in respect to size aud character vvhere it is opened' out in the Prospectors' No. 1 South and No. 1 North. .."As yet the reef .has- only been exposed at- a'. 'short ..distance "-from the surface in , Various places,, but sundry tunnels, are being proceeded . with which will cut tKe reef at a considerably lower Forjemainder'ofNewssee Fourth page .

level. Gold visible to the naked eye i not frequently met with in the solid stone, but excellent prospects can be obtaiued from auy dishful of stuff taken promiscuously from almost any part of the reef and; what is remarkahle, no difference is perceptihle in a prospect obtained from the drive in No, 1 north or iu No. 1 soutl}. The gold is fine and heavy, and has a peculiarly dull dark re appearauce. The utmost confidence is expressed by the holders of the several claims in the payable quality of the reef, although no wild enthusiasm as to fabulous yields is indulged in, andall work requiring. fo be performed preparatory to the introduction of machinery is being pushed on vigorously. The prospectors refuse to form a company to work tiieir claim, electing rather to obtain the necessary appliances nt their owu private cost. Nos. land 2 souih, however, have amalgamated, and are offi-iiug liberal terms to parties in towu who seem in'cliued to establish a public company to work those claims. Tlie carriage of all machinery will have to be performed in boats and taken up the Buller river fr.-m Westport to the junction of the Lyell, and hence up the latter creek for about 2\ miles, in which distance the only, but real, difficulty will be experienced. There is oue redeeming feature in the journey downwards from -the Lyell wheu compared with the arduous and protracted undertaking of going up the river, for on the payment of £1 you can generally Becure a boat, in which you will be transferred to Westport, a distance of 60 miies, in five hours. Unfortunately, in consequence of the flooded state of the rivers, which prevented the up journey being made, I was unable to avail myself of this easy method of transit, and had to return the same way I cauiej which occupied two days, luckily, however, without the wet weather experienced in our outward travels. Unfortunately the hopes which the inhabitants of Wellington entertaiued of having the city lighted with ga3 at aD early [ date, are doomed tobe disappointed, or at all events deferred; Through some informality, the Gas Company's -Bill hasbeen thrown out, and we will, in all probability, be compelled to grope in darkness for another twelve month or' no.— Post. Some of the female supporters of the women's question in' Germany appear to be taking very practical steps. A tailor's apprentice, of. about eighteen years of age, was lately arrested at Rastatt for some quarrel. Oh hieing brought to the police, however, the apprentice turned out to bea young girl of Vienna, who had worked for several years in the tailor's trade in various towns, and had all the testimonials required by law. The policeweije in great perplexity as to the course thatshould be pursued with "the prisoner. The Fenian Insurrection in CaHADA.— Tljis , affair which, as .related in the." late .telegrams,; presented so serious an 'aspect, is treatedby the American papers as simply, a' ludicrous farce. The New YorhP. Tribute .. describes the enterprise 'after, .the. jollowing cruel fashion; — "A plaiu narrative of this story. — a* war stopped by a Marshal and one deputy, a whole army defeated 'dnd'ctmpleiefy' rbuted by two mpn — is so utterly ludicrous that no comment can i.mprove it: But in fact we have no desire. to dwell upon the/farcical features of this new; discovery jn, strategy. We have no disposition to speculate upon what would have happened if Wellington had been. arrested by a sheriff's officer in the-battle of Waterloo, or Grant lodged in jail by a- Virginia coustahle, ■ while the 'Army ot the, "Potomac was fighting in the wild.-rne's's. ' ! Tlie" serious side of Ger.eral O'NeiPs ridiculous 'I'H under is too painful to be laughed at. "l'he 1 folly bf this charlatan has costth-otisamls of working people the last dollar ot their savings, and perliaps some poor fellows their lives. Tfc t has degraded Irishmen in the" estimation of iheir f'elTuW'-oitiz.'US; : -who will perhaps overlook the diffeience between the pa- - 11 ioi ism .of. the : people and the imbecile vanity of tiie lexers. These are the, sad results of- i he late, -Fenian invasion. We e;m only' hope, that: the rank: and file may yet home quickly 1 and sound, and save their carpet-bag's. ■■<■■ . '* Philadelphia now has eighteen daily newspapers.