THE LYELL REEFS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 640, 2 April 1870, Page 2

THE LYELL REEFS.

The prospects of the Lyell district, as a mining centre, are at present better than they have been at any time, superior as that district has always been in point of productiveness. The belief is that it is soon to become a place of considerable prominence as a quartz-reefing district. From the character of the gold found in the Lyell and in one of its tributaries, Irishman's Creek, it has long been suspected that the main stream or some of its branches intersected a quartz reef, and, acting upon this impression, several parties have prospected the neighborhood with a special view to the discovery of a reef. The most persistent of these has been Antonio Zala's party. They have been at work for nine months, and it is believed that they have touched stone which will abundantly reward their labor. On the surface, and in their tunnel, they have come upon leaders, some of them almost horizontal, in which the gold has occasionally been very rich, and they are understood now to have reached the reef, a foot and a half in thickness, and of promising appearance. In a few days sufficient to form a fair crushing will hj« aent down to Westport, and will probably be forwarded to Auckland. One of the party a few days ago sold a fourth of his share for £6O, but the sale is not a criterion of the value of the claim, as it was made more on account of personal necessity for ready cash. There are about a hundred men now in the neighborhood, trying for the reef or working alluvial ground, seven of the parties giving their attention to the reef. They are at work on each side of Zala's tunnel, driving inward towards the apparent run of the reef. The next claims on the north side are held by Pensini and party and by Hunter and party, and the claims next the prospectors on the south side are held by Davie and party and Florian and party. Members of some of the parties have been in town this week, registering rights and doing other necessary business in the Warden's Court; and, among other complaints as to the neglect of the district, they not unnaturally give prominence to the old bug-bear of having to come such a distance to take these necessary steps, while a special appointment is made for Wangapeka.