THE LYELL.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 699, 18 August 1870, Page 3

THE LYELL.

(MOM Oim OWU COEBESPONBENT.) Aug 13. At 'the reefs everything is quiet hough progressing satisfactorily ; paries at the south end pushing on exacting to cut the reef in their tuunel ihortly. Among the alluvial workings to the district a few parties have lately |et in. Thompson and party are just preparing to flume the Lyell Creek, Ibelow the Maori Bar where its bed is confined in a gorge, hitherto unworked |n consequence of the difEcuilty attending. They propose to_ work it iby means of constructing wing dams. ?The capacity of their boxes will be f&boutsix feet by three, I believe. ; Above the Lyell, on Dublin Terrace, : a fresh party have lately set in, [besides two or three others who are 'engaged on the North Bank of the ißuller, between this and Andrew store, about 10 miles up. Cox land party's ground is situated here, and will be proved in about a fortnight. It is thought to be very good; and, indeed, after the seven months that they have expended in cutting their tail race, they deserve to get something handsome. The race has been cut wide enough to admit of a truck passing for the conveyance of large bould- ; ers, a great portion of Its entire lcjugili of 300 feet having been through the solid reef, and it has been a very tedious job altogether. On the other side of the river. Wood and party are going to bring in water on to ground which, during wet seasons, when supplied with sufficient quantity, has paid well. This will take some time, and requires some trouble in bringing in two small creeks, situated below Deep Dale across that gorge. The principle they intend to adopt, with this end, is to suspend the boxes by means of wire rope. They are men long experienced in the district, and are pretty sanguine of success.

Next to them, some distance further down, there are two Maoris working, but I believe they are not doing very much on account of the scarcity of water.

I noticed two or three canoes, used by parties, also engaged on the other | side of the B idler, but, beyond those I have mentioned, I did not hear what the owners are doing. Proceeding a little above Todd's, one comes to G-ibson and party's ground and one or two so called "hatters," but I don't think they are getting much gold just at present. I cannot, however, omit to mention one of the latter, who must be quite an acquisition to the locality—an old Highlandman, who is especially great in the terpischorean festivities of his country, and who, with his venerable growth of beard, pourtrays the bards of old to a nicety, especially when seen taking a survey of the territory between his four pegs, of which he seems quite conscious of being lord and master. In consideration of his yearly contribution to the revenue he undoubtedly may be so considered.

Murphy and party have just commenced a long race to work ground which has been left only half-wrought on account of this necessary. Next to them again is Mr Hopher who has a share in the reefs and is working a piece of ground just this side of the Newton.