THE MURRAY REEFS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 779, 21 February 1871, Page 2

THE MURRAY REEFS.

(To the Editor of the Westport Times and Charleston Argus.)

Sir, —Being an individual deeply interested in this isolated part of the country, and whose faith in the future is unlimited, I wish to show one of the causes that the progress of developing some of the richest reef's in New Zealand has beeu retarded. Home three months past Kelly and party sent a ton of stone to Melbourne for trial crushing, which I suppose you are aware of, placing confidence in one of the bankers in (xreymouth, who was to bear all responsibilities in having it forwarded to head-quarters. The consequence is we have been kept in suspense up till Monday, 13tb instant, waiting a return; when received, instead of being in accordance with our opinions, alas, it turned out that the stor.e was duly shipped, and there the matter ended. It appears that the supposed Judas of the expedition returned with a most doleful tale, having lost the bill of lading, and did not know whom his consignee was. It may be the true version of it, or it may not. It would appear as if there existed a desire on the part of some, who are fully impressed with the value of the reels, to throw all possible difficulty in the way of the claimholders, indeed, to starve them out.

But I shall leave the public to form their own opinion. We find the shareholders of'the Murray Creek Cement Company, which is composed of some of the leading men in Greymoutb, have instructed their manager not to crush any stone without receiving the sum of £2 per ton prior to its going through the mill, granting him the privilege in some cases to use his discretion. The whole affair seems as if intentionally embarrassed to protract the prosperitv of the district, If such men, who owe their present exalted position to the toil and sweat of the diggers, cannot find themselves imbued with a little more philanthropy, mingled with less pusillanimity, this place is likely to remain in its present depressed state for some time. If they intend trying Bismarck's policy, they'll find us tougher to be dealt "with than the Parisians. Having no local organ, no mining reporters, neither managers nor board of directors,.! apply myself to your columns. Yours, &c , W. W. Murray Creek, Peb. 18.