REEFTON.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 883, 4 November 1871, Page 2

REEFTON.

(prom our own correspondent). In the Warden's Court, Reefton, on the 27th ult, the following business was disposed of:—

Woods v Nicholson.—This was an action for the recovery of a half share in No. 2, north, Smith's line of reef. The plaintiff stated that he agreed with the defendant for the purchase of a half share, and to pay the latter £2 per week until the party struck the reef. A witness, named John Overend, corroborated the evidence of the plaintiff. James Johnstone, on behalf of the defendant, stated that he was present when the defendant said, that he had given the half share to a man named Yorkey, a mate of plaintiff's. The defendant's evidence was, that he agreed to give the plaintiff a half share in the claim for a payment of £2 weekly, but Woods had not accepted the offer, until he had found out that the claim was likely to prove payable. The Warden, in the absence of sufficient proof establishing the agreemeat, gave judgment for the defendant.

Ryder v Johnstone.—This was an action to recover £6 balance of wages due. It appeared from the evidence, that the plaintiff had worked a sharo in a claim on Kelly's reef, consisting of six shareholders. The claim had been worked by half the party in turn, the three who were not working paying the others £2 per week. After heariug a mass of evidence the Warden gave judgment for the plaintiff for £3 10s.

Rhody Ryau and party v MCloy was an action brought to compel the defendant to sign an agreement under which a certain interest in a quartz mining claim was to be assigned in consideration of crushing machinery being erected. Mr Pitt, who appeared for the defendant, obtained a nonsuit on the ground that the Warden had no jurisdiction. Gilmer and party applied for registration of a head-race conveying water from Soldier's Gully to the applicants' claim. Granted. A large number of applications for races, &c, were granted. After closing the Court on Friday, the Warden proceeded to Christy's accompanied by Mr Pitt. Tiiere was a considerable fresh iu the river at the time, and while crossing Lagoon Creek a distance of eight miles from Reefton, they were washed from their horses, Mr Pitt having a narrow escape from being carried down the stream. Pell's cargo boat arrived at Reefton, on Sunday, with the third load of machinery weighing about five tons. Fletcher's powerful team of horses dragged the heavily loaded boat up the shallows. Mr Cooper again fills the office of Warden's Clerk at Eee''ton. Mr Hunter proceeds to the Grey district. A number of shares have changed hands during the week at improved prices, and something like an activo demand is springing up. Some scrip in Anderson's Co., have been sold at £2 17s 6d. Mr P. Monaghan has just completed a fine store 50ft. x 24fc, and other business places are in course of construction. A building, just completed by Mr Cameron of Half Ounce, was destroyed last week by a tree falling across it. An adjoining cottage was also damaged, but fortunately no loss of life was entailed. An opening ball given by Mr Cato proved a very successful affair. The room was tastefully decorated, and the company appeared to thoroughly enjoy their evening's entertainment. THE REEFS AT THE INANGAHUA and MURRAY CREEK.

An experienced Australian reefer now at the Inangahua, writes to a private friend in Nelson, on the 27th instant, as follows : " I have been to visit our reefs at the Inangahua and Murray Creek, distant from Westport 65 miles, or thereabouts. 1 was very agreeably surprised indeed to find such an extent of reefs as exist there, and are now opened. Just fancy to yourself a mountain or leading range, running east and west, where, at an elevation of 1000 feet, there are three lines of reefs running at right angles through the range ; and, strange to tell about 300 feet down from the top, the reefs crop out on each side of the hill. " I spent three weeks examining the various claims, and I am quite sure from what I have seen, they will pay from 2oz to 4oz to the ton. In fact, they are proved by crushiiigs of stone taken from them. All that is wanted now is machinery to crush the stone. There is one steam machine now being conveyed from Westport to the reefs, and another is on its way from Melbourne. " I have a notion that an atmospheric battery would answer here as being so very light, and easy of transit." It will be observed that the opinion formed by the writer of these lines respecting the reefs, has been fairly borne out by the results of the first crushing of stone from the claim so long and laboriously worked at by Antonio Zala and party.—" Colonist."