REEFTON.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 918, 25 January 1872, Page 2

REEFTON.

(FRcnr OUK OWN correspondent). A rush took place to Boatman's Creek on Monday, 17th inst., in consequence of a miner named J. Baigent and five others applying at Eeefton for a prospecting area. It seems that Baigent and a minor named G-affney picked up some fine specimens of gold bearing quartz in Little Boatman's Creek, which had come down in a slip from the main range, with such other evidence as led them to believe that a good quartz reef existed in this hill. The five prospectors applied for a prospecting area at Reefton, after which a regular rush set in. There were about a hundred men on the ground when your correspondent left, and there were 12 claims marked out on the,'supposed line of reef.* There is every probability of rich discoveries of quartz reefs taking place in this district, as the ranges run in one unbroken line from the head of the left hand branch of the Inaugahua Eiver to the Lyell, and it only needs good roads and cheap provisions to indues the miners to prospect this extensirt belt of country.

We have bad a public meeting here for getting up a petition to abolish the leasing system, as the new arrivals say the country is locked up from them, owing to some of the speculators and others having interests in five and six different leases ; but your correspondent thinks the best remedy against the abuse of the leasing system would be to let the Government give the leases at once when applied for, and not to keep men waiting five weeks and sometimes two months ; also to appoint some competent officer to see that the conditions of the leases were fulfilled by employing a sufficient number -of men to represent the interests held in the large areas of ground. Considerable excitement took place here when Mr "Woolley, the surveyor, laid out part of the Camp Reserve in new streets. There was such a rush that the surveyor had scarcely time to block oat the sections before ,the anxious land speculators put in their pegs—several claimants' wishing to secure valuable allotments, and disputes arising as to who pegged out the ground first. The disputants agreed to settle it out of court, whicl they did in tme orthodox style. Tbere was also a rush to Black's Point for

own allotments, owing to the surveyor aving laid out a baso lino from the iver. A great deal ef excitement took lace on Saturday, the 20th instant, win" to the leases held by Messrs 'renery aud Mace being lumped, also 3 veral other leases on Kelly's line. il ie go proceedings will likely bring a oodly crop of litigation to the legal rofession.