REEFTON.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 970, 14 May 1872, Page 2

REEFTON.

(from our own correspondent.) May 9. A largo public indignation meeting adjourned from the previous Thursday, took place at Slattery's Hotel, Broadway, on Saturday evening 'lth ultimo. The room was crowded, and there could not have been less than from GOO to 700 peoplo present, chiefly miners who listened very, attentively to the several speakers who took part in the proceedings Mr Home, being called to the chair, opened the meeting by explaining its object, which was to consider the adoption of the Memorial drawn up by the committee appointed at the previous meeting, to be forwarded to His Excellency the Governor, praying that the delegated powers vested in the Superintendent of Nelson, be withdrawn, and after a few other appropriate remarks, the chairman called on Mr "W. M'Lean to move the first resolution. Mr M'Lean then addressed the meeting at considerable length denouncing the action of the Nelson Government as ruinoas to the future prosperity of the whole district, and alluding to the grievances wo labored under, proceeded to say that the only way to get justice done to the district was to petition the Governor to withdraw those powers vested in the Superintendent, which he is no longer capable of controlling. In conclusion he begged to propose that the petition which would be now read to the meeting, bo adopted, and trusted it would be carried unauiinousty. (Applause.) Mr Pitt after a few remarks, read the Memorial, which on its conclusion was received with loud and continoua cheering.

Mr Donovan seconded the resolution, which on being put to tho meeting was carried unanimously, with three cheers. Threo groans wore called for Curtis, which wero heartily given. Several other gentlemen addressed tho meeting during the evening, amongst them Mr Button Solicitor, whoso remarks wero well received. A vote of thanks to tho Chairman, terminated tho proceedings. The Memorial is now being very numerously signed in this district, and it is tho intention of the Committco to forward copies for signature to tho several centres of population on tho South-west Goldfields. Already can-, vassers are at work in the following places: Boatman's, Painkiller, Redman's, .Flowers Creek, Anderson's, Rainy Creek, Larry's, and German Jack's. The funeral of tho Chinaman, Ah Mcc, whose death I mentioned in my last letter, took place on Friday, after the usual Chinese custom, several of the deceased's countrymen following tho remains.

Mining matters, and businoss generally, now look somewhat dull, and tho agitation arising from tho lease question, will not tend to improve matters until it is definitely settled. Among matters of minor importance I may note that at Anderson's the tunnel has been driven upwards of 500 feet; the head race brought in nearly to the machine site, and the building of the water-wheel is now approaching completion. On Adam Smith's line the Energetic have put in a drive of GO feet or thereabout, through somo hard flinty ground, but have not yet struck tho reef. In tho Victorian claim the work has been let by tender, and the contracts, so far, are able to dispense with timbers. Tho All Nations tunnel attracts the notice of every visitor, it is a fine piece of mining work ; being carried in a direct line for nearly threo hundred foot at height of six feet, with four feet width at bottom atßhody Ryan's. All hands are busy putting up tho machinery, and laying down trams. They expect to be in working order in seven or eight weeks. On Shiel's line the Band of Hope are also busy tunnelling in order to connect their tramway moio directly with the paddock. The machinery for this claim is now on route. Some good stone was shewn here last week obtained from Caples. Judging from remarks made as to its value, and the nature of the leader from which it was obtained there seems every likelihood that the discovery will prove important. A smoll rush took place to Italian Gullv this morning, but no definite particulars are yet to hand. Our Warden has found time to place the Relief Committee on a permanent footing. At a meeting, convened by him, a working Committee was elected, and as regards subscriptions now in hand, or to be collected; Mr Broad said that the promised subsidy of ,-£2 for =6l, might be relied on. Are you similarly active at Westport? May 11.

The refusal to grant leases, and curtailmont of the few granted, will have the effect of retarding tho deveiopemcut of the reefs, for at least twelve months through the leases not being granted. Two batteries ordered to be forwarded for claims up hero have been countermanded, as capitalists will not lay out large sums of money on small claims, such as tho Nelson Government choose to grant. There are a great many mysterious rumours as to the result of Mace's crushing, but I am. happy to inform you that they are false reports. I have it from the most reliable authority in tho district, that the*result of crushing 260 tons of stone, was 1100 ozs. of amalgam, which gives over 3ozs. of retorted gold to the ton. This is not from tho best of the stone, as the lower down they go the richer tho quartz looks. Clarke and party, Boatman's Creek, struckthe reef in their claim last week. The stone is looking splendid. I have just seen some quartz brought in form the Prospectors clain, Painkiller Creek, of extraordinary richness. The reef is found on the edge of the. creek, and is two feet six inches thick. They intend sinking their shaft twenty feet lower to further test the reef. Mr Warden Broad, disposed of about forty applications for leases, water rights, races, &c, on Tuesday, He gets through an enormous quantity of work in a very little time, which is great boon to the miners, as it enables them to go to their respective claims withoutwasting time and money, which they can ill afford in paying for hotel expenses. In this he sets a good example to some one I could name not a hundred miles from your locality. He very wisely refuses to grant or recommend the granting of leases on ground where no work has been done, or a reef known to exist. This will bo tho moans of doing away with shepherding. But he has stated that he would grant protection for half of tho shareholders of claims, to prospect for the reef, which will enable the nonworkers of reefs to keep the working ' shareholders going until thoy get tho reef. Thisis the surest meaus of inducing tho miners to prospect tho ground, as the whole of the shareholders of a largo claim say twelve men would only bo in each others way until the reef is got. Tho storekeepers up here are sending to the Grey for goods, owing to tho boatmen on the Bullor having raised the freight from ton to fifteen pounds per ton to the landing. The wag.

goners have also raised the freight live pounds per ton more from tho Landing to Reefton, so that the goods are now thirty pounds per ton from Westport, andonly'twonty pounds from tho Grey. Without something ia done to rcduco freight from Westport, tho whole of tho trade will go over the Saddle to G-reymouth. The people thct'o are as sharp as noodles after trade, and talk of driving right through in a day before long. Your Westport men want somo considerable prodding up. Let them start a carrying service of their own, and not be dependent on Tom, Dick and Harry, who stick it on for plunder, while the chance lasts, aud are never satisfied with fair prices.