REEFTON.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1005, 17 September 1872, Page 2

REEFTON.

(FROM OUR OWX (JORttESrON'DEVT.) September 11, The defeat of the I'ox and Vogel Ministry, though by no means unexpected has occasioned the most sincere regret all throughout this district, for with their deposition and the advent of Mr Curtis to power all hopes of the much desired severance of the SouthWest goldfields from Nelson, for a year at, least seem to be at an end. As a matter of course the two West Coast members Messrs O'Conor and White whose adverse votes decided eventually the ministerial fate, have come in for a liberal share of odium in consequence, and their conduct is freely spoken of in terms more forcible than complimentary. An effort was made to give expression to this feeling in the same way that you did in Weatport and the people of the Grey in their turn. Saturday evening was fixed for the ceremony, the effigies were prepared, but the rain poured down in torrents, and postponement was necessary. On Monday evening it csme off, though owing to the interference of some of Mr. O'Conor's rabid pa tisans, some inteirapt'o . tojk place, and the manifestation was not as successful as it ought to have been. It was however accomplished, the figures were first duly hung and the corpses subsequently consumed to the great amusement of a large number of persons who were present. Without reference to this mode of expressing opinion at all, OConor's conduct has excited the most heartfelt disquiet, particularly as within a very few weeks, if not days, it is said he promised faithfully, or rather faithlessly, to support the late Ministry on account of the way in which they had dealt with the Coast, and in order to achieve the longed-for " unification " of Government throughout its limits. Everything reasonable that was asked of Mr Eox was granted, roads have been made, telegraphic communication established, the goldfields mismanagement clearly shown, the protection of West Coast ports promptly provided for, and the crowning mercy of all, _ separation from Nelson, all but achieved when the votes of Messrs O'Conor and AVhite blighted the fair prospect. Should there bo a dissolution eventually Mr O'Conor may bid farewell to any other chance of selling his constituents a second time in this or in any other manner. The chief social'excitement of the week ha? been the Costello mystery, and I regret to say that tho fate of the missing man remains as. yet undiscovered. Search parties weut out I

on Sunday and have been seeking for tlio body in the locality where Barton alias Torkey confessed to hare assisted to " put it away," but as yet without success. To-day the bellman went round the town calling for further volunteers to make a thorough search of Boatman's Creek and district, and large numbers of men have responded to the call. They will start out tomorrow (Thursday) morning, and will be supplied with provisions and other necessaries that have been purchased by public subscriptions. It is intended to scour every spot near and drag the creek from end to end, and there are great hopes that some light will be thrown on this dark matter. There are also a good many, to whom Costello was known, coming from the reefs, and altogether it is expected that over a hundred volunteers will join in the expedition, so that something may be expected to come of it. The prisoners, Sibree alias Yankee Charley, and Barton were brought up on remand to-day at the Resident Magistrates' Court. A witness, one of Mullins' mates, corroborated the evidence given on a former occasion as to Mullins returning to his tent on the night that Yorkey made the confession in a great state of excitement, and also proved that he heard Yorkey on the following morning ask why be made such a fuss about Costello's affair, and further request him to say nothing about it. Another witness named Deehan proved Costello went with him to his tent with the intention of sleeping there. "Whilst unfastening the door however Costello desired him to go with him and have a drink at Yankee Charley's before turning in. Deehan refused to do this and Costello went away by himself for that declared purpose. Sibree's hut, I may add, is close to Deehan's tent. This was the last that was ever seen of Costello and the fact goes very greatly to corroborate Barton's confession. At the request of the police the prisoners were again remanded, The police have discovered some clothes belonging to Sibree on which stains, apparently of blood, are, and they have been handed to the newly arrived medical man Dr Bulmer to analyse and give evidence on. It is feared that the " putting away " consisted of either burying the body in the bush or throwing it down a diggers' hole and covering it with earth. In either case discovery is vory doubtful, but it is to be hoped in such a case that accident or providence may bring it about.

Whilst on the subject of prisoners, I may again revert to the lieefton Gaol, which is at present a disgraoe to humanity. The building is 15 by 20, one "'cell" is 6 by 11, and the other containing the balance of space, into this are huddled indiserimately to-dav the men accused of murder, a larceny prisoner doing six months, who boasts that he has spent 32 years of his lite in gaol, and is reported during his gaol experiences to have discharged the duties of hangman, another serving a sentence of p month, a drunkard, two men charged with shooting with intent, two men arrested for using insulting language to the Warden, a prisoner whose offence I do not know, and two debtors. In additi >n to this a constable is constantly inside to prevent any communication between Sibree and Barton, to any much more stifling den could hardly be conceived. The idea too of placing debtors in such company is atrocious, and this solely because the Provincial authorities refuse to enlarge the accommodation. As a matter of course, women cannot be arrested, as there is no place to put them in, these facts speak for themselves.

The Eoper Eiver fever is not abated I am sorry to say, and numbers are daily setting out for tbere, and tbe New South wales goldfields. Should the next accounts prove favorable a formidable exodus may be looked for and a large portion of the West Coast miners will be lost to this colony. Had the Nelson Groverninent made roads and tracks, and thereby rendered the country acceptable to the miner, we need not have feared Eoper or other rushes, for there is gold in quantity yet undiscovered on tbe Coast, that is by the unjust and foolish parsimony, locked up, that would, under different circumstances, been got, and the population thereby retained.

The tramway to Black's Point, commenced by Mr Courtney some months ago, and abandoned, has been again taken up, and work has been resumed. There is little doubt that now it will be carried out, and when it is it will prove of vast service in transporting heavy machinery to the vicinity of the reefs. In that dh'ection, at present drays and waggons have to travel up the bed of the river, over comparatively huge boulders, and can only be got up with great difficulty, adding materially to the cost of machinery transit.

Coal of excellent quality has been found within half a mile of the town, and shortly this mineral will no doubt ba extensively used, coal in fact is abundant in the district, aud will prove of material service in quartz crushing operations in lieu of wood, which has been hitherto used as fuel. Apropos of coal, the Ajax Company (Mace's), have erected a most ingenious and excellently constructed self acting tramway for obtaining their coal supply. They get the coal from Murray Creek, which is on the other side of the hill from their claim, but by their arrangements one truck running down drags the other up, and no other motive power is required. I am

not engineer enough.to explain detail but so it is.

There is but little mining news tofl tell, but I may say that things are! going on steadily and well. Thel Inglewood claimholdera have formed aa track from their mine to the Westlandl Company's crushing plant, and intend! to pack dowti about thirty tons or so,! aa a fair trial crushing prior to going: to further expense. The stone got out looks well, and will no doubt give a very good yield. Auderson'B is looking well, and the same may be said of a great many others. The last piece of machinery for the Band of Hope on Shiel's, arrived to-day, and the company expect to crush in about two month b. The affairs of the Westland 1 Crushing Company (Rhody Byan's) remain in statu quo, though the machinery is to be so far utilised as to crush for other claims. At present there is little or no work being done on it, but probably more active operations may be projected, as Mr Carreraa formerly a member of the County 1 Council of Westland, was appointed 1 Mining Manager a few days ago. Good accounts are received from! Boatman's and Larry's. At the latter the prospectors expect to have their machinery completed very soon, and the stone they have got out shows excellent prospects. Several patches of alluvial ground have been recently opened, and the old workings are yielding satisfactory returns. Some of the old miners at Soldier's are about to bring in a head race a mile and a quarter in length, and expect it to pay them handsomely from the success they have already met with, with a very limited supply of water. At Devil's Creek some good alluvial has been got, and the miners there, though few in number, are in good spirits. I will forward other items by the first opportunity.