REEFTON AND THE LYELL.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1073, 20 May 1873, Page 2

REEFTON AND THE LYELL.

(from our owx correspondents.) Tho welcome change iu the weather whereby the long protracted drought has been succeeded by a copious downpour, has removed a very tantalising source of annoyance from one section of our digging friends, which, one day giving promise of abundance of rain, thereby raised hopes only to bo die-

polled by glorious sunshine the next. It is, however, fortunate that what does not suit one class, is exactly what another is anxious for ; and though the diggers of Redmans and its vicinity have been ready to ' anathematize the barren clouds, the boys in Boatman's are about as still ready, to pray for a continuance of 'fine weather, until such times as their machinery shall have been safely deposited on its intended site. But lam anticipating a little, so I will hark back to Redman's again. All the parties engaged'in'this gully have goodly heaps of washdirt, and all preparations made for running it through sharp 'now that circumstances will allow. Several of the claims have had a considerable amount of labor bestowed upon them. For instance, Lynch and party have 'constructed a tail race 2000 feet long, and varying in depth from six to fourteen feet, coved and close-lathed besides bringing in two head-races.

At Boatman's the united efforts of the Fiery Cross and Just in Time are being directed to prepariug for the erection of their machinery which will arrive from Nelson in a few days. Brighter days, I anticipate, are in store for Larry's district, and that at no very remote period. A reef, such as No. 2 south have struck, 18 feet through, with stone as rich, if not richer that, in the prospector's, that caused the first rush, cannot fail to attract hither some of those parties who pegged out the adjoining claims on the same line of reef.

Betweee Larry's and the Landing there is a party of two out prospecting who are causing some little excitement in that neighborhood. They have endeavoured to enshroud their movemovements in so much seeresy and mystification as to have led some to imagine that they are " doing a stroke," but others, who know the party well, are convinced that they are making a great fuss about a mere bagetelle, and that all their night inarches and redherring trailing resemble the poet's:— Ocean into tempest wrought To waft a feather or to drown a fiy !

and that the upshot of the matter will prove it to be " much ado about nothing." I must however confess that I do not incline to the latter opinion, but nous verrons, time will show, and a3 soon as anything definite oozes out I will let you know. At the Landing I was not a little surprised to learn that signs of vitality had recently manifested themselves in that quiet little township, which was generally supposed to be in articulis mortis. I trust that these will not prove to be the throes and pangs of impending dissolution, the flickering in the socket of life's short candle. I allude to the agitation that is being up with respect to extending the main Westport road a few chains beyond its present termination, at present it ends rather abruptly, it must be confessed, in a cul de sac. It is contended that by cutting a road round the gradually sloping spur that interposes itself between the road and the flat that stretches away down to the junction of the Buller and Inangahua rivers, a great boon would be conferred upon all classes of the community throughout the Inangahua Valley. And there can be no doubt that it would do so for it would open through communication between the Junction and Ecefton. This would be a boon to the settlers, to the boatmen, and to the merchants of your thriving seaport. The boats which leave Westport have generally cargo for both the Lyell and Keefton, and if this road were made they could discharge that for the latter place at the Junction, and proceed to the Lyell calling on their return for their back freight. The charj-> for conveyance of produce to Westport would be reduced, and the settler would obtain better returns. The Westport merchants would also, in consequence of reduced freight be enabled to compete more successfully with the Greymouth men, and as there is every probability of a good state of things being soon established at Larry's and Boatman's, I think it would be to their interest to help forward the movement as much as possible. The road that would require to be made would not be more tbr.n sixty chains, and the cutting would not be heavy or expensive, owing to the slope being so slight. No doubt "mine host," of Christy's will not approve of such a scheme, that he will complain of vested rights assailed, and strive to prove that it will be an extravagant waste of public money. But " the greatest good of the greatest number," although a principle that does not find so much favor in the Colony as does that which is profanely called the eleventh commandment—"take care of number one"- yefc undoubtedly it is " the correct thing" and must ultimately prevail even though "number one" bo left out in the cold.

Matters were looking very quiet at the Lyell at the time of my last visit, three days ago, great complaints existing us to the scarcity of ready money. The new postal arrangements have given great satisfaction. The Court was not held until Thursday, the "Warden having been detained to Eeefton by a press of official business until a lato hour on Tuesday evening The cases were of local interest only. I see that it has been notified that in future disturbers of the public peace will bo sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine. This is a step in the right direction, for the Lyell has long enjoyed an unenviable notoriety in this respect. I was glad to hear that the Alpine Company have

ordered eight additional heads of stampers, which are daily expected to arrive, 'and should be still more rejoiced to hear that two or three more machines are to be erected forthwith. The Excelsior are getting out extra rich stdne, and the reef struck in the prospectors ogives promise of good things to come.