THE LYELL.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1116, 17 October 1873, Page 2

THE LYELL.

(-FUOM: OUH OWK CORRESPONDENT.) After many disappointments and vexatious delays the Little Wonder machine has at length been completed, and was on Saturday last formally christened by Mrs Carroll, and has this morning started crushing operations on stone taken from the Little Wonder claim, and from the same leader that gave the splendid average of 8 ozs to the ton. It is the intention of the proprietors to continue crushing on this leader for some time, and there is little doubt but that in a few clays we shall hear how the plates are looking. We must be content for small mercies, but it is a pity that the AVonder machine has not fifteen head of stampers, instead of five, so that the stone from some of the surrounding claims might be tested. The shareholders in these claims, with a blindness almost incomprehensible, have been waiting patiently under the idea that they would get their stone crushed at the Little Wonder, but any two claims on the hill could keep that machine amply employed for the next year at least. Becoming suddenly aware of this tho owners of the different claims held a meeting, and are now in treaty for the leasing of the machine belonging to the Alpine claim, and it is reported that they have every promise of being successful. Let them all woik together and with a will and we may yet see both machines thumping away before the first day of the year 1874. We have been favored (if the expression may be permitted) with a visit from Mr J. Grove, who solicits the honor of representing our district in the Provincial Council. It has been my lot to hear and report upon many electioneering addresses both in this and neighboring colonies, some good, some indifferent, some bad, but for an exhibition of " bad taste," —to use a very mild expression—regarding all matters of interest to miners or a mining community, I most decidedly give Mr Groves' address the palm, and should saggtst that the composer of it should receive a medal, and that the said medal shall be composed of leather. MiGrove is an avowed supporter of Mr O'Couor. but in this instance Mr o'Conor might well exclaim, " save me from my friends."