LYELL.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1168, 17 April 1874, Page 4

LYELL.

[from our own correspondent.] April S. As telegraphic communication with Westport lias been interrupted of late, I will endeavour to supply the deficiency, by sending you what itoms of intelligence I can glean. Monday was to have bsen a great day here, as it was the day gazetted whereou nominations for the District Road Board were to bo made. The flood however detained the Chairman, Mr "Warden Broad, at Christie's from Sunday until yesterday. The flood seems to have been rather severe iu the Inaugahua "Valley. At the Junction the river rose 30 feet, entirely submerging Christie's paddocks and garden, and coming up to the first iloor of his receiving store. Much anxiety is felt here to learn how "Westport and Grcymouth have fared, especially the former, as it is feared that great damage will have been done. Monday was the Court clay, but according to advertisement the Court Btood adjourned until travelling was practicable. Mr "Warden Broad put iu '

an appearance yesterday, having inado Christies on Saturday evening. 'lhe legal gentlemen who generally attend were not so fortunate, having delayed their departure from Reefton until Sunday, by which time tho rivers were impassable. There were no cases of interest before the Court to-day, the only one that can lay claim to being such—Carroll & Cairns v Lyell Creek Quartz Mining Co. —being postponed until the arrival of the gentleman of tho long robo. Much speculation has been afloat as to what steps would be taken with regard to the Road Board election, but this was sot at rest by Mr Warden Broad, at onco issuing a notice convening a meeting for the nomination of candidates last evening. At the appointed hour there was a pretty good attendance of voters. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings stated that as Monday, tho particular da3 r to render legal the nomination, had elapsed, ho would refer them to the clause of the Act, which, in case of no nomination being made, the Superintendent was empowered to appoint the members constituting the Board. lie suggested that they should proceed as if no delay bad taken place, and in the event of only six gentlemen being nominated, he would be prepared to advise the Superintendent to appoint those gentlemen, but if more were nominated and a poll demanded, he would recommend the Superintendent to appoint tho first six on the list, at the close of the poll, lie felt sure the Superintendent would be glad to be relieved of the invidious duty of appointing members himself, and the only difference would be, that they would be gazetted as appointed by the Superintendent, instead of being returned by him, (the Warden, as returning officer) as duly elected. No objection having been offered to this course of procedure, the Chairman called upon the meeting to nominate their candidates. Tho following gentlemen were accordingly duly nominated: James Kennedy Sloan, David Leslie, William Burns, John Carroll, John Fennel], James Ryan, Thomas O'Brien, James Graham Niven, Peter S. Deinpsey, T. Blair, (who declined to serve), Robert Cairns, and John Irvine Beck. These nominations having been duly seconded, the Chairman, called for a show of hands, which resulted in his declaring the following elected :—Messrs Ryan, Fennell. Deinpsey, Carroll, D. Leslie, and J. 1. Beck. A poll was demanded by Mr Cullen, on behalf of his nominee, Mr J. G. Niven, and it was ordered to take place on Monday. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, terminated the proceedings. There is very little to report in mining matters. The latest novelty is the pegging oft' of a lease claim within half a mile of the townskip. It is situate on Cascade Creek—a steep little rivulet running clown from Manuka Plat and crossing the track about half-way between the township and the Maori Bar. The prospects are said to be good, as there are said to be two reefs and several leaders in it, more or less gold bearing. Shortly before Christmas last a largenugget was found in this creek of considerable size, with quartz embedded in it. It was found between the track and the Lyell, and a party set in near where it was found, but could not obtain gold in sufficient quantity to remunerate them i'or their labor, so they gave it np. This nugget (for which the finder refused .£l3) had evidently not travelled very far, and could only have come down this little creek. "So at least thought some parties, who have been rewarded for their perseverance in prospecting the neighborhood, by the discovery of payable gold. At New Creek the prospects of the Maiden City Co. (prospectors') have been sufficiently good to warrant their calling for tenders for a tunnel 250 feet long, which will represent an outlay of at that their enterprise will meet with the reward it so richly deserves.