BULLER AND LYELL.
[FROJL OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] The rain which set in last Tuesday, continued without intermission, and poured down until Friday caused a heavy fresh in the Buller and Inaugahua rivers, and cutting off all communication between the sea board and the inland districts. The mail from Grey mouth and Reefton was detained at the junction of the Grey, the coach being nearly swept away by the force of the current. The down mail from Reefton had to turn back after trying to cross the river three times. The river has puddled the road into a most miserable condition between Westport and the Lyell, the worst portion being between the Biackwater and the the new dray road contract. Horses and men almost disappear in attempting to flounder through the mud, the Survey Department having laid this portion of the road out fvr the purpose of calling for tenders to continuc formation of dray road further down towards the Biackwater, but for some cause it is not to be made at present.
A portion of the Lyell road, near Mathew's, is in a most dangerous condition. It is with the greatest difficulty travellers can get through it, the mud being up to the saddle girths. The efficiency (?) of the Road Boards in keeping open the roads for traffic may he seen from the following:—Mr Warden "Broad, going from Keefton to the Lyell to hold the usual monthly Court, on Hearing the Lyell Ferry, was brought to a stand by a landslip which had come down from the range, blocking up the road to an extent sufficient to stop all horse traffic. Application was made the Road Board to clear the obstruction. and the reply was they had no funds, and having adjourned for three months they could do nothing in the matter, consequently no Court could be held until Constable Hunter and Mr Sullivan, the Lyell ferryman, cleared a passage for the Warden. Similar instances of the inefficiency of Koad Boardism can be seen on the West port road, and in fact on every road in the district. The Government when applied to say they can do nothing, as roads are handed over to the Board; and as the Board cannot do anything but adjourn for three months, they seem only an obstruction, and it is time they were done away with. At New Creek the Ticiibornc Company having driven their tunnel 70 feet, cut the reef 3 feet thick, showing splendid gold. Owing to recent discoveries in the Lyell Creek company's claim shares have risen from £6O to £2OO. Croawell's boat was detained at the Junction for a week being unable to proceed to the Lyell owing to ilood in the river. The contractor expects to finish the dray road in three weeks. Mr Dobson, Provincial Engineer, paid us a flying visit, and ho intimated that he would not pass a portion of No. 2 Section, which was said to be finished, until the contractor puts three inches more gravel upon it. This portion was sub-lct, and some difference of opinion exists between Doyle and party, the sub-contractors, and their principals, as to the precise stipulations of the agreement. James Blyth who was employed at White Cliffs on road work, received a severe bruise on the legs last Tuesday. While engaged in picking out a piece of the reef fell upon him. : A subscription was got up for him by Mr James Edge, who succeeded in co. ccting about £3O. j
Reefton and Lyell mails were despatched on Monday per Mr 0. Croawell's boat. Fifteon passengers went by the same boat from Junction to Westport.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WEST18740901.2.15
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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1207, 1 September 1874, Page 2
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606BULLER AND LYELL. Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1207, 1 September 1874, Page 2
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