WEST COAST

Otago Witness, Issue 1476, 28 February 1880, Page 22

WEST COAST

A meeting of those favourable to forming an association for the purpose of prospecting the largo flat on tho Seventeen. Mile Baach waa held at Greymouth on the 12th inst. The Chairman explained the object of the meeting, Er.d abated tho advantages that would accrue to the business people of Greymouth if a gold field waa ope»ed upon ihe fiat, of which theie wai every probability, and for this put pose a deep tail-race should be put in to the ground so x>s to prove it. A liat had been taken round town of those willing to subscribe for the above object, and 47 persons had put down their names as wiliing to pay £23 10s per weak in all. It was proposed to employ 12 good men, who were williag to give their labour for 30a per -week each, and in the event of gold being struck, the proceeds would be divided between the workmen and the contributors. The Warden (Mr Mackay), who took a great interest in the matter, had granted protection of 2t acres, and 50 yards on each aide of tho tail-race for its full length, and had promised to recotntnead the association to tho Government as deserving of a liberal subsidy. The Chairman also pointed out that as soon as tho association paid £50 in wagfs they would be entitled to claim an equal amount from the County Council, which he had no doubt would ba willingly paid. Iv reply to a queetion, Mr Garven said that he thought it would tako aboub bix uiontha to complete the work, but that 13 weeks' contributions at tha rate promised, and the Government and Coanty subsiJies, would complete it. A committee of seven was then formed, and the meeting adjourned. Speaking of the Just-in- Time claim, at Reef ton, the loangahua Herald of the sth inßt. siys :— Some four rnmtha ago a contract was let by the directors of this company. The work required was to break down quartz over the present tunnel. A party of Cornishmen were the successful tenderers. During the progress of the contract there have never bean fewer than 14 men employed, and a 8 many as 20 have often been on. The contractors now find that to prooeed at the price would lead them into further trouble, as, after payirg the wages hands, the balance left has been very trifling ; and in some instances at the end of the month, after squaring up, each shareholder in the contract has hid but a few shillings. So matters ended 1 s1;s 1 ; Saturday, for it was resolved not to oontimie the contract any longer. The manager l<--,n now a number of men on day labour, Li the different Bfcopea there is a moderate show of reef, aad the aspect of affairs is encouraging. — Speaking of the Fiery Cross claim, the ssame paper says :— Leaving the perpendicular shaft, we proceedod in an easterly direction for a distance of 60 or 70 feet, and then followed a drive on the line of reef. OverheaJ I noticed that the ground for some distance had been worked. After travert ing a distance of about 400 feet from the turntable, we arrived at the extremity of the driving. There waa exposed fully three feet of r?flf from the roof to the foot of the face, and tho manager says that the lode so far driven on (40 feet) was of similar width, taking the average of the block from end to end, aud he thiaka ihat the q-iartz procured up to date from tho time the loda was firat obtained will yield fully l^oz par ton. The driving of this level ia being performed by contract. Tho distance let by the company to the present contractors ia 200 feet, 70 feet of which has already been diiven. Stoping will not be corameccfd until after tbio work is out of hand. Allowing for the usual despatch to be made iv the r-XRCution of the driving' of this levtl, the block now being driven will not ba started to be broken clown before the monfh of April.

At a meoiing of the Hokitika Prcspecting Association on the 10ib, it w&s resolved that two prosppcting parti* s Bhould be fitted out — one of four men to prospect the leading range between the Kanieri and Arahura Rivers, the d*pth of siukiug to be from 40 feet to 80 feet. The other waa alao a party of four, to prospect between iho Ross road and tha Lako, near Woodstock, tho estimated depth of sinking to be from 90 feet to 100 feet.