NOTES FROM REEFTON, (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1813, 20 August 1886, Page 16

NOTES FROM REEFTON, (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Reefton, August 12. Reform. —The "repairs to the driving wheel were completed by midnight on Tuesday, when the battery was at once started, and has been since fully 'occupied. Lone Star. —The trial crushing from this mine is now in progress, imdwill be finished by to-morrow or Saturday. The plates are showing splendidly, and there is every promise of a splendid return; This mine is now being looked upon as a coming Welcome. Fiery Cross. —Crushing has been resumed and the battery will be kept going until such time as the Just-in-Time is ready to crush. Wealth of Nations. —Still extending the level south, and meeting with loose masses of quartz, but nothing defined or of a permanent character. The share market is inactive, buyers and sellers alike holding off. The wet weather has set in, and there is every likelihood of its continuance for the next month or six weeks, this being the rainy season of the West Coast. Reefton, August 14. The following are the battery returns for the past week: —Welcome, 807oz of amalgam; Venus Extended, 186oz amalgam; United Alpine (Lyell), 388oz amalgam. Fiery Cross.—Owing to the breaking of the couplings of the berdans, the latter cannot be worked. This will delay crushing for a few days. Welcome. —Although the battery only started on Tuesday night, the scraping-up to-day was the heaviest recorded by the company for a length of time past. The quantity of stone crushed was 60 tons, the yield being thus nearly equal to 14oz of amalgam (one-third gold) per ton; and there is every prospect of a tidy dividend being declared later on in the month. Reform. —The manager reports that the winze is now down 25ft, and shows 2f fc of stone carrying fair gold. A foot or two back the reef pinched somewhat, but has since made again, and looks strong. • Inglewood. —Crushing is expected to commence about Monday next. Lone Star. —The crushing is still progressing, but as only five head of stampers are being used, and these only during daylight, the process is slow. The plates look remarkably well. Just-in-Time. —The battery will be started on this company's stone to-morrow night. Eclipse. —A crosscut has been started , from the bottom of the winze into the company's grounds. South Hopeful,—Still driving south on a

fair track of reef. This for some distance past has been very flat, but has now assumed a more favourable angle. Reefton, August 17. Just-in-Time. — News was received to-day from the mine manager stating that stone has been cut in the low level. Nothing much is yet known about the matter. It is, however, in the position where the reef was expected to be met with, and hopes are therefore entertained that it is the main reef. On the strength of this there has been some scurrying about for shares during to-day by the local" brokers, and things have been a little lively. It is a noteworthy fact that all the batteries at Boatmans are now simultaneously at work, viz., Fiery Cross, Just-in-Time, Welcome, and Specimen Hill, the latter crushing from the Lone Star. This is, I believe, the first time that the full crushing power of that part of the district has been in operation at one time. Fiery Cross. — The new wheel for the berdans is expected to reach here to-morrow. In the meantime the battery is fully occupied. Reefton, August 18. Just-in-Time. — The reef in the low level where cut into shows a thickness of 2ft, but it is expected that the width will be shown to be much greater when the lode is opened underneath. Welcome. — The battery is in full work, and. a heavy return of amalgam is expected by Saturday, as the plates are showing well. Lone Star. — This crushing is not yet finished, but will probably be concluded by to-morrow. The share market has been rather active to-day, Just-in-Times being freely operated upon. (From a Correspondent.) Hokitika, August 13. Ross United. — Returns for the week ending sth inst. are 620z 6dwt. The face towards Cousins' hitherto in mullock, has now been broken through into wash. Good underground miners are still exceedingly scarce. The total return from Humphrey's Gully for the last 21 days' sluicing is now given as 1430z The weather has now broken, which will beneficially affect he company's operations. Hokitika, August 17. The Ross United returns for Saturday and Monday were 17oz lldwt and 15ozlldwtrespectively. The scarcity of hands is greatly limiting the output. The returns could be doubled if hands were obtainable. The rate of wages is 10s per shift of eight hours, with steady work.