Notes from Reefton. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 23

Notes from Reef t on. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Rbrfton, December 18. Saturday Midday Quotations. — Alpine Extended, 5s 61 to 6j ; Big River, 9s to 10* ; Buller dredge, 3a to 3s 6d ; Cumberland Extended, 2s to 2s 6d ; Dillon Extended, 6d to 9U ; Golden L«ad, 6d to 91 ; Hercules, 6d to 9d ; Keep-it-Dark, 17s to 20j ; No. 2 South Dailc, 6d to 9d ; Lord Edward, 61 to 9d ; Welcome (paid up), 4s to 4s 6d ; Boatmans Exploration, 61 to 9d. Tbe manager of the Big Kivftr mine reports for the wtek as follows : — "Four men have been engaged cleaning down and securing the stope3. When this work U completed I intend starting them to drive in No 6 level. The wrnze below No. 1 intermediate level ia now down 40ft. The stone ha? narrowed down, to 2ffc, and continues to carry good gold. The battery will be cleaned up on Monday." The following mining notes from the Victoria Range appear in this evening's Inang.ib.ua Tifnes from its own correspondent: — "Mining matters are beginning to present a lively appearance here. There are fully 30 men engagei Tv the vicinity prospecting various leases. The Lord Brassey is a special claim, of 93 acre3— one of the original prospectors' claim?. Very rich lo^se rtqne lias been found on the surface in large quantities, but as yet the solid reef has not been found. Six men are engaged on a reef slufc sinking and tunnelling. At the Earl Brassey mine two -men are engaged continuing the reef discovered by William's soms time ago- This claim has made itself notorious by a law case held lately, when a prospector summoned the original owners for a reward for the discovery of the same. A welldefined gold-bearing reef has been trac-sd in thi« lease for over lfiOf t in length. A shaft has beensunk to a depth of 301t on the underlie of stone, from which highly p»y able prospects b aye been ob tain cd . As high as 22d wt 9gr per ton out of solid reef have been obtained from a sample by the Berdan test, and as the reef is large and solid I consider thl»»

I splendid result. In the Mark Twain lease two ! I men are engaged prospecting, but there i 3 nothing of importance to report for Hie present. Golden Pebble-: This lease is noitli of and adjoining the Earl Brassey. A goH-bearing reef fuMy 7ft thick has been discovered, from whioh highly payable asEays cm ba obtained. North of this, in the same lease, the reef is much smaller, averaging about 2ft 6in in thickness," but showing very rich, coajse gold. In this lease are fully a dozen reefs which have not yet been tried, many of which show indications of rich gold. It ii considered fhis lease is the plum of the hill. The Boa* mans Exploration Company have made a start with two .men. As this covets •several leases, and as some of the property are splendidly situated, I think something good will be found within the near I future."