GREYMOUTH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5686, 3 October 1896, Page 7

GREYMOUTH.

» [Correspondent " Canterbury Times."] GREYMOUTH, Sept. 29. MINING. The snow has cleaved off the lower-lying ranges, and "the hills are alive" with prospectors, who, busy with pick and shovel, are seeking outcrops of quartz. Already a few n«w discoveries have been made, the value of . which cannot yet be estimated. It is, however, realised that the whole of -the extensive hills and hollows of the Paparoa and Moonlight ranges abound with quartz-reefs, some of which have already been proved payable and many more believed to be so. Many venture the opinion' that fche district will be one of the richest in the colony. Certain it is that money is being freely invested, for rarely does a day pass without seeing a couple of new .leases applied for. The result of the crushing in the Victory mine (Paparoa) was even more satisfactory than the most sanguine anticipated, while the Julian, adjoining, tested twelve ton 3 last week. Six tons came from- what is known as the Vivian drive, and yielded 7oz 13dwt 6gr, while a similar quantity of stone from winze returned 6oz lSdwt 12gr. This means about £o per ton, which, of course, is highly payable. The reef which I reported as having pinched in the Julian has been struck a' few feat lower down, carrying good gold and increased size of stone. The cement leads at Parpa ,are now upon the market, and being rapidly taken up. The various reports and assays are most favourable, and as the work is not nearly so difficult as quartz reefing, payable returns can be looked.for shortly. In the Ziman claims at Eeefton an immense amount of dead work has been done and more remains to be accomplished, but the mode of working in the future will be vastly different from the past. The various lines of reef will be worked systematically, and tipon a large scale. When in full swing it is estimated that the cost of extracting the ■ metal will not be much more than half that under the old mode of working, and, as a consequence, the returns will be more remunerative. By the commencement of the year the batteries should be in full wort. A large amount of alluvial gold continues to come in from the back country. The banks are purchasing more than they have had the chance of doing for some years past. In the south the yield is increasing, and Hokitika, which for years past has gone downhill,. gives promise, of a revival that* will tend to again populate the prettiest borough on the Coast. The Woodstock. Diggings, two miles from Hokitika,' was among the earlier rushes on the West Coast, and was years ago believed to be worked out, yet new ground is being opened, and last week one party of seven men panned out 6oz 14dwt for a week's work. This party is but one of many in other parts of the Coast who are toiling along, sifting the sand about, extracting the yellow metal in good quantities and telling no one. Only when parcels are sold at the banks does the secret occasionally leak out — I say occasionally, because the bank officials are enjoined to keep these purchases quiet. While there are very many parties doing well, it must not be thought that all are so doing. Many are making only .£1 or 30s per week, but they are the miners who have long passed the prime of life, or those who hang on to the old workings instead of seeking fresh valleys or breaking new ground. Of all the mining localities at the present time Kumara is perhaps the dullest. So far it has not felt the strength of the boom, yet its turn must come, for there is an immense tract of country, extending from the town of Kumara to the beach and skirting the Teremakau Biver, that will pay to sluice when water is available. On the north - side -of the river the same character of country extends to Marsden and Paroa. The whole of this country will ere many years, be. turned over in the search, for gold. RAILWAY TRAFFIC. As a result of the mining boom the traffic on the Midland Railway between Greymouth and Beef ton has increased over 25 per cent, a fact that will doubtless be carefully noted by the almost defunct company and its unfortunate bondholders*, The feeling here in regard to the latter is that they should receive great'cqnsideration. at the hands of the Government.' „ -» -.- BRUKNER RELIEF FUND. ''• f » A good deal of. comment is being made in regard to the delay cf ■: the. "Public Trustee in administering theAßrunner Relief Fund. So far Mr Ward, the Mayor of Brunner, still continues to pay the widows their fortnightly dole.AN OLD IDENTITY. At the Grey River Hospital there died the other day one known as " Sandy M'Pherson," one of the earliest miners of the West Coast. He was well known throughout the whole of Australasia as one of the survivors of the famous Burke and Wills Expedition. He accompanied these explorers in the capacity of saddler, and was left at Menindu with one portion of the provisions, whilst the leaders went on with Gray and Kean. A few days after a trooper arrived with dispatches for Burke and Wills. M'Pherson, accompanied by a black, undertook to give Burke the papers. They, however, lost their way ; they were eventually rescued from the blacks, after having endured great hardships amongst the . aboriginals, and. .ultimately regained civilisation. At the first discovery of-gold on the Coast M'Pherson walked over from Ghristchurch, and has sinctj been a resident, enjoying and enduring all the pleasures, excitements and hardships incidental to a goldfields life in a; densely- wooded country such as that on the West Coast.