GREYMOUTH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5699, 19 October 1896, Page 4

GREYMOUTH.

[Correspondent " Canterbury Times."] GEE'S MOUTH, Oct. 12. MINING. Mr Yates, an English mining expert, has been in the district during the past week, his main object being to inspect the various properties under offer to Mr Alexander Forbes. A thorough examination of those mines has, I believe, convinced Mr Yates of their great mineral wealth, and he is highly satisfied with their prospects. The Victory mine has discovered another reef since Mr Forbes took it under offer, and its richness and apparent solidity and extent have increased the value of this property by a very considerable amount. The crushing of 25 tons from the Vivian reef, lately discovered in the Julian mine, gave an average yield of loz sdwt to the ton. This return is considered sufficiently encouraging to induce the shareholders to proceed with the erection of machinery, and I understand that negotiations are now proceeding for the purchase of a battery and plant of the latest and most improved type. • The Paparoa claim has just been registered under the Mining Companies Act, and it is intended to proceed with the development of the mine immediately. The Directors will commence driving on the 3ft reef already discovered, and should the stone turn out anything like that in the Julian or Victory, the claim will be one of the best in the district. Scrip is nominally quoted at one shilling, and I understand that an offer has been made by an English syndicate to place the property on the London market. The lease — 84 acres — is one of the largest on the hill. .The Wealth of Nations claim, adjoining the Julian, has been.busy prospecting, and abmc" likely-looking stone which has been struck should crush well. The proprietors intend to develop the mine, and anticipate excellent results when they are down lower. It is generally understood here on the West Coast that Mr Zinian's "mission to England is for the purpose of increasing -the capital of the New Zealand Consoli- : dated Gold-mining Company, so that the Company will be able to work on an extensive scale the many leases which have been taken up during the past four months. During that period large areas of land have been applied for and obtained by Messrs Ziman and Boyd on behalf of the Company, and if all these are to be operated on a considerable sum will be required for development. In view, however, of the excellent prospects and the state of the money market at Home, Mr Ziman should have little difficulty in bringing his mission to a successful issue. A good deal of interest has been taken of late in the cement leads at Pawa, and during the last' day or two there has been a mild flutter in the market, shares in the new venture being readily taken up, and I understand that the list is likely to be more than filled before the end of the present week. Tests made- at Eeefton, Wellington and Christchurch show that the cement will go 6dwt to Bdwt to the ton, and as it is calculated that 2dwt will cover all expenses, the venture looks an exceedingly profitable one. ' r Another effort is about to be made to develop our auriferous beaches by means of machinery of an improved pattern. A twenty-acre lease has been taken up near Barrytown, and a magnificent supply of water has been obtained from Baker's Creek, with the object of working the various black sand leads by means of what is known as a " blow-up/ Whether this new process as applied to fine sand will succeed remains to be seen, but there can be no doubt as to the richness of the leads traversing the claim, which would have been worked ere now but for the difficulty of overcoming the water — the auriferous drifts being uuder sea-level. - That promising claim in the Upper Blackball — the Minerva — is once more in fair working order, and Mr Perotti, one of the principal shareholders, informs me that the claim now looks better than ever. There is no doubt as to the body of stone existing there, and with better appliances there can be no reason why the claim should not prove a highly remunerative speculation. A large number of prospecting parties are still engaged on the Paparoa ranges, and several fresh outcrops of stone have been discovered. As a consequence; applications are being made for\many new leases. Mr Joseph Taylor's alluvial claim at Sulky Gully, near Brunner, is now in full working order, and is looked on as one of the good things of the district, there being a large area of payable wash which will be easily got rid of. At Healey's Gully the Three Jacks and Eocknian's claims are steadily sluicing away, the boxes looking remarkably well. Both claims will clean up at the end of the month. The Hydraulic Sluicing Company's claim, which is the main claim in this locality, has, through several minor accidents to ra.ee and flume incidental to all' large mining undertakings, been delayed in its operations. Everything, however, was in readiness this morning, and sluicing began in real earnest. If no other interruptions occur sluicing will be continued for six weeks or two months before a general clean-up will take place. The company expects three or four hundred ounces as the result of its first washing. During the last fortnight work on a lai-ge number of the smaller alluvial claims has been almost entirely suspended for want of water, the dry spell having been an exceedingly long one for tliis part of the colony. It is every day becoming more apparent that a good deal of expenditure will have to be undertaken in bringing in water at the higher levels if the auriferous belts of country on the high lands are to be Avorked profitably. I understand that a company intends- to bring in a race at a cost of JSOOO, which will command all thfl high alluvial country in the Moonlight and Upper Blackball districts. CO-OPERATIVE WORKS. The Government has withdrawn its opposition to the proposal of the Eailway Department and Harbour Board to construot the Greymouth timber-drying sheds by tender, and contractors will have an opportunity of tendering for this work now. A good deal of diversity of opinion exists as to the co-operative works between Jackson's and the Otira Gorge, and a little newspaper correspondence of an acrimonious character has taken place thereon — one critic asserting that extravagant wages are being made, while others declare that the men are unable to make a living. I had a conversation with a fairly average workman upon the subject yesterday, and his remarks thereon throw a flood of light upon the complaints so often made as to the wages on these works. Asked if he was satisfied with the remuneration he was receiving he said, "I don't claim to be as good a workman as I was ten years ago, and possibly younger men would do more than I. Where I am working is neither better nor worse than the average, and I can knock out 10s a day. ' Adding, "Of course there are men alongside of me who are not making more than 4s or ss, but it will always be the same so long as Government sends watchmakers and shoemakers out to do navvy work. Competent men have no cause to complain about the rate of pay." THE COMING ELECTIONS. Notwithstandingthe near approach of the general elections, interest in the Westland. and Grey electorates is, so far, mfinitesimally small. This may be explained by the fact that, in the former district, it is looked on as a foregone conclusion that the Hon E. J. Seddoh will be returned although, there is, apparently, no doubt that Mr Grimmond will contest the seat with him. A similar remark applies to tho Grey district, where Mr Guinness' return is almost dually sure, Mr Peel being at present the only declared opponent. At one tiino it was thought that Mr Guinness would be appointed Attorney-General and called to the Upper House, in" whifch event Mr Petrie intended contesting the election as a supporter of the present Government. Had this eventuated it is possible that Mr

Bland would also have been a candidate, but it was generally thought that Mr Petrie's election would just have been as sure as that of Mr Guinness. In contradistinction to Westland and Grey interest in the Buller election is now at fever heat. Very strong committees have been formed for both candidates, Messrs O'Regfin and Colvin, and I nm inclined to think that the lulling -will bo much closer than I at first anticipated. However, I still pin my faith to the singletax champion, who I feel certain will bo returned by a substantial majority. PERSONAL. One of our oldest and most respected citizens, in the person of Mr Robert William Eussell, is dead. As a pioneer gold-miner, Mr Eussell was known throughout the length and breadth of the Coast. During the last ten years he had settled in business at Greyniouth, where he occupied several important positions, amongst others that of official assignee and borough valuator, offices which he fulfilled in a most creditable manner. He was a man who had some enemies, but very many friends. Possessing a thorough hatred of anything approaching hypocrisy, his voice was at times lifted in more pronounced terms than was agreeable to some. Still, he was ever ready to assist any deserving cause, and many is the family in Greymouth who can record for him acts of practical charity, rendered at a time when sympathy was badly required and most appreciated.- His place will be somewhat difficult to fill. Through the death of Mr Eussell the position of Official Assignee became vacant, and has been given to Mr G. S. Smith, one of the members of the late well-known '.firm of Smith and Barkley. The appointment gives general satisfaction. . - Mr Beare, a 'Christchurch boy, for three years in the office of Messrs Guinness and Kitchingham, has entered into partnership with Mr Gibson, of Hokitika, as barrister and solicitor. Mr Beare established himself as a favourite here, and whilst regretting his departure hi 3 many friends wish him every success in his new home.