THE LONGWOOD REEFS.

Western Star, Issue 336, 14 February 1880, Page 5

THE LONGWOOD REEFS.

Progress may be'reported in the erection ofl the Long wood and Geelong Co.’s battery, not 1 ® withstanding the very great difficulties incidental! to such an undertaking at the Longwood. It is doubtful, however, judging from the'present rate of progress, whether a crushing will be pub through in less than three months. The difficulties of transit, and the absence of facilities for erecting the machinery, retard the work and delay is sometimes caused for want of even trivial appliances. Those who are inclined to chafe at the slow progress made would do well to visit the ground, and we are very much jnifej taken if that feeling does not give plaCeTcTohe oPB admiration at the difficulties which have already been surmounted. There are two parties at work in sawpifcs preparing the timber for the battery. A blacksmith’s forge and a comfoi table building for the men engaged in the claim ai’e being erected, while a gang of men are engaged laying the foundation for the battery, A representative of this journal was courteously allowed to examine the drive on Thursday last, and wash some a-dorea pounds of rubble from the reef. stone was indiseriminately seleoted from and when very roughly washed, without being B previously reduced, there were not less than from ” four to six dwts. of very fine gold left in the dish. - Although this would show the stone to be enormously rich, the prospect is nob by any means so good as many others obtained lately from the- - same reef. The Hon. W. Wood, in company with several Riverton gentlemen, also visited Printz’s claim yesterday.. The hon. gentleman washed a prospect from the reef, and was highly satisfied at the result. Work in a number of other claims is being pushed forward. The Geelong Co. are erecting. - a “whip” to drain the claim, the mode recently! adopted to keep down the water—hand labor— 1 having proved tedious and expensive. A face has been opened, and driving is about to be comBienced in the Duffer, and as the material for a 300-feet drive is on the ground, rapid progress will be made with the work. Prospecting—i 4 Grant’s Glory has been resumed, and driving in the Fossicker aid Murihiku claims is being continued. In the former claim the drive extends a distance of 350 feet, and judging from the nature of the country at present being tra.ersed, the re f is not far distant. Messrs Ford and Co., ’ who have a claim between the Duffer and Daniels Fo. 3, are also driving. Mr Douglas is pro* spi cting on behalf of a Company in the neighborhood of Specimen Gully. Lynch and party have obtained some very encouraging prospects-frcm-a-reef discovered by them at no groat distance from the bridge. r Speculation in shares in various claims is actively carried on, and a considerable amount of business in that line has been done during the week, principally by local speculators, although a few outsiders, tempted by the prospects, have also invested. The proprietors of the Southland leasa-A,_ have thrown their claim into a company, the capital being £20,000, in 20,000 shares of £1 each. Mr D. FJemington is the manager, and the office is at Invei’cargill. ■' “ Good accommodation for man and beast ” A now provided for the weary quadruped and tao the thirsty biped by Mr Lynch, who has erected very comfortable quarters at the Pourakino Bridge. A landing stage is very much required here, for the accommodation of boats conveying'" 1 supplies for those engaged at the mines. Mr F. -f A. Simpson is about to open a butcher’s shop near the entrance to the bush. The track is in as good condition at present as it will ever be* unless something is done to it. There are many, very bad places even at this time of year, and when wet weather sets in it will be impossible to keep the traffic open. It is quite patent that a. very large number of men will be employed at the various claims during the ensuing winter, and in view of this contingency there should be no delay in pushing on with the proposed tramway, or constructing a better approach to the workings. This would give a great impetus to prospecting j supolies could be landed more cheaply and r.-gularly, and the existence of those engaged at the mines male more comfortable. There are several other places where 1 1;o work of prospecting - '— would be greatly facilitated if fcpacks"were eat into the bush—notably at Port’s line of reef and at Specimen Gully. These are works which it is clearly within the province of the County Council to undertake, and we hope that body will see its way clear te take them in hand without delay.