REEFTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 310, 28 March 1879, Page 9

REEFTON.

A Jeuemiad is not the most attractive preface to a correspondent's lettfr. However agreeable it would be to furnish your readers with a long list of successful speculations in mining and commerce, and to have oneself included amongst the lucky ones; nevertheless, the truth must be told— lethargy reigns supreme on the West Coast According to ancient mythologists, sleep had a thousand sons, of whom the chief were Morpheus, or the Shaper ; Icelos, or the Likely - Plmutasus, the Fancy ; and Phohetor, the Terror. It seems as if the whole quartette had at last taken up their abode with us. The thico former we have been accustomed to for a long time, and were rather pleased with their soothing iniiuences, but Phohetor— who some wnters assert generally takes up his abode " in a dull and darklhi" part of the earth "—has now visited us, and destroyed the benevolent pleasures we derived from his three kindly brothers. Shaper, Likely, and Fancy. From Boss to Wcstport the only topic is the depressed state of business, the depreciation of property of every description, and the languishing of mining industry. Some people whose positions in society entitle their opinions to be received with consideration, say that the unnecessary pressure of the bunks has ;t great deal to do with the present stagnation. Right or wrong, this is the opinion of the general public. Lease , where reefs, of payable quality and large dimensions arc proved to be in existence, Lhu working of which would be a benefit to the whole district, arc allowed to remain unproductive through the want of the necessary capital to erect machinery, on them. The neighbourhood of the Devils Creek in which arc the " Golden Point," the «' Occidental," and the '• Morning Star," where such splendid prospects have bceu found, the former yielded at a trial crushing at the rate of between thirteen and fourteen ounces to the ton, arc at a standstill, not -i man occupied in prospecting them. In Murray Creek the " Keep it Dark ' is crushing with fifteen head of stampers ; stone taken from the lower level, eight feet thick and looking well. The " Nil Des>perandum "is crushing with five head of stampers ; the •' Energetic " will soon commence paying dividends, and melted a few weeks a«o 730 ounces and 10 pennyweights at the Bank of New Zealand, The "Welcome," which seems to increase in richness as it is beinodeveloped, produced on Saturday the handsome result of 2505 oz. of amalgam from 140 tons of stone, and prior to cleaning up sent clown to the battery 210 tons. The manager, Mr. Rooney, is sinking a winze which is down about 37 feet on stone two and a half feel thick equal to any that Las yet been brought to grass, and he will have to continue sinking to a further depth of 230 feet before the lower level is attained, which will give when completed from three to four years work without intermission. The H.A.C.B.S. are making the necessary preparations to carry out our National Anniversary in a becoming manner, and all classes are looking out for the amusement attending the sports which are generally connected with it. March Htb. 1870. J.J. C.