LYELL.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1327, 23 November 1883, Page 2

LYELL.

* — (from our own correspondent). Those whom fortune loveth she chastneth. This adage has been forcibly illustrated during the last six months in. this district. •.The.differdri'fc mines which gave ; employment to over <three ,. hundred men, do' not give remuneration at the present to 20 minera. Shareholders who six months ago, had visions of going home by the overland route, with a light porter to carry their luggage,, have had to succumb to the chastening rod of the fickle goddess, and scrip, worth thousands then, cannot be given away now. %m\ all hope has not departed, as there are a few men left driving in the Alpine, Low Level and t rceaus claims. There is also prospecting going on in the Great Wonder claim, from which some very fair prospects we^e obtained out of some slate and quartz rubble. The overland mail service between Nelson and the Ooast has not so far developed a very great deal of passenger traffic, as the coaches mostly come in and depart comparatively empty. An accident of a dangerous nature was prevented by the coolness of th« driver of the down coach from JN'elson. He was attempting to cross the Owen river during a fresh, when the coach was. swept down stream. The horses got footing down the gorge, where the coach, passengers, and horses had to remain until daylight. The driver and passengers displaying the utmost coolness under the circumstances. A certain amount of personal comfort, was derived from a case of Geneva, which was found amongst the luggage on board the coach. Some surprise is expressed at the tardiness of the Government authorities in not calling for fresh tenders for cutting away the rocky points along the road. The work was lot some time ago at a low figure, but owing to some hitch between the contraccor and his bondsmen the contract was never signed. The new road up to the eight mile is nearly completed, the contractors having carried out the work in a thoroughly efn'cient manner. Mr Noonan, the overseer, adopted very stringent measures with the road maintenance contractors." The roads are now getting in excellent order. Lines, the Lyell and Junction mail contractor, has sold out his interest in Lyell nnd Westport and Reefton contracts to young Dixon, his Jate driver, who is now running the concern on his own account. A prospecting party left Inangahua Junction a fortnight since to try the main ranges between Lyell and Landing Creek. One of tho party stopped behind to recruit his health. He subsequently returned to Boatmans without goinsj out. He being questioned about the liklehood of the locality for reefs, stated he did not like the look of the country. Such is the way cold water has been thrown on many projects. Another party has started out this week to thoroughly test the district. The last pile of the Inangahua Junction bridge has been driven, after four months experimenting, by authorities, the happy result has been attained. The Department must have exhausted all its ingenuity, and a considerable sum of public money in experiments. Mr Blair, Engineer-in-Chief for Middle Island, when passing the Junction, a few weeks ago, condescendly spent half an half devising a plan to overcome the difficulty. The work is being faithfully carried out by the contractors, under the supervision of Mr T urntaull, the overseer. The contractors, Messrs M 'Lean and Sons, have eight men employed, and it is expected the bridge will' be completed lefore tho arrival of the next big comet. November 20th, 1883.