The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY, 4 1885.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1505, 4 February 1885, Page 2

The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY, 4 1885.

It ia arranged that the Ministerial party will reach Reefton to-morrow evening, and remain here on Friday, leaving for Greymounth on the following morning. It is ta be hoped that the weather is not in conspiracy with the Government to prevent the visit, for at the time we write the rain is descending steadily and ominously. Tenders are required by the Golden Fleece Company, up till noon on Saturday next, for two drives of 50ft and 100 ft. Mails for the Australian Colonies, United Kingdom and Continent ef Europe, via Melbourne close at Port Chalmers to-day, at 5 p.m. We publish in another column a report of the meeting recently held in Dunedin by shareholders of the Welcome Company. A very sad case of death by drowning occurred in the Upper Inangahua river some time yesterday. A young lad named Cressey, fourteen years of age, son ef Mr Cressey, Ahaura, was proceeding from Reefton to Rainy Creek with a basket of meat for the men there. Some hours after leaving Black's Point the horse returned without the boy, and as the river was slightly in flood fears were at once entertained that something had gone wrong with the lad. A search party accordingly set out at once, and following the river bed up the body of the little fellow was found in one of the shallows, having apparently been washed down for some distance. The body was quite cold, showing that life had been extinct for . some time. The remains were carried to Black's Point, and subsequently brought to town in Mr Kidd's conveyance. Nothing whatever is known as to hew the mishap occurred. The horse returned with the saddle clean and unbroken, and the only supposition therefore is that the horse must have stumbled in the river and thrown the deceased. An inquest will be held upon the body to-day, and the remains will then be conveyed to Ahaura for burial, the parents residing there. Owing to engagements Mr Gilbert, dentist, will remain in Reefton until Monday, 9th instant. A public meeting was held in the Ceuncil Chambers last evening, to consider the question of the establishment of a School of Mines in Reefton, and other matters connected with tne approaching Ministerial visit. Mr Hindtnarsh was voted to the chair, when it was resolved te bring the following matters under the notice of Ministers on their arrival here : — School of Mines, Reduction of Miners rights, reduction of rent on gold mining leases and business licenses, reduction of the price of town sections, tri-weekly mail service to Nelson, reduction of the gold duty, bridging the Left-hand Branch and Larry's Creek, and widening existing main roads to Greymouth and Westpor-. It was also decided to urge the extension of the Brunner railway to Nelson Creek, in the event of a syndicate failing to take up the work. A committee was then appointed to give effect to the wishes of the meeting. The Committee subsequently met, Mr Lewis being in the chair, when it waß decided to ask for the reduction of mining lease rents to 2s 6d per acre, and miners rights to 10s. The meeting then adjourned. We are informed by Mr J. Stevenson, the local representative of Ada Mentua, that programmes on the approaching Dunedin Cup are being fast taken up, only a few of the Reefton allotment remaining available. Prompt application is therefore necessary by intending investors. A second stope has been started over the main level of the Wealth of Nations mine, and stone is reported to show stronger than ever, leading to the belief that the block now being operated upon is the main reef. The stone now shows a northerly strike,and this favors the opinion that it will be traced to the surface, a distance of several hundred feet. The two stopes are now being carried on northwards, and the battery is running for two shifts, but as soon as the workings are sufficiently advanced to enable mere hands to work at the faces, the full strength of the stampers will be utilised.