had
a look at the tunnel being driven from the road in a southerly
direction for the purpose of cutting a reef, supposed to be a
continuation of that on the Mango-Tree Range, a mile and a quarter to
the west. This tunnel has struck the reef on the north or hanging wall
side.
Bittusal
is a piece of land, consisting of about twenty-three acres, adjoining
the property originally purchased by the South Indian Company, and
subsequently acquired by that company at a small cost. It now promises
to be a valuable addition, and is being opened out by three tunnels, to
one of which I have just alluded as being driven from the north. The
other two enter from the opposite side of the hill, upon the face and
summit of which there are extensive outcrops, worked by the Korumbers
in the same manner as at Athikanu. As yet the reef has not been reached
from the south, although one of the tunnels had been driven in 160
feet; for operations are only carried on here, when labour can be
spared from the main works on Mango-Tree Hill.
In
the valley between Bittusal and the western portion of the Caroline and
Adeline estates, there appears to be plenty of fine timber. For the
present it will be sufficient to open out these works in preparation
for the more serious operation of crushing; yet the distance to the
reduction works is so great, that it may perhaps be found more
economical to erect a battery of stamps on the spot; or possibly
