THE TWELVE-MILE.

Grey River Argus, Issue 16, 6 January 1866, Page 3

THE TWELVE-MILE.

(FROM OTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Tuesday, January 2. What with the holidays, floods, the Lake Brunner, Red Jack's, and Maori rushes there is difficulty in selecting what news I should give you. The Lake rush has turned out a most complete duffer, jsriT all are back in a , condition, having encountered vJ^H&vere weatiier in a swampy bush and tricks uncommonly bad. If half be true that is said of the ground and prospects, the prospectors and all connected with them must be heartless scoundrels, and no punishment would be too sevejs for them. It is estimated that over £18,000 has been lost by miners, independent ofcthe fearful journey of about ten days, without a chance of drying their clothes. Had my timely caution, founded on good grounds, been attended to, a great deal "of misery and loss would have been avoided. Can we have no protection against a repetitioft&pf this terrible hoax, and should the Wardens not adopt precautionary measures and have some guarantee that parties applying for extended claims have grounds for the application? The rush by the head of Red Jack's is reported a duffer by a majority, but a few have set in with fair prospects, and I hope it may prove like the late rushes up the river, which worked mucbibetter than they prospected. The "Maatas^ about thirty, in three canoes, are as6n np the river, and as before are shepherded by a good many. I feel satisfied they are on gold, and expect a good rush shortly, as several of the previous party did not return to the Greymouth §for the holidays — Felix, the prospector of the Totara for one. In fining there has been little doing, but the diggers are again settling in to work, and I %enture to prophecy there will be a large increase to -t-he weekly yield of gold from this district. ;/X know several parties in different parts working on the sly and doing remarkably well, but I am not at liberty to disclose the parties at present. Sports we had none, the flood putting firnrj'fhi'ngiiii'n - fa »*i'y ;^- ■ »nd - ocvnoing --vory considerable damage. Another boat accident has occurred on the Arnold ; Peter, the Greek's, boat and valuable cargo was entirely lost on Friday evening, in consequence of the branch of a tree tearing the stern post out. The road from Greymouth is in a disgraceful state, and should be made passable at once, as the traffic is very considerable. Why not have a gang of men at work in fine weather ? What is Dobson about ?