NOBLE'S GULLY.

Grey River Argus, Issue 99, 30 August 1866, Page 3

NOBLE'S GULLY.

(FROM -A , CORRESPONDENT:) . - . . August 20. We are located' here, in a dreary wilderness, formed of high ranges, intersected with deep -ravines and steep Eomantic-lookirig gorges, and studded over* with huge trees, which nature seems to have placed, in silent rivalry, especially upon the summit of each, range or lofty terrace, where "they appear most conspicuous, as if contending for the first kiss, of the xlay's luminary, their dense foliage forming almost another vast impenetrable aerial canopy, warding off the •the chilling winds as well as the more invigorating rays of the sun of the outside world from the few inhabitants who are., here. The . scrub and impassable nature of the country around us make it as difficult for the heralds of civilisation to get through as the dark recesses of a loathsome dungeon, hence we -do not wonder that in the occasional copy of your impartial journal which we. receive here there is very little if anything in it about this locality, consequently 1 have determined, with your kind permission, to let your readers know that wo are still among the living, and that Noble's up to the present time is still true to her name, inasmuch as those who have faithfully and earnestly tried her for a share of her golden charms . have not done so unrequited. ,■■.'' . • •• Mining here is principally confined to the -terraces, a great number of which have been worked and paid very well. A good few parties have been working for a length of time in a certain portion of the creek known as the " Slips." Tlus i 3 the most difficult ground to work I have seen on the West jCoast. It appears as if formed in an obtuse angle of the creek, where it has been like deposited in the eddy of a large stream- or great flow of water. To be worked remuneratively, it had to be tunnelled, and tail-races cut and slabbed in the ; creek, so as to carry off the drainage from it. Its formation^ consists of -a "sort of stuff resembling mortar, whilst at the bottom a stratum much" liks roman cement in. a' liquified state, makes it very hard and tedious to be worked ; because according as its golden basis was taken from it, it kept continually sliding, so that it* was enough for the skill of the most experienced miners to keep the main body of the ground in its place. Therefore, it has been very appropriately named the Slips. Messrs Purcell and party, Gardiner and party, Fox and party, and others, also have done very well in this ground. As all those parties worked out their old claims, x some of them discovered, another lead of v gold on a higher shelf, .^vhich'is paying very well. ; and as a matter of course a rush to here, was the.consequence, but it did not turn out to be extensive. Water-races — Those being the next items of importance, I need not' say that many of the higher terraces cannot be worked advantageously without them. The most valuable of these here is one belonging to Messr3 Naughtain, Gough and Cashmani It takes its source from the tributaries at the head of the righthand branch of Noble's Main Gully, and is taken to an elevation that commands all tho-terrace3 down to the old township. In taking this race across the creek, a distance of about 950 feet, the most ingenious plan that I have yet seen connected with such operations has been resorted to. The most praiseworthy enterprise is undoubtedly that which in the cheapest and simplest manner converts the dormant, i resources of nature to man's immediate use and benefit, such exactly have been the n|eans employed by those men in conveying their water race- across the creek. I will here briefly describe how this was done. In bushman's parlance, ' what is termed. an " old man tree," of huge dimensions, was standing erect on one side of theterrace, it, was 'felled so as it reached to the other side, and then made capable of carrying if necessary even' five or six sluice heads of water across ; but the effectual manner in which this was done was no doubt the work of experienced hands. I may mention that by this simple yet commendable process has this party been enabled to work out a very good claim, which ho doubt stimulated them to construct recently another flume of sawn timber a distance of 250 feet, and i at very great expense, at a much greater elevation than the former one. This has been done so as to facilitate the working' of another good claim which they have, at present, and' which is no doubt a just reward for their energy and enterprise. 1 The next race of importance is. one which belongs to Mr D. O'Callaghan and party, and at the lower end of the creek. There are also many smaller races, dams, and other useful appliances for mining which would be worthy of , mention here, but I will pass them by at present, lest I might encroach too much on your valuable space. , A great number of diggers pass by here daily, both "back and forward, but very few of those remain or do anything. Among the old residents here who are doing very well, 1 : might mention ; the Messrs ' Olive and party, Jones and party, -at the head of the right-hand branch ; other parties are also doing very wejl in the terraces along the said branch ; there are also a few parties doing very well in the .terraces in some of the other branches ; so to sum up, the old' parties here- are

getting very well paid for jiheir labor, but indeed I could not encourage any person at a distance to come here... Storekeepers— under- this "head -I may remark that Mr Gilliamfs store is the only one now. remaining where /.the old township was, but he has a130.~ a branch store in the new township, whiclf has been built at the place I' have herein .called the "slips:" Messrs Shariaghan and Co, and Doplan have also stores here, and are doing very well. ' . : : . / . ■ . Bakers — There is ; a splendid bakery establishment here, erectpcl by Messrs P. Quirk and J. Rabbit, who supply their customers with a. *first : class ■ arjjcle at a most reasonable rate, viz.", 3s per ilb'loaf. Publicans— There are twV> public houses in the new township. One of.those, a very comfortable loolcing One, .has been constructed by Mr J. -Ihvyer ; the" other has been erected by Mr Brown. This is a iine house, it being all weatherboarded. * " ■'• : '" -• Rusticus.