THE NORTHERN DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IV, Issue 268, 1 October 1867, Page 2

THE NORTHERN DIGGINGS.

... THE BULLER. The Addison's Flat correspondent of the Westport Times, of Saturday, writes as follows : — It is a very difficult thing, at least I find it so, to write anything new about a place where all the news is nearly of the same nature. No one is kind enough to create a riot, or meet with an accident — not that I wish anyone to be so unfortunate—but it would vary my news, and giye me something to write about. I can, if I would, give yoif a long list of the prospects obtained, the returns for which I have no difficulty in obtaining through the. kindness of nearly all the miners, who with, I am happy to say, few exceptions, offer no obstacles to my arriving at the true state of things. They are nearly all alike, and the returns of gold exported from the Buller will give the best idea of the payable nature of Addison's. A good many large parcels will be on their way in by .die time you publish your piiper. At a claim near the Omeo store, a share was sold for Ll5O on Wednesday last — a good price for a sixth share, and every facility offered the purchaser for trying before buying. He evidently d.oes not regret his^urchase, as he states it is liis intention Io erect a horse-whim for pumping. A claim near that intends doing the same, and have already "commenced building it. This speaks well for this part of the lead. On the south side of the river two new shafts have been bottomed. In one, Barry and party obtained four grains to \he shovel in the upper gravel, and passed through this into the black sand, which would not pay for washing. This is not at all uncommon, as in the north end many similar cases have come under my notice. In fact, the color of the wash is no criterion, as good gold has been washed in red, black, and the much-despised grey s.and, equally rich, only varying in depth and position. The most esteemed is the red or ruby sand, although 1 cannot say that personally I ever saw any reason for this, as in a dirty brown gravel, mixed with black sand, L saw the best prospect, and in several cases where there are alternate layers of each, the gold is sometimes in one and sometimes in the other, but often running equally through the whole. A great deal of disappointment and inconvenience is experienced by the digger through no agency for any of the banks being started " here. The loss of time by having to go to the Buller is something cousiderable, and what makes I them rather.more annoyed is the assurance ■ made by some, one who ought to know I that the bankers had come to a mutual \ understanding that none of them would start here, believing it would not pay, taking as an example the Welshman's Terrace, Brighton. The failure there is no rule for this place, as the number of claims were not nearly so great. And the idea that these are undoubtedly not so rich is in their favor, as the. man who only earns L 7 or L 8 a week does not care to go into the Buller to sell that quantity, and few can go in without spending a

pound op two out of it } so he must reckon a, good wages claim at a pound or so less. Besides, there is a large township. I say one, for the second and third are ceasing to be individual, a few more . buildings, and they will be one. Speaking of thetownships, I see Hope street is called in your advertisements Burke street, as it wag named by nearly all the storekeepers,^ with the intention of paying a niark.oM respect to a gentleman well liked, anlP who pleased every one in his superintendence of the track ; it is to b@ hoped it will still be called so, . . -.'... Addison's Last Rush. — I saw a party from there, who says it will be some time before anything definite pan be arrived at, but that there are good prospects, v the number on the ground speaks well for it, A terrace on the same level about a quarter of a mile from this, is being worked, but with what success I do not know, but seven parties are sinking, and, undoubtedly, they must have had some inducement, as the'depth is 80 feet so far, I intend going out that wayin a few days, ~ when I will give you further information,