THE UPPER GREY.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 321, 4 February 1868, Page 2

THE UPPER GREY.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Ahaura, January 31. I left the Ahaura a few days ago to visit the new Atnuri road, which, turning from the Grey River at Reid's station, proceeds for several mjles along plains of the same description as those described by me on the Waipuna terraces, and as 50 acre leases can be obtained at the low rental of 2s 6d per acre, I really wonder j that this productive source of wealth should remain entirely uncultivated. The land is already cleared, or would ta£e a! very short time to do so, and I hope that sufficient enterprise exists amongst the. agricultural members of our community to show that other than gold digging may yield profitable returns,. The cjpntrac^ portion of the work commences at the bush, and extends for a distance of 10 miles along the left bank of the riverAhaura, This river for nearly the whole distance winds through steep gorges, the great height of the terraces has therefore, necessitated in the construction of this, road several long inclines and deep side cuttings, a,nd on the top, great lengths of corduroy. The road is in my opinion well made, and from the low rate at which the contract was taken I am credibly informed it will not prove a very remunerative job to the contractors. I cannot say that the country I passed through, as seen from the points available along the road, presented auriferous indications, but as it isi intersected by several creeks proceeding from the same ranges as Duffer's and; Noble's, I hope to 1 have better hews to. report during the ensuing season. The, importance of this road to the district cannot be over estimated, as it leads, directly up to a large gracing country, one run alone, ziz., Carter's, carrying 2500. head of cattle, and it being before impossible to bring them over in this; direction. Our local butchers having had to go to Hokitika. to purchase, I see no. reason to doubt that a cattle market will be formed at the Ahaura township, and that we shall have customers coming hera amongst the Greyraouth buyers. In anti-. cipation of something of this sort occur-, ring, Mr Pinkerton, of the Star Hotel, has. erected a large stable, on ground granted to him froirn the Gove.rnment reserve, and from personal inspection I can say that its; internal fittings, surpass anything of the^ kind on the coast. That a sale yard be speedily established here is a consummation devoutly to be. wished, it being entirely wrong that with cattle by thousands within such an easydistance, we are compelled to pay from Is 3d to Is Gd per pound for the meat con-v~ sumed here. ' I am informed by parties who have, ridden over Jthe new trapk to. the stations' beyond the saddle, that to make the road complete a little work, is still necessary in, cutting through the bush at a few pointst of the river higher up, than; Starvation Point, thus avoiding the dangerous parts. That the river track was attended with, danger and loss will be. shown by the fact, that a dealer bringing sheep over a few weeks ago lost 260 out of 300 sheep, and narrowly escaped with hia own life. Whilst writing of. up. river doings I may mention that I paid a visit to tlie coal> , mines last week, and was gratified to se&. the commencement of a different state of affairs in the development of the richer of" this long neglected source of mineral wealth, with whose prosperity and stability the commerce of Greymouth is so intimately concerned. The trees were cut down, and levels taken for the long promised tramway, and with easy means of" approach. I trust that this interesting^ | part will not remain the terra incognita it' has hitherto been to the inhabitants of Greymouth. Apart from the novel sights and wonders of the mine itself, the scenery in the neighbourhood is most, beautiful, and cannot fail to repay a visit. Mr Duncan Oswald, of the Bush Inn, has taken advantage of the existence of a. fine waterfall, over 100 feet high, to form winding walks in the terrace underneath, showing its beauties from different points. A remarkable feature of this fall is, that the cliff over which it leaps, shelving in-, wards from the top, a person can actually stand behind the fall. I would confidently recommend all who desire a days healthful recreation to take a trip in this direction. Mr Oswald is erecting a, large house and brewery, the house at, present occupied by him being required for the tramway,/ I regret to say that, during the late floods a fatal accident occurred at German Gully to a poop fellow named Peter Cooper, a native of the Shetland Isles. It. is supposed that a slip had taken place in a small gully behind his camp, and thewater being damned up finally burst its bounds, bringing with it logs, &c., which levelled the hut,, crushing the unhappy inmate to. death. He was a quiet inoffensive man, and highly respected in the district. Two other miners were buried by a fall of earth at about the same time, but after nearly four hours' exertion were rescued by their friends.. „