ARNOLD.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 326, 15 February 1868, Page 2

ARNOLD.

(FRO.M OUH OWN CORRESPONDENT,). Thursday, Feb. 13. ' From the length of time that has elapsed since my last communication, one would almost imagine our existence was a mere fiction of the brain, or as the amiable Bptsy Prig said to Mrs Gamp — "She did'nt believe there was no sicli a place." Such a. place there is, however, and although the late fine weather has told rather heavily on the miners, the place is not only in a healthy condition, but in all probability likely to improve. In my last I mentioned that several of our old re.side.nts had returned, after having been all over the Coast. I have now to state that they have struck good payable gold in a, hill not 100 miles from the township. I am not at liberty at present to divulge the exact locality, but suffice it to say they are not only satis tied with the prospects, but other parties have followed in their wake,, Last night a half pennyweight to the dish was obtained in the claim adjoining theirs. Several parties have gone out this morning ; the description of workings is tunnelling, and from the well known auriferous nature of the adjacent gullies, I am confident of their success., week I will he enabled to give you further particulars. I also anticipate being able to furnish you with some good news, from the he^acl waters of the Arnpld Cregk, as the party from whom I received the information may be relied on, in fact he anticipates th§re being a, good rush in that direction. At Liverpool things aje satisfactory. In German a^d adjoining gullies in the vicinity, the miners are tolerably well satisfied, thpugh all complain of the want of water. Madden and party are getting well on with their race— they haveafreatly brought in over thre<js miles (the, entire distance contemplated being considerably over four) ; this will command one of the best terraces in the district ; as a, matter of course the labor and expense attached to ' a work of this magnitude have, necessarily ! been large, and I am of opinion that in extensive works of this nature, there ought to be a larger area of ground allowed, in proportion to the length of the race, and the difficulties to be surmounted, such ?s j rock-cutting, fluming, &c. This party deserve great credit for their- perseverance and enterprise in this undertaking, and I sincerely trust they will be well rewarded for their labor. The great evil which the. district labors under at present is that one cannot get water to a sufficient altitude to command the higher terraces, It is to be hoped, ! however, that this will eventually be overcome, as people cannot remain blind to the immense advantages to be derived from water power. On Sunday last aeveral men went up the right branch of the New River, with the intention of settling down in that locality for some time to come ; they are quite convinced that this (after being all over the qpast) is one of the steadiest diggings of the whole. ' Considerable excitement prevails as to Queensland ; the accounts by private letter only go to show that with the exception of quartz-reefs, there is little or nothing to encourage a man to go there. New alluvial ground has been opened, and" some havereturnedgivinga rather gloomy account. From what I can gather there have been some exceedingly rich patches of ground, but they are like angels visits, few and far between. The Welshmen have completely abandoned the deep lead at Riverton. An engine has siuce been offered to me at a cost one-fifth less than their outlay for horses, feed, gear, &c, while the saving in labur alone would have been considerable, as one man would have sufficed to attend to the engine. Tho people of Greymouth must have been much astonished at the small number of votes recorded at the late election for the Road Board. Mi* Fox is entirely to blame in this matter, as he informed every one that it was his opinion there would be no contest, and he did not wish the miners who live in the outlying gullies to leave their work and find thej T had wasted their time by doing so, but for this unfortunate mistake there is no doubt there would have been a very material difference in the returns for the quarter.