THE ARNOULD.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 389, 11 July 1868, Page 2

THE ARNOULD.

(from ovb. own correspondent.) Last week I personally inspected Pryor and party's tunnel ; it has been carried on with great vigor, and rather wider than I formerly stated. The distance they are now in is above 40 feet, and they meet with the hearty good-will of the whole inhabitants of the district — this being the largest mining undertaking ever commenced in thi3 'district, considering that it will take upwards of 12 months to bring it into Riverton Gully. Comment on my part would be useless ; as they sink their shafts on the hill I will report progress. Last week I paid a visit to German Gully and its tributaries, and I was much surprised at the large population in that locality. The miners there, taken ;y* a whole, are doing remarkably well ; one party informed me that they had made ten pounds per man three days last week. Tho Catholic Chapel is nearly completed, and taking into consideration the scattered nature of our. population it reflects infinite credit upon the Catholic community in dedicating a place of worship to the Supreme Being. I would much like to see the Protestant denominations take an example from this. I do not think the laity are so much to blame as the clergy in the matter. Where the evil rests I know not, for no blame can be attached to the worthy incumbent of Greymouth, who certainly has quite enough to do in attending to his several charges at Ross Town and Greymouth, but it is inexplicable to me how that the Catholic body have always been so energetic in sending up one of their ministers at stated periods to this district, &nd with one solitary exception we have only had & visit from a Protestant clergyman. That is now nearly three years ago, and that gentleman spoke in the highest possible terms of the liberal reception he met with and said that it would compare favorably with more civilised communities. I refer to the Be v. Mr Bo wen of Christchurch. As you are already aware that the late John Cooper, who died in the Greymouth Hospital, was in indigent circumstances, and the sum of Ll4 was collected by the miners to enable him, in the event of his recovery to make a new start in Hie. Ib has since been decided by the subscribers to give one-half to the Hospital, the other half to be forwarded to his mother. I will say this much for the district that, the miners never turn a deaf ear to any comrade in distress. At the Court House this week there have been no cases of much moment before the Warden, but I am given to understand there are two notices of appeal laid in Greymouth against his decisions. j The people up here really would be glad | to be enlightened whether the Road Board have any intention of opening the tenders for the continuation of the road to the I Arnold Township. How the extraordinary delay occurs I know not, but the tenders were to have been opened on the 11th June, and now this is the 9th July, and we seem to be as far off getting this portion of the road made as ever. It appears to me as well as the rest of the community that the whole time of that important body is taken up by the protective works in Greymouth, and certainly their unseemly squabbles do not redound much to their credit, if one might judge from the reports in your paper. , The prospectors of Pile Creek have not taken the precaution of having applied for an extended claim, the consequence of which is there is an immense amount of litigation going on. The ground has been incontestibly proved to be rich, and in my , opiuion I proalahn it a defined lead ; no less than eight claims are on payable-gold,

and the remainder are sinking and driving. Bell and party are driving on the side of the hill next Liverpool, and it will take them about 200 feet more to reach the deep lead. One very great obstacle in tins lead is that it requires tunnelling to be carried on to such an extent before the lead is reached, although, I am well informed on good authority, that at length any party will be amply repaid who goes in for this enterprise, it being a really first-class speculation. The prospectors alone, to my own personal knowledge, have been taking 2oz out to the set of, timber ; and I also know that a person whose veracity I can vouch for has washed out I7dwt to the dish. I am much pleased to think that those enterprising storekeepers Messrs Card Bros, contemplate cutting a track, provided that immaculate body yclept the Road Board grants protection for the same, and which they deserve every credit for contemplating. I really know not how the New River district would have progressed but for these enterprising gentlemen, and I trust the Government will throw no frivolous obstacles in their way, or the Grey Road Board either, in carrying out the proposed track, and by which the mining population would be largely benefited. I may add the Messrs Cards are about erecting a butchery and general storo on these diggings.