NOBLE'S AND ORWELL'S CREEKS.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 489, 4 March 1869, Page 2

NOBLE'S AND ORWELL'S CREEKS.

(?£O?4 OTSR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Ahatjra, March %. The new rushes at Noble's and Orwell's creeks daily attract more attention, and increase considerably in the number of their population. Notwithstanding all j cautions to the contrary, I fear that it is the innate nature of gold diggers to go where the crowd is, and the consequence in this instance is a population of from 500 to 600 men, with claims at present no more than sufficient to employ a couple of hundred. As a small compensation for this evil, against which all railing appears useless, a little good is done by the compulsory opening of fresh ground. On the Wellington Lead several more hole 3 have been bottomed, in each case with the best results, and many of the shares in claims have in consequence changed hands at prices varying i'rom J20.t0 £70, I was told by a Frenchman, one of the litigants mentioned in my first account of this rush, that he had that day sold out at the lastnamed figure, The whole of the claims appear to' be energetically worked, and every yard of ground both on this lead and | the adjoining one of Liverpool Bill's rush is pegged out, and the scene presented is a busy one of mining in various stages of progress. The great accession of numbers to this place, and the scant quantity of ground in proportion has led part of them to prospect the ground across the main creek, where I noticed several parties at work, and hardly doubt but that I shall have shortly to report the discovery of a new area of payable ground. In view of this, and doubtless with the object of making Noble's the main road to these diggings, the opportunity of doing which has been afforded by the dilatory and unaccountable conduct of the Orwell Creek people, Mr J. M 'Lough- j lin has altered the present direction of his horse track from the bed of the creek to the terrace itself, so that we shall soon have done away with the horrible foottrack up the spur, of which I formerly complained. This undertaking will not be carried out without considerable expense, as I believe that no loss than five large, and by necessity strong bridges, will have to be thrown over various points of the creek. A large hotel and billiard-room is about to be erected here by Mr Craig, and the place is quite busy with business people of all s^rts, who have evidently visited it to judge of its capabilities for other matters than mining. At Napoleon Terrace matters are not much altered, the nature of the work and the greater depth of ihe ground necessarily requiring greater time to develop. Several fresh claims are, however, being opened, the most notable being that of a party of six or sever, including the wellknown " Jolly Packer." This party, however, after sinking a great depth, were compelled to cease from the excessive quantity of water, and are now preparing to tunnel from the side of the range. The 1 ite rain, though not of sufficient duration to fully benefit all the claims, has yet enabled many to test their washdirt. Of the results I shall have to speak in my next report. Many fresh business places are going up here, but at present they are scattered about the range at points which storekeejers who have old customers here think tv.ll best suit their individual interests, and nothing like one large township shows it> elf. This, it is hoped, will I•. remedied by-and-bye. At Orwell's Creek the claims at present taken up are being steadily worked, and 1 heard that Taylor and party had bottomed on the lead last week at a depth of 65 feet. If so, I expect to find a much larger number of men at work upon my next visit. The Warden, accompanied by Inspector Mayberry, paid a visit to this creek last week, and as Mr M 'Donald, the owner of the present track, was there at the same time, I suppose some arrangement would be entered into as to the formation of the road over to Napoleon Terrace in continuation with this one. I have not heard that any positive conclusion was arrived at, but feel certain, from the' advantages this road offers over any other, that it will certainly be taken in hand shortly, if not by M'Donald's party, by some of the business people of the creek. I noticed that Sadler and party had brought their race in, and are now fairly at work. Nothing special to remark elsewhere in the creek. Matters are going on briskly at the new Ahaura township, the scene presented being one of. the busiest up the river. Roadmakers by the score, carpenters, sawyers, and other laborers busily atwork ; and places going up very far surpassing any to be found in its ancient namesake. I shall have more to say hereafter regarding this township, the site of which, and the excellent manner in which it is laid out, reflects the highest credit upon the officials entrusted with its selection. I read with no little amusement an

article in the West Coast Times, of yesterday, purjicrting to be a description of the valley of the Grey. After an amount of " information received," about as veracious as that official intelligence very often turns out to be, par example, the' account of the Twelve-mile township. Certainly new to me and other old inhabitants, tb.o number of men at No Town Creek, and other interesting items for which the writer, must either have drawn largely upon his imagination, or been hoaxed by his informers: He proceeds to caricature, for the benefit of his readers, the conver? satipn of a gentleman into whose society he was by" accident thrown, and whose identity was easily recognised by the miners, as this was his only visit so far up I the liver, and as he is well known and universally respected for the actual good, work he has done on behalf of the mining community, I would earnestly advise the party to be careful against showing his mendacious countenance here again. May I mention, for Hokitika information, that although the seedy-looking gent sent Iq enlighten them as to pur affairs mentions only one hotel and one store at the. Twelve-mile (both untruths by the way), I ascertained, upon commenting upon the, article on my way down, that he was, sufficient political economist to sponge upon the latter, instead of honoring the' former with his custom. May he and all of his breed experience the pleasure of remaining among * l the terraces and- hills which have the good fortune to be included in the County of Westland." .