NAPOLEON DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 518, 13 May 1869, Page 3

NAPOLEON DIGGINGS.

(fROM AW .OOCASIO^A 1 ' CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington TaiuiAca, May 8. Certainly this district is bound to turn out during the next year, from the ground which has aa yet been opened, a vast quantity of gold, and I think it will be proved to be the richest and most extensive gold fluid yet opened up the Grey valley. I must premise that it, in mos^ cases, requires capital and labor to carry matters to an issue. Starting from Orwell Creek, the first party at work in a tunnel is Alexander's ; their prospects are favorable. Next comes Lowry's, who adjo?n Cornish Dick's, the prospectors or discoverers of the lead ah this end. This party have a tramway from the'r claim to their head-race, and have a fine way of working. East of Cornish Dick lies the claim of the Yankee, who has prospects of ldwt. to the d?sh, with some feet of dirt. While west of him Carroll's party are working, having nearly completed their tramway. Following alo'ig Aye came to the claims of Dixon and party and the Scotchmen; both of whom made arrangements with Cornish Dick to lay a double line of rails through his claim, with the advantage of having water to wash up. From Dijon's claim there is a pinch to go over, when we see three shafts in close proximity, the water being 'very heavy in that sunk by Jones and party, who are down about ninety feet. Up to this point all the claims are double-banked, and payable gold has been got, with a depth of wash varying from two to six feet. Frontage tunnels now inter pene, none of which have struck ihe lead, until you come to the ordinary claims again, which f with one or two exceptions, have all got gold. I cannot, with any degree of cerfcaintj r , give you the result of any washings, but from acquaintances I learn that there are dividends of i>B to £25 per man per week. At Napoleon there are many business places ; a small town is springing up at Half-way, while Orwell Creek— which will be the town — is still quiescent. There is a shanty or two going up there, certainly, and parties are mad enough to build right over a creek vhich, when the miners begiu to wash, is certain to get choked up by the tailings which will come from tbe first three or four claims I have referred to. Again, are the complaints loud and deep about the neg.li.jence of the Government. Whatever the miners require in the shape of applications, objections, rights, or certificates, they must trudge a distance of eleven miles, at risk of life and limb, through mod and floods, to the nearest Warden's office. Surely, such a state of things should not be permitted to exist any longer. A court should be held here, say alternately with that at Ahaura, or any how, but let us have Warden's offices established on the spot. A person sent from Westport to fish for signatures to a memorial, praying for separation, h.i 3 visited this part. It is a pily or a shame — call it which you will — that some one a little fit or competent to deal with such an important matter was not entrusted to do so. As it is, the afair has been placed in the hands of a gentleman who may be very well "in his way," but certainly out of his way at present.