GREY VALLEY GOLD FIELDS.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 529, 8 June 1869, Page 2

GREY VALLEY GOLD FIELDS.

On his retirement from his office of Warden of the Grey district, Mx Dutton transmitted to the Nelson Government a very voluminous report upon the gold workings, the Brunner Coal Mine, roads, and other matters. It is dated the 31st March. To-day we give his remarks on the GOLD FIELDS. Unlike most gold fields, this district has not during the last twelve months been subject to any startling vicissitudes— the various rushes to Queensland, the Thames, and other places having occasioned only temporary excitement, and almost every notable creek being now in at least as flourishing a condition as to population and yield as at the commencement of the last financial year. In fact there would appear to be some extraordinary, and to me unaccountable, attraction in the Grey district, as numbers of miners return from Queensland and other distant rushes to claims which admittedly yield only £4 or £5 per week. But though I have only specially to notice two important rushes during the year, viz., Nelson's Creek and Napoleon's, payable gold has been found in many new localities; miners have flocked there, continued excitement on ft small scale has continued for a little time, and gradually these so-called rushes have subsided into quiet, steady workings, and thus more than compensated for the relinquishment of other ground supposed to be worked out. But these little rushes have done more ; for apart from the advantages of opening out payable workings in localities previously neglected, they have tempted many to prospect other ground in the neighborhood, and the result has been gold has been discovered at the tops of spurs and in places where uo geologist, and hitherto no experienced miner would think of looking for ii; and it is now admitted that in many parts of this district, especially in 1 the locality of Orwell Creek, the " new chum V is just as likely to become a noted p)S6sp*eot6r as the most experienced miner. In taking a general view of the. whole district, I have no hesitation in reporting a decided increase in prosperity, a large number of miners, and that it is my strong conviction many important though not startling discoveries of new payable ground will be made during the ensuing year. In the experience of the past twelve months, I know of nothing to justify the Grey district being held out as a rich gold field ; but I see ample foundation for the belief that fairly payable ground will be found over a larger are.a than in any other district, and that the Grey bids fair to be the most permanent, if not the most pros,-.

perous, gold field on the West Coast ; and if to this be added the large quantity of agricultural land, the known existence of excellent coal, and the many inducements for a permauent settlement, there can be little doubt that the Grey district must be looked \ipon as the most important possession of the Nelson Government on theWest Coast. As this is the last report I shall have the honor of forwarding, perhaps I may be allowed to diverge a little from the usual bounds, and combine with it some practical suggestions, founded on past experience and a careful consideration of existing circumstances, as to the future working of a district in which 1 have taken much interest, and which I would still wish to see more fully developed under the auspices of the Nelson Government. Had I been remaining in the employ of that Government, many of these remarks might probably be considered out of place, or the motives which prompted them questioned, but as I am about to leave the Colony immediately, I feel sure the object I have in view will not be impugned. Coast-line to the Grey.—Commencing at Razorback — the northern boundary of my district — and taking the coast-line southward as far as the Grey, there are now employed about 380 miners, scattered over twenty-five miles of beach and terrace workings. As it would be tedious to notice the various creeks and beaches, I may state I estimate the number of men between Razorback and Seventeen-mile Beach, including those on new ground I shall presently mention, to be 250; between the latter workings and Darkies Terrace,, thirty-five ; and between the terrace and. the Grey River, ninety-five. These workings are black sand, beach lead, or terrace claims, and present much the same appearance as at the commencement of the year ; the only new features being an inclination more thoroughly to test the terraces, and the commencement of workings on a more extensive system, with the aid of machinery for pumping purposes. A steam machine has been erected between Cobden and Darkies Terrace, two water-wheels on the Sevenmile, one on the Nine-mile, and two on the Twelve-mile beaches. Others are talked of, and several applications for extended claims on the old beach lead have lately 'been made. I have encouraged this little revival of once famous workings, and believe the hard-working, intelligent miners of the North Beach have better days before them, and that prosperous beach and terrace workings, but especially the latter, will be heard of during the ensuing year. During the past week I have granted a prospecting claim about half-way between Razorback and Canoe Creek, the ground however is only estimated to yield £1 a-day per man ; but it attracted for a time a good many miners to the locality, and may probably ensure a more careful scrutiny of somewhat promising country. Grey Valley. — Passing on to the Grey River, there are no workings on the Nelson Bide until you reach the Blackball, fifteen miles from Cobden. A few miners found payable, gold at Sulky Crenk, in close proximity to the coal-mine, at the early part of last year, but the ground is now deserted. On the opposite side of the Grey, and extending from tha Arnold— the boundary of the Nelson Province — to Mackley's station, thirty-six miles up the Grey, there are the old workings at Notown, Sunnyside, Red Jack's, Nelson Creek, German Gully, Fenians', Kangaroo, Duffer's, Half -ounce, Sullivan's, Teviot, Brandy Jack's, Callaghau's, Noble's, Waipuna; Mosquito, Cariboo, and other creeks, and entirely new and extensive workings at Nelson's Creek, Orwell Creek, Topsy Gully, Napoleon Hill, with the intsrvening so-called Plain of Waterloo, end several smaller patches of new ground on the Ahaura and other streams. Blackball, Ford's Creek, and Moonlight are the only workings on the north bank of the Grey up to its junction with the Little Grey. The latter creek is now almost deserted, as the available unworked ground is so limited. Occasionally the discovery of a heavy nugget— one of about seventy-eight ounces was found about October last — revives the quondam popularity of Moonlight ; but unless some important result attends the effort now being made to work the so-called quartz reef, I believe the best days of Moonlight are over. lam glad, however, to state that there is now a probability of this quartz being properly worked. A ton of it was sent to Melbourne, and though the yield — twenty-four pennyweights to the ton — was not so rich as was anticipated, application has been made for the lease of a large area, the applicants stating that they are prepared to spend £20,000 in the adventure. The difficulty of access to the upper part of Moonlight is the one great drawbwk to the introduction of machinery, and I have encouraged in every way in my power the spirited enterprise of the present applicants. Beyond the Little Grey, and extending northwards to the Buller district, there are small but prosperous diggings at Antonio's Flatj Adatnstown, St, Patrick's Hill, Maori , Gully, Sandy and Snowy Creeks; and over the Saddle there are Burkes, Painkiller's, Headman's, Boatman's, Murray's, Liverpool Davis', and Soldier's Gullies, supporting nearly one hundred miners. When I mention that (it the latter creek one or two parties are c irning as much as £15 a man per week, it will be wondered there is not a larger population, but the state of the road and expense of stores prevent men fancying a district otherwise attractive. I shall notice this district more particularly under the head of roads. Jt will thus be seen that for twenty-five miles along the coast, and about seventy miles inland, there is a continual succession of payable workings, and that, with such a scattered district, added to heavy office work, land sales, the management of the coal-mine, and regular Court wqrk, the- Warden's time is, or ought to be, fully occupied. Rosh to Nelson's Ckbek. — The two rushes I have referred to as incidents of the past year, have both been important. That to Nelson's Creek caused a large influx of men at a time when mining prospects were decidedly dull. The ground proved rich, though patchy ; over 1200 miners were at one time scattered over this locality, many valuable yields obtained, and though the population has now diminished to about 800, much profitable ground yet remains unworked, and I fully expect Nelson's Creek, apart from any new discoveries in the neighborhood, will retain its popularity for at least twelve months to come. RysiH tq Napql.eqn's.-pA much more

recent, and, as 1 think, more important, rush has been that to Napoleon Hill, in the neighborhood of Noble's — an already famous creek. As this new ground, however, has been discovered quite recently, and fresh and somewhat startling reports are daily being received, it is impossible to offer more than a speculative opiuion as to its permanency. The ground is being opened out principally on the frontage-tunnelling system ; but there are also some rich surfacu workings, and I will simply state 1 fully anticipate this will prove one of the most; important rushes which have yet taken place on the West Coast, and that another extensive, permanent, and easily accessible district will be brought into notoriety. Washdirt of from two and a-half to seven feet deep, with yields varying from three pennyweights downwards to the dish, have been reported. Population. — The census of December, 1867, showed a population of 2579. I now estimate the total population at 3800, distributed as follows : — Razorback to Seventeen-mile Beach, 250; Seventeenmile Beach to Darkies Terrace, 35; Darkies Terrace to Cobden, 95 ; Notown and neighboring gullies to Lake Brunner, 130 ; Redjack's, Sunday Creek, Fenians', and Kangaroo, 150 ; Nelson's Creek, 800 ; German Gully, Callaghan's, and Sullivan's, 120; Blackwater, Snowy Creek, and Big River, 15 ; Teviot, Brandy Jack's, Duffer's, &c, 75; Noble's, 135; Orwell Creek; Topsy Gully and neighborhood, 300 ; New rush at Napoleon's, 820; Blackball, Ford's Creek, and Moonlight, 80; Antonio's Flub, Adamstown, and St. Patrick's Hill, 60 ; Maori Gully, 45 ; Burkes, Painkiller's, Boatman's, and Murray's, 40; Liverpool Davis' and Soldier's, 50 — say, 3200. The residue of the population of 3800 being made up by agricultural and other settlers, business-license holders, women, and children. Average Earnings. — I could mention many rich claims throughout the district, but as 1 attach more importance to the average earnings of minersf I avoid all reference to fortunate shareholders or particular localities, and think £4 to £5 per man would represent the average weekly ear.ungs of every miner at work in my district. For the past three months the whole district has been in a depressed state from want of water, the storekeepers, of course, suffering most severely. They have managed, however, to outlast what was really a serious crisis, and the usual West Coast wet weather having again set in, gold is speedily coming into circulation again, and the results are already apparent. Probability of New Discoveries.— No great weight can be attached to what must at best be but a speculative opinion as to future probable additions of payable ground, but I think I can point to the upper portion of Nelson's Creek, the likelylooking ground between that district and the new township of Ahaura, the hills bordering on Noble's and Topsy Gully, and the entire district of the Upper or Little Grey, and the various branches of the Inangahua on the other side of the Saddle, as localities in which important discoveries are likely to be made during the ensuing year, Statistics. — The statistics of a gold field, however much despised by some people, are valuable to a certain extent. I therefore submit such as I think may throw light upon the mining transactions of the past year. During that time I have issued 2083 miners' rights, and seventyeight extended claims, and there have been 1423 applications for water and other rights. The following table will show the gold exported at Greymoi\,th : —

f96'6S T66'6 981 '9i *80'6T * 6981 'IS qo^INE °!U Aremref fSS'l^ 9^B'OT 9l*'SS tSS'SI ' 8981 '08 JaquK>}cfeg o<u H\n£ Z9l'Qf S&VlI 95919 fBB'SI * * 8981 '08 o<n \udy ' on I B A " SZ O <on l 1J A ' SZ O •aNvixsa^ vsosism

I have again to notice that this tabulated statement of gold exported from Greymouth is, so far as relates to the comparative amount of yield from Westland and Nelson, little more than guess work. Despite the efforts which lmve been made by means of notices, and otherwise, to induce miners to state the locality in which their gold has been obtained, and notwithstanding the praiseworthy exertions of at least one of the Banks to ensure accuracy, it can hardly be expected that when such an adjustment depends solely upon the answers given by the miners as to the locality from which their gold has been obtained, that any great accuracy can be relied upon ; nor do I see how the evil is to be remedied without some legislative enactment, so long as the Grey River is the boundary between Nelson and Westland. Revenue, — In my last annual report, the revenue was stated to be £4418 115. 6d., being an average of £368 per month. This year it has advanced to £6299, or an average of nearly .£525 per month. This is strict gold fields' revenue, and.exclusive of all deposits, coal-mine receipts, Resident Magistrate's fees, &c, and will, I think, justify the remarks 1 have made as to a decided but Bteady increase in prosperity. Expenditure. — The expenditure has been .£9207 3s. 4d., and may be classified as follows : — Warden's department . £1229 17 6 Surveys . . . 745 9 4 Gaols . . . 217 15 8 Police . . . 2001 11 4 Harbor . . , 254 0 0 Charitable aid and Hospital 1495 15 4 West Coast roads and buildings . . . 2997 17 6 Miscellaneous . , . 164 16 5 £9,207 3 4