SOUTH BEACH.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 563, 26 August 1869, Page 3

SOUTH BEACH.

(prom oub own correspondent.) August 25. In continuing a description of the works in progress on the Stoney Lead, the Leviathan comes next, and they, in conjunction with Simpson and Co. , their neighbors, are taking in a tunnel near the milkman's. They have been at work about a month, and are making great progress, in fact, as was said before, it is only when getting near to the lead itself that the real difficulties actually commence. All the tunnels yet constructed have had this bad ground to go through, therefore it is hardly to be expected they will escape. However, by the new year they ought to be in a position to make a commencement of opening a paddock. John Smith and Co. are the next party. It will be remembered that it was reported some time since that they had got a payable prospect, but as yet such is not the case. Work of some magnitude will have to be undertaken before they will have the opportunity of testing their ground. They, like others, have been attempting to prospect by sinking, but the difficulties of water and bad standing ground are too great to be surmounted in this manner. Notwithstanding their united labors, it will only be either by a tunnel, or erecting a waterwheel that they will be able to know what their prospects are. The Greymouth Gold Mining Company's ground of ten acres comes next. ' They have commenced active operations under the superintendence of Mr Conolly, their manager. To thoroughly describe the nature of their works, and the position of their ground, it will be necessary to revert to a large undertaking that was performed by Raffity and Co. , 18 men . They took in a tail-race about fourteen feet deep from a creek opposite the Nelson Hotel, and continued it until they came to a high terrace, thinking to intersect a lead that was supposed to be near to it. They were, however, unsuccessful ; they sank two or three shafts, but without finding anything payable, whether they went deep enough or sank on the right line is problematical. It is near this race that the Greymouth Company have erected a large water-wheel of fifteen feet in diameter, and flumed the water for about 80 yards from the Leviathan race, where they obtain their supply. They make use of Raffity's old race for their tail-race. The wheel is in full work, and a paddock is being taken down and substantially secured, as it is imperatively necessary at the commencement of a work of so great a magnitude that everything should be as perfect as it possibly can be made. It is expected that the present paddock will be bottomed in the course of a week, and should it be rather off the lead, it will be necessary to drive till it meets with it. That the G. G. M. Co. are adopting the proper method to work their ground is very clear. J3y the aid of a water-wheel they will be able not only to test their ground, but actually to work it out after paying for water much more reasonably than they could possibly do if they had gone to the expense of taking in a tunnel from the beach, which would have cost them at the least £1000, and it is questionable whether it could be done for that sum. The G.G.M. Co. have taken a lesson from the All Nations and Homeward Bound, and have constructed a good foot track from the beach to their claim, which is a step in the right direction. , Beachcombing is now in full operation between the Nelson Hotel and White's store, the late high tides having once. more replenished the beach with black sand and gold.