UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 575, 23 September 1869, Page 2

UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

♦ (FKOJf OT7R OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Na?olepn, September 19. The principal topic of interest during the past week has been the agitation which has been got up for the purpose of inducing the Government to pay a little more attention to the requirements of the district. As a first result of the late important me^ng which has been held; a memorial to the Government has beep prepared, and is being numerously signed carefully setting forth the severalgrievances under which the inhabitants are >bonng. Among other things, it firmly but respectfully impressed on the authori- '■ ties the absolute necessity of at once establishing a Magistrate's and Woden's Court either at Napoleon or at spine other place nearer the centre of population than where the Court is held at present. The shameful condition of the tracks is also pointed out, and attention is drawn to the' fact that although this, the most important district in the-South-westGoldFields has supported* the largest population, and* has contributed more money to the rer" venue, than any other place foy the laaf " nine months ; yet the approaches fa it are on tracks made by private individuals, on, which heavy tabs' are charged, which eventually fall as a tax on the miners There is no doubt if this agitation is kept alive it will result in, some good to the place. In mining matters, the Mosquito Lead is the centre of attraction. There are six claims on gold now, and four claims ahead of the last golden claim. . The Italian party have their shaft down 316 feet, which proves that the run of deep ground continues. Five claims further, ahead i still Toohey and party are down a consi-.- * derable depth, and if this party succeed in striking gojd the lead will' be proved I for a distance of fifteen claims. The" payable ground is between sixty a#d seventy feet wide, two and a half feet of washdirt, averaging five grains to the dish. On the Napoleon and Wellington Leads the paddocks are getting filled again, and rain is anxiously wished lot. I heard _ftJL Ll7O being refused for a fourth share" in a claim on the Napoleon Lead this week. • ? At old Noble's, the sluicing parties are ;in full work. There are five water-races in this place now. The Young Barnacles race, which has just been finished, has been an operation of some magnitude. The water has been raised from Noble's main creek at a distance of about five miles from the old township ; one piece of flnming (where the rage crosses Noble/s, Creek) is 220 yards long. Fresh claims have been marked off at. Spec's rush, not on account of any new discovery, but because it is known that the ground will pay small wages if systematically worked. A fatal accident occurred in Rankin's claim here since my last letter to you, •• The deceased, Michael Hartfield Kelly and John Rankin, were both buried. Rankin was taken out in about three hours, but '" Kelly's body was not recovered for five hours afterwards.: From the position in which the poor fellow was found, it is supposed that he must have been killed instantly. Rankin had a most miraculous escape. I cannot pass over this melancholy affair without noticing the pluck and daring of a young fellow named John M'Quain, which is beyond all praise ; it is owing to his courage and skill, under. Providence, that Rankin owes his lifei . ; The population is increasing in the neighborhood of Duffer's. It is a good fossicking locality. Sullivan's, Rowdy, and Half-ounce Gullies are the same as, usual. At the latter place there are several fresh parties setting in. Gladstone Terrace still maintains its, reputation, , but the want of water is a , slight drawback here. The washdirt has ; to be shot down through covered shoots to Barnes' race, which passes along further. : down the range. The Teviot still supports a few miners, including the everlasting "Old Hatter*" *' who has had this gully to himself almost for the last three years. The left-hand branch of Topsy Creek is. being sluiced in a face by Crow and Col ■ There is plenty of payable ground about here, but unfortunately water is very scarce. ... . . There is nothing new at Brandy Jack's. There will be nothing more known about this place for' a week or two ; by that time the tunnels at present being cut in, will about reach the supposed run of the lead. In the meantime, the claims which are on gold are paying well. There is store here now, Mr Lonergan having sue- * (seeded at considerable difficulty and expense in making a track from the Teviot, and he brought his goods on the ground last week. The excitement about this rush has somewhat subsided, partly be-, cause all the " fancy" ground is occupied, and partly in consequence of a small rush which has taken place at Moonlight Creek. The holders of claims in the vicinity of the prospecting claim are as sanguine as ever as to the value of their shares, some of which have changed hands at. rather high figures. In about three weeks this place will be thoroughly tested, and until then it will be mere guesswork to say much about it. The population of this district has increased in consequence of the Mosquito and Brandy Jack's rushes, and I estimate* the total, including those places and old Noble's, at about 1800. There are rumors of a small rush somewhere, between Topsy Creek and Thoro- v good's, but I have not been able to learn anything authentic- about it yet.