THE SOUTH BEACH.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 599, 18 November 1869, Page 2

THE SOUTH BEACH.

(fkom our own correspondent.) November VI. When giving a running summary of the different claims on the suppoied line of the Stoney Lead, it was mentioned that a claim had been taken up between the Greymouth Gold Mining Company's ten acre block and Jack's Creek, or known by some as Nelson Creek. The holders of this claim, Harnett and Co. have been more fortunate than their Grey neighbors in striking payable gold. They sunk two or three shafts, proving the ground satisfactory to these. They have now erected a water-wheel, and named it the " Erin-go-bragh." It is now in full working order, and they purpose taking in a drive from it to the shafts they have already put down. These are situated on the" original east boundary lino of the Greymouth Gold Mining Company's claim if extended. Robertson and Co. have a claim here, and it is expected th;.t they will be successful. A great mistake was made when the claims were formerly laid off. It was then thought that as they extended northerly that the fancy line would run nearer to the beach, but experience te.iches that such is not really the case, for in every instance where gold has been found it has been about the same distance from high water mark. This knowledge has necessitated a general re-survey . of those claims that have been taken up during the last few months. The G'jlden Gate and Caledonian Companies, which amalgamated for the purpose of taking in a tunnel near the Halfway House, thought they should not have to go much farther than .500 or 600 feet before they met with the lead ; in this, however, they were deceived, for afier taking it in 800 feet they failed in getting sufficient gold to pay them for working, and having come near to the brow of the terrace they determined to sink a shaft on the terrace itself about 30 feet on a higher level. This they did, and after going through some of the blue reef they succeeded in getting gold when their, shaft was about fifty-two feet deep. They found two feet of payable wash, but after attempting to drive they were driven out by foul air. The tunnel, which took three months and upwards to construct, is of no use to them, as the shaft put down was dry, and the ground can be worked without it. The distance from the beach being about the same as the All Nations and the old claims on the Stoney Lead. The fact of a shaft being sunk on a terrace and going through blue reef, and payable gold being found exactly the same distance from high water mark, leaves a doubt whether gold may not yet exist where other terraces may protrude. The Golden Lion Company, who hold a claim to the south of the Unicorn, have erected a wheel, and it is now in full, working order. Report speaks favorably of the prospects this company obtained prior to the erection of the wheel. They purpose driving out their gronud, which it is to be hoped will answer their expectations. The men in the All Nations, Unicorn, &c, are busily engaged in repairing the damage done to their tunnel. - All parties greatly sympathise with them, for no body of men are more throughly to be pitied, and more deserving of it, than they have proved themselves to be.