THE LAGOON LEAD.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 604, 2 December 1869, Page 2

THE LAGOON LEAD.

(fKOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) RUTHERGLEN, Dec. 1. The second rush to the ground situated between the old Lagoon Lead and the Saltwater has proved more successiiil than the former one, and it may be now confidently announced that payable gold has been traced for a distance of half-a-mile, till ie reaches the Saltwater Creek. It is a pity that the golden ground has been limited to so small an area, but such is the case, aid every inch of it has long been taken up, so that there is no inducement for any one at a distance to come here. There is a diversity of opinion amongst some parties whether it is a con- ! tinuation of the old Lagoon Lead and the Stoney Lead, or whether it has not had some connection with the Saltwater Creek at some period. When practical men differ in opinion it is presuming to state authoritatively which ie may ultimately prove, but the weight of the argument certainly goes to show that old Neptune had a great hand in depositing the wash where it is now found. There are two significant proofs in favor of it being a beach lead — one is, that the reef or, more properly, the false bottom on which the gold is found .lips westerly, and the other is that the lead has been traced to the banks of the Saltwater, near the place where ihe compass-line of the Stoney Le d comes to. It is reported that it has been lately compassed between this Lagoon Ltiad and the Stoney Lsad, and that they correspond. Whatever lead' it may prove to be, one thing is certain, that a valuable piece of ground has been opened, and when it is more thoroughly proved, if the returns correspond with the prospects that are now reported to be got, the men are to be congratulated in possessing rich and valuable claims, and so long as ground of this nature is to be met with theie is no fear of the population dimishing. The number of claims that may be estimated to be on {fold is about. l 4or 15, some three or four of which are extended, and the rest ordinary claims. The width of the lead has not altogether been proved, so that it is impossible to hazard even an opinion. This, however, will be known in course of ■time, as most of the men are now engaged in taking in tunnels either 1 from the banks of the Saltwater or from the fall of the terrace towards the lagoon ; fortunately in either case the majority , have not a long way to go, although some ' have a much greater distance. Now that i this lead may be said to be no longer doubtiul, and that some 50 or 60 men will be employed there, means must be taken by the Road Board to provide a crossing over the Saltwater. If they have not the means at their command let them set on foot a contributionary fund towards erecting a hand-rail on the tree that ha? now to be crossed ; th's would not co3t more than a pound or twenty-five shillings, therefore the mere cost of this necessary work will not be the means of retarding it, and the sooner it is done the better, for already great inconvenience has been felt through it.