NAPOLEON DISTRICT.

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

NAPOLEON DISTRICT.

THE NEW RUSHES.

(FKOM OUR djFR^COBRESPONDKNT.) Nov. 29. The Canadian rush has not, as I suspected would" be the case, by any means realised the extravagant expectations whioh were formed about it. The shaft which I mentioned in my last report has been bottomed at about fifty feet, a duffer. Two other shafts have been bottomed since at the same depth, or a little shallower, with the same result. These shafts have been sunk right across the fancy line, still it is the opinion of those who orient to be well informed, about the matter that the gutter containing the gold exists somewhere in the hill, and from experience I would not like to express a contrary opinion, for these gutters taka curious twists sometimes.' Another shaft is being sunk further to the north, and this shaft will, in a great measure, prove the ground. Another rush has taken place to a terrace on one of the sp\irs between the righthand branch of Duffer's and Sullivan's Gullies, and near the head of both. Hayes and party have the claim in which gold was first struck, and the ground is reported as likely to pay good wages. The sinking is about fifteen feet, prospect half pennyweight to the dish. Another claim has struck gold with equally good prospeots. It would be premature to express a decided opinion about this rush yet. It is situated on a continuation of the same range on which the Gladstone Terrace is situated, and as this range appears to be. the fountain head of nearly all the gold of any consequence which has been found in the neighborhood, this rush has been thought highly of by those miners who have been any Isngth of time resident in the vicinity. Circumstances are in its favor, for the sinking is shallow, and the spur is narrow, consequently the ground can be easily tested. Another rush is reported to have taken place near the head of Rowdy Gullj, but I have heard nothing reliable about it. The lead at Brandy Jack's is being gradually developed at the upper end from the prospectors, but nothing payable has been found at the lower end except in the one claim. It will take some time yet to take the tunnels which are being "driven in at the lower end into the supposed run of the gutter, but the shareholders in the several claims have great confidence in their ground. At the upper or eastern end five claims, besides the prospectors, are certainly payable, and some of these are fabulously rich, n* -we are to believe all we are told. There is nothing new to report from Half Ounce, and the raceowners at the Teviot will welcome the rain which has fallen for the last few days, for they must have been badly in want of it. The claims which are on gold at Mosquito are paying well, better, 1 believe, on an average thaii-any claims in the district. I have had a high opinion of this lead from the beginning, and I think a good de.il of it still. The washdirt is of a greater depth, and the gold is more evenly distributed through it than ,is the case with any of the other leads. The majority of the shareholders on this lead have struggled through their difficulties manfully, and some of them to my own knowj ledge have had real difficulties to contend with, and I fervently hope that the pluck and determination which they have disj played will meet an adequate reward. When I mentioned this place some time since, I stated that the lead, which could not be traced through the Italian's claim, was further westward of that claim, and this opinion appears to be gaining ground, for a new line of claims has been marked out to-day in that direction. The ruin will do an immense amount of good, on the Napoleon and Wellington lean, on the latter especially, for the paddocks were filled, so that no more washdirt could be put into them. When another washing such as this will be (with regard to quantity) is taken out of the Wellington lead, it will be worked out, with the exception of one or two claims ; that is, if no fresh runs of payable ground are discovered, which is not at all improbable. At Napoleon there is nothing new to relate, except that in some of the claims on the lead small payable gullies, running outside and nearly parallel with the main lead, have been discovered. This has also occurred at Mosquito. An inquiry about the death of an infant, which occurred on the 20th instant, has been held, when it was found that the death of the child was purely accidental. I wonder whose business it is to see that these dangerous waterholes are either filled in or properly protected by the parties who use them. The Philharmonic Society had a rehearsal this evening. I was invited to go into the room by an acquaintance, who is a man of "weight," if not influence, in the township, but we had no sooner entered than a dapper little fellow in tight check? came up and informed us that the affair was entirely private,' (as if it could be with the noise made) and that nonebut gentlemen amateurs were allowed to be present. He was'nt much to look at, but he had a big darkie behind him, who also informed us that "nobody but gendPmns" could stay in ihe room, so of course, to avoid being ignominiously ex^ polled, we walked out with the best grace we could assume. The diggings above the Little Grey Junction, are still supporting a fair population, but I can hear of no rich finds. The Junction township lo^Vs dismal enough. The ferry-boat, which was destroyed some time since in a quarrel between two drunken mauiacs, has not been replaced, consequently the iarafficfor pedestrians is virtually stopped. If the river is very low, as has been for the last few weeks, it can be forded, but for the next two or three months, when, from previous experience, we may expect heavy floods, what will be the consequenc? A free publican's licence, with authority to charge tolls, has been offered to any person who will undertake to maintain theferry, but no person -will availhin t self of this offer. And because it will not pay a hotel-keeper to accept the terms offered by Government, the public must do the best they can. I consider the conduct of the authorities with regard to this matter to be nothing short of criminal negligence^ An amusing incident occurred here a few days ago which illustrated the truth of the old adage, " Where there's a will there's a way." A resident in the neigh-- . borhood obtained a verdict in the Resi*

dent Magistrate's Court at the Ahaura, against another resident for goods sold and delivered. An order of the court for immediate payment was issued, and then the question arose, how it was to be served on defendant. He was known to be planted somewhere in the vicinity of Reid's station. The pla : ntiff went there, but as soon as the man he wag in searcli of saw him approaching, he bolted, and as he is young and active, and can run like a tfeer, he soon left his pursuer behind. However, that astute individual was not to be "besttd," as he returned to the Junction, and after hiring a horse and saddle for a lady, he disguised himself in female attire. When the finishing touch was put on, in the shape of one of Mra B's. window curtains, which was made to duty as a pugaree, he made a fresh start accompanied by a male friend. When they came in sight of the station, the "lady" adjusted herself in a more ladylike position in the saddle, and as they came nearer she saw the object of her fond solicitude leisurely and unsuspectingly airing himself in front of the house. When the pair rode up to the hut, I , true to his reputation for gallantry and politeness, came forward, and offered to assist the lady to dismount. She thanked him (with, I have no doubt, a sweet smile on her face, if her face could have been seen through the window curtain), but just requested him in a deliciously confidential whisper "to take charge of that small parcel for her," handing him " upside down" the order of the court, neatly enolosed, and addressed to himself. A loud and very uniemenine guffaw from the lady and another from her protector made I. suspect that he had been sold. The lady did not dismount, but I have heard that she left the skirt of her riding habit in I *s hands, which I have no doubt wiH come in handy for saddle cloths.