UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 611, 16 December 1869, Page 2

UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Napoleon, Dec. 13. A new rush has taken place during the week to a spur over the right-hand branch of Noble's Creek. Only one shaft has as yet obtained payable gold. This shaft is about 50ft deep, the washdirt is 3ffc thick, and the best prospects obtained were 28gT3 of gold from three dishes of dirt taken as it came. Rushes such as this is will occur frequently now, for numerous parties are out prospecting through the ranges in this locality. This extensive system of prospecting is likely to benefit the district greatly, and it can mainly be attributed to the dry weather. The miners on those leads — on whioh a supply of water for washing purposes cannot be obtained except when it rains heavily—have their paddocks full of washdirt, and as enlarging an old paddock or constructing a new ono is a difficult and expensive matter oil the steep sides, of the hills on which our principal leads are situated, the fashion of working the claims ahorthanded and sending the extra shareholders out prospecting is becoming prevalent. These prospecting parties principally confine themselves to those parts of the spurs where the sinking is likely to be shallow, or to the " razorbacks" through which it will not take long to take a tunnel from face to face. The terrace at the head of Duffer's and Sullivan's. Gullies, on which Hayes and party are working, was discovered in this manner. The prospecting claim on this ter race is a good one, the washdirt is of an average of 6ft in thickness, with a prospp.ct of 2gr3 to the dish ; one other claim is on gold, with equally good prospects, but the rest of the claims are, so far, not payable. The mode of prospecting these terraces is now so well understood that when the prospectors' strike payable gold, their claim and the claims of a few friends who get a "good lay on" will absorb all the ground of any value ; therefore, an extent sive rush, when one of these terrace patches is struck, is to be deprecated. Gladstone Terrace, which is on another <:f these narrow spurs, is worked out, with the exception of one claim. There is no -mistaking the fact when one of those terraces is w»rked out, for you can see through the timbers on which the ground is left standing from side to side and from end to end, as plain as you could see through the bars of a gridiron if you held it up before you. On the Canadian Terrace, only the prospectors are on gold, and I have been informed that the claim is a good one. At Spec's Rush, the prospectors are still getting payable gold. Rankin and Co.'s claim is stiil paying average wages. Kenny and Co., who were put in possession of Rankin and Co.'s dam by the Warden some t;me since, have their tunnel in about 100 ft, without getting gold to pay. This party and Rankin's party have made arrangements, so that the latter can use the water in the clam, about which they were at law ; otherwise they would have been compelled to abandon their claim. The lead at Brandy Jack's is improving at the upper end. The prospectors, Buckley and Co., Nicol and Co., Webb and Co., and another claim have good gold. In Webb's claim the lead is seven or eight sets wide. In Gardiner's claim, the tunnel is at too low a level, consequently they are troubled with water, otherwise as far as I have learned the claim would pay as well as the rest. ' Wray's party are also on payable gold, j and -the New Chum party are making small wages. At the lower end, Ryan and Co. and Dwyer and Co., tho proprietors of the amalgamated claim, are going into it with a will. In the other claim below them the gutter has been reached, but they will have the same difficulties to contend with before payable gold is reached as Ryan and Co. have had. Half-Ounce ami the Teviot Creeks^are

at a standstill, in consequence of the dry weather. • ■ Noonan and party at Orwell Creek are progressing with their head-race. Some of the cuttings are very heavy, as much as 20ft on the sidelings, before they can get a low enough level to take the water along. They must have great faith in tlieir ground to cause them to take all this trouble. The Middle Township at Napoleon i& looking lively again. Most of the business people in the lower township are securing sites on which to erect branch stores, or, else purchasing buildings which have been erected. on " spec." -. The Sports Committee held a meeting on Saturday, when it was decided that the sports would come off on the 27th and 28th of December. The programme will be published in a few days, , * The members of the Amateur Society have given their first public entertainment. Taking into consideration the unfavorable time selected by them, and also the inclement state of the weather on the evening of the entertainment, the amount of patrouage bestowed was encouraging. The individual and collectiver endeavors made on the part of the various lady and gentlemen amateurs to please, were highly qveditable to themselves, and greatly appreciated by the audience. It is to be regretted that on this occasion the number of lady amateurs was so limited, which I presume is attributable to their natural modesty aud reserve. The fact, however, reflects the greater credit on the lady amateur, who took and maintained so well the prominent part allotted to her in the entertainment. It is intended .at an early date to give another entertainment on behalf of the Greymouth Hospital, when I hope that a handsome sum will be realised and handed over to that institution.