UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 619, 6 January 1870, Page 2

UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

■■■ * (PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.^ Napoleon, Jan. 4. Much excitement has been caused this week by "a notice which has been posted by Faler and party — 13 men— to the effect that they intend to apply to the Warden at the next sitting of the Court for a special grant of five acres of ground on the Mosquito Lead? The application will be made under one of the clauses of the Gold Fields Act, which enables the Warden to 1 make such special grants when it can be shown to his satisfaction that an unusual outlay of labor or money will have to be made in order to properly test or work any particular description of ground,. The applicants in this case rely for the success of their application on the. great length of the tunnels which will have to be taken in— they say 2QCQft— on the difficult na.turo of the driving, on the small- area of ground which the present regulations permit the miners to mark out, and on the narrowness and comparative poverty of the Mosquito Lead. A most determined opposition has been got up against the granting of this claim. A memorial has been taken round, and it has been numerously signed, praying the Warden to withhold his consent to the application, . an the ground that it would be a monopoly to grant such a large area of ground to one party on a comparatively new and untried lead, and that if the principle of leasing new ground be once admitted there is an end to individual mining in the district. I have given you both sides of the question, but I will reserve my own comments on the case, and on the leasing system altogether, until after ihe application is disposed of. A similar application has been made for 15 acres by Clarke and Co., in Orwell Creek, at the point where the Napoleon Lead has been lost. This application will also be opposed, but on what ground I am at a loss to see. It is simply impossible to work or even to prospect the ground this company is applying for, with any of the appliances which the holders of ordinary claims are likely to bear on it. It will necessitate the bringing up of a long and expensive tail-race, and the erection of a powerful water-wheel to do anything with this ground, for the several attempts made to bottom shafts in this creek in the ordinary manner have been invariably unsuccessful. We have had Sufficient experience of the disastrous results which have attended the attempts made by. individual parties of miners who have undertaken operations of this magnitude without having sufficient means at their disposal to bring them to a successful issue. It would be better to give the ground on any terms to a company with sufficient capital to work it, than have it lying in its present unprofitable condition. Another lease has been applied for at Old Noble's. In this case the parties % have been working for some time in the ground— the bed of the creek. Several shares have changed hands during the holidays at good prices. J. Pasillion and Co.'s claim on the Napoleon Load, two one-sixth shares have been sold for Ll2O each. In Korinan and Co/s claim, three one-seventh shares have changed hands at LIOO each. A one-fifth shave in a claim dam and water-race at Orwell Creek has been sold for LBO. ■ This may be considered a low figure for this property, but it has been sold under peculiar circumstances. Several shares have been transferred on the Mosquito Lead at good prices, one, a one-fifth, in a claim near the prospectors, for LIOO. A better idea of the value of shares on this lead can be formed after the evidence which will be given before the Warden on the next Court-day has been heard. The Middle Township is improving wonderfully in appearance ; the majority of the business people from the Lower Township are shifting up into it, evidently with an intention of permanently remaining. We are to have a Post Office at last, and not before it was wanted ; Mr James M'Laughlin has been appointed Postmaster. The Christmas sports passed off satisfactorily, and oue pleasing feature observable, when taking into consideration the mixed nationality of the miners in this district, was, that not the slightest attempt at any disturbance or disorderly conduct was shown. At the conclusion of the wrestling matches, Mr William Harvey, of the Sydney Hotel — a member of the Committee — taking advantage of the opportunity, went round the ring soliciting subscriptions for the Grey River Hospital, and succeeded in collecting a sum of Is 6d, which will be handed over to that institution immediately. This is setting an example which might be more generally followed. The Rev Father Roland, the new Roman Catholic clergyman, held divine service twice on Sunday, at the Middle Township, to large congregations. A piece of ground has been set apart io the left of the track leading from the Middle Township to Orwell Creek for a cemetery. It has already two occupants ; a child who was drowned some time since, and Martin Olsen, who was killed lately, at Half-ounce Creek. Very neat enclosures have been made round both graves.