UP RIVER DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 646, 10 March 1870, Page 3

UP RIVER DIGGINGS.

(tfttOM OUtt OWN COttIIESPONDEtfT.) Napoleon, March 7. A new rush has taken place since my last report to a terrace above the second right-hand branch of Noble's Creek. It has originated in a somewhat similar wanner to the late Canadian rush. Messrs G:aidjean and party were ground sluicing from the face, and the payable wash began gradually to form into a gutter, with every appearance of continuing into the hill. Following out this idea Rourke and party went ahead and jumped a portion of Grandjean's claim. They sunk several shafts, one of which they bottomed at 16 feet, and obtained a prospect of seven grains from three dishes, which is the best I have been able to hear of. The ground has been rushed for a considerable distance, but I think very little of the place. Ward and party, who have a well con«ti acted head-race leading to the terraces along this and the first right-hand branch of Noble's, have been enabled by the late rains to set to work again. It took this party nearly three years to cut this race, in which there is also a good deal of fluming, and they allege that they been kept idle all the summer in consequence of the vexatious conduct of a " hatter," who took possession of the bed of the oreek and occupied it all the time, and insisted on his right to the quantity of water allowed him by the bye-laws-, although, as they say, he did not require it. 1 didn't drop across the " hatter," so that possibly he may have something to say on the other side ; at all events the bye-laws Are in his favor. 'At Wilson's Rush, in the first righthand branch above the Slips, two parties are tunnelling, and getting very good gold. Spec's Terrace, which was once the scene of the largest rush which has ever taken place in the district, with the exception of Napoleon, ia now deserted. William Heaphy and party, the last of the original claimholders, have been " dnffered out '* at last. This party have been working for some time past In the claim iv which the unfortunate young man Kelly was killed last October. They have been following a narrow run of washdirt ; but at last it became too poor to pay. I'have an opinion that this place will turu out well yet, for it is in the same run of country with the Gladstone, Boland's and Hayes Terraces, all of which have paid, and are paying; splendidly. This I reckon to be the richest piece of ground at present being worked in the district ; the washdirt, which is about three feet iv depth, will average an ounce to the load. The ground is very easily worked — in fact, one party got the gold in the surface on the face of the terrace. "The Mosquito Lead is improving in appearance every day. The levels of tho probable bottom of the gutter have been taken along the range from the Welshman's claim to the source of the creek, thence over the intervening table-land into Orwell Creek. This has been a matter of some difficulty, in consequence of the broken nature of the table-land, which is intersected in all directions by deep jravines. The surveyor, Mr Coe, rose' from the level at Mouquito to an elevation of 300 feet before he dropped into Orwell, and in that creed he contiuued the levels at a fall of 320 feet from the above eleva- 1 tion. The expense of this work has been borne conjointly by all the claimholders, and there is no doubt it will save them months of hard labor ; for they 1 will now know exactly at what level to start their tunnels. Gasper and party have driven into the gutter at a distance x>f 1050 feet from the outer face. There are now, or soon will be, sixteen tunnels in Mosquito, and five in Orwell Creek, either working on or looking for this lead. Several shares have changed hands within the last two weeks. A one-se venth share in Korman and Co.'s claim, at Napoleon, for LllO ; two other shares in the same neighborhood for L 93 and L 43 respectively ; one, a one-eighth, at Mosquito, for 140; and a share, a one-fifth, at Coffey's Rush, for L 65. The Napoleon township is improving rapidly. Two or three new hotels have been opened since my last, but the greatest acquisition which had been yet made by the town is a day school, which has been opened by Mr H. S. Skead. The young Bedouins who used to be a terror to every stray horse which came in their way, are now kept off the streets ; there are 18 children attending the school. The Warden has paid this place a visit ; he was met by a deputation of the leading residents of the district, who laid the wants of the place before him. The track from the Ahaura to Napoleon was brought under his notice, and he promised, as the lease of the present proprietors had nearly expired, that he would recommend the Go■vernment to devise some means of throwing it open free. The present unsuitable position of the Camp was mentioned, and he promised to have it removed to a more central part of the town. The moat important subject brought under the Warden's notice was the desirability of holding a Warden's and Resident Magistrate's Court at Napoleon, and the hardship of miners and others having to travel to the Ahaura was forcibly pointed oat by the deputation. The Warden acknowledged the justice and reason of the claim, and promised that, for the future, he would hold a Court here at least once a month, until other arrangements could be made. Several other matters were brought under Mr Whitefoord's notice, and after thanking that gentleman, the deputation withdrew. A important meeting of the miners has been held to meet Mr Mackley, who had received a communication from the Westport Mining League. The meeting was largely attended, and Mr Coe was called to the chair. Mr Mackley and several miners, including Messrs Graham, Horn, Camaletto, Perry, Hector M'Lean, Dixon, Frad. Chappel, Cone, and Van Dam addressed it. Mr Mackley read the letter wad the meeting appointed a committee t j draw up a reply.