UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 658, 7 April 1870, Page 2

UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

(fkom our own correspondent.) No Town, April 5. Paddy's Gully, which enters the main creek a short distance below Big Bill's but on the opposite side, and about three miles above No Town, is at present the centre, of attraction not only of this district bnt of the whole of the np-river diggings. This gully was opened nearly five years ago, and a considerable amount of work was done there and in the neighborhood at that time, so that the present rush is merely an extension of the ground which was opened at first. The original workings were confined to the bed of the creek, but the present rush is principally on a terrace or flat on the western bank of the creek. The immediate cause of the rush has been the discovery of a lead or gutter in a claim on a terrace at the head of the right-hand branch of the creek. This lend, as far a3 it has yet been defined, is from 30 to 50 feet wide, with a depth of wa3hdirt averaging about three feet, containing payable gold. I have found some difficulty in forming an opinion as to the actual value of the ground on an average, because, although some of the claims are said to be fabulously rich, others again will scarcely pay wages, which has been proved by actual washing; and I have come to the conclusion that, with the exception of perhaps three claims, which are situated below the J unction, the golden claims will not prospect anything more than wages. The prospectors are using all the available water in ground-sluicing their claim, and From the nature of the work being done, iiid from the appearance of that part of the claim which has been worked out, the Formation of the lead can be at ouce seen, tt evidently has no connection with the present system of watercourses, but belongs to what are known in this part of ;he country as the old terrace leads. Tie lifference is easily observed ; the wash lilt in the present creek is composed of

a blue colored gravel, plentifully mixed with quartz, generally lying loose, and very often on a false bottom, whereas in those terrace glitters the washdirt is of a greyish-red color, hard and compact; generally embedded in a tenacious clayey mullock resting on the main" hottom, and containing immense granite and angular schistose boulders, which is the case on this lead. In one of the claims which I visited the party have been compelled to take in another drive from the face to avoid two of these large masses of rock. After " Mooting" around them in all directions, they found it impossible to run them out, and they found it equally impossible to properly secure them. The old watercourse which formed a main channel into which all these tributary terrace gutters flowed at one time, can be traced at intervals along and under the present bed of No Town Creek. It was met with at the bottom of Big Bill's Creek, afc which place a party sunk between 50 arid 60 feet through the wash which it contains without bottoming. It was found again at the bottom of Abe's Gully ; again at Imhtown, near which place a party are trying to reach the main bottom now ; and again at Rough-and-Tumble, nearly a mile below the township. At the left-hand branch of Paddy's Golly five or six claims are at work, and apparently getting payable gold. This run together with the main gutter, which comes clown the right-hand branch from Ashcrof t, Atkin and party's, the prospecting claim, unite and form what is called the Junction, near Dufty's Hotel The lead has been traced from this point to Laverty and party's claim, a distance of nearly 300 yards, in some parts of which payable gold has been found two claims, wide. In some of these claims very rich washdirt is said to have been found, but after making strict enquiry I hare no reason to behove that, on the whole, anything better than an easily- worked lead, which will pay good wages, has been discovered. It would be premature to say much as to the future prospects of this rush. The last shaft which has been bottomed (Messrs Laverty and Co.'s) ia considered by the party to be payable. There are shafts being sunk in all directions below this party's claim, and until some of these are bottomed it will be impossible to say if the lead will continue, or what direction it will take. Laverty'a shaft is about 25ft. deep, and the ground will naturally become deeper and contain more water as the lead, if it continue, is traced into the flat. Cahill and Co. are bringing up a tail-race for the purpose of draining their gronnd. Laverty and Co. and Carey and Co. have joined their forces for the same purpose. The tailrace which this amalgamated company is bringing in is a work of some magnitude; It will be nearly 200 yards long (abort half of which is finished) ; it will be from 10 to 25ft. deep as the claims are reached; it is 7ft. wide at the top, and 2ft. 6in. at the bottom, and it will drain all the ground in the vicinity, for the heaviest body of water is in the surface. J would caution miners at a distance against coming here, solely on account of thia rush. From the conformation of the country round about the auriferous ground must be limited, and as it is numerous parties who have left other places with an expectation of getting claims on this lead have been disappointed, and have been compelled to go out prospecting for themselves. The country between this and Lake Brunner will now get a thorough overhauling. The stores at Paddy's Gully being four miles nearer the Lake, thau those at No Town, it will be comparatively easy to obtain supplies of tools and provisions. The bed of No Town Creek will probably be also prospected during the rush. From the bottom of Abe's Gully upwards, it has never been thoroughly tried. This is partly owing to the great depth of wash, and partly to the large quantities of drift wood with which the stream is choked up. Abe's Gully and its tributaries, especially German Gully, are beginning to show signs of life again. Between 20 and 30 men are turning over the old ground, and over the range at Candlelight, Walsh and Co., Murdy and Co., and other parties are still carrying on their sluicing operations. At Maori No. 2, Slavin and party are still at work. A few scattered parties, are working along the Arnold watershed at Greek's Nos. 1 and 2, Portuguese, Pipers, &c. The population of Big Bill's is reduced to about eight men, who are working in the terraces. At the Cobbler's old ground, near Irishtown, Jerry Brossan and party have turned the main creek, but they have scarcely got their claims into proper working order yet. Lower down the main creek, and nearer Irishtown, John Corbett and party are on a patch of payable ground on the western bank of the creek. On the opposite side of the creek, Fisher and Co. are still tunnelling into the Eastern Terrace. This party has been at work here for the last three years, and they are just beginning to reap the reward of their perseverance now. Richard Large and party, who hold the adjoining claim to Fisher and Kenny, are also getting payable gold. Messrs Maloney and Co., who have the claim on the northern end of Fisher and Co*s ground, are not on gold at present, bat they are not properly into the ground yet. A prospecting tunnel is being taken in here by James Connor and Co., with the expectation of striking Fisher's run. At Gonedick's Terrace, lower down, there are three claims on gold, but the ground is poor. The left-hand branch of No Town Creek still supports a small population^, among the rest the everlasting old " Sam Basser," who is as determined as ever he was to " die on a boulder or make a pile." Messrs Hugh Anderson and Co. are erecting two dams in connection with, their water-race in this branch, and Whitehead and party are still tunnelling lower down the creek. The township is growing larger every day. Another new hotel and a new shoemaker's shop have been opened ; but the greatest improvement I have noticed is a tramway which has been laid down by Messrs Devery and Co. from their slaughteryard to their shop in the township. This tramway, besides being used by the owners for the purpose for which it was intended, is also used by the woodcutters to bring in their firewood, which seces* sarily lowers thu price of that article. There are now three stores, and one in Dourse of erection ; seven hotels, or rather Licensed houses (for some of them, cannot, by any strength of the imagination, be jailed hotels); two bakers, two shoe* Bakers, a chemist and druggist's shop,

one stationer, one blacksmith, and two butchers' shops, in tho to vn now ; these, along with several other b'.iainess people who follow no particular branch of trade, make up a respectable township. There are three stores and an. hotel in Paddy's Gully ; a stor« (Marshall's) at Sunny Bank, and Tally's store at the Half-way House, so that in my opinion the district is overdone with business places. The miners sometimes require to bo cautioned against overcrowding a new rush ; but as far as my experience goes tradespe< pie stand much more in need of such a caution, and any other business man who starts n iliis place, without having reasonable grounds for supposing that he will be able to do a Icgitivuttc and profitable trade, must blame himself if his expectations are not realised. - The Warden visited No Town to-day, and his attention was drawn to the state of the tracks, especially the one leading to Paddy's Gully. Mr Whitefoord promised to bring the matter under the notice of the District Engineer; but it was suggested that, in the meantime, if ihe bed of the creek to Paddy's was cleared of fallen logs and other obstructions the track could be made passable. The Warden said that if the inhabitants wou'd subscribe onehalf the estimated cost — about £20 — he would guarantee the other half on the par' of the Government. The work will be proceeded with at once. The new track from the Twelve-mile to No Town is being laid out by Mr Ooe and his staff, and it is expected the distance will be about five miles. It is the intention of the authorities to station two policemen here. Their presence will be useful for the purpose of issuing miners' rights, application forma, registrations, &c, and so prevent the necessity of taking a journey of thirty miles to and front Camptown to transact the most trivial official business. A Post Office is also much wanted, and iv course of time a Court House will be asked for, and no doubt the request will be granted if persistently pressed. There are six parties at work at Rough-and-Tumble Gully. This is becoming an important place ; it has been worked out to my offu knowledge six times during the last five years, but every fresh rush developes further hidden treasure. At Farmer's Terrace, opposite, two claims are at work. The ground about here has been very good. In the neighborhood of Marshall's Store, at Sunny Bank, between sixty and seventy men are at work tunnelling in the terraces and turning the bed of the creek ; they are mostly making fair wages but some are doing much better. Lower down the creek at Sunnyside, or the Half-way, Messrs Lally and Co., and another party, are still washing away a face 40ft. in height. This ground, owing to the abundant supply of water and the systematic manner in which it is worked, is paying well. The new bridge which has been erected over No Town Creek, near the "Gluepot" — that terror to packers— is out of the contractor's hands. The operative part of the work appears to have been well and faithfully performed ; I wish I could say as much for the architect's share in the transaction. It is considered by those who will have to use this bridge that the approaches to it are too steep, but that can be remedied by rigging a winch or a block and tackle on the bridge itself, so that travellers on foot and horsebaok can be hauled up from the one side and lowered down gently on the other. It may have been the correct idea to raise the platform of the bridge to a sufficient elevation to place ifc above the reach of the highest floods, but there was no necessity for causing the structure to rise sheer up from the banks of the creek as abruptly as the hump rises from a camel's back. It may look batter when a hand rail is attached, and the approaches to it are finished, bnt ft all events, I don't think there is much chance of the genius who designed this abortion ever becoming a Stephenson or a Bright so far aa bridgebuilding is concerned. The inhabitants of this district are determined to give an earnest and practical support towards the establishment of a hospital in some central situa tion in the Grey Valley, but they object to the Ahaura Township being the place chosen. This objection need not be allowed to stand as an obstacle to the success of the undertaking, for I have the authority of the originators of the move ment to state that the selection of the site will be left entirely to the Government. The Government, besides finding the money in the first instance, will have the granting of the ground on which the building will be erected, and there is no doubt, having previous experience to guide them, that a site possessing the essential requisites of easiness of access, good air, an abundant supply of pure ■water, plenty of firewood, &c, will be selected. (For continuation of news see, Fourth Page.)