UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 667, 28 April 1870, Page 2

UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

♦ : NAPOLEON. [prom our own correspondent.] April 26. The excitement which, was caused last week by the rushes to Half-Ounce and Duffer's has gradually subsided, and the miners have steadily settled down to work again. The claims on the Italian Lead are being worked out one by one* but very few of them are entirely abandoned. The headings which have been left behind by the first holders of the claims will pay small wages, and this has \ been the cause of a good many of them ' being re-occupied again. Between twoand thiee months ago the ground in the lower part of the Napoleon lead became in a dangerous state in consequence of the careless manner in which the parties who worked the claims at first timbered them. Some of the claims were abandoned then, as the owners did not consider it .would pay them to take in fresh tunnels and put in the quantity of timber, it would take to secure them. Alex. M'Leod and party, who started v Dew tunnel when they lost the old one, are nearly into their ground ; they have been compelled to close timber the drive the whole distance. There is no doubt all this ground will be occupied again. A party who have been ground sluicing the bed of the old Napoleon Gully have nearly finished the creek ; they are now slewing to the left into the Wellington lead, the shallow part of which they intend to wash away in a face, that is as far as the nature of the ground will permit. There is only one party at work on the Wellington lead ; they are T believe making good wages. The business people are complaining of the dullness of trade, and still the township looks lively enough, especially on Sundays. During the week the several places of amusement, such as dancing rooms, billiard rooms, &c., are well patronised, and to a visitor everything wears a healthy appearance, but the fact is business in all its branches is very much overdone. There are in the town now 20 licensed houses, out of which number abont three make any pretension to be called " hotels," eight stores, two butchers, and two bakers' shops, three shoemakers, one blacksmith, and three~TSlliard - rooms'. These, with numerous other business people and places of a nondescript character, along with a store and hotel at Orwell Creek, are all depending on the labor of less than 500 men. It is no wonder business is dull. I have not taken into consideration the stores in the outlying gullies, in every one of which, if 20 men be at work, a store is erected. The Police Camp has been shifted from its former out-of-the-way position to a more convenient site between the Township and the Cemetery. When the new stables are built, the total cost of shifting and re-buildiug the Police quarters and lock-up will be about LIOO. It is in contemplation to hold a Court here as soon as circumstances will permit the Warden to do so, and it will be a great convenience to miners of the district. . The population is very orderly ; any-, thing in the shape of theft is unknown, if' I except a case of " snowdropping" which took place some time ago, and with the exception of a "scrimmage" now and then, principally among creatures who generally pass for females, everything is otherwise quiet. Coffey's Terrace, in the vicinity of the old township, supports a population of abont 50 men. There are seven claims at work. The gold is distributed in a most eccentric menner in the hill. It has been found in the face of the terrace — almost in the surface— in Hector M'Lean and party's claim, while in Toner and Keane's. claim it has been reached by a tunnel nearly 200 ft long. The average depth of the washdirt is about 3ft, with prospects varying from 3 to Bgr to the dish ; average earnings, L 8 per week. All the available ground on this terrace is occupied, so that we will not hear anything more about this lead until it is worked out. The several claimholder3 on this lead wash their dirt with water from the Canadians' race, with the exception of Toner aad Keane, who have constructed a <Jara to collect water for their own use. An accident occurred in this claim on Saturday last, which fortunately did not terminate seriously. At Mosquito, the Amalgamated Company—Fagan and party and Kirby and party — have struck the lead at a distance of 1500 feet from the outer face. This is, to me, the most pleasing piece of intelligence I have had to communicate to you. This company has been nearly nine months at work at this tunnel, day and night. They have stuck to their work manfully, through evil report of the lead and good report— through hard times and indifferent times — and I sincerely hope they will now reap the reward of their perseverance. There is a report that Grasper and Co., on this lead have struck a second and entirely distinct run of gold in their claim. I cannot vouch for this ; but, from the nature of the ground in the locality, I have no reason to doubt it. The following shares have changed hands since my last report— a one-sixth shareon the Station Lead at L 95 ; a share in a claim at Duffer's (Cuneen's), L 35 ; a one-seventh in Clarke and Evans', leasehold, at Orwell Creek, for L 53 cash, the balance on terms ; a one-fifth in a claim at Mosquito for L 35 cash, and the balance- on terms; and a share at Half-Ounce for Ll3.