HEW RIVER DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 701, 16 July 1870, Page 3

HEW RIVER DISTRICT.

„[JEBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] July 13^ The road from Marsden to Cock-a-. bulla was thrown open to the public on Saturday last. , I had the pleasure of traversing it during the week, and must beajr testimony to the efficient manner in which it has. been constructed. It has been cleared half a-chain wide, and gravelled 4ft £^the centre, and beneath the gravel there- has been a great thickness of scrub laid. The men. had much difficulty in getting the gravel, on account of the quantity of water-r-in fact, they had to keep pumps going to keep it down. It not only inflects great credit on the con? tractors' for the mahner in which it has been,risade, bltt al?o on the Road Board Engineer in -laying it joE Alter rising the terrace at,an easy gradient at Marsden, said- to consist of : three.' straight ' pieces 'of .-.road from half^ a* mite to a mile in length. . tt.i»'^p^rfecfly . level till within one, (Wirr Continuation of News, see -tith Bagd)

hundred and fifty yards y d! the NeW River, when the terrace suddenly drops, it is here the only engineering difficulty eii3t3, and considering the few pound.B available for ' this work a very good descent has been made. This road comes down to the New River, opposite to the Cock-a-bulla and Eight-mile road. A little canoe was here moored for the convenience of pedestrians. The want of a bridge was very apparent, and it is io be hoped that no time will be lost before this necessary convenience is built. It is estimated this would not cost more thari LIOO, aud for this paltry sum traffic will have to be suspended whenever a slight rise takes place in the New River. When this is added it will allow uninterrupted communication between Marsden and Clifton, which will favorably contrast with days of yore, when the unfortunate; pedestrian had to cross and recross the New River nearly twenty times, and plod along a track that was knee deep in [mud. Now this valuable piece of road has been completed, it is sincerely to be hoped that the County Council will keep faith with the contractors, and pay them without any vexatious delay, for working men can ill afford to be kept out of their hard-earued money. Along the whole course of this road, after leaving Marsden, there were no signs of mining. It was said that some of the contractors had got a few colors in the gravel, but in no instance had the bottom been touched. If there was no sign of mining the same cannot be said of pigeons, for they seemed to be very plentiful. I had almost forgotten to mention that this road rans -along a very narrow terrace, not more than two claims wide in places, and forms a backbone between the left and right hand branches of the New River.

There is no particular mining news to chronicle. Everything ia as much as nsnal. The population at No Name is growing less. It is, however, yet to be hoped that something will turn up ; for there is some likely country lying between Nemona and the Greenstone that is favorably spoken of. It is a road through this country that is so urgently required, and if it was only made would not only be the means oi throwing open more country to the miner, but likewise materially benefit the whole of the district.

Once again, must the neglect that this part has suffered be brought forward. Complaint after complaint have been made about there beiug no Wardea's Court at Marsden. Surely it is time something was done. A visit once a fortnight would do, and certainly the Government might manage that. They own an empty Court House at Rutherglen, it would not cost much to remove that, and the convenience that it would be to the public generally ought to weigh with the authorities. Marsden is not to be compared with any of these little towns"hips thai spring up at every rush. Its. very central position on the New River, and also being the terminus of the tramroad, marks it a permanent place. The very superior building that have been, ana are to be erected, show that the residents have firm faith in its stability. Besides it is the junction of the Clifton and Nemona roads (Eight-mile), so that whatever erections the Government may make, will not have to be removed. This is the proper place for the police station, arid Warden's Court, and the Government will only be doing- their duty by taking the initiative into the matter, which will prove a great public boon.

A typhographical error occurred last week, in stating that the population of this district was only 100, it should have been 1000.