BRUNNERTON DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 704, 23 July 1870, Page 4

BRUNNERTON DIGGINGS.

; [PROM AN OOCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.] | ;, -..,,! ,;: Bruwnekxon, July 20. The rush which set in to the neighborhood of the Coal Mine a short time since has assumed increased importance since :yonr last report. There are now at least 300 men on the ground, and the prospect of a rich and extensive gold field being .opened improves daily. There are now ten parties on goid, all with excellent prospects, varying from three grains" to one pennyweight to the dish, and with a •fine depth of washdirt. At present there appears to be two leads, oue commencing on the river bank half) a mile from the doal Mine, and the other about a mile further on towards Langdon's.Feny, and close to Stoney Creek, but there is good ground for believing that they will be found to extend' until they meet. If that should be the case there will be sufficient ground to supply a very; large number of intn. Armstrong and party, who may be considered the .. .prospectors of the west end of the lead, have been at work for the last six months, and are doing very well. They have within the last few days obtained permission from the Warden to divert the road' along the river, and are now at work under the old road. At the same place, a water-race brought in from Stoney Creek by Seaton and party, who hold the next .claim, to Armstrong's, is nearly completed, and before the end of the week they wiil have the water on their .claim. Unfortunately they appear to have made some mistake in their levels, as the race is brought on to their claim at if ar too low a level to be worked to the /best advantage. They have, however, excellent prospects from their ground, and are sure to do well. Clapton and party, who we believe hold the second right to the water from the creek, bottomed their ground on Monday, with a "splendid show of washdirt. At present there are very few stores, on the ground, the storekeepers apparently waiting until a; township is laid out. This; is loudly called for, and if business sites were' surveyed, there is no doubt they would soon be taken up. In the meantime, no one likes to build, and some old sacks fixed to a few sacks do duty as a butcher's shop, and the general stores consist of two or three canvas erections of small dimensions. A great impetus is meanwhile given to trade in Brunnerton, which looks and sounds much more lively than ia its wont. The road, formed to avoid the dangerous slips beyond the Coal Mine, is nearly completed, and will be a great boon to the diggers and travellers. Several tunnelß are being driven from the river level. George Young and party have applied for a frontage tunnel 1000 feet in length, and their application will be heard in a I day or two. These tunnels will have to be.carefu lly secured, or they will be liable to damage from floods in the river, which here rise to a great. height. I wish all success to this new field ; a fresh opening was much wanted by the diggers, a lars>e nuhiber being out of work.' I' hope to be ab\e to give a slill" iriore encouraging account in a few days.