SOUTH BEACH.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 736, 6 October 1870, Page 3

SOUTH BEACH.

(from our own correspondent.) October G. In a previous communication it was mentioned that some parties had applied for a lease of three acres on the supposed line of the Lagoon Lead, between the old workings and the New River, and that owing to the new rules coming into force they were compulled to relinquish the idea of taking up a lease, and were about to prospect before they undertook any work of magnitude. It will be remembered that some Greeks were rel>orted to have got prospects en che same ground some four years since, and that owing to the waiit of necessary funds they had not been able to prosecute their labors. It was this that first gave rise to the present prospecting. These parties after encountering great dißculties have been at last able to bottom a small paddock. At first they were not at all successful. They drove eastward with no better success, and it was only or putting a drive westward they were satisfied that they were on the lead and the ground would pay them. The paddock they took down measured about 7ft 4in by 9ft sin, and when they washed np they obtained about li z 14d\vts, with so very poor fixings to wash with that they were able to get good prospects out of their tailings. Considering that they put in only a small drive of one set they were not able to take up the bottom clean, and lost as much gold aa they got. The men must be congratulated so far upon the success that has attended their prospecting ; and it is to be hoped that they will find it equal to their expectations. They have lost no time in taking the -necessary steps to get the ground into proper working order. Twenty men have taken up ground, and have agreed to take up a tail-race to drain it ; and amongst thiir number there are some old lagoon men, who are perfectly satisfied with the quantity of gold obtained, and believe, that when the ground is in proper working order it will pay very fair wages. Of course, it will'be rather a heavy job to bring up a tail-race ; but even this brings its reward, in giving 75 feet along the lead to each man. The work of constructing the tail-race is to be begun to-day (Thursday), and it is thought that if no unforseen difficulties occur, that it will be completed in about two months. The right men are in the right place, and there is no doubt about their using every exertion to get through the initiatory work, for fortune has been rather unkind to some of them for the last two years ; and it is to be hoped that n f nv they will be able to reap some benefit, and be repaid for lost time. There is no doubt that other parties will follow trie example of these men ; but it must be remembered that any man taking up ground would require sufficient capital to maintain him till he gets gold, or, what is about the same thing, credit with the storekeeper for the time.