UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 749, 5 November 1870, Page 4

UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

(from ovb own correspondent.) Ahatjka, Nov. 2. The expected visit of the Superintendent is looked for with much interest. There will then be a good opportunity of laying the wants and requirements of the district before him. Not that we expect much good will be the result, because his Honor is as well aware as we are that we have been unjustly dealt with ; bv.t he will see for himself, if he come 3at all, the gross neglect with which we have been treated. The establishment of the Grey Valley Hospital may now he considered an accomplished fact. The site has been selected, and tenders for the erection of the building will be called for at once. There is no doubt that when the general public are once satisfied that the institution will ever be opened, the want of funds will not form an impediment to its ultimate success. The building will be erected near the Ahaura, on the road to Napoleon, and in a healthy situation. The best site would have been about where there are two bodies buried, an infant and an adult, and which by courtesy is called a cemetery, but that is not obtainable at present, owing to new ground for a cemetery which was promised by the authorities some time ago, not being yet marked off by the Government Surveyor. The necessity of an Hospital nearer than Greymouth is becoming more apparent every day. Several arguments could be adduced, but the case of the poor fellow who was injured the other day at Half-Ounce Creek is sufficient. After being brought here he was detained the whole night and part of the next day before a boat could be got to convey him away ; he was the whole time in the greatest agony, whereas if the resident medical man had the appliances he would be able to obtain at a properly found hoa pital, much of the man's sufferings would have been saved him. The establishment of a Bank at the 'Ahaura is beginning to be agitated. A rumor is current that one of the Greymouth Banks would open a branch here, if sufficient inducement could be offered. From the state of feeling both here and mi the mining districts, it is positively certain that the first Bank that came would be guaranteed the trade of the whole place. It would be such an immense benefit to both business people and miners when the latter have large parcels of gold to sell, if, instead of being compelled to go to Greymouth, at an almost ruinous expense and inconvenience, they could transact their business here ; that there is good reason to suppose that the first bank that would come, would be able to command a monopoly of the trade. In conrection with the above subject, it is often wondered at. why a moneyorder office was not long since established in connection with our admirably-con-ducted post office. This especially affects the miners, who are now obliged, if they want to send small sums of money down country, to trust to irresponsible persons, or take the money down themselves. We are in, hopes that our race meeting will be a great success. The stewards and other officers have been appointed, and at the next meeting the time will bo arranged. We possess the best course on the Coast, and there are few better in the Colony ; and we also possess a population of genuine sporting men, as witness the success of the races last year, in spite of great drawbacks, and of the ploughing match the other day. Speaking of the races, reminds me of a scurrilous attack on me, which, by some unaccountable means, found admission into the columns of the Grey Valley Times. It was signed " Anti-Jockey Club," and I may as well inform " Anti-Jockey Club " at once that it was never seriously intended to form such a club at present; it was merely a ruse to exclude in a not too barefaced manner him and such as him, from taking any controlling part in the arrangement $ the races. I will not disgrace myself

and defile your columns by replying in the same strain in which I was attacked, as I treat the writer and anythin ,' he may say with the most supreme contempt. The news from the mining districts still continues satisfactory. The accounts from the quartz reef over the Saddle are startling. I have seen some good specimens from the new reef ; but it will be impossible, until machinery of some kind is erected, to properly know the value of these discoveries. The machinery for the Cement Company has arrived at its destination, but the contractors had a v ry difficult work to perform. It is to be I hoped they will be well paid for it. The recent floods have done considerable damage up and down the country, but the fine weather during the last week has enabled the miners to repair the loss. The Noble's and No Town Districts appear to have suffered most, the latter especially. The different water-wheels at Halfounce Creek are now in working or<ler, i and the lead is progressing, but nothing new has occurred. The township at that place quite rivals Napoleon now. It is equally large and far more lively, being more in the centre 'of the diggings, but there is not the least doubt that it is growing too large. People would wonder where the money to find all the material continually being wasted in the erection of these mushroom townships come from. It is wasted, as for example see the present town of Napoleon ; business people who have wanted to dispose of their property there, in order to proceed to Half-ounce and other rushes, could only do so at a ruinous saorilice, but when they had to rebuild at Half-ounce, which is only five miles distant, the same ex- | pensive operation had to be gone through, Thisisone of the causes that keep business men on tho diggings so comparatively poor, when the large amount of " ready" passing through their hand is considered. The excessive competition another. A grand masquerade ball was given on the opening of St. George's Hall, on 28th ult., and it was in every respect a great success. The ground at Half-ounce is now rushed as far as the junction of Duffer Creek, a distance of nearly four miles from the main working?. The Duffer Creek district is always more or less benefitted by a large rainfall ; consequently the sluicer3 are now in full work. The clause in the bye-laws, winch compels miners to leave a full sluice head of water, running in any creek, if reqnired, renders water right property in this district at all times of doubful value. The greater number of the races derive their water principally from the numerous tributaries or side streams, as they are called. According to the present rule, any person may take up a claim in one of these side streams, or even in the main creek, and insist on his right to a head of water, which is generally more than ever runs down in ordinary weather. Thi3 hatter— he is generally a hatter — who is so jealous of the right of every free born Briton — on the gold fields — to his regulation right of water, thus by h'*s occupaaiy deprives of a supply of water, and consequently of a mean? to work their claims, the holders of waterrig'its who in nine cases out of ten, had worked for years to make their claims valuable. He hangs out until he is either bought off, or starved off, but as soon as he is good away another of the sort takes I his place, thus inflicting an injury on men who have spent hundreds of pounds and years of toil to make a property. On the other hand, with equally good reason it is contended that the rule should be preserved intact in its operation, because it is the great safe guard against monopoly of ! water, and consequent monopoly of ground by capitalists — because if water cannot be easily obtained, poor ground is of no value. The great difficulty lies is the imperative nature of the rule, it leaves the Warden no optional power but to enforce it, as it stands. The sooner it is altered, so that the Warden can use a discrestionary power in special cases, the better it will be, for the rule, as it is at present, gives satisfaction to no one, and is the cause of an endless amount of litigation, j At Orwell Creek, the Messrs Noonan ' have had a large washing up. The result, which I am not at liberty to give, was astonishingly large. The rush on the terrace above the claim is still in high favor. Clarke and Evans' party are getting along satisfactorily, and the different large water-races which are being brought in are progressing satisfactorily. The deep ground with gold has at length been struck at the lower cud of the Mosquito lead. The party I understand had driven over and past the gutter, for nearly 300 ft. This will account for the great length of the tunnels on this lead, in comparison to the expected length. The exact position of the gutter being now defined the other claims will soon be ou the gold. The miners on this J lead have always been sticker, displaying ( great pluck antl perseverance, and it is to be hoped they will soon be repai' 1 . The track to Callaghau's Creek is nearly finished. This is now becoming an importaut place. The population has increased to about 150. A new store has been erected, and everything wears a healthy aspect. The Baclcster3 Gully men, higher up the river, still continue their geological, botanical, literary, and other pursuits, with equally good success in every department, and long may they continm to do so. The farmers on the Totara Flat are jubilant. The crops never looked better, and from the present appearance luxuriant crops, especially of oats, may be expected. Mr Reid's new sawmill will be at work shortly. I intend to give a description of this sawmill, and the ingenious manner the motive power i 3 supplied to it, shortly; for the enterprise and energy displayed by this gentleman, who is one •of the real pioneers of tho Grey Valley, deserve more than a passing notico.