UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 754, 17 November 1870, Page 4

UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

(prom our own correspondent.) CALLAGHAN'S CREEK. November 15. The track from the Ahaura to this place is all but out of the contractor's hands. It will be a great convenience to the minere and others resident in the locality, but it is feared it will not be available for pack horses unless something is done to it than what is specified in the contract. Parts of it will certainly require metalling before loaded horses can pass through along it. At all events it is so much done, and we are bound to be thankful for the smallest mercies in these times. If the Superintendent could be iuduced to have the track continued and properly finished over the ranges into Nelson Creek, it would go a long way towards opening the communication down country until such time as the main road is made. There is now a bridge across Nelson Creek at Hatter's Terrace, and the ferries at Nelson Creek are at all times workable, so that if this track was finished the whole distance, traffic with the lower diggings would never be entirely suspended. The cost of making the track has been, comparatively speaking, very little, and if the roads to other places had been constructed on the same principle, the taxpayers would have less reason to complain of reckless expenditure. The tunnels at the lower part of the creek are being worked perseveringly and energetically. George Ross and party are in about 300 ft, and they have struck what may be considered payable gold. The workings in this part of the creek will be heard of before long. Mitchell and party, in the right-hand branch, are trying to bottom the deep ground in the creek with a tail-race. The party must have every expectation of getting paid, for they are six months at work without getting on payable gold. This has been a very heavy undertaking, and it is to be hoped it will turn out a remunerative one. 1 Adams and party are tunnelling into a terrace on the western side of the creeK They are not on payable gold at present. Frank Hawk and Co. are stripping a face 25ft high. They have been on good I gold at different times, and the ground has paid well on the average. Burrell and party have a good claim, but the formation of the ground is an impediment in the way of working the ground to advantage. They expect to get into better working order soon. Jacob Thompson and party have been placed at a great disadvantage in consequence of an order made by the Warden at the last Court day. The case arose out of that everlasting cause of dispute, the eighth clause of the tenth section of the regulations. Tho party, erected a dam in the creek to turn the water into their race, which has been constructed for the last five years, and which has been held in legal possession all that time. A party who ostensibly intend reworking the old bed of the creek cut the dam away, and thus deprived Thompson and Co. of. their supply of water. As the rules stand at present this outrage can be perpetrated at any moment with impunity, because the parties who are injured have no legal remedy. The wording of the rule is so preceptive and mandatory that there is no discretionary power left the Warden^but the absurdity of compelling

race owners to leave a given quantity of water running in any creek, when that stated quantity may be, more than the creek ever contnins, except in time of floods, when all work is suspended, must be at once apparent. It may be argued that cases of this sort seldom take place, but the argument dees not apply, for a thing may happen, or an injury may be inflicted in a moment, which may not occur again for a whole year. The worst of it is there is very little sympathy felt for the sufferers by this clause, because having constructed their races and utilised the water, hitherto running to waste, knowing that the rule was in existence, they are considered to be sufferers by their own fault. If this regulation is not altered or amended, so that justice can be more evenly distributed under it, it will lead to a serious disturbance at some time or other. Bjorkhmd, Boyle, and party, are about the most successful company on the creek for the last three years. The party are divided for the sake of convenience, and working at different places a,t present ; but they use the same water, of which they generally have a good supply. Belminsen's party are working on a bench on the western bank of the main creek, on the point at the junction of Little Callaghan's, and they appear to be doing well. This party's race ia cut for some distance along the main bottom, consequently there is not much water wasted. There are ten or twelve parties at work at Little Callaghan's, the majority of whom are working the old ground in the creek. There are about the same number working in the bed of the main creek, but they are retarded in their operations by the constant recurrence of freshes in the creek recently. Charles Holloway and party appear to have their ground in the best way of working. There can't be much gold left in the old bed of this creek now, for it has had a most unmerciful fossicking. ___________