ORWELL CREEK.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 763, 8 December 1870, Page 4

ORWELL CREEK.

The rush to Noonan Terrace appears to have collapsed altogether. It can only be for the present time, because the gold Noonan's party are getting must have some connection with the patches which have been got along the range higher up. Hansen and party are working ground somewhat similar to Noonan's further up the creek in a direct line with the Mosquito lead. Hansen's party's race is nearly, if not quite, in. This race leads from a creek which runs along the back of , the Mosquito Range, and is supposed to' empty into the Ahaura River. In order to conduct the water from the south-west to the north-eastern face of this range a tunnel over 600 ft long, a good deal of it through hard conglomerate, had to be made. This expensive work is now completed in a workmanlike manner, but the" cost has been very great. The party intend to sluice away the front of a spur above and to the westward of Evan's Leasehold in the first place, but they have an unlimited area of ground to work, because their race, being at such a high elevation, commands the whole country round about. Hansen's party intend to run their tailings into Sawyer's Creek. All the ground between Evan's Leasehold and Noonan Brothers' claim will yet be washed away in a face. Hessy and party's race is now within a mile of Orwell Creek. This has also been a tedious and costly undertaking, but by all accounts they are likely to be well remunerated for their enterprise. It is said that payable gold has been found at several spots along its course, but the party don't care about making the exact localities publicly known until the race is completed. The ground they intend to try first is on the spur on each side of the old Napoleon track. It is shallow and easily washed away. Clarke and Evan's party got to work again yesterday. The water-wheel and gear have been overhauled and put to rights, and the drive to the westward will be continued to the farthest limit of the gold-bearing drift. The success this party have met with will tend greatly to revolutionise the system of mining hitherto prevailing in this locality, They have proved that gold does exist in payable quantities below, and under entirely distinct conditions, what has hitherto been supposed to be the mam and only bottom, and they have also proved that with the requisite machinery the ground can be worked as easily and to as much advantage as if it were surface stripping. Apart from the great general benefit it would confer on the miners it would be an interesting experiment if a party of enterprising and persevering men, such as Clarke's party is, coald be induced to try the lower part of Nelson Creek in the same manner. It .may be a prejudice in favor of the place, but I have long been of opinion that the first party who succeed in reaching the main bottom at Nelson Creek at the right spot, say opposite or a little lower down than Try Again Terrace, will astonish the country with the riches they will discover. The Albion Company, below Clarke's, are still going ahead with their tail-race, and they will soon be ready to begin to sink. Hansen and party's tail-water will be of great service to this compiiny, because Hansen's race being nearly 150 ft above the level of the Albion works the water can be made available for any purpose by the latter company. James Connolly and party, who are next the Albion, have given up the notion (as I thought they would) of trying to bottom with the ordinary appliances. They have stopped, until thny erect the necessary machinery, but they intend to continue sinking the paddock they have commenced until it is bottomed.