LAGOON LEAD, SALTWATER.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 764, 10 December 1870, Page 4

LAGOON LEAD, SALTWATER.

(from our own correspondent.) December 7, 1870. Great hopes are entertained that the continuation of this lead may yet be traced southwards. There are fifteen menCampbell and Co.— engaged in taking in the tail-race to the ground where the Greeks are reported to have formerly got a prospect four years since. Before, however, this party of men commenced this tail-race, they sank a small paddock, and got sufficient* gold to warrant their entering on this important work, in which they have now been engaged since the' beginnng of October. They bad the advantage at first of being able to avail themselves of an old abandoned tail-race. They had, however, to put it in thorough repair, and since then they have considerably lengthened it, and have continued a tunnel from it. The ground has been very treacherous and difficult, but the practical experience that most of these men have had in similar work enables them to progress most favorably. There is one great advantage in tunnelling at the Lagoon instead of at the Stoney Lead, that it is not necessary that the race should be taken up to the very paddock intended to be worked, as there is abar which keeps the water back, and as soon as" the tunnel goes through this, the water escapes. It is calculated that the tunnel will have to be continued for about two or three chains yet, and that about Christmas this important work will be completed. The advantages that may be derived from the successful issue of this undertaking cannot be over estimated. From the slight trial that the men were enabled to make of the ground previous to commencing work it was satisfactorily shown that a moderate return would be ensured for their labor, and whilst this can be depended on the chances of the ground improving greatly tend to foster the expectation that other parties will find it to their interest to do likewise. There. is no doubt about the Lagoon Lead aud the Stoney Lead being a . continuation of "each other, and whilst gold has been traced southwards as far as the whim | claim, yet there is a good length of country from there to the Teremakau in which there has been little prospecting. The experience of the Stoney Lead has shown forcibly that no prospecting can be depended on unless there is a tunnel taken in and there is no doubt that if Campbell and Co. are successful that the | whole length of the country will be taken I up to the 'Teremakau, and be properly ; prospected by that means. The richness ! of the Stoi:ey Lead and the old Lagoon | lead is now a matter of history ; and who knows but that gold equally rich may yet be, foimd in a space of country two i and" a-half miles in length. There | are a few men still at work on i that portion of the lead near Paroa. Here ! it proved very narrow, and the wash ex- ' tremely thin. The expectations that were j entertained of it formerly have not been realized ; still there are some who think | there is good gold there yet, on the lower j shelf. Tho difficulty lies in getting a taili race deep enough to try it ; but there is -no doubt that this will be done some day.