GREY VALLEY DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 811, 3 March 1871, Page 2

GREY VALLEY DIGGINGS.

(from our own correspondent.)

AHAURA.

February 27. There has been little doing in the mining districts for the last two weeks, partly owing to the excitement, small as it was, caused by the races, but principally in consequence of the continued dry weather. Throughout .the^ several districts immense .quantities of washdirt are stacked and ready for washing, but, if the rain holds off miich longer matters will become desperate, because all the available ready money is fast becoming exhausted. The present deplorable condition of things should act as a warning to the inhabitants of the mining jdistricts, and to those who are depending on them. The great remedy and safeguard against a recurrence of the present depression would be the construction of reservoirs and water-races at public expense. These works would require to be of such vast magnitude to be of any use that the making of them would be beyond the reach of private enterprise; and the Government will have to come to the rescue. If the miners would persistently and continuously agitate and advocate the construction of such public works, at the most suitable places, irrespective of local interests or jealousies, the authorities might lend an ear to their wants and requirements, but while the" fact is patent that the mining community cannot, be roused front its usuat state of political apathy, except when it is galvanised into artificial life, by the occurrence of such a thing as an election, when the personal merits or defects of the candidates are considered to' be of more importance than their political opinions, the Government will just let the miners and the gold fields get on the best way, they can, as long as they contribute greater part of the revenue of the Colony. * There was some excitement caused last week by the report of a rush to Half Ounce Creek, but there was nothing reliable known to justify it, beyond the fact that Mabille's party had applied for a second lease. It is the general opinion that this party have been on payable gold for some time, but they distinctly deny it. There can.be very little doubt but Mabille's party are in the deep ; ground, but the report which is current is that rich washdirt has been seen in the shallow part of the claim. An appearance of feasibility was given to the rumor by the the fact that a number of Mabille's party's countymen and friends had come over from Noble's, Mosquito, Napoleon, and other places, and had occupied ground below that party's leasehold ; be it as it may, the ground comprised within the boundaries of the new leasehold is all jumped and marked off into frontage claims, past the junction of Hall Ounce and Duffer's Creeks, and down the latter creek as far as the Teviot Track. If it be true the lead has been proved payable as far down a3 Mabille's claim, there is every probability of this being the best lead on the Coast. The small quantity of rain that fell on Thursday enabled a limited amount of washing to be done, but it did very little good, and*rin one party's claim did a considerable amount of harm; One party who had been' washing during the forenoon, ran their tailwater and tailings into some ■ old ground which had been worked some years ago on the first bottom. The water found its way into O'Hara and Dunn's prrty's workings, completely swamping them out. It took some days to repair the damage. The scarcity of water -is I leading^ojendless disputes in this creek, and several cases will come before the Warden next Court day with reference to the everlasting clause 8, section 10. An agitation has- been going on lately with the object of inducing the Warden to hold a Court - -here. " A deputation waited upon Mr Whitefoord some time ago, and although no hopes were held out of a Court being held immediately, an officer to issue miners' right!, &c., was promised. This functionary has not yet made his appearance, and it is time he did. A populous and important place like Half-Ounce should not be officially neglected in this manner, especially as it would not take, any very great expenditure Of public money to . meet its? immediate requirements. It is to be t.hoped that the matter will be looked to, so that people will not have any further reason for expressing the opinion that such promises are merely made as a" put off," and as an excuse for shelving questions of the kind. . / :;: Mr Wdolley, the Government Surveyor, has been traversing Half-Ounce Creek, and it is his intention to lay off a base line as soon as his preparations are complete. This is a work of great necessity, and it is a wonder it has not been done before. Litigation has already commenced about the parallel and boundary lines of some of the claims ;-inlac% some of the claimholders in their anxiety to " chalk out a line of their own," have run their parallels . at right angles into their neighbor's claim. A recognised base line is of the utmost importance on a lead like this, because the creek is so sinuous, and its sides are so precipitous, that it is difficult to follow its course with any degree of certainty. There is a claim at Half -Ounce which is said to be paying good dividends, and I was anxious to get some authentic* information concerning it. One of 'tjie shareholders in it was pointed out to me swaggering up and down the platform of Lonergan's verandah, with his arm in a sling, a cigar in his mouth, and generally putting on as much "side" !a| any billiard player possibly could.' He didn't look like a person who would be capable of giving much information to anybody, but I civilly accosted him and asked him a question about the claim. He turned and glared at me, as the old saying is, "like a stuck pig/ and told me in language more forcible than elegant, that the last time he gave a reporter any information he had been called a bullock or a calf — I forget which animal he named- — for his condescension, and "he'd be d— — d if ever he lowered himself so far as to speak to a paper man again he'd, deserve to be written down an ass." So mote it be. The upper end of the Half-Ounce Lead is nearly deserted. Kankin and- Cosgrave's, party have broken, throngh into Ask and Brandt's tunnel tail-face, consequently they can now dispense with their whim and horses. No description of machinery, no matter how efficient it may be, is as good for drainage purposes as a tail-race, and no matter what time'it may

take to construct, it is the best, am» eventually it will be found the cheapest method of draining wet ground. Quite a large rush has taken place tc the quartz discovery recently made by Shepherd and party at the Big River, in the Little Grey district. The prospectort have beun marked off, and a good deal of their ground taken from them. It is reported that stone, much richer than that exhibited by the discoverers, has since been found, and gold, which would be considered payable, has also been found in the large body of stone, into which the leader first found was running. A good many miners passed through, at the Little Grey Junction, on their way to the place, but the greater number of them have come from th« Inangahua and the Buller. It was from the latter place the majority of the men composing the prospecting party came. There are now six claims marked off on the supposed line of the reef. The Hurrays have secured ground on the southern e»d of the prospectors' ckim. Th& Big River uu. ft* tributaries have been worked for a long time. It was first properly opened by the latr James Murray and his party, and it is feared that it was his too great confidence in his knowledge of the country that cost him his life. The alluvial diggings in the locality are generally shallow and poor, although, small nuggets and good patches have been found. The great difficulty in obtaining provisions has always been a drawback to the locality, but if this quartz discovery turns out well there will soon be tracks cut in all directions. The Big River runs into the Blackwater, and it in its turn runs into the Little Grey about two and a halt' miles above the Junction township. The reef, if it can be called such, is situate about 26 miles up the Big River, but it can be reached in about tive miles frcm Merrijig Creek by crossing over the ranges. It is from this place supplies are chiefly obtained now. Accounts from the Murray Creek reefs continue as usual. The scarcity of water still prevents any trial crushing being effected, which fact in itself ia enough to keep the place back. The lot of stone from No. 3 south, Westfield's reef, is still at the machine, and of the sample that was sent from Kelly's claim to Melbourne,.nothing reliable ,has been heard. , It is rumored that it has been seen lying on the- company's wharf at Sandridge, - waiting to be reshipped as ballast in the first , craft going seaward. It has also been reported that it was taken from Greymouth and brought back there, and taken to Victoria again as ballast in the holdof the ;" Loadstone," but these can only be canards circulated to bring the shareholdeisinthe claim into ridicule, for it •• can Burely never have been the case that any. party of intelligent men would be so utterly devoid, of care and forsight as to Aend a sample of stone to be tested, on the issue of which .trial the actual value of their property depended, without taking proper precaution to see that a faithful account was rendered of the result. The following have been, or are about changing , hand, the deposits having been paid on them :— A one-eighth share in Cooney and Kelly's claim for LIOO cash, a onesixteenth share in the same claim for Ll3O, and L 2 per week to represent the other half of the share. The difference in the price given for these' two shares may seem inconsistent, but there were special circumstances surrounding the one case. A one-seventh share in four men's ground, known as No. 2 south, on the same line, has been sold for L7O. A one-eighth share in the prospecting claim on Shell's reef for Ll4O, and a share in No. 1 north, Andersan's reef, but the price has not transpired. • So it would appear, after all, that somebody has faith in the Murray Creek reefs. The above quotations may be relied upon.