SOUTH BEACH.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 840, 6 April 1871, Page 2

SOUTH BEACH.

[PROM ODR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] April" 5. At last the South Beach can boast of having a steam engine erected for the purpose of enabling the miners to work the deep ground on the Stony Lead. It will be remembered that the North Star Company discovered a short time' since payable wash beneath the level that they and others originally worked on, but too deep to be worked in the ordinary manner. It was questionable for some time whether it. would be better to erect a whim or purchase an engine, and after materially weighing the pros and cons it was decided to invest in the latter, and it is to be hoped that it will answer their expectations. The North Star claim has always had the repute of being one of the best on the New Stony Lead, and the discovery of this lower run of wash has considerably enhanced its value in public estimation. Stansell and Co., the adjoining party south, are fast approaching a termination of their labors in the shallow ground; but they purpose When that is finished to give the underneath wash a trial, so that they have virtually as good as as new claim to work, and if fortune should be as propititious to them as it has been to their neighbors, they will have work for the next twelve months. The Golden Gate claim .%t last begins to give signs that its well appreciated name will soon be classed with those that have been extremely rich and paid, the fortunate shareholders well; but all things must come to an end,' therefore the demise of this celebrated claim will soon have shortly i to be announced. The melancholy and unfortunate accident in the Pioneer claim has thrown a gloom overthe shareholders, which time alone will obliterate. It is almost unnecessary to say that since the ground has been taken up by "the present proprietors it has been favorably spoken of as likely to pay good wages. A small dam at the rear broke away a short time since, and swamped both the Golden Gate and the Pioneer, but now it is : in proper working order once again,, and it is expected that the men will get repaid for their labor. The Age of Progress are , still working away with their usual luck. They have worked a' large area of ground, and have yei several months' work before them. The Rising Sun are also making progress with their work. , Robertson and. Company have worked , a large space of ground to. the. north of the. Greymouth Gold Mining Qompany's 10-acre lease. It is wonderful the change that takes place in a few months, when men are constantly at work. Only a short time, aince, it wai almost impossible to pioneer ones-self through the. dense bush, but now it is almost one series of workings from the late .Greymouth Gold Mining Company's lease to Jacks Creek. Barker and Company are now sluicing on what is known as Watson's Lead, near the Pioneer claim. % Formerly they worked a large piece of ground on the north side of the Ballarat Creek. This paid them very handsomely, which is not to be surprised at when it comprised Watson's celebrated- claim, that yielded a hundred weight of gold. It is to be hoped that the ground they are now working will be equally remunerative. Colton and Co. are sluicing also on the same lead, but farther south, about a quarter of a mile from the .Nelson Hotel, The great desideratum of' si ulcers along this lead is a constant supply of water, and Colton and Co. are no "exception to the rule ; when they can command water they are always handsomely rewarded for their labor. . .

The dry weather during the last week has somewhat retarded the washing up .of the huge paddock oh the Lagoon Lead, but I hope sbon to be able to state the results, for if favorable it will materially tend to develope the unprospected country between the Lagoon and the. New River. . . ; -